Page 30 of Flirting with Death

They touched down soundlessly. The first, a large gray dragon with armor adorning his breast, protecting his heart, huffed out a trail of smoke and tried to glimpse the people with me. While the other, a smaller black one, attempted to circle my left side. I curled my tail around my group protectively.

What is your purpose here, dragon-kin? the small dragon sent the question.

It's my home, is it not? I replied.

Home? You have been missing for years. We thought you died, the gray guard said. He tilted his head to the side, catching sight of my group. It is an interesting assemblage you've brought with you. A hunter, do you know what her family did to us? And demi-god, demon, and God?

They are friends, I said. And clearly, I'm alive. Is this any way to welcome your prince?

A rumbling laugh filled the space, but he said nothing.

Prince? the smaller guard asked. With the royal family dead, that makes you last in line for the throne.

CHAPTER 18

Samantha

Raiden circled his tail tighter, and I had a feeling he was having a conversation with the two dragons that joined us. I climbed over him and circled his body to face them. The small one reared back, and a quick burst of fire flowed from it as soon as I came into view. The large gray one roared an ear splitting sound that echoed against the rock that surrounded us. That reaction was to me, and it shocked me still, my hands over my ears, in case he did it again.

Bellamy was right behind me, and he pushed me behind him, holding up his palms.

"She isn't here to harm you," he said out loud, and I had a feeling it was for my benefit more than theirs. "She isn't the same as the one that came before."

A rumble built in Raiden, and it felt like this straightforward mission was going to turn into a bloodbath if we didn't stop it.

"Wait! I don't know what is going on, but we don't need to fight or hurt each other," I said. I went to step out from behind Bellamy to face them, but Alastor snagged my wrist and held me back. Lex joined Bellamy in front of me, and Cerberus pressed into my leg. Brook had magic swirling in her palm as she moved next to them. My strong, badass best friend was ready to protect me.

"You are not safe here. I had heard the rumors once upon a time, but I didn't think they were true," he said, low enough for my ears only.

"What do you mean?" I asked.

"It was a hunter that killed the dragon-kin's royal family," Bellamy answered.

His words rang in my ears as my blood rushed through my veins at a frantic pace, and my breath turned more panicked than calm. Alastor held me against him, and I realized my legs had given out. When fire flowed from Raiden, drawing an obvious line between us, I saw spots.

"We will protect you," Alastor whispered.

"But why would a hunter come here and do that?" And in my lifetime, which meant I knew the hunter, they were a part of my family and strong enough to face the whole dragon-kin society. My clothes felt too tight as the meaning of that sunk in. My family was responsible for Raiden's loss. Tears ran unchecked down my cheeks. How could he be with me if he knew that now? Why was he still protecting me?

"Dragon scales sell for a lot on the black market, and royal scales hold more power," Alastor answered me.

I was going to be sick. He held me as I doubled over, emptying the contents of my stomach all over the red ground as I broke. I was lost in my own world, unaware of what was happening, only hoping that while I fell apart, we all didn't die. I knew of only two hunters that were strong enough for that heinous crime. Both still breathed.

It couldn't be my mother, could it? Would she have accepted Raiden as her own when he was so young if she knew what he was? When had she found out? Was she evil? The questions just kept coming as my men and best friend faced the danger I should be facing. I pushed away at the overwhelming emotions that flooded me and squared my shoulders. I swiped at the tears on my face and pulled away from Alastor, pushing through the line of defense.

There were more dragons now. At least ten circling in the air and six on the surrounding ground. We wouldn't make it out of this alive if they attacked. And apparently, I was the issue, because it was as if time slowed to a stop as I separated myself from my companions.

"Stop! Don't fight. They have nothing to do with this. You want me, I'll come willingly." My voice broke, betraying me, and I cleared my throat. "I didn't know what happened to you, and I'm sorry to bring that trauma back. Rai, I'm sorry, my family did this to you." I faced my dragon, my protector, even when I didn't know it, and my first love. My heart shattered on the ground between us as I fell to my knees, unable to contain anything. Then he was there, gathering me into his arms, brushing my hair from my face as he held me.

"Shh, this is not on you, Samantha. I've never blamed you," Rai said. His skin was warm against mine as he traced my jawline.

"You knew?"

"Yes," he said. The answer was so simple and straightforward. I searched his face for any trace of a lie, but found none. He knew, and it hadn't changed how he felt. "You are not the monster that came here intent on destruction and murder. But my dragon-kin do not see a difference. They will in time. They will love you as I do."

He sounded like he was staying here and not coming back. This wasn't just a quick trip.

"As the last in line for the throne and your future King, I command you to leave my companions be." Raiden stood to his full height and faced the dragons.

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