Trinity: Heart of the Shifters (11 page)

“Sir, may I make a suggestion?” Roarke said and waited for Braden to blow up.

Braden looked out the window for a few more minutes and then turned with a sigh. “I guess I have no choice. I need some ideas.”

***

Lagon walked to the Alphas room and knocked respectfully. He was a little miffed about leaving his mates cuddled in each other"s arms resting. He really wanted to crawl into bed and join them. He was exhausted. Soon, he thought and waited. He already had plans in motion for their new house. Cami and he had spent a long time talking when the others were still with doctors or resting. She had assured him that her mates would allow them to build a house wherever he wanted as long as it was in the compound.

The re-enforcements had arrived very quickly. Ryan and Ariel had been working their tails off organizing and making sure the grounds were covered. It wasn"t until this morning that they had completed a list of people who were allowed in the gates. Ryan and Ariel had called a lot of the Packs, Prides, and Dens around and asked for temporary help. So far, they had received at least a hundred shifters to guard. Dalton"s Sidhe family also was providing help.

Lagon had been in charge of balancing the guards. So he had time to walk the grounds.

He found the perfect place for a new home for him and his mates. It was in the corner, surrounded by trees. The best part of it was there was a hidden cave on the property.

He smiled when he thought about last night.

Lagon had shifted and flew to his cave and begun moving all of his belongings late in the night. When he flew them back here and stored them in the cave that was so close, one time Cami had caught sight of him. Thank the Gods the fog covered him a little. She thought it was some strange bird. When he shifted and entered the Bed and Breakfast, he found the little Alpha looking through a bird"s book. He chuckled and played along.

He could not wait to see her face when he told them he was a dragon. It was the one thing he looked forward to, after all these years he was able to come out in the open to people he would be working with. His solitary existence was going to be over; he would be able to shift when he pleased.

Lagon knocked again and waited. He could hear heated voices inside and wondered if he should return later. The door flung open and Cami stood there with her hands on her hips looking like a pissed off little Alpha. He raised his eyebrows and smiled. “Need me to come back?”

“No. Dipshit one and dipshit two over there are chomping at the bit to interrogate you.

I tried to tell them that you are on our side, but they are being assholes. So come on in and join the madness.” Cami said and swept her arm to the side to let him in the room.

Lagon laughed, bent, and kissed her on the forehead, which earned him growls from the beds against the far wall. “Don"t worry, my Alpha. I think your mates will be pleasantly surprised in a few moments.” He whispered and drew back and walked into the room.

“What the fuck were you doing kissing our mate?” Quin bellowed and went to rise from the bed. Cami stood with her arms folded and tapped her foot glaring at her mates. “Let me tell you something, mister.” She screeched, which stopped Quin in his tracks. “You step one foot out of that bed and you will have to take up permanent residence on the couch. Lagon kissed me on the forehead because that is his way of showing respect to me. We have already discussed this and I gave him permission to do that. It is none of your business who I allow to show me affection and respect. Remember that.” She said and finished by pointing her finger at them and then leaning against the wall.

Quin cleared his throat and lay back down. He looked appropriately chastised and said smoothly, “Cami, you can"t fault me for wondering why a stranger is kissing my wife.

Besides, you know how much I hate the couch. I"m wounded. You have to take care of me.” He finished in a whine. Jaden laughed and slapped Quin on the back of the head.

“Dude, let me handle this one. So, Lagon, who are you and what do you want? If we don"t like the answers, we are going to rip off the lips that you just placed on our lovely mate and then throw your ass out of here.” Jaden said and looked at Cami in surprise when she growled at him. “What, that was better.” He said and looked at Quin for support who was rolling his eyes.

“Seriously,” Lagon said and raised his hands in surrender. “Once you hear what I have to say, you will feel differently. Can we stop the hostility for thirty seconds and then if you don"t like what I have to say, I will leave.”

