Page 10 of Fate of the Fallen

“Only thing I know for sure is it isn’t anyone in this vehicle,” was the only answer Dallas had to offer. “Out ofeveryone,we’ve got the most at stake. Our families are all at the heart of this thing. So, as far as I’m concerned,” he said, glancing around, “we need to make a pact, right here and now, to stick together.”

“Agreed,” several said in unison while others nodded to show they were on the same page.

“And whatever we discuss concerning strategy, should stay between us and the Elders,” Kyle interjected.

I had something to add and all turned when I chimed in for the first time, lifting my gaze from the floor of the truck bed.

“Evangeline’s condition … that stays between us, too. Not even the Elders need to know as far as I’m concerned.”

The expressions the group displayed reflected their compassion. I could only believe it meant that each understood why I, perhaps more than anyone, had so much riding on this newly formed alliance.

“You have our word on that.”

The declaration had come from Richie and I didn’t miss the conviction in his tone, the assurance that we were all fighting on the same team. It told of how he sympathized with my willingness to go the distance for my family. He recognized it because he’d do the same for his. Even if neither of us would admit it, we were a lot alike—both hellbent on protecting our loved ones.

At all costs.

It didn’t matter that, traditionally speaking, dragons didn’t form packs. Being raised in a kingdom where both species held equal rule, my perspective was different. As I rode in the truck, a dragon to my left, my hybrid brothers surrounding me, and a well-respected witch among our household, there was no denying our family was just that.

A pack.

“Way I see it, with Sebastian on his way out, Evangeline’salreadyqueen,” Richie said in a calm, matter-of-fact tone as he watched the road. “I mean, what good are we if we can’t protect her, you know?”

I smiled at that, at how he had already begun to hold Evangeline to the same high regard the Council had. As the representative alpha of his pack, it was important that he, in particular, stood with me.

“I appreciate that,” I said. When I nodded his way, he did the same.

We hadn’t always seen eye-to-eye, but had grown to respect one another. Trusting he’d do everything in his power to aid my efforts to keep Evangeline safe, that respect only deepened.

We were all silent for a moment and I thought over the implications of what it truly meant to have a mole in Seaton Falls. What had they heard? What information had they taken back to Sebastian? How would we ever figure out who wasn’t truly on our side?

“We’ve all got your back.”

I turned to Dallas when he nudged me. To my surprise, he was even smiling a bit. “It’s not every day a man finds out he’s gonna be a father. Just know, if our lives were normal, we’d be heading out to grab a few celebratory drinks tonight, not … hunting down a madman.”

“In my opinion,” Caleb chimed in, “what we’ve set out to do tonight will be far more entertaining.” He let out a hearty laugh and the others joined him, but my thoughts were on other things, hung up on one word Dallas said.

Father.

Of all the roles I’d filled, that was one I honestly never imagined I’d have a shot at. I let go of the idea when I lost Evangeline, and this time around, we hadn’t had a moments peace to eventhinkabout the future, so to say this had thrown me for a loop was an understatement.

… A father

It was so hard to wrap my head around that.

Noah had been nurturing and levelheaded when he raised us. I wasn’t sure I could be either of those things. However, as I sat trying to picture it, a phantom squeeze to my finger had me imagining a small hand holding onto it. That feeling, imagining what it would be like to finally have it all … it was enough to make me want to try. It made me determined to be everything to this kid Noah had been to me. It was enough to make me certain I’d neverstoptrying, even if I didn’t always get it right.

This … was happening.

The circumstances were scary for too many reasons to name, starting with Evangeline’s refusal to leave, but now that I started, I couldn’t stop myself from envisioning what our future might look like. Envisioning what the embodiment of a lifelong love story would look like.

As hard as I fought the notion, for fear of losing it all … I wanted it, wanted everything that had already been stolen from me once before.

My family.

“I appreciate that,” I eventually said, remembering to respond to Dallas as I emerged from deep thoughts.

I gave a half smile, one I guessed might be hard to read. These circumstances were twofold. It came with the realization that my role, my inherent duty to protect the one I love,was now twice as important.

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