shift happens 03 - no were to run (6 page)

“I know it will work.”

“They cannot under any circumstances know about Daniel,” I stated firmly.

My life was expendable. My son’s was not.

“As you wish.” Seth nodded and pulled me into his strong arms.

I relaxed and let his steady warmth sink into me. However, something held me back from telling him about emptying my father’s coffers. As much as I trusted Seth, if the Resistance didn’t accept me, I still needed a plan. Seth was part of the Resistance. If they denied me, I would not ask him to choose. Daniel was my first priority and no matter how wonderful Seth was, he would always come second.

“Can you come to dinner with me at Essie’s? All my friends will be there and Daniel will too. He’ll be so disappointed if he doesn’t see you.”

“Wouldn’t miss it for the world. I need to meet these Wolves and Vampyres that accept Dragons,” Seth said, squeezing me tight. “I’ll leave after dinner and you’ll meet me at midnight tonight.”

“Where am I meeting you?” I asked, silently beginning to second-guess my quick acquiescence.

“Chicago.”

Thank God, I knew Chicago well. If I needed to make a quick escape, it would be far easier in a city I was familiar with. Seth might be correct. I hadn’t been successful on my own. Even if I drained my father’s assets, he would still have a small group of loyal followers. It could be strategically outstanding if I had an army of my own. His death would be more assured and I could die on my 500
^th
birthday knowing Daniel would be safe.

But if Seth would mate with me, I might get a happily ever after…

“You ready to meet my ragtag pack?” I asked as I pushed my hopeful thoughts away and focused on the man in front of me.

“Am I?” he questioned with a lopsided grin.

“Probably not, but I can promise you’ll have fun.”

With one last sweet hug he let me go and extended his hand. “Let’s do it. No one is going to believe me if I regale them with this story, but I’ve been waiting a long time to break bread with a species other than Dragon.”

I giggled at his proper speech and took his hand. I knew I was older by at least a hundred years, but Seth was an old fashioned Dragon all the way. A gentleman was a new thing for me—and I liked it.

Steadfast and kind were good. Fireworks exploded. I needed no more painful infernos in my life. Seth was the man for me.

***

“My gay-dar says Seth’s as straight as an arrow and my eyes say he’s hotter than Satan’s underpants on fire,” Dwayne whispered, fanning himself dramatically as we plated the hors d’oeuvres Essie had ordered in from the one fancy restaurant in Hung.

I popped a shrimp into my mouth and grinned at Dwayne.

“Dude,” Essie gushed as she emptied containers of steak, potatoes and braised veggies onto platters. “He’s amazing—funny, hot and so good with Daniel. If I was into cross species dating, I would have jumped his bones so fast.”

“Excuse me,” Hank growled. “Your mate is standing in the kitchen.”

“You’re the only one for me, Sexy Pants,” Essie reassured him with a laugh and a quick grab of her jealous Wolf’s ass. “I’m just doing a compare and contrast for Dima.”

“Will I ever understand women?” Hank muttered as he wandered back to the den with beers for the guys.

“Nope, not unless you start playing for my team,” Dwayne called out as Junior and Sandy rushed into the kitchen.

“Dangit, there’s been a break in at the hardware store. I’m gonna have to skedaddle,” Junior said as he grabbed a steak and basically swallowed it whole.

“Humans or Weres?” Essie asked, slapping his hand before he could pilfer another steak.

“Humans,” Sandy said as she quickly ate a few sausage stuffed mushroom caps. “Oh my God, these are so good. Sorry we’re going to miss dinner.”

“You’re going too?” I asked trying to hide my grin.

“Um…well,” she stuttered as a blush began to rise on her pretty face.

“Yep, tonight is mine and Sandy’s first date. We’re just gonna apprehend the dumbasses, throw them in the overnight lock up and then go make out for a few hours,” Junior confirmed with a thumbs up.

“That’s not exactly how it’s going to go,” Sandy warned him with her eyes flashing. “You
might
get a goodnight kiss if you behave, but that’s it, buster.”

