12. Draven

CHAPTER TWELVE

DRAVEN

I soared through the night sky, the cool mountain air brushing against my scales.

It annoyed me that I had to keep a low profile whenever I transformed into my second form here in Red Vine.

In Sky Stead, there was no need for such caution.

There, the residents had relied on Zane and the protection of his dragons for over a century and were used to our kind.

All of a sudden, I pictured a future where Tobias and I could live openly, without fear or secrecy.

It was a tempting vision, because we could both have a fresh start. Tobias didn’t need to worry about bullies and I didn’t need to disguise who I was all the time.

Tobias….a pang of regret hit me. I couldn’t shake the memory of how close I came to biting him, to marking him as mine without his consent.

The anger bubbled within me, directed not at Tobias but at myself. My dragon had been relentless, pushing me to claim Tobias as our mate.

But Tobias wanted to wait, to take things at his own pace. And he deserved that respect. I had to remind myself that patience was key.

Tobias needed time to process everything, and I couldn’t risk pushing him away by acting impulsively.

I firmly told my dragon that we would wait, for Tobias’s sake. To my surprise, he reluctantly agreed.

A future without Tobias... was something neither of us could imagine. Eventually, I returned to the summit where Tobias bid me farewell.

As I changed back to human form, I chuckled at the thought of my brave little wolf approaching me so fearlessly while I was in my dragon form. He really was one of a kind.

After donning my clothes, I made a quick hike back to where I parked my motorcycle.

When I was a few feet from my motorcycle, I paused, frowning as I sniffed the air.

It wasn’t Tobias’s comforting scent that enveloped me but something foreign, unsettling.

A tinge of familiarity danced at the edge of my senses, yet I couldn’t place it.

My mind raced with possibilities, each one more concerning than the last. Had someone been watching us? Following Tobias?

The thought sent a chill down my spine…and it also made me angry.

I scanned the surrounding area, half-expecting to catch a glimpse of an intruder lurking in the shadows.

But as I looked around, the woods remained silent and still, offering no clues.

Perhaps it was just my imagination. Still, I couldn’t shake the feeling of being watched, of someone lurking just out of sight.

With a shake of my head, I pushed the thoughts aside. Dwelling on paranoia wouldn’t accomplish anything.

I pulled out my cellphone. I typed out a message to Tobias, my fingers lingering over the send button for a moment before I finally pressed it.

Draven: Hey, just finished my flight. How’s your morning going?

Each passing second felt like an eternity as I anxiously awaited his response. Should I have called instead?

Would that seem too desperate? Just as doubts started creeping in, my phone buzzed with a reply from Tobias.

Relief flooded through me as I quickly read his message.

Tobias: I slept well. Woke up to a crowded trailer this morning. I’ll tell you all about it later. Miss you.

Draven: Miss you too. I’m looking forward to hearing all about it.

After replying to Tobias, I got on my motorcycle and dismissed the mysterious scent from my mind.

Tobias was safe and sound. That was all that mattered.

I returned to my room at the inn, and figured I could catch up on some sleep but my phone vibrated.

A call from Zane. I answered the call, expecting Zane's usual question.

“Draven, I need a favor,” Zane said and that surprised me.

"What's going on, Zane?" I asked.

"It's about Doyle. He hasn't checked in for two days, and I'm starting to worry. Normally, he's forgetful about these things, but I sensed something this morning through the pack bonds,” Zane explained.

"A disturbance in the pack bonds? What do you mean?" I asked, frowning.

"I can't explain it well. It's like a feeling of unease, like something's not right. But with the distance between us, I can't reach him telepathically to find out what's happening,” Zane said.

He sounded a little panicked, and that worried me. Zane always seemed so calm and in control at all times.

"I see. So, you think something's happened to him?" I asked.

"I'm not sure, but I need you to check on him. Last time he called, he told me he had a lead on Belladonna. Said he was heading to Whispering Pines. Can you go investigate?" Zane asked.

"Of course, Zane. I'll head out there right away,” I said.

“I would go there myself but…” Zane trailed off.

“I understand,” I immediately answered.

Zane had a mate and two kids. He also had to hold down the fort. The Sky Stead pack was small.

Zane was the lead alpha, and its only members were me, Doyle, and Ivan, who was seldom around and was currently somewhere in Europe.

"Thank you, Draven. Keep me updated, and be careful.” Zane paused. “I forgot to ask, but how are you?”

"Will do and I’m stable. Better than ever,” I said.

After we ended the call, Zane forwarded me Doyle's last text. He mentioned meeting up with his contact at a bar in Whispering Pines.

I checked the location of Whispering Pines on my navigation application. A chill went down my spine as I realized it was just two towns away from Red Vine.

