Page 11 of Hidden Fate

Sol’s shoulders drooped. “I promise Edna and Mindy are solid. Mindy’s dad died in the car crash that injured her five years ago.”

This was the first time I’d heard of a dragon suffering a permanent injury while in human form.

“Let’s split up and move.” Vlad stared at the sky. “Get the bare essentials and load up the cars.”

Hydra stilled. “We’re not flying?”

“It’s too risky.” Vlad hurried to the door of the white barn house. “A warrior could come across our scents, and they’ll have eyes in the sky. Traveling in vehicles will help us blend in better.”

Raising a hand, Eva waved. “Let’s not forget about the humans who can’t fly.”

“Or!” Elliott lifted a hand. “Just hear me out. You could change us, andthenwe could fly.”

“Elliott Abbot,” Peter rasped. “Shut yourmouthright now and speak for yourself. I don’t want to becomethat.” He gestured at me.

Out of everyone here, he’d targeted me. At one time, that would’ve hurt, but now I rolled my eyes. He tried to blame me for anything he disliked.

Thorn released me, marched over to Peter, and got in his face. My stepdad stumbled back until he slammed into the side of the house. Thorn’s face was red, and smoke trickled from his nose as Peter blanched.

Thorn punched him in the jaw.

My stepfather’s head snapped back and bounced off the siding. His eyes watered, and he quickly covered the spot where he’d been hit.

“Clearly, you needed a reminder.” Thorn’s neck corded as he remained in my stepdad’s space.

Eva and Elliott winced and closed their eyes. Even though Peter was difficult, he was still their dad, and I hated that this kept happening. However, Thorn couldn’t handle his toxicity…especially toward me. I couldn’t blame my mate. I’d be the same way, too.

“Just shut up,” Elliott snarled. “For your own sake.”

Wrapping an arm around Saphira and me, Cassidy nudged us toward Hydra, Theron, and Sol. She led most of us inside to get ready, while Vlad, Thorn, and Peter remained outside.

I wasn’t sure what they were doing, but it wasn’t my problem. I had Thorn to protect me, and even though I was certain I could do it myself, I no longer had to. I hurried inside to grab some things for both of us, leaving my stepdad to figure a way out of his own mess.

* * *

Luckily,we still had the two Suburbans, and Theron had his sizable older red truck, so we had enough vehicles to travel somewhat comfortably. We’d all packed a bag each, enough to have a few changes of clothes and toiletries to get us by.

Thorn drove one of the rentals, and I sat next to him on the passenger side. Eva sat right behind me in the middle row, with Saphira next to her. The two of them had been flipping through magazines they’d brought from the barn. In the very back, Peter sat behind Eva so Thorn could keep an eye on him in the rearview mirror, while Elliott sat in the center with Tyson beside him, the boys playing on Elliott’s Switch. Every few minutes, one of the boys would yelp, and eventually, Eva drifted off to sleep.

Everyone else in our group was in the other Suburban in front of us, which Vlad was driving behind Theron’s truck.

We’d been in the vehicle for over eight hours, and Thorn and I were struggling to stay awake. It was nearly four in the morning. Thorn yawned, and I reached across the center console and held his hand.

Do you need me to drive?I asked. We were in Indiana, and the surrounding woods gave my dragon a sense of peace. A reddish sign came into view with a drawing of a man sitting cross-legged that said,Welcome Nashville Pioneer Art Colony Est. 1872.

Glancing at me, Thorn smiled.It looks like we’re here.

“You’re going to die, asshole,” Elliott snickered from the back of the Suburban.

Those two had been playing that game the entire time, and I wasn’t sure how. I struggled to keep my eyes open, but they hadn’t lost their enthusiasm.

The only things stopping me from falling asleep were keeping Thorn company and the odd emotion swirling through our bond. It was a strange mixture, and I wasn’t sure what it meant, so I’d stayed awake, singing along to Soundgarden as we drove.

Soon, we were driving through downtown. There were several buildings side by side that weren’t connected, and each one looked well-maintained. They weren’t uniform in appearance, though, and the effect was welcoming. A few brick buildings mixed with aluminum-sided ones in various shades of yellow, green, and white made the place homey. Brown benches sat in front of a few shops, and one establishment’s small porch was covered in birdhouses. It declared itself the General Store and Bakery.

This place would be so fun to paint, and I tried to burn each detail into memory so that I might be able to recreate it on a canvas one day. Mom would’ve loved to paint the picture with me like we had of the Asheville skyline in my attic room. Out of habit, I reached for the bracelet she’d given me before she died, but I came up empty-handed.

My throat dried. I had to remind myself it was in my bag, safe and sound. I’d stopped wearing it because of training and never knowing when I’d need to shift.

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