“She is so into me,” Junior said with a shit-eating grin.

Her eye roll beat all the eye rolls I’d ever seen. My bark of laughter was echoed by both Essie and Dwayne.

“Let me tell ya something,” Junior said to me as he handed me a squirt gun and a large bottle of solution. “That sumbitch in there is a good man. I like him. Not really crazy ̓bout you going to Chicago, but if Seth says you’ll be okay, I’m apt to believe him. But you’re gonna take this Dragon shit with you. I like Seth, but I’ve never met the rest of the flying bastards. And if you have time, go get yourself a hotdog from that stand behind Wrigley Field. I dream about those wieners.”

Junior’s way with words would never cease to render me silent.

The solution Junior referred to was something he’d developed to prohibit a Dragon’s shift. Every time I doubted his brilliance, I just needed to remember this fact. When I’d first met Essie and Hank, they’d made me drink the solution. It worked. The vile liquid left me defenseless. While I didn’t blame them, I hated them for it. However, Essie had risked her life to save me when I was unable to defend myself. It showed her true character and she’d gained my fickle trust.

Hence the beginning of our unlikely friendship.

“I’ve also got some poison tipped daggers I want you to strap to your inner thighs,” Essie added. “I’d make you take a gun, but they’re worthless on Dragons.”

“I’m hoping I won’t have to use any of those items, but I’ll take them gladly,” I said as I grabbed another piece of shrimp and then thought better of it.

“And I’m going to dress you,” Dwayne announced. “Seth said it’s a formal affair and what I’m going to put you in will defend you as much as any weapon.”

“Thanks,” I said as the reality began to hit.

My appetite had disappeared. The thought of what I was about to do weighed heavily. My life was expendable if it kept Daniel alive.

Junior and Sandy left after a round of hugs and I idly wondered if I would ever see them again.

“Essie, Dwayne, I have no plans of dying tonight, but,” I started only to be cut off.

“Daniel will always be safe as long as we both are alive,” Essie promised.

“I’ll move him immediately if you’re not back by morning,” Dwayne said in a more serious tone than I’d ever heard from him. “The Cows already know about Daniel and are so excited they scooped all the poop out of the yard so he can run freely. You
are
going to come back. I’ll accept nothing less, but Daniel still has to visit. My girls will be devastated if they don’t get to babysit.”

“It’s a deal,” I said, forcing a smile to my lips. If tonight was successful, my father’s end was in sight. I needed to focus on that. “Let’s go back in. I want to be with Daniel.”

“Good idea,” Essie said as she handed me the platter of vegetables and then grabbed the steaks and potatoes herself. “We need to save Seth from Granny. She’s flirting up a storm. I’m a little concerned she might feel the need to do a show.”

“Sweet Kathie Lee and Hoda on wine drinking Tuesdays, that would be mortifyingly fabu,” Dwayne squealed as he hightailed out of the kitchen.

“Thank you, Essie,” I said as I met her eyes and tried to tell her more than any mere words could express.

“You’re welcome, Dragon,” she replied with a smile and a very serious look in her eyes. “I will love and kill for your son. You
will
come back, but if you don’t, Daniel will always be protected. You have my word.”

“I’m not sure you know how much that means to me,” I told her. “One day when you have children, you’ll understand the magnitude of the gift you’ve given me. Hopefully I can repay you, but I can’t imagine how.”

“Live,” she said simply. “That’s the gift I want. I want you to stay in my life.”

“I’ll do my best.”

“Works for me,” she said lightening the heavy vibe. “Oh hell no, I hear music. Granny’s gonna dance. Move your ass or everyone is gonna see her no-nos.”

Granny was dancing, but thankfully she was totally clothed. She was teaching Daniel hip-hop and Dwayne was filming with his phone diligently. The laughter was loud and my eyes got misty. Hank and Seth were in deep discussion and the mutual admiration was obvious.

