9.

Sabrina

S omething is wrong at Clan Thunderstorm.

We knew this when we left, of course. It’s the reason we chose to come here. Still, as Reece takes my hand, and he begins to guide me toward what we’re guessing is the front of the clan’s headquarters, I feel like I’m going to choke on the tension in the woods.

Something bad is happening.

When the Fablestone Clan was dealing with Lucky, we fought with everything we had. It wasn’t easy, and it took ages, but the world of dragons is better now that one group of evil scientists is gone.

Could there really be another?

I haven’t expressed my suspicions out loud. I haven’t shared my fear. It’s been a few years since we fought Lucky. It’s been four . Four years is a long time to stay in hiding, but what if someone has been biding their time? What if they’ve been learning?

Most of all, what if they’ve been digging ?

Reece and I keep walking. I’m glad I’ve got sneakers on. The forest floor is covered with dirt and twigs, plus a few stray rocks. Reece doesn’t seem to notice the way these hit the soles of his feet, but that’s because he’s got this incredible shifter skin. Not me. My human skin is soft, delicate. If I were to attempt the same thing he is, I’d be completely screwed.

“We must be getting close,” he tells me. He looks over his shoulder at me. He smiles. He’s perfect.

“Almost there.”

“We made great time.”

“Thanks to you.”

He pauses and tugs me into his arms.

“Thank you for encouraging me,” he says.

“I’ll do anything for you, Reece. You’re my everything.”

He doesn’t know just how badly I need him and Wilson. Then again, we are fated mates, so maybe he completely knows. All I know is that without the two of them, my world would be so much dimmer than it is.

He’s bright.

Kind.

And he’s a good leader. He knows when to offer support, and he understands when to stand back and let others take the initiative. I’m glad he let Wilson fly without us because we both know Wilson stresses. Flying alone gave him the opportunity to focus without carrying us.

Reece seems ready for anything. Now that we’re getting close to Thunderstorm, there’s a sort of palpable tension in the air.

He’s still tense, but now that he’s had the chance to get off, he should be feeling stronger and stronger. Shifters are an interesting crew. When a shifter is with their mate physically, it does more than just give them emotional satisfaction. This is one of the strangest things I’ve learned since living among the dragons. Being intimate also restores them on a deeper level. It can help bring back their strength, their awareness.

Besides, Reece needs to stay brave. Bold. Dragons can’t shapeshift when they’re scared, and while Reece isn’t a dragon, he still might get performance anxiety and struggle to shift into his tiger form if things get too rough. I need him to stay calm and collected no matter what we face.

We both need this.