Page 15 of Hidden Fate

She didn’t have to finish her sentence. Every single one of us knew what she meant: in case Drake came looking to kill her.

Thorn’s jaw unclenched. “I’d rather your thunder not know we’re here.” He then connected,We saw how well that went with Wyvern.

Fair point. And Theron hadn’t been very willing to help us until Thorn had healed Sol. Trust had to be earned, but hopefully, since Theron trusted us and the two of them had a connection, this would go more easily.

“Listen, I’m not comfortable hiding things from my thunder.” She bit her bottom lip. “It doesn’t feel right. They do know about this place, but we all avoid it so no one will tie us to it. Until I see that Thorn will follow through on his promise, I’m most comfortable with you staying here.”

“Of course, Edna,” Theron said and wrapped an arm around Hydra.

Edna took a moment to study each of us and frowned when her gaze landed on Peter, Eva, and Elliott. Her lips pursed. “And why did you bring humans? It’s bad enough to have the marked one and Drake’s missing fian—”

A menacing growl emanated from Thorn. “Donotfinish that sentence. Everly is my fated mate andwife.Drake took her, knowing she wasmineand kidnapped her family to force her to surrender. That’s why there are humans with us.”

My heart skipped a beat at the wordmine. I loved when he claimed me in front of othersandbehind closed doors.

Her eyes bulged. “Wait. Are you saying the humans with you are her family? That she was human and became your fated mate?”

He nodded, pulling me more tightly against him. “She was.”

Edna stepped back and clutched her stomach.

She looked afraid, prompting me to say, “He did it to save me. I was going to die—it wasn’t malicious. And I’m so glad he did.” I glanced up lovingly at my mate.

Tilting her head, Edna observed me, and after a moment, her hands dropped to her sides. “That’s good to know. But how is that possible? Mending a dragon doesn’t make complete sense to me, but to create a new one from thin air?”

That was a good question and one that had a simple but complicated answer.

“When a dragon shifter dies, their magic is released and stays around us.” Thorn narrowed his eyes as if he could see the magic hovering. “Healing and creating a dragon are pretty much the same. To heal a dragon’s magic, I must remove the magic from its body and infuse it with our ancestors’ magic to mend it. When I turned Everly, I filled her body with the magic of our ancestors, and it created her own unique dragon.”

Edna tilted her head. “That’s actually beautiful and makes sense.”

I yawned. I couldn’t help it. I’d been struggling to stay awake, and now the adrenaline from potentially being in danger had vanished, along with every last bit of energy I’d had.

Elliott snorted. “I’ve been up just as long as you, and I’m not falling over.”

“That’s because you’re used to playing video games all night long.” Eva placed a hand on her hip and shot him a glare. “And Everly fought the warriors.”

Edna walked past our group and up the stairs to the front porch. She removed a key from her pants pocket and unlocked the front door. “I need to get back before the thunder wakes, and you all should get some rest.” She opened the door wide. It almost hit the back of a heather-gray cloth couch in the living room.

“There are six bedrooms,” she informed us as she handed the key to Thorn. “A master and another downstairs across the house from each other, three upstairs, and one in the attic. The attic bedroom actually has three full-size beds and a queen, so there should be plenty of room.”

I waited for her to go inside, but she remained at the door and continued, “You all go in and get some rest. I’ll bring Mindy by later today after lunch. If you need anything, feel free to call me. Just don’t come to the thunder.” She paused, glancing at all of us.

I forced a smile and murmured, “Thank you.”

Wincing, she sighed. “I wish I could say I was doing this for you, but honestly, this is for Mindy. If Thorn can heal her, it’ll be worth it.”

Our bond pulsed with Thorn’s trepidation. Each time he needed to use his magic, he grew uneasy. But his nervousness didn’t seem as bad as before. I hoped he was beginning to realize that his abilities might not be a curse.

“It will be.” Sol beamed as his arm brushed Eva’s. “He made a difference for me.”

“Good.” Edna strolled past us, heading back toward the woods where she’d shifted.

She must have had clothes stowed away for when they came here, especially since she’d flown all this way, and it was at least a forty-five-minute drive back to the thunder.

Let’s go inside,Thorn connected. His large hand pressed against the small of my back, buzzing against my skin and urging me in. A combination of grief and needing peace simmered in our bond.

I walked around the huge couch, which looked like two L-shaped pieces pushed together to form a U shape. There was a matching footstool in the center and a fireplace in front. A TV was perched over the mantel.

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