Lagon, of course, knew this was a lie, but the Alphas had been hurt, and they were feeling like they should not be lying in a bed waiting for word about their Pack. They were feeling helpless. It was a bad place to be when you were Alpha, so Lagon cut them some slack. He even went so far as to bow his head to show them respect also. The Alphas relaxed against their pillows that were propping them up. Lagon knew that not many people were allowed in here while the Alphas recovered. To show this much weakness could be detrimental to their leadership. Wolves and other animals instinctively would want to Challenge them. No matter if they were the Chosen or not.

That was why there were so many guards around the building and compound to keep people out. They could scent wounded shifters and though they may not want to, their primal instincts would take over. Quin, although the strongest wolf, would not be able to handle a challenge right now.

“So what is so important that we will not want to rip you limb from limb?” Quin said and folded his arms across his body. Jaden did the same thing and Cami growled at them again. Lagon wanted to laugh and the two Alphas. He was a dragon, a dragon sent by the Gods. They could not hurt him. He gave them the respect that they deserved for being the Alphas and strong wolves, but if he wanted, he could rip them limb from limb too. Of course, he had no plans on doing that because the Gods would then kill him. He was here for a specific purpose. To protect the children of the Chosen.

Lagon walked until he stood in front of the Alphas bed and stood straight. He raised his hand and snapped and a scroll appeared in his hands. Both of the Alphas sat up more.

They looked at him in surprise. “Hang on. You are a shifter of some kind, I can scent it.

I have not been able to place it, but you are a shifter. How is it that you have magic as well?”

“Because I am not your normal shifter. In fact, I am one of a kind. Made for one purpose only. Although the Gods have graced me with two mates because of my destiny.

The destiny that intertwines with yours and your families.” Lagon continued.

Quin and Jaden frowned but did not interrupt. Cami stepped forward and laid her hand on his arm. He felt the acceptance from her flow though him, and he knew all would be fine.

Lagon unrolled the scroll and handed it to Quin. The Alpha raised his eyebrows but read what was on the paper out loud.

My Dearest New Council,

We realize that we have given you a huge task to complete. In some ways, it must feel overwhelming to try to fulfill your destiny. We know that you will succeed, just as we know that you will face great peril in the months to come.

Now is the time for your final gift from us to help you along the way. We will be unable to help you any more in the future, what happens is all up to you. Use your gifts wisely, for they were chosen for each of you with care.

Lagon is the only one of his kind, although you may be tempted to use him in other ways, we implore you to let him do what he was meant to do. If you take him off his task, someone will suffer.

“It is unsigned.” Quin said and looked at Lagon questioningly.

“Well, you can"t expect the Gods to actually sign something like that. It is assumed.” Lagon said waving his hand and the scroll disappeared.

“So what are you and what it your task?” Jaden smirked at him.

Lagon threw back his head and laughed. “I can"t show you inside. I am going to walk outside. Just stay where you are and look out your window.” Quin rolled his eyes and waved. Cami held the door for him and whispered, “What are you doing?”

“Just watch the window.” He smiled and walked outside. Lagon went to the side of the house and looked around. There were a few guards who nodded at him but then turned away. When no one was watching, he shifted. The only ones who could see him were the children and the Council members, so he was not too worried about being seen and scaring the shit out of people.

In his dragon form, he stood the height of the top floor windows. Lagon walked around the house gently until he was standing in front of the Alphas window, which Cami must have opened. He leaned forward and looked inside and then took a deep breath and blew smoke from his nose into the room. Cami was standing the closest and began giggling and laughing. Quin and Jaden fell out of their bed and scrambled to grab their mate away from a perceived threat. Cami just slapped them away and walked closer to the window.

“So cool.” She murmured and reached out her hand and petted his long snout. Jaden and Quin yelled at her to stop and demanded that she return to their side. “Babies. It"s just a dragon.” She said and continued to pet him.

“A dragon?” Quin bellowed and looked at Lagon. “Get your ass back in here.” Lagon nodded and went back to the side of the house, shifted and dressed. Smiling he walked back up to the Alphas door that was standing open waiting for him. Cami squealed and jumped in his arms when he came in and started asking him a million questions at once. Lagon laughed and set the small Alpha on the ground and turned to her mates.

