Page 62 of Marked Dragon

“I don’t think that’s how it works, E.” Eva shook her head.

Errol chuckled. “That’s definitely not how it works.”

“Aw. Man.” My brother sat back down like the world had treated him cruelly.

Patting his leg, Saphira winked. “Royalty is just a state of mind. If you think it, you can become it.”

“Fuck, yeah.” Elliott’s entire body bobbed.

“Let me get this straight.” Aiden rubbed the back of his neck. “The king hired you to do a job, and not only did you not follow through, but you also hid your targets from him?”

“He was a six-year-oldboy,” Cassidy snarled and turned to Aiden. “You’d be okay doing that if it wasyourjob? And might I add, Thorn is an amazing, sweet, and loyal person. He doesn’t deserve any of this.”

“Sweet and loyal?” Aiden parroted and motioned to Peter. “We saw the video of the wedding where he kidnappedher.” He gestured to me. “He stole people’s dragons!”

Hurt, guilt, and love swirled from Thorn as he watched the situation unfold. I hated that he had to go through this, and I wouldn’t let Cassidy and Vlad defend him alone. I lifted my chin. “Yes, he came to save me from being forced to marry a man I didn’t want. And he, along with Vlad and Cassidy,savedmy sister from becoming Drake’s human breeder. He took those dragons, but we were outnumbered, and they were attacking us.”

Aiden deflated. “They were forcing you to marry Prince Drake?”

I nodded.

“There’s a more pressing question.” Alina glanced from me to Eva. “Your sister is human? How is that possible?”

“I changed her.” Thorn placed his hands on my shoulders. “And by doing so, I created my fated mate, who Drake tried to take away from me, after kidnapping Vlad and Cassidy.”

My skin buzzed from his touch, and I leaned back against his large chest.

“The humans are here because Drake wants the one girl as his breeder and would use the other two to get you to turn yourself in.” Aiden rubbed his temples and looked at Vlad. “You sure got yourself into a difficult situation.”

“One I would gladly get into all over again if given the opportunity.” Vlad focused on his parents. “When I attacked Thorn and Cassidy that day, twenty-one years ago, that little boy—the one the king was so desperate to kill—was more concerned about saving his nanny than himself. Yesterday, he walked into fire, knowing he was risking his life, to save his mate and her sister. In the twenty-one years in between, no one knew Thorn was alive. Everyone thought he was dead, and did he do anything to cause problems?”

Silence was the answer.

“You know he didn’t, or it would’ve been all over the Dragonnet, like the wedding is now.” Vlad clasped his hands together. “We have nowhere else to go.”

“I hate to interrupt and ruin this moment.” Errol stood and placed his hands in the pockets of his dark slacks. “But won’t this be the first place Drake looks for us?”

“Not the first.” Vlad rubbed his mouth. “But they will come eventually. We need to make a plan instead of rushing everywhere.”

I sighed. This was only a short-term solution.

Hey, it’ll be okay,Thorn connected and wrapped his arms around me.No matter what, they won’t get you or Eva again. As soon as we get settled, I’ll get us fake IDs, so we can get the hell out of here.

I turned and stared into his gorgeous eyes.Eva and I aren’t the only ones I’m worried about. I don’t want anything bad to happen to any of us.

He brushed his fingers across my cheek and rested his forehead against mine.We’ll make sure they’re all set up before we go.

Why did he keep mentioning leaving? My throat went dry, but I didn’t want to get into that discussion right now.

“Over twenty years ago, they were watching this location like a hawk, and Vlad never made so much as a phone call to us.” Aiden’s voice thickened. “They’ll probably search wherever they tracked you to before checking here again. But theywillcome, and it will be sooner, rather than later. You can’t stay here.”

My limbs trembled, and my pulse pounded in my ears. My attention flicked to Vlad, whose face had gone white and stony.

He’d expected his parents to help us.

“Fine.” Vlad lifted his chin. “I get it. But for what it’s worth, I wasn’t trying to hurt you.”

“No. It’snotfine.” Cassidy stepped around him and stared both his parents down. “Do you know how hard he struggled with not reaching out to you? Every holiday, every birthday, hell, even on your anniversary, Vlad fell apart, wishing we were part of your lives and part of the thunder he grew up with. He sacrificed his world to protect Thorn, me, andallof you. He didn’t want to burden you with the knowledge that would make you a target for the king’s abuse and maliciousness. But now we’re here, asking for the help you’re so upset he didn’t ask for twenty-one years ago, and you’re turning us away? Why? For vengeance? To get back at him for protecting us?”

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