I wanted to stop time and savor this moment forever. In my mind I imagined having a little house down the road from Essie and Hank. It would have a big yard for Daniel and a swing set. Seth and I would figure out some kind of business that would be socially acceptable. Essie and Hank would have children and Daniel would play with them. Dwayne and Granny would be the surrogate grandparents for my son and the Cows—as crazy as they were—would be his aunts. Life would be perfect.

But it was a silly dream. Perfect had never existed for me—plus I was probably a little too violent for that scenario.

Life for Dragons never worked out easily. I knew this, but I knew I could eliminate the biggest danger in my son’s and all other Dragons’ lives. Partnering with the Resistance was either going to be the most brilliant move I’d ever made or my last.

I was going to go with most brilliant. I was a Dragon who didn’t lose. I hadn’t beaten my father yet, but the new war was just beginning.

Seth’s smile warmed my heart as he patted the empty seat next to him. Cuddling up with him on the couch was homey and nice. Granny and Essie handed out food and the conversation flowed with ease.

“Here’s the invitation. The address is on it,” Seth said as the meal ended, handing me an expensive embossed card.

He pressed his lips to my forehead and then scooped Daniel up in his arms.

“See you at midnight,” I said hoping he would kiss me for real.

He didn’t, but that was okay. The way Daniel looked at him was enough for me. It had to be.

“It was astonishingly lovely to meet all of you,” Seth said as he hugged the women and shook hands with the men. “I am honored to have been asked and I am forever in your debt for your protection of Dima and Daniel. After we defeat the King, we need to have serious talks amongst our species.”

“I’m in,” Hank said. “It’s time to end the war.”

“God, it’s so
hot
when alpha guys get all serious. If I had pores I’d be sweating up a storm,” Dwayne announced as fanned himself with a wedding magazine.

“Dima, I’ll see you shortly,” Seth said as he walked toward the door. “It will be fine. I promise. It’s the way it’s supposed to be.”

“I’ll be there,” I said.

“And she’ll be looking fabulous,” Dwayne added with a wink at Seth.

“Till we meet again,” Seth told the room and then he left.

There was a brief silence and then Daniel started dancing again. I picked him up and kissed him all over his chubby face until he squealed and squirmed away. He had no clue it might be the last time we would be together, but I did.

“Daniel,” I said as I squatted down to his level. “Mommy loves you more than anything else in the whole world. I want you always to remember that. Can you do that for me?”

“Yes! Daniel woves Mommy too,” he shouted and then did a move that made me giggle.

My child was my world and I was determined to make it a better place for him. I just prayed I would live to be part of it.

“Come on, Lady Dragon, it’s time to get you gussied up,” Dwayne said as he pulled me toward Essie’s bedroom.

He was right. I needed the armor of designer duds to face the Dragons and Dwayne had plenty of armor. His taste was a little iffy, but I’d been out of the formal world for so long I was going to trust him.

Maybe I’d be able to attract Seth with something a little sexy…

Chapter 5

“God, keep me alive and on my feet tonight and I’ll owe you a big one,” I whispered to the vast starry sky.

I’d dressed with extreme care, down to the delicate diamond-encrusted choker, earrings and sky-high strappy stilettos, but suddenly I felt naked and exposed. Designer clothes were not armor. Fabric wouldn’t protect me from fire or death, no matter how expensive the material. Hell, the dress I was wearing barely covered my body. I was terrified I’d flash boob any moment, but when in Rome…

The huge warehouse on the outskirts of Chicago appeared run down and shoddy. I’d almost tripped twice on the crumbling asphalt that led to the rusted out door. In contrast the parking lot was full of expensive cars and limos. The single streetlamp that had illuminated the area at one time was riddled with bullet holes and only the evening sky lit my way. Even the golden glow of the full moon did little to disguise the poor condition of the building.

However, I’d learned early in life that exteriors could be wildly deceiving.

“Son of a bitch,” I mumbled as my stupidly insubstantial heel got caught in a loose pile of gravel. “Stilettos suck ass.”

“Swearing isn’t very lady-like,” a deep voice whispered from behind as a strong hand closed around my throat stopping the little bit of forward progress I was making—not to mention my breath.