AllFreeNovel
Share Us
I feel eyes on me as I enter the crack in the rock, but I don’t turn around, keeping my gaze fully focused on the path before me.
By the time I come through the other side, a large group of people are waiting for me. I keep my hands at my sides, fists unclenched, hoping that I appear as non-threatening as possible.
“Why are you here?” A male voice booms through the crowd.
They are gathered in the middle of a clearing, surrounded by their homes. A sea of curious, wide eyes study me. They must’ve already been gathered for some reason because there is no way they could have gathered this quickly after just hearing me approach.
“I am looking for the family of Loukas.” I don’t raise my voice above my regular talking volume, knowing that every single one of these shifters can hear me perfectly fine.
“For what purpose?” A female voice calls out this time, and I watch as the younger woman I saw in the room with Loukas’ mother steps forward.
“I have his daughter.” I don’t get a chance to explain any further before sharp spears are thrust forward, all pointing at me. Before anything else can happen, a brown-haired menace drops down from the sky, blurring from one person to the next, leaving them in heaps on the ground.
“Rayne,” I shriek.
“What? I didn’t kill them. They’re just knocked out.” As if to prove that point, she walks up and spins in front of me. “See, no blood.”
My hand reaches up and slaps my forehead. “Not. The. Point.”
“What is the meaning of this?” The male voice that called out when I first got here booms, walking closer to who I’m assuming is Loukas’ sister and crossing his arms.
“Sorry about that. My friend can be a little…” I look over at Rayne searching for the word. “Protective.”
“You come here, proudly announce that you have kidnapped my niece, and then dare to say this woman is protecting you when she attacks our warriors?”
“First of all, you should be thankful I just knocked them out. I am capable of much worse.” Rayne hisses, displaying her teeth.
“Rayne,” I whisper-shout. “Sorry. I never said I kidnapped Amelia. You didn’t let me finish.”
“Then what did you mean?” Loukas’ sister questions.
“You’re right. It was a poor choice of wording. Loukas asked me to take his daughter to safety and to warn you that Antonia will probably start looking for her here.”
“Where is she, then?” Loukas’ sister's voice is full of accusation, and I can tell she doesn’t believe me.
“She’s…” I begin, but before I can finish, a large dragon lands in front of me, the ground rumbling with the weight of him as a small girl launches herself from his back.
“Ya-Ya!”
An older woman, who I already believe to be Loukas’ mom, rushes forward, catches the small girl mid-air, and squeezes her to her chest before peppering her head with kisses.
Immediately, the murmurs start.
“We’re not safe while she’s here.”
“Send her back.”
“The Daughters of Eris will kill us all.”
It’s the louder ones demanding that they trade Amelia back to Antonia to guarantee their safety that really start to piss me off. Luckily, I’m not the only one.
A mighty growl emanates from Andres’ throat.
As one, the voices stop as fear permeates the air.
“My King,” Loukas’ mother cries out, throwing herself on the ground in front of him and taking Amelia with her—or trying to.
“Silly, Ya-Ya. That’s not a king. That’s Andres,” Amelia giggles, running over to the giant dragon and wrapping—or trying to wrap—her little arms around his thick legs.
