Dragon 7 Chapter 17 (Patreon)

AN - I should probably put a trigger warning for those that have lost a child or pregnancy. Sorry for anyone that was effected by the last chapter, but it gets better, I promise.

“He needs to die.” Kelly grit her teeth at me as I approached the three wolves who had taken the bullets.

“I know.” I sat down next to the injured wolves. “What happened to you three is beyond cruel.” They had survived the bullets, but based on the blood and holes in their shirts, the shots had taken their pregnancy from them.

“Alpha-alpha.” One looked up at me with red, tear-stained eyes. “You’ll make this right for us? Kill the ones who caused this?”

They all look at me with the same helplessness, turned to anger. Violent anger filled them, and I knew Kelly desperately needed to rip someone's throat out.

“Yes. I already have people out hunting Norton and his cronies. We still need to figure out who in the paranormal community is working with him, too.” I winced a little as more anger flashed in their eyes.

They growled, and Kelly stood up in front of them with a glare to get them to stop.

“Let them grieve.” She directed me.

I stepped away, happy for the moment of reprieve. It was hard to watch them grieve, but I knew that it was my role as a leader to be there for them.

Spotting Maeve, I moved over to her. “Is there anything you can do for them?”

“Even if I used my magic, they’d be happily pregnant for only a while. It would fade.” She shook her head and glared angrily at the men who had attacked them.

I remembered then just how important pregnancy was to the fae and put a hand on her shoulder.

Pixie cleared her throat and I glared at her for interrupting, but she ignored my glare. “Get Nyske here. She might be able to help.”

“One of these days, you are going to tell me what is up with her magic.” I replied with a frown.

“If I knew, I’d tell you. But she created real clothes. Not fake ones.” Pixie’s eyes drifted over to the wolves. “She might be able to help the wolves.”

Breathing heavily, I knew that the best way to get her to us quickly was through a portal. Thankfully, Nyske had sworn a powerful oath to me and I concentrated on that tie, trying to pull her to me, imagining a portal between us.

As I imagined pulling her, other images began swirling around next to her. Some were people I recognized, some were too blurry.

I frowned, feeling less confident in what I was doing, but continuing to try it anyway.

I breathed as another portal snapped into place, one side somewhere in my manor, the other side the locker room opening again.

Nyske took one look and jumped through to me.

The portal fizzled out and I sagged. Pixie grabbing onto me. “Good job.” The pink haired nymph helped me to the ground and put my head in her lap.

“You needed me?” Nyske asked, tilting her head.

“Pixie said your magic was strange and that you might be able to help those wolves. They lost their pregnancies to the attackers.” I pointed at the wolves.

Nyske frowned. “How long ago?”

“A few minutes? Maybe less than ten?” I replied.

“I can try.” Nyske pushed through the wolves to the three crying ladies. As she stepped near, Kelly got between her injured wolves and Nyske, giving me a look. I gave her a thumbs up and she moved to the side.

Pixie helped me up and over to watch.

Kelly nodded and said something to Nyske who put her hands on the first woman’s stomach. There was a pregnant pause among the wolves before Nyske drew her hand away. “It’s alive. But please get yourself checked out by a doctor. I can’t be sure that it’s in perfect health.”

“It kicked!” The wolf shouted. “Is this a glamor?” She looked at Nyske accusingly, deep pain in her eyes at the thought of losing the child again.

I put my hands supportively on Nyske. “She lost her fae magic and can perform miracles. Please trust her.” Despite barely knowing Nyske, she had bonded herself irrevocably to me. She’d given me reason to trust her, and something in me innately wanted to trust her.

Nykse moved on to the second and third wolves, doing the same as she did with the first.

“You guys should all get checked out by doctors, but I have done my best. May they be healthy young babies.” Nyske stood and the pack surrounded her; each one of the bitches refused to let her go without a personal hug.

I followed Nyske out, with Kelly trailing curiously behind me. “There are too many questions.” I told my personal wild nymph.

She smiled at me. “If you trust me enough to help the wolves and support them, you trust me enough to wait. It will be easier if I show you the full story; I don’t want you to only see part of it and misunderstand.”

“Mysterious.” Kelly replied from behind us, clearly not sure about Nykse but also in her debt for healing her wolves. “I’m Kelly. Thank you for helping them. If I can return the favor sometime, just let me know.” She tapped her lips. “Actually, maybe I can. Have a plushie and an invite to tonight yet?”

“I’m Nyske. I don’t know what a plushie is, but I’d be happy to join whatever is happening tonight.” She shook Kelly’s hand before looking around. “You were attacked?”

“Clean up is on their way.” I replied. Movement caught my eye and I saw my Dragonettes slipping over the wall of the stadium and rushing down the stands. “Kelly, do any other wolves need healing?”

