13. Tobias

CHAPTER THIRTEEN

TOBIAS

After I helped a kid check out a book, I couldn't resist sneaking another glance at my phone.

"You keep checking your phone today," Lucinda remarked from behind the counter.

I looked up, feeling a pang of guilt.

"Troubles with you and your dragon beau?" she asked casually.

My heart skipped a beat. "You knew what Draven is?" I asked.

Lucinda shrugged nonchalantly.

"At this point, everyone knows. The local pard tried to keep the incident with Justin's car quiet, but you know how it is,” she said.

I did. The locals in Red Vine always loved to gossip when they had nothing better to do.

"So is he giving you any grief?" Lucinda's protective tone caught me off guard.

I shook my head, sighing.

"It's everyone else—Bruce, the leopards, my brother—they're all acting like Draven's a potential danger to the town when I know he's barely able to get up in the mornings. Draven's been through hell," I explained, unable to keep the frustration out of my voice.

"Before, you mentioned he made an enemy of a black witch," Lucinda hedged, her tone careful.

I realized it was eerily quiet in the library, even more so than usual. There was no one there but us.

I looked at Lucinda, wondering if I trusted her enough to divulge more. I had always thought we were just colleagues, but maybe I was wrong.

Were we possibly... friends?

Then again, it wasn’t like I could talk to anyone else about this, certainly not Tom. Lucinda was also a witch and could give me some useful insight.

"He didn't make an enemy of anyone," I explained, deciding to confide in her.

I continued, “My bad. I was trying to keep his secrets and used the wrong word. A witch named Belladonna Payne pretended to need his help, then put an awful binding curse on him."

I hadn't intended to blurt out the name of Draven's enemy, but Lucinda's reaction caught me off-guard.

She was usually so self-assured and confident. I had always considered her a very capable witch. Seeing her scared was a shock.

"Lucinda?" I ventured, concerned.

She grasped my arm with surprising strength. "Say that name again," she whispered.

I repeated it, and she released my arm, still looking shocked.

"Lucinda, what's wrong?" I asked, my concern deepening.

Lucinda took a deep breath, visibly collecting herself. "Belladonna Payne... she's not someone to be taken lightly," she said, expression grim.

Lucinda continued, “The Paynes, they’re a very old and very powerful family of black witches. Most of them were eradicated by a group of shifters a century ago.”

“That’s a good thing, right?” I asked.

“A few Payne witches survived that culling and Belladonna is one of the more powerful members of her clan. If Draven has crossed paths with her..." She trailed off, her expression troubled.

I felt a knot form in my stomach at her words.

"What does that mean?" I pressed, my worry growing.

"It means trouble," Lucinda replied solemnly. "Serious trouble."

She glanced around the library, as if suddenly aware of our surroundings.

"We should talk somewhere more private," Lucinda suggested.

"Private? But we're... at work?" I asked, feeling a bit foolish, but her words had me deeply concerned.

"We'll close up for a bit. No one comes here at this hour anyway," she assured me.

I nodded, feeling a little numb. After closing up, Lucinda gently led me to her car. I felt that odd sensation again, as if someone was watching us.

I looked around, but only saw normal townsfolk going about their business. Lucinda called my name and I looked at her.

"Do you sense that?" I asked.

She frowned, following my gaze to a nearby tree.

"What am I supposed to be sensing?" she asked.

I shook my head. If Lucinda didn't feel threatened, maybe it was just me, overthinking things.

But I remembered the feeling of being watched in the woods and couldn't dismiss the idea entirely.

Unsettled, I got into Lucinda's car. I thought we were going to a café or something, but instead, she drove me to the town's magic store, coincidentally owned by her coven.

I'd never been to the shop before, though I had been curious about it when it first opened.

Shifters generally had very little affinity for magic, so there was no reason for me to have visited it. The bell on the door rang softly as we entered.

"Lucinda, it's good of you to come,” greeted a friendly voice.

An elderly woman looked at me and smiled kindly.

"So, you're the dragon's mate?” She asked.

I blinked, finally fully aware of where I was. I glanced at Lucinda, uncertain about who this other witch was.

"This is Darcy, the head of my coven," Lucinda introduced.

"Earlier, she texted me. Your dragon stopped by the shop, you see, and purchased a protection charm,” Lucinda explained.

I swallowed hard. "Will that help? Against a black witch?" I asked, my desperation showing.

"Against a wannabe witch meddling with dark forces, absolutely. But a member of the Payne coven?" Lucinda responded, her tone grave.

Like Lucinda, Darcy paled at the mention of the Paynes. It sent a chill down my spine and my own sense of unease intensified.