The memories of Belladonna's control flooded back, threatening to overwhelm me.

I could feel the panic rising, the urge to flee, but I forced myself to calm down.

I reminded myself that I hadn't lied to Zane. I really was doing better, and things with Tobias were going so well.

Zane had done so much for me, accepting a stray like me into his group and even helping me resettle in Sky Stead if I wanted.

I could do this favor for Zane without breaking down.

After calming down, I sent Tobias a text, informing him of where I was going. This time, he immediately rang me up.

"Draven, should I be worried?" Tobias asked after I updated him about the situation.

"There's no real danger yet until I find more clues," I reassured him, but I couldn't shake the feeling that he could read the lie in my voice.

"Okay, just take care of yourself and stay in touch," Tobias said.

"I'll be back by tomorrow at the latest," I said and ended the call, wondering why I made him that promise.

I left the inn and walked to my ride. I straddled my motorcycle again, the engine roaring to life beneath me.

Riding past the main town area, my thoughts drifted to the encounter with Belladonna, how defenseless I had felt in her presence.

My fire, claws, and fangs were useless against her magic, and I refused to be caught off guard again.

As I rode, a familiar shop caught my eye. "Mystic Moon Emporium," it read in elegant script.

I remembered passing by it before, but now, with Belladonna's threat looming over me, I felt compelled to stop.

Parking my motorcycle, I stepped into the dimly lit interior of the shop, shelves filled with jars of herbs and potions lining the walls.

The air was thick with the scent of incense, making me cough a little.

Memories of my encounter with Belladonna flooded my mind, the feeling of helplessness I had experienced in her presence.

If I was going to find out what happened to Doyle, I couldn't afford to be unprepared again.

I examined some of the shop’s offerings and I recalled Lucinda, Tobias' co-worker and a member of the local coven. Perhaps this shop belonged to her coven.

I approached the counter where an elderly woman in flowing robes stood.

"Welcome to Mystic Moon Emporium," she greeted me warmly. "How may I assist you today?"

She paused, studying me closer, and a knowing smile played at the corners of her lips.

"Ah, so you're our draconic visitor Lucinda mentioned. I'm Darcy, owner of this shop and the head of our coven," she said,

Darcy extended a hand in greeting, but I hesitated, a flicker of apprehension coursing through me.

Memories of Belladonna's insidious magic flooded my mind, and I was loath to shake her hand, fearing what unseen power might be transferred through the touch.

Darcy didn't seem to take offense.

In fact, she seemed to be studying my chest intently, and I followed her gaze, realizing in my haste to dress earlier, I'd forgotten to button up part of my shirt.

I clenched my jaw, feeling exposed and vulnerable, but there was a flicker of understanding in her ancient blue eyes.

"I see, one of them has done a number on you," Darcy said, voice soft.

By "one of them," she meant a black witch.

"This was a bad idea," I muttered, turning away in frustration, but her next words stopped me in my tracks.

"I'm sorry for whatever happened to you, dragon. It's a miracle you survived one of them, when so few have," she said, her tone carrying a somber note. "I lost a sister to one of them before."

I turned back to her, and the grief in her eyes seemed genuine. I decided to take a chance and trust this woman.

"What do you need?" she asked briskly.

"Protection," I muttered. "Against one of them. One of my friends might be in trouble."

Darcy asked for more details, her expression urging me to divulge further information.

However, I shook my head, refusing to disclose any more than necessary.

While I didn't consider Darcy an outright enemy, and I acknowledged she wasn't anything like Belladonna, she also wasn't a friend to me.

Darcy rifled through a case behind the counter, her fingers deftly moving over various items until she found what she was looking for.

She pulled out a necklace with a pendant adorned with a crystal of some sort and set it on the counter in front of me.

I hesitated, not yet reaching out to touch it.

"The chain is made of iron," Darcy explained, her tone matter-of-fact. "Iron impedes their curses and hexes, offering some protection against their dark magic. Silver would also work, but silver hurts shifters."

I nodded.

"The crystal is moonstone," Darcy continued. "It helps ward off malevolent magic."

"Understand that this would simply muddle their foul magic, giving you time to escape," she explained, her gaze steady as she met my eyes.

"I understand," I replied.

From personal experience, I knew not to take Belladonna Payne and her kin lightly.

With caution, I reached out and picked up the necklace, half expecting it to trigger some adverse reaction.

However, the chain felt cool and reassuring in my fingers, and I let out a silent sigh of relief.

"Thank you," I said, meeting Darcy's gaze gratefully as I paid for the necklace.

"Good luck, dragon," Darcy said. "I do hope we see you again soon."

"I hope so too," I whispered, my thoughts drifting to Tobias as I wondered if I would emerge from this mission unscathed.