Wolves could take a lot of damage, but their healing had limits.

“Yeah.” She turned to shout at her wolves. “Pack, get the wounded. Healers are here.” Kelly crossed her arms and started stomping about being the alpha and keeping things moving.

Trina and Amira rushed past me, but Polydora took up a stance next to me with Sarisha on the other side.

The leader of the dragonettes glared at Regina and Larisa as they sheepishly returned to me. “Our king and his mates are alive. For that, you will be spared. What happened?”

“They were relaxing together as the men started firing from the stands. I am sorry. We didn’t see them enter with the guns.” Regina hung her head, deferring to Polydora.

Larisa echoed her. “I even watched people moving about up there. I didn’t see a single gun, and they didn’t appear organized.”

Poly only scowled at the two of them and then looked at me. “The cops? Looked like they were heading out.”

I nodded at Maeve. “Maeve came. She put a glamor over the stadium, and they showed up and felt like idiots when there was nothing here. I made a portal, and I broke a portal. I’m not very good at it yet. We’ll keep it to emergencies only.”

Poly’s face split into a grin as an idea came to her. “Maybe when you get good enough at it, we can let you go without having two honor guards with you all the time. That is, if you promise to summon us when need arises.” She gave me a skeptical look.

Pixie laughed. “It seems everyone around you knows you too well.”

All of them seem intent on encouraging me to learn more magic, even if it took offering freedom from guards to do it.

It wasn’t like magic was easy. Most of what dragons used beyond a few simple spells were complicated enchantments that put organic chemistry to shame, and the wrong result could be disastrous.

“Fine. I’ll work on my magic.” But my attention was pulled elsewhere as Morgana slipped in with a small team of vampires. “Morgana, I got in trouble again.” I waved at her.

She rolled her eyes, but couldn’t keep the smile off her lips. “Furball, thanks for keeping our mate alive.” She teased Kelly.

The alpha wolf turned on Morgana. “Watch it, Blueberry. You are on my turf and I’m in a bad mood.”

I hesitated, unsure if I should step in.

“What, did someone get bubblegum in your fur again?” Morgana taunted Kelly.

Kelly gasped running her hands down her back. “That was you! I knew it! I had to cut that out.” She was now giving Morgana her full attention.

“It looks better with the shaved spot, honestly.” Morgana shrugged.

A number of us were watching it escalate and trying to decide if we should interfere.

“I was trying to grow my hair out.” Kelly glared at Morgana.

“Alpha? Say the word, and we’ll make things even.” Taylor offered.

Kelly turned to her head bitch and frowned. “What the heck? Don’t touch a hair on Blueberry’s head. None of you touch any of Alpha-alpha’s women— shit, now I’m saying it.” Kelly scowled. “But find me some empty bloodwine bottles. I have ideas.” She narrowed her eyes at Morgana, who only chuckled.

I was just glad that their rivalry stayed to pranks, and I realized Morgana might have had ulterior motives. The little verbal sparring session had pulled Kelly out of her mood from the attack and gotten her back to more of her usual self.

Taylor was confused at their interaction, but she shrugged it off.

Morgana’s vampires were already quickly taking apart the men and stuffing them into trash bags. “Do you think their blood will taste terrible?”

“I ate one. Tasted like spicy smoke. Kind of made me want to vomit.” I admitted.

Morgana pouted. “Shame. But maybe that could be useful. We’ll get rid of everything. Sorry about this and the wolves.”

I glanced at Nyske. “Actually, we were able to save the pregnancies, we think.”

“Then, maybe we better get you back to the bar and rethink going out tonight.” Morgana put a hand on my shoulder.

“No. If I let this deter me from the rest of my life, Norton wins.” I pursed my lips, not sure if I should say the next part. There was a little history between Morgana and Ellen, but it was better for her to be in the know. “Ellen is using her vampires to search for him.”

“Zach.” Morgana warned me, frowning. “She’s not good news.”

“Not the worst deal I’ve ever made. Though, she’s outside of the council and her hands are clean of whoever betrayed the elves and told Norton where to find Simon.” I laid out my logic.

Morgana crossed her arms. “I still don’t like you getting involved with her.”

“Don’t worry, you’ll always be my favorite vampire.” I patted her shoulder and earned myself a glare.

“It’s not that. She’s crazy. Always has been.” Morgana rolled her eyes. “You’ll see. But I hope she does find Norton. We still don’t know what’s happened with Simon’s body. There’s no reason I can see for keeping it at this point. They aren’t using it for evidence anymore. The elves won’t settle down until they can put him back in the ground, and they have guards around their tree 24/7 now.” She sighed. “So, we are still on for our job tonight?”