Suddenly, I felt lightheaded, my vision swimming as if the ground had been pulled out from under me.

I swayed on my feet, and Lucinda's quick reflexes saved me from a potential fall. She grabbed my arm, steadying me.

"Tobias, sit down," she urged, guiding me towards a nearby stool.

Darcy acted swiftly, grabbing the stool and placing it beneath me. I lowered myself onto it, feeling a wave of gratitude wash over me.

"Thank you," I managed to say, my voice barely above a whisper.

The room seemed to spin around me so I took a few moments to breathe in and out.

I didn’t know how much time had passed. The next thing I knew, Lucinda handed me a cup of chamomile tea.

I sipped the soothing tea, the warmth seeping into my bones and helping to clear my head.

Lucinda and Darcy's conversation swirled around me, their voices a distant hum in my ears.

I caught snippets of their discussion, words like "inform" and "Bruce" standing out.

My mind snapped back into focus at the mention of Bruce's name.

"Wait, no, Bruce and the leopards don't need to know about Draven's personal problems," I blurted out, my words tumbling out before I could stop them.

I set the mug down, finally able to think straight.

Lucinda looked at me, her expression thoughtful. "

He has a point," she conceded, turning to Darcy. "You know how overprotective the Leopard King is of this town."

Darcy's gaze hardened, her stance unwavering.

"When you mentioned the Paynes, it is no longer a personal issue," she stated firmly.

I felt a surge of frustration rising within me.

"Wait," I interjected, trying to make sense of the situation. "Are you implying... you view Belladonna Payne as more of a threat than Draven...?"

"Tobias, remember when I mentioned to you before that a group of shifters culled most of the Payne family a century ago?" Lucinda asked, her tone somber.

I nodded, recalling our previous conversation.

"The dragon shifters led that charge," Lucinda continued, her expression grave.

I frowned, trying to make the connection.

"Wait... Draven mentioned his kind were hunted down in the past, that's why there are so few of them left. The Paynes hunted them?" I asked.

"Not only the Paynes, but also other black witch families," Lucinda confirmed, her voice tinged with sadness. "Imagine, a witch having complete control over a dragon shifter. Imagine the destruction they could cause."

The implications of her words sent a shiver down my spine.

The thought of Draven being manipulated and used as a weapon once again by someone like Belladonna filled me with a sense of dread and unease.

Never mind Lucinda and Darcy telling Bruce and the leopards. I realized there was something more urgent I needed to do

"Thank you for the tea," I continued, setting the cup down and rising to my feet.

I started for the door, my mind racing with thoughts of Draven's safety.

"Tobias, where exactly are you going?" Lucinda's voice stopped me in my tracks.

"Draven might be in trouble. He headed out earlier today to help a fellow pack mate. Belladonna might be involved," I explained, my words rushed.

Draven hadn't fully disclosed the dangers of his mission, and now that I knew more about the enemy after him...

As I reached for the door handle, I heard a click, and I realized one of the witches had locked it using some kind of spell.

Scowling, I turned back to face them.

"Unlock the door, please. I need to go to Draven," I demanded.

Lucinda approached me tentatively.

"I don't want to hurt either of you," I warned.

Darcy chuckled softly at my statement, but Lucinda's worried gaze never wavered.

"Tobias, don't take this the wrong way, but if you rush into a fight with someone of Belladonna's caliber... you might just end up hurt, or worse, dead," Lucinda cautioned, her words hitting me like a cold gust of wind.

I knew deep down she was right. If Draven, with all his strength and power, struggled against Belladonna, what chance did I have?

Darcy's voice broke the silence, her tone somber. "There are stories... that the Paynes usually target a dragon's more vulnerable mate to get to them more easily."

Her words sent a chill down my spine, and I felt a surge of anger at the thought of such manipulation.

"That's low," I whispered, my fists clenched at my sides.

"The Paynes have no honor. They would use everything at their disposal, including deceit, to get what they want," Lucinda said with disdain.

I slumped my shoulders, the weight of the situation bearing down on me.

I recalled how Belladonna had deceived Draven, posing as a lost traveler to lower his guard.

"Then what can I do?" I asked, my voice barely above a whisper.

I was filled with frustration and fear. Being helpless wasn’t something that sat well with me.

"Waiting's the hard part," Lucinda agreed, her tone sympathetic. "But also try to believe in your mate. He's a survivor and a fighter."

Reluctantly, I nodded. A sense of resignation wash over me.

"Okay," I conceded, my resolve wavering.

Draven, please watch your back, I thought, the worry gnawing at my heart.