“We’ve got fam there,” Z immediately announces.
“Water dragons,” A.D. says to me.
“Reinforcements,” P acknowledges as he shoves his hands into his pockets.
“Exactly.” Griff angles his head in a sardonic nature my direction. “See why it’s not nearly as terrible as your freshly Awakened mind has made it out to be?”
Ignoring his thrown shade is done effortlessly. “There are fucking water dragons?!”
“Our aunt – their mother – was a mermaid,” P nonchalantly states, “so it was bound to happen.”
This side of The Fog is so fucking weird!
You mean magical?
No, I mean weird.
“This can’t be a large operation,” P declares in a gruff tone. “If they catch air of it, we may lose our chance. It has to look and feel as natural as possible.” He shifts his stare to Karry. “How many extra tickets to this thing can you get?”
“Probably just one.” She gives her long, red hair a ruffle. “Yacht parties tend to be invite only, no exceptions.”
“I’ll go,” Z volunteers instantly. “The media is used to seeing me around you two anyway.”
“No,” P shuts down without hesitation. “You have a pregnant mate. You stay with her.”
Discontent begins to dart out of his mouth when P says, “I’ll go. They’ve seen me around them at events as well. They know I run the company that she advertises for often. I’m an easy blend.”
“You’re like six foot eleven,” I thoughtlessly croak. “Nothing about you is an easy blend.”
My Fated Mate manages to stifle his chuckles due to chomping away the last of his food.
“Besides, you are needed here.” Licking chocolate off my fingers is done in between sentences. “You’re the patriarch. You lead and guide this family. You are their four-star fucking general. You don’t need to be out there, talons on the ground, stirring up blood. You need to be here. Preparing for the next move. The next fight. Staying on top of this asshole,” I gesture towards Griff, “so that this shit can be shut down before more bodies can drop or more creatures can be taken and before the next generation is born into some sort of war they’ll inevitably be raised to join.”
To my surprise, P’s mouth bobs to argue but can’t.
Because I’m absolutely fucking right.
Because he knows I’m right.
“Whichever cousin can spare themselves doesn’t actually need a ticket. Beauty of being water beasts. Can’t fly worth shit but Mother of Dragons can they fucking swim,” A.D. educates.
Words trickle to the tip of my tongue, yet I stop.
I press my lips firmly together holding in the urge to speak until my Fated Mate pinches my chin to turn my face to his. “You’re unsettled.” His eyes bore deep into mine. “I can feel it.”
Fuck!
How do I keep forgetting that’s one of his superpowers?!
“Unpack,” he says on a sweet stroke of the cheek.
“I want the other ticket.”
My words immediately receive a mixture of responses and cause his hand to fall to his side.
“Fated-”
“This is not a fucking jealousy thing,” I quickly deny, defending myself from what I can literally feel him thinking.
“Sounds like it,” Griff mirthfully murmurs.
The threat rolls out of me without reluctance. “You’re about two comments away from having to learn Sign Language.”
He backs down on surrendered hands.
“You don’t trust me alone with her?” A.D. cautiously investigates.
Once our stares reunite, I sigh, “No, A.D. This isn’t about trust either.”
His eyebrows lift for an explanation.
“It’s just…,” releasing a breath and my reluctance to be truly vulnerable is done simultaneously, “I would rather die fighting at my Fated Mate’s side than waiting for him to return home.”
An unexpected shower of adoration is rained down on top of me.
“I am not and will never be the type of being who shies away from risky or dangerous shit. I come from a family where you stand up for what matters and fight for what you give a fuck about whenever fucking necessary. Dad died fighting for his country. Mom died during a non-profit mission to help take supplies to orphans in Norilsk, Russia years ago when I was first putting myself through beautician school. Alex followed in Dad’s footsteps – although a different branch. Al fights for better healthcare for underprivileged children. Abacus advocates for equal treatment of minorities who run small businesses. Abe and Abel dedicate a portion of their company’s proceeds to help youth who were raised in poverty like we were get into colleges, while Abs volunteers his spare time to providing children who need a positive safe space at the gym. I haven’t had a chance to do much, and I can feel that this is my time. This is my chance to follow in my mother’s footsteps. No, we’re not saving kids, but we’re rescuing an innocent female who didn’t deserve to be kidnapped, poisoned, and sold for sex or slavery.”
Pride and reluctance tumble around noticeably, slightly dimming his glittery gaze.
“She could be useful,” Karry unsuspectedly speaks in my defense.
Our eyes cut to where she’s standing with her arms folded across her chest.
“She does blend in. Rather easily if I’m being completely upfront. And in spite of what a hard ass she actually is, she has just enough innocence to her face to look like a clueless female coming to a Hollywood party in hopes of changing her whole life.”
My tone and words match in agitation. “Thanks?”
“Ana would be easy to pass off as someone I’m helping network. Getting a ticket to parade what people would believe to be fresh meat is way easier than getting one for extra security. And from what you’ve told me A.D., there’s nothing to really worry about since she can physically hold her own in combat.”
Just the word causes him to groan in objection.
“Look, I’m not saying let’s stick her in the middle of that, but the Awaker has left an impressive trail of corpses. Wouldn’t mind her helping create new ones if it brings Krystie home safely.”
“Risking my fucking Fated Mate for your fucking sister doesn’t fucking settle well with me,” A.D. growls to everyone who is listening.
“Our baby’s first word better not start with an f,” Dae quietly grouses and gives a pat to her round stomach.