“Yep. Though, if you think we are going to be able to do a stakeout without two or more extra dragons in the back seat, you’re going to be wrong. After this, there’s no way I’m getting free of them tonight.” I paused. “Unless…” As soon as I looked at Pixie, she shook her head, telling me to forget it.

Morgana shrugged. “Guess we are stuck with two dragons, I’ll pick two good ones for us.”

I rolled my eyes. They weren’t a flavor to pick, even if they did resemble skittles at times. For some reason I was a greedy dragon and needed the whole rainbow.

“Might I suggest Sarisha and Chloe?” Pixie added.

Pursing her lips in thought, Morgana only took a moment before she nodded. “They do need love.”

“You need some love too, Blueberry.” Kelly rejoined the conversation, looking at me. “The pack is heading out. We are going to hang out in our bunker if you need us, and we are canceling practice for the rest of the week. We’ll do conditioning at the bunker.”

“The girls are going to be flighty and extra protective.” I nodded in understanding.

“At least Nyske saved their babies.” Kelly nodded to the nymph with respect. “I’ll find you in the manor later and explain what’s happening tonight.”

“Do I need to know?” I asked.

All of my women spoke at the same time. “No.”

“You’ll be out with Blueberry. We girls have things we do without you. It isn’t as if our entire lives revolve around you.” Kelly put her hands on her hips.

I shrugged. “Fine. Be that way about your not-so-secret Golden Plushie Society.”

Kelly gasped. “He knows!”

“Of course he knows. Jadelyn was openly inviting people in front of him.” Morgana smacked the back of Kelly’s head. “But he only knows the name. No need to get him involved. It’s Jadelyn’s thing. Make sure to give the new girls hell for me.”

Kelly winked and gave Morgana a thumbs up. “Of course. They have no idea what they are in for.”

I rolled my eyes. The golden plushie society was becoming bigger and bigger, and it seemed to only be growing in structure and ceremony. But nobody seemed bothered by it, so I didn’t see any harm in letting it continue.

The girls continued to banter, but I was distracted watching the vampires clean up the blood like they’d done it a thousand times. Which, given that they were vampires, they had probably cleaned blood up at least that much.

The bodies were quickly gone, and a few vampires were using some thin layer of concrete to hide scratches that the wolves had made in the steps, while a few others were using magic and screws to fix the seats.

They were actually quite industrious.

“My king. I’d suggest you head out. There’s dinner prepared, and then you will be going with Morgana on the stakeout.” Pixie smiled.

“Dinner?” She had my attention, and the way my face snapped to attention made everybody around me give a knowing laugh. I glared at them all, not enjoying being predictable.

“Larisa, Regina, get him back to the manor safely.” Polydora glared at the two dragons. “Straight back.”

I rolled my eyes. “Yes, mate.”

“Good. You understand.” She met my eyes, pointedly ignoring my sarcasm. “Too much is at stake. These FBI agents are playing dirty, and though you are tough, I’d rather not find out your limits too late.” Polydora crossed her arms.

I just nodded, knowing that joking about my safety would not go over well.

“You all got this?” I checked with Kelly, Morgana and the others.

“Yes. And I’ll give Nyske a ride home.” Kelly confirmed.

Maeve looked up from where she was watching the wolves. “I’d take a ride back with you, if you have room.”

“We can squeeze in the back.” Pixie nodded. “Put the big one up front.” She looked at Regina who blushed.

Between Larisa, Pixie and Maeve, they could certainly squeeze into the back of the car.

I stopped stalling and led my group out to the car, getting in and buckling up as the ladies sorted themselves out in back.

Larisa sat in the middle, flanked by the two fae. “Do you like seeing us squished back here together?”

“He always watches us.” Pixie giggled. “Isn’t that right?”

“I’m surrounded by gorgeous ladies all day and night. It never gets old.” I winked at them.

Larisa blushed furiously. “You know, a girl starts to wonder when you don’t make a move.” She cupped her small assets and frowned at Pixie’s melons. “A girl wonders if she’s not enough.”

“I love women of all flavors, Larisa. Besides, you are lovely and petite. If you had Pixie sized breasts on your frame, it would just be absurd. As thin as you are, I bet you’d be the perfect size to pin to a wall and play with.” I teased her.

“I’ll hold you to that.” Larisa mumbled.

“Okay.” I shot back without an ounce of shame. “We have some time to kill before dinner. You should come up to my office.”

Larisa stammered, and her cheeks turned a rosy red before she managed to regain her composure. “Okay.”

It was sudden, I knew that, but Larisa was one of the first two Dragonettes I had met, and I had done a poor job of getting to know her beyond a few instances.

She was faltering, losing faith that something would ever happen.

I didn’t want to see that happen. I was interested in her, and I knew I needed to show her more.