Page 66 of Marked Dragon

Peter and Elliott were still snoring loudly across the room, but even that couldn’t block the noise from downstairs.

After a second, another series of loud knocks pounded on the door, and my lungs seized.

Thorn threw open our door just as Vlad and Cassidy ran past, heading down the stairs. By the time I made it out of the room, Vlad was opening the front door with Cassidy beside him and Thorn halfway down the stairs.

“Mom?” Vlad asked breathlessly. “What’s wrong? I thought Dad was supposed to come.”

My heart pounded as I reached the bottom step and stopped next to Thorn.

Alina stood in the doorway, eyes wide and cheeks pink. She glanced around, as if expecting someone to show up, then put a piece of paper in Vlad’s hand. “Go there. Now. The warriors are at our thunder.”

CHAPTERTWENTY-ONE

“What?”Vlad stiffened. “How did you get out of there?”

“I’d already left the house this morning to help set up the booth at the local farmer’s market with some of the thunder women.” Alina rubbed her hands together, her head haloed by faint pink and dark purple clouds that indicated the sun was about to rise. “Luckily, we usually do go to the market together, so it wasn’t out of the ordinary. Aiden linked, telling me they were on their way and to come here and let you know.” She hugged her son as she rasped, “I’ve got to get back. They’re demanding everyone return. Go there.” She pointed at the paper. “The leader of the thunder can be trusted, but he’s not happy about getting involved. He’s doing it for your father. Make sure the human man behaves.”

I froze. Everything kept getting worse instead of better.

Thorn wrapped an arm around my waist, and I leaned into his side, both of us experiencing the sadness of watching Vlad and his mom say goodbye again. They’d already lost twenty-one years together because of the king, and now they would lose even more time.

Alina pulled away and glanced at Cassidy. Alina placed her hands on the younger woman’s shoulders and gave her a heartbreaking smile. “One day, I hope I get to know you. From everything Vlad told us about you, I know you’re an amazing woman, and you already feel like the daughter we always wanted. Keep him safe.”

Cassidy’s eyes glistened. “I promise. I’ll do anything in my power to protect him.”

“I know.” Alina turned to Thorn, and her lips mashed into a line. “I’m sorry for the hell you’ve gone through. We need you to prove to the world that our king and prince are wrong in how they lead. It’s your destiny.”

My dragon inched forward, brushing against my mind. She agreed with everything Alina had said, and my human side did too. The king had allowed fear to govern his decisions, and Drake was an asshole. Thorn was a good man who understood the struggles of living like no other royal could.

“Screw destiny.” Thorn’s eyes glinted. “I’m not interested in helping the very people who turned their backs on me without a moment’s hesitation. There are only three people I’m concerned with keeping safe—Everly, Cassidy, and Vlad. They’ve never betrayed me, not even when the opportunity presented itself.”

His fingers tensed, digging into my skin. The jolt shot through me, giving me a feeling of peace only he could provide, but part of me ached for him. Though I agreed with Alina, I understood where he was coming from. Even Saphira hadn’t wanted to believe or help him at first, and she would’ve turned her back on him if not for me.

Alina winced and opened her mouth, but her eyes glowed, and she exhaled. “I’ve got to go, and you all need to get out of here. They’re already spreading out to search the area, so it won’t be long until they come here.” A tear trickled down her face as she scanned the four of us again before turning around. She darted to her vehicle before she paused and glanced over her shoulder. “Like I told Vlad growing up, fear forces people to do stupid things, and sometimes, you’ve got to be the bigger person to prove to everyone they’re wrong.”

Her words washed over me. If what the king had said about Thorn’s grandfather was true, there was a reason people feared Thorn’s magic. Though they were wrong, they had no way of knowing they were associating one person’s horrible actions with Thorn.

Vlad cleared his throat. “Just…please, you and Dad be careful, and if you need help, you have my cell phone number.”

“I love all of you. Be safe.” She got into the car and drove away.

We stood in silence until her headlights blended in with the trees. I hadn’t been up for ten minutes, and already we’d found ourselves in yet another threatening situation.

Thorn’s anger wafted through our bond, and I wrapped my arms around his waist to calm him, before the stress of fleeing again added more strain to the tension running thick within him.

He kissed my forehead, the jolt zinging to my core. He connected,I’m fine. I promise.

My head tilted back.Are you sure? And how did you know I was worried?

The corners of his mouth tipped upward.With you here beside me, I can get through anything. And I can feel your worry.His anger faded into warmth and the same emotion he usually emanated toward me—love.

I hated to ruin the moment, but we had no time to waste. “Let’s get packed.”

We split up to inform the others that we had to leave, and I headed to the bedroom on the main level where Eva and Saphira were rooming together.

Within five minutes, we were loaded up in the vehicles and heading toward the main road. Like last time, Vlad drove one vehicle and Cassidy the other. If something were to happen, the two of them could use their fated mate link to communicate without a phone.

This time, Eva rode in the front passenger seat next to Cassidy, with Thorn and me in the middle row, and Peter and Elliott in the back. At first, Eva had complained about not sitting with Elliott so they could play a game, but Peter wanted to sit in the back, so she’d jumped into the front seat willingly.

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