I’m fascinated by the fact that she swore a dragon’s oath. She made a vow to my sister, a woman she didn’t even know, and she kept it. She got Daisy to Fablestone. She trekked through the darkness of the forest, escaped from me, faced an evil wolf shifter, and lived to tell about it.
She’s strong and she’s courageous, and I don’t even think she knows it. I don’t think that Peggy looks at herself in the mirror and thinks, “I’m incredible.”
I think she looks in the mirror and thinks, “How can I help someone today?”
She has a heart of gold.
She’s also beautiful.
As she leans against me, holding Daisy, gripping my back, I’m filled with a sense of caution and this protective instinct I’ve never felt before. Oh, I’ve felt watchful of my sister. I’ve taken care of her, looked after her. This is different. This is more.
I killed for Peggy.
I killed that wolf.
I didn’t want to, but he was threatening her, and he wouldn’t back down.
She is our mate.
My dragon keeps whispering to me, urging me to do something about the fact that I feel something deep inside of me linking us together. Is this the mating call? Is this the link? Is this what my mother told me about all of those years ago?
I push the thoughts from my mind as I soar because right now, the most important thing is getting back to Fablestone and warning the others. I’m not sure what Wilson will want the clan to do. Maybe he’ll have us secure the perimeter of our home or perhaps he’ll want to play offense. Either way, it’s going to be a bloodbath, and I don’t want to have any more death on my hands.
Not today.
I wish I could communicate with Peggy as I fly to tell her it won’t be much longer now. She’s been hanging on so well and having such a great attitude about this entire thing. She could be bitter if she wanted to be. She could be sad or angry. She didn’t ask for any of this, but she got it. She could have walked away from my sister at any point. Hell, she could have turned Daisy in to the authorities and I never would have seen her again.
She didn’t, though.
Whether or not we end up being mates, whether or not she decides that’s crazy, I will owe her a debt forever, and I will never forget what Peggy has done for my family.
*
The sun is high when we reach Fablestone. At one point, Peggy fell asleep on my back. I heard her breathing deepen and I knew she had passed out. I’m experienced enough with flying that I understand how to balance during flight. This means I was able to ensure she didn’t roll right off my back. Daisy slept, too, so I hope they’re both feeling well-rested and ready for everything we’re about to deal with.
I could make a dramatic entrance and land in the center of town, but I don’t. Instead, I choose to land directly in front of Wilson’s office. He doesn’t even wait for me to shift before he comes barreling out.
“What in the world??
? He says.
“Oh, um, hi,” Peggy says slowly, and I can feel her carefully sliding off of my back. The kittens are meowing loudly and angrily, and Daisy begins to fuss. “I’m looking for Cameron,” she says.
“Is that right?” Wilson says smoothly. His voice is even and betrays no emotion.
“Yes. I have an important message for him from Ellie,” she says sweetly. “Also, we’ve been traveling for awhile, so if you have any diapers and more formula for Daisy, here, that would be great. She could probably use a change of clothes, as well.”
“You have Ellie’s child?” Now Wilson can’t hide the emotion in his voice, and I quickly shift back to my human form. He turns to look at me. Wilson is holding Daisy now, and Peggy is standing there, looking confused.
“Bad news, boss,” I say. “Ellie sent a message.”
“Yeah, I can fucking see that,” he holds Daisy up, motioning toward her with his head. Loretta Smith, his secretary, comes out of the office, probably to see what the commotion is all about.
“Oh my word,” she says, and she takes Daisy from Wilson.
“Loretta, can you please call my mother?” I ask her. “Tell her we’ve found Daisy and we’re going to need her to take care of the baby and,” I jerk my head toward Peggy. “Two little kittens.”
“Well, I never,” Loretta says, shaking her head, but she goes back inside my office, and I know we have about seven minutes before my mother arrives.