“What the fuck was that?” Jaden said with a look of awe on his face.

“My dragon.” Lagon replied slowly like Jaden was stupid. “So here"s the deal. I am a dragon, my purpose and only purpose is to protect your children. Of course, now that I have mates, I would protect them too, but I can"t overstep my bounds. I am allowed to protect my mates in human form and only human form. I have studied for years and am good at wielding a sword. However, in my dragon form, I will protect your children with my life. No one can see me, but the Council members and the children. To everyone else I am invisible. The humans could not deal with me. I am the Keeper of the Chosen"s Children. While you are doing what you have to do, I will make sure that nothing happens to them. I am their Guardian.”

Cami clapped her hands and said, “I knew the children liked you for a reason. Every time you walked into a room, they would stop what they were doing and demand your attention. This is so awesome! We have a dragon on the Council!” Quin and Jaden looked at each other, then back at Lagon, and began laughing. Cami turned and put her hands on her hips and glared at them. “What the heck are you to laughing at, and I would make it good, the couch is calling your names.” Quin held up his hand and continued to laugh. “No, we are not laughing at Lagon. We are laughing at the picture of our children crawling and playing with a big dragon. The Gods sent us a big babysitter?”

Jaden and Quin began laughing again and Lagon smiled at them. “No, not a babysitter.

A Guardian. Although I like playing with the children. I refuse to change diapers, unless they are my own, so don"t go firing the nannies quite yet. In the coming months, things are going to get dangerous. The children must be protected. You can"t worry about them when you are in a battle. That is what I am here for.” Quin and Jaden nodded and then Jaden asked, “And your mates. Have you claimed them yet?”

Lagon shook his head and said, “Trinity just woke up. I have to talk to them about a few things before we mate. I am asking for permission to reveal myself to the rest of the Council and then deal with my mates.”

Quin and Jaden nodded and then held out their hands to him. Lagon reached over, shook them, and smiled. “So no other questions?”

“Oh, I have a million. But I can wait.” Quin laughed when his mate bounced up and down.

“I know, go back outside and change and let"s scare the shit out of the rest of the Council. Everyone needs a laugh right now.” Cami said and clapped.

Lagon looked at the little Alpha, smiled indulgently, went back outside, and changed.

He went to the Alphas room and peaked his head in. Quin and Jaden laughed when Cami squealed again and clapped her hands. “Jo and Tey first. I heard them go next door a few minutes ago.”

Lagon nodded and rolled his eyes at the Alphas who shrugged and smirked at him. This was embarrassing, but entertaining. Lagon guessed the introduction to the New Council was either going to be difficult or easy. This was proving to be fun.

Lagon heard Cami talking to her friends and waited until the window was opened. He stepped to the side and then listened as Cami explained that they had a new member of the Council, Lagon and how he was different. She explained everything but that he was a dragon. Cami called his name and he stepped around the sill and blew smoke out of his nose. Tey and Jo jumped. Jo shrieked and ran behind her mate who stood stunned.

Cami clapped, laughed, and said, “Say hello to our new dragon.”

“Holy shit!” Tey muttered and then looked at Cami.

“People to meet and make scream. Come to dinner tonight with your questions.” The Alpha said and laughed again when Jo peaked out from behind her mate and smiled at him. “Too cool.”

Lagon laughed and went to the next window. They all pretty much went the same way.

Cami would walk into the room and lay it all out and then Lagon would step around to the window and scare the shit out of the Chosen. Cami found it humorous; Lagon just went along with it. It seemed to make the air around the compound lighter somehow, the Chosen were laughing. Cami got the greatest kick out of showing the babies his dragon form. They were not scared. They wanted a ride.

By the time he reached his mates window, he was getting tired. He looked inside and Cami walked in and gently woke his mates and then pointed out the window and walked out, shutting the door quietly. His mates turned and saw him in his form for the first time and smiled. Trinity threw open the window and held out her hand. He leaned in so his mate could touch him.