Page 67 of Hidden Fate

“Dad—” Elliott started, but I placed a finger to my lips.

I didn’t want Peter to get startled and be too scared to leave. Elliott’s brows furrowed as Eva scanned the living room.

“Let’s go. You can’t get your stuff or tell your kids goodbye.” Echo’s voice grew louder, as if he were reaching for the door, too.

Eva’s head tilted back, her pupils slitting. A snarl came out of her throat, and smoke trickled from her nose. She was angry, and she’d shift if she didn’t stop it.

Olive green scales peeked through her pale skin. We had no time. I ran to the threshold of the door and whispered loudly enough so they could hear, “This is what we want. Please, calm down.”

“What?” she breathed, a puff of smoke hitting my face. “Youwanthim to leave?”

I waved a hand in front of my face, dissipating the smoke. Thank goodness we’d cut all the fire alarms, or they’d be ringing. “Yes, the whole thing is staged.”

I’d been worried about Elliott running his mouth when I should’ve been more concerned with Eva taking action. She was always quiet, making her easy to overlook, but her time as Drake’s captive had changed her. She’d been training with vigor, and she’d become a woman of action.

Mom would’ve been just as proud as I was.

Sol took the last few steps and stood right behind Eva, scratching his head. He asked, “So…we aren’t leaving?”

Thorn wrapped an arm around my waist, making it clear we were in this together. He said, “We have to go. Peter can help them find this place. Edna and the others are leaving as well, but the warriors are staying with us.”

Sighing, Mindy’s body sagged. “Oh, thank gods. I couldn’t believe Mom would do that to you after the way you helped Emily and considering that Elliott and I would be split up.”

“Unfortunately, you’ll still have to choose.” Thorn frowned. “We can’t all go to the same place—there are too many of us—but you’re more than welcome to stay with us if you prefer.”

He didn’t put pressure on them, and I understood why. Elliott was my brother, but I refused to be like Peter and not allow him to make his own choice. “Or if Elliott wants to leave with your family, that’s fine, too. You two are fated, and being apart would be difficult.”

“Uh…” Elliott gawked at Eva and me. “It’s just, you two are family, and…”

Tears burned my eyes. Before all of this had gone down, he wouldn’t have included me in the equation. Now he didn’t want to be apart from Evaand me. Something finally clicked into place—we truly were family.

“It’s fine,” Mindy said. “Mom has her entire thunder to look after, and you all need as many people to help as possible. Besides, you guys are my family, too, and I’m learning how to defend myself in ways my body can handle, despite the wreck.” Mindy leaned forward and kissed Elliott’s cheek. “So don’t worry. I won’t try to talk you into splitting from our sisters.”

Thorn squeezed my side, and a tear fell from my eye. I hadn’t realized how badly I needed this moment.

The front door opened, and all the warriors except Echo headed inside. Thorn and I glanced over our shoulders as Fury nodded.

“Echo should be back in a few minutes. He’s carrying Peter to the side road.” Arrow bent down and grabbed the blankets he’d slept in. “The countdown is on.”

“Mindy and Elliott, are you two packed?” Thorn took my hand and tugged me back toward the room we’d been sleeping in.

Elliott pursed his lips. “I’ve got to get the gaming system and a few other things. When we realized Dad never made it upstairs, we stopped what we were doing.”

“Can you finish up and get Mindy to ask Tia, Belinda, Ryu, and Merlin to gather their things?” Thorn opened the door to the bedroom. “They’re leaving, too.”

Mindy turned back on her heels. “Sure can. They’re in their room. I’ll go tell them now.”

This time, we all dispersed, getting ready to leave the place that had been home for the last few weeks.

Around eight the next morning, our group—minus the older dragon shifters, who’d stayed with Edna—rolled into the place we would call our new home.

We were all exhausted after heartfelt thank-yous and goodbyes and a ten-hour overnight drive. Sleeping in a loaded vehicle while fearing that someone might notice our tag had everyone on edge. We hadn’t wanted to risk swapping out the vehicles but planned to do so as soon as we got settled.

Theron led the way in his oversized red truck, while I rode in the SUV with Cassidy, Reece, Kari, Chandra, Echo, and Fury. The warriors sat in the middle row, with Echo behind my seat and the two women and Reece in the far back. We’d split up in the best way possible for fated-mate communication, so Thorn and I were riding separately again.

My dragon surged forward, making my skin crawl even more. Between retrieving the warriors and now this, we’d been split up a lot during the past twenty-four hours, with only a couple of hours at the house together in between but with everyone around. I needed alone time with him horribly, even if it was just cuddling, and I couldn’t fathom how I’d managed to not try to run and escape to get back to him when I’d been separated from him at the château.

His dragon grumbled through our bond, and his voice popped into my head.When we get there, I’ll need you in my arms. It’s been ages since I’ve touched you.

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