Page 68 of Bite Me

The dragons wanted to mount a rescue but didn't know where to start. Leon knew more about the king of hell, the black Dragon, than any of them.

So, she let them hash out the details and stepped back from any sort of participation in the plan. They had listened to her before and look what happened.

Ky had believed in her, and now he was in hell. Literally.

She hadn't had to make a decision since she was five and what kind of dessert she wanted was still the extent of what kind of choices she should be allowed to make.

Leon suggested they retreat to the Cape where his coven could defend against the demon dragons, should they attack before rescue attempt could be made.

Jada tried to talk the dragons and their mates out of coming. Demons and dragons just didn't mix all that often and it was probably going to be a weird reunion with her return anyway. Jada didn't know where else to go or what else to do. She'd had a mate for all of one day and had already lost him.

She couldn't face the judgment she would receive from her brothers and sisters of the coven, especially Portia who had already sacrificed for her.

But, they were her family, as screwed up as they were. Even if they had kept too many secrets from her. Especially Leon.

Now, the dozen other incubi and succubae were milling around one half of the great room, and the dragons and their mates were huddled on the other side. She didn't see Portia though.

Leon strode to the middle of the room and clapped his hands to get everyone's attention. Jada's emotions were still mixed up about everything her father had revealed to her. His story about her mother, the White Witch, and her destiny to be a dragon’s mate had her stomach feeling like it was in the highest speed of her six hundred-dollar KitchenAid stand mixer.

She stood off to the side, trying to hide, waiting for anyone to tell her what to do. Ciara approached her and Jada had a hard time looking her in the eye. This was a powerful woman who had done what she needed to when her mate had been in danger. What must she think of Jada and her failure?

“How are you holding up, Jada?” Ciara slid her hand up and down Jade's arm, trying to comfort. Not even Ciara's talent with emotions could change how Jada felt inside. Because she felt nothing. It was like a big empty expanse where her feelings used to be.

“I'm fine.”

“Yeah, no. That's code for super shitty if ever I've heard it. But, I get it. This whole being a dragon's mate thing isn't all kisses and daisies. They lead dangerous lives and it's getting worse all the time.”

That was surprising coming from someone who seemed so damn happy and in love with her man.

“You're looking at me like I sprouted a rhinoceros horn.” Ciara patted her forehead. “Nope, I guess that means you're just surprised to hear me say that.”

Jada nodded. “Uh, yeah. You two seem tight.”

“We are. But that has taken some time. A lot of my attitude about becoming a Dragon's mate changed when Jakob died.”

Holy guacamole. “What?”

“Not that long ago, in the last big battle against the demon dragons, Jakob was trying to protect me and,” Ciara swallowed hard. “He… died. Right there in front of me, practically in my arms.”

Jada looked over to where Jakob was talking with Dax, Steele, and Fleur, then back at Ciara. Jakob looked pretty alive to her. “So, what happened?”

“This is going to sound super corny, but I think it was love. Love conquered all.” Ciara laughed. “I warned you it would sound corny.”

“Your love for him brought him back from the dead?” Jada would apologize to Ciara later for sounding so incredulous.

“I think so. He gave me his soul right before he died and it meant so incredibly much to me that all of my emotions and powers went wackadoodle. Then, poof, he was back.”

“You mean he gave you his soul shard.” Nothing like that had happened to her when Ky gave his talisman over to her.

“No, I mean yes, he did give me the shard. But, that's not what I meant. He gave me his soul. Actually, said it was already mine. All I did was accept it.”

Jada was the one who had a hard time swallowing now. Ky had said something similar to her before they had been attacked.

Was he gone now because she hadn't truly accepted the gift he was giving her?

She would have to think about it later, or maybe never, because a commotion started on the other side of the room. Her brothers and sisters were murmuring and getting louder by the second. Then the crowd split and Portia was shoved from the center of the group and skidded onto the floor.

Leon raised his hands into the air and waited for everyone to quiet. When they did he addressed Portia. “You have been punished once before for disobeying the laws of this coven.”

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