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Marco chuckled. “Don’t worry, princess. Money is not an object for any ofus.”
He paid for our new gear, which thankfully Sunridge had in large supply, being so close to prime hiking and camping ground. Then we drove over to the grocery store. I stayed in my seat as the guys started to clamberout.
“Grab me some spicy beef jerky and Doritos if they have them,” I said. “Otherwise I trust your judgment. I want to give Kylie a heads up before we’re potentially out of cell towerrange.”
Nate’s head snapped around. “You shouldn’t hang back alone. I’ll stay in the car withyou.”
I was tempted to tell him I’d be fine, but the fact was I might not be. We’d already been attacked by a group of rogue shifters on our way into town—presumably the same group that had killed my fathers and my sisters all those years ago. That was what had sent my mother on the run with me. You couldn’t really blame her, considering thecircumstances.
I’d managed to complete my shift into a dragon for the first time to fend off today’s attack, and I’d totally fried their apparent leader, but a few of them had gotten away. And we didn’t know for sure how many others there might bearound.
The rogues didn’t play by shifter rules. They were willing to use weapons on their own kind, even guns, which the alphas had told me was strictly forbidden. Shifters healed quickly, but the sealed wound on my arm where I’d caught a bullet stillached.
So I smiled at Nate and said, “Sure. Just don’t be offended if I’m giving all my attention to myphone.”
Nate reached over the back of the seat to squeeze my shoulder. “I wouldn’t get in the way of you talking to yourfriend.”
The bear shifter stayed behind me while the other guys headed into the store. I pulled out my phone.Hey, Ky. How are youfeeling?
My best friend had been with us a couple days ago during the first attempt the rogue shifters had made on my life. They’d nearly killed her. Which was why I’d insisted she head home to Brooklyn once she’d healed up instead of coming along withus.
She texted back almost immediately.I’m doing good! I’d say 95% at this point.She added a winking emoji.Should be 100% by tomorrow. What have you been up to? Did you make it to Sunridge? What did you find there? I needanswers!!!
I had to smile. Kylie’s hyper energy came through clearly even in text form. I could picture her so easily, lounging on one of the porch chairs in the shifter village where she’d been recovering, grinning as bright as her neon pink pixiecut.
As I tried to decide what to say, my smile faded. I didn’t really want to worry my bestie by telling her about the second attack, especially when she was too far away to do anything. She’d already come running to my rescue once. Right now she needed to focus on making sureshestayed okay. But there was one thing I had toshare.
I managed a full shift this morning. You’re talking to a bona fide dragonnow!
Holy shit! That’s amazing, Ren. I so cannot wait for you to demonstrate forme.
First thing when I get back. But we might be gone for a while longer. My mom left another message for me here. There’s this stone with a picture on it that seems to be tied to the dragon shifters somehow... Another trail for us tofollow.
Any sign of your mom herself?Kylieasked.
I bit my lip.No. It doesn’t really look good. The way she talked in the message she left... It sounded like someone was after her. And that she planned on coming back to me if she could. So since shedidn’t...
I’m so sorry, Ren. But maybe it’s not as bad as itlooks.
I wanted to think that, so badly. That Mom was imprisoned or forced into deeper hiding or something else that had stopped her from returning to New York City—something other than her being dead. But the farther we came without finding any recent trace of her presence, the harder itgot.
I’ll keep hoping until I know for sure,I wrote.But anyway, we might be out of service range for a few days. So don’t worry if you don’t hear from me! Just keep looking afteryourself.
I’m on it. You take care of you too. Although it’s hard to be too worried when I know you’ve got those four hunks of manliness chomping to defend you. And get it on with you. Any progress in that area?Devilemoji.
I rolled my eyes, but my cheeks had flushed at the same time. There had been, actually. I’d taken my first major step toward claiming my destiny as leader of the shifters last night—by officially claiming Aaron as mymate.
In other words, we’d had sex. Really, really good sex, that still sent a giddy quiver through me when I thought back toit.
But talking about my first time via text just felt wrong. That kind of girl talk, I wanted to have face-to-face with mybestie.
More on that when I get back, Iwrote.
Aw, way to leave a girl hanging! I want all the deets the second I seeyou.
Ipromise.
There might be a lot more details by the time I got to hang out with Kylie again. To take on my full role as dragon shifter, I was supposed to be getting fully intimate with all four of the guys. And Marco and Nate, at least, had shown plenty of enthusiasm in that area. But just losing my V-card had been a big step. As much as I was drawn toward all of the guys—even West—I wasn’t about to jump in the sack with all of them at once just likethat.
