Not bothering to ask how Paisley knew she had feelings at all for him, she shook her head. “It doesn’t. He’s still just Cody. Just like we’re still who we are, despite the dragons living inside us.”
Sierra looked at her, some of her color returning, but still looking far too pale. “But… but we’re just shifters. He’s part vampire. It’s a different thing entirely. How can you not be worried about falling for someone like that?”
“Because I trust him,” she replied softly. “He’s still the same man he was before I found out. And from how he described it, his people didn’t retain much of their vampire side. They have even better night vision and speed than shifters do, and their animals look a bit different. But that’s it.”
Sierra hugged herself. “You’re a lot braver than I am.”
Carlie shook her head. “I think it’s cool as fuck. No one even knew the two sides could produce offspring. And we just happened to move to a town where a whole troop of them live. I like this place even more now.”
Paisley rolled her eyes. “You would. Ladies, I know this news can be daunting, but if Olivia’s not worried, I’m not either. Besides, we’d be hypocrites if we judged them because of how they were born. How many shifters have lost their mates because they were humans who couldn’t accept what they were? This is no different.”
Olivia nodded. “I agree. But… there’s also more.”
Ignoring the trepidation on Sierra and Fiona’s faces, she quickly filled them in on what happened at the drive-in, and what Cody thought of it all. Shocked silence descended on the room after she was done, and she resisted the urge to wring her h
ands together as she waited on their reactions.
Fiona was the one to break the silence, speaking up for the first time since they gathered at Olivia’s request. “And you’re just now telling us about this? Why didn’t you say anything last night? We all assumed the date went bad when you came home all quiet, but this is the real reason, isn’t it?”
Guilt welled up inside her at her sister’s words. “It was partly from seeing Cody shift and what his gorilla looked like, and partly from what happened, yes. I didn’t say anything because, as freaked out as I was by everything last night, I knew I needed to talk to him and get more info. I thought at first that someone knew where we were and were coming for us, but once I knew what he is, I figured it was more likely that it was meant for his troop. Cody said the same thing.”
Everyone stayed quiet, trading looks, and Paisley finally spoke. “I think y’all are probably right. No one knows we’re here. And I know what some of you are thinking. That it doesn’t matter that the threat’s directed at someone else. That it’s too close to us, so we need to leave. But I disagree.
“Hear me out,” she continued as the others started murmuring uneasily. “We agreed that we weren’t hiding anymore. That we were going to stand our ground, no matter what. This is just the first test of our resolve. Running at the first sign of danger—especially danger that’s not even aimed at us—isn’t being strong like we all agreed to be. It’s the opposite. And I don’t know about you guys, but I don’t want to be weak. Not anymore.”
“It might not seem like it, but I don’t either,” Sierra replied. “But staying could put us in the middle of someone else’s battle. We just got done fighting our own, and we’re still fighting the demons from that. Don’t we owe it to ourselves to find some peace and actually heal before we jump into another fight?”
Carlie looked at Sierra as she spoke, her voice gentle. “The way I see it, yes, we’re fighting our demons—but we’re not the ones who fought the battle for our freedom. The Enforcers did that. So, don’t we owe it to ourselves to pay that forward and help someone else that needs it? Besides, Cody killed the men who were there. For all we know, they might have been the only people involved.”
Paisley nodded. “I agree. And I also think if we run, that peace and healing we’re trying to find will be that much harder to attain. We’re fucking dragons, ladies. If there are more coming for Cody’s troop, we can help them win that fight. If we walk away and they’re hurt or killed because of it, how will we ever live with ourselves after?”
The others were silent, and Olivia didn’t speak up either. She didn’t think she should. She had something amazing she was building with Cody, and she couldn’t be unbiased about this.
One by one, the others nodded, some more reluctantly, and Paisley gave them a smile of approval. “It’s settled then. We stay.”
Olivia shut her eyes as a dizzying wave of relief washed over her. Leaving was the last thing she wanted to do, but she hadn’t been sure she could stay if they left. She especially couldn’t let her sister leave without her.
She didn’t even know if Cody was her mate. She would have thought her dragon would have told her by now if he was, but maybe she didn’t know it yet herself. Regardless, she wanted to see where things went with him.
Because she was falling for him. Hard.
Hell, there was no past tense. She’d already fallen, completely head over heels.
Which meant she needed to have that talk with Fiona. Nerves overwhelmed her at the thought, because she didn’t know what direction it would go. She didn’t want to give up Cody, but she couldn’t lose her sister, either. Not again.
Fiona will get over it if you keep seeing Cody. Remember what he said. You can’t live your life based on someone else’s feelings, her dragon said, her voice emphatic.
But if it bothers Fiona… How can I do something that hurts her?
She’s a grown woman. She can handle it. Besides, she should want you to be happy, and not only care about herself. But I think you’re worrying for nothing. She’ll be okay if you keep seeing him.
Shocked, she shook her head slowly. Why are you being so harsh? I know you have a bond with her dragon. You should want what’s best for her, too.
I do, her dragon replied softly. Which is part of why I think you should stop coddling her and let her take responsibility for herself. Stop living for her. Live for yourself. You never really have, and it’s time.
Why now? You’ve never said any of this before, so I don’t know where this is coming from.
I wanted to say it. I just didn’t think you were ready. You’re still not really there yet, but I have to make you understand now. Olivia… Cody’s our mate. You can’t let him go, even if Fiona doesn’t like it. You’ll never find the kind of happiness with another man that you’ll find with him. He’s perfect for you.