Without thought, I tried to clutch my amulet, an anxious habit I’d had for too long. But then I remembered we’d chosen to keep them off. Instead, it was safely in my pocket. I wrapped my fingers around the cool metal, wishing Anya could see me now.
When we got back, we led the newcomers up to the front desk where Lucy was working and started getting them checked in. Once she had it under control, we snuck away to our rooms.
Avi opened the door before we could grab the knob, pulling me into a hug. “It wasn’t a long night, but I missed you.” His lazy smile was adorable, and some of my stress fell away as he held me close.
“Enough,” Kane complained, pulling me away. He froze mid-hug and pulled back, glancing between us.
“Why do you smell different?”
“Dragons,” Levi answered before launching into a recount of our morning. Kane’s eyes darkened the moment he mentioned their scent all over the grounds, and honestly I felt the same. Omegas could be territorial, and with it being my nest, I would not be so friendly if I found them here again.
“Why did they approach you there? Why not here?”
“I don't know,” I answered honestly. “But we invited them to talk after dinner. We'll see what they have to say. The least I can do is hear them out and let them know what they’re getting into here.”
“Something’s coming our way,” Levi said, and his voice had an odd hollow quality to it. Niko’s hand went to his shoulder, giving it a squeeze, but the omega didn’t seem like he noticed. “It’s coming our way, the dark leader. We need to prepare, or we will fall.”
My eyes widened at the ominous statement, glancing at the others who looked equally as freaked out. Levi blinked for a few moments before he focused back on us. He glanced worriedly at Niko, clearly aware of what had just happened.
“Seems that Quinn was right. Something dangerousiscoming our way. We should warn West and the town,” Niko said with a sigh. “I’d hoped it wouldn’t be coming soon.”
“I don’t think it is. Quinn was sure we had time,” I countered, clinging to that hope. Because if I gave in to fear, I’d drown in the possibilities. Something was coming our way, but we just had to prepare and band together. If we did that, maybe we’d learn the meaning of being a brood again.
The entire time we were at dinner, my stomach churned with anxiety. Molly had made an amazing chicken alfredo dish, but I got to enjoy none of it. The dragons sat on the other side of the room, giving us our space until after the dining hall emptied. Even though they didn’t make any kind of scene, they stood out, glancing nervously around. I wasn’t sure what to make of them, but I figured that was a problem for after the meal.
West, who never ate with me, joined us instead of sitting with Molly in the back. He had agreed to come to the meeting with the dragons, a bit too enthusiastically for my comfort, but I wasn’t going to complain. My crazy protector wasn’t willing to sit by while we handled the brood. He wanted to be a part of it. He probably saw it as his duty to help change the world. This town and what it had the potential to become was everything he’d left his coven for—a world where every species was equal. We’d be a mix of supernaturals led by dragons, all of us facing down the true hate in our world and surviving in spite of it.If the supernaturals in town choose to join, that is.
“What's this I hear about changing the hotel?” Niko finally asked after Levi and I fidgeted in the silence a few too many times. Our nerves were about to drive the others crazy. Kane had put his huge hand on my thighs, holding me still when I wouldn’t stop bouncing my legs and clattering our dishes.
West gave me a side-eye, probably wondering why he was the one needing to update my mates, but he answered anyway. “Our town is changing, and it seems our lives are too. I don’t want to have unassuming guests here if danger does show up at our doorstep. I also just feel like it’s time. A new chapter is starting, and I’m going to be a part of it.”
I hadn’t even considered the fact that humans could have been caught in the crossfire, but Quinn had seen the battle right behind the hotel. West was right. Things had to change, I just felt awful that they were changing because of me, voluntary or not.
“It's a really good point,” Levi said quietly. “I hate that something as simple as us living here could hurt the town.”
“This town is not full of weak humans who shy away from our kind,” West countered. “They know that living this close to supernaturals could be dangerous, that covens or hives or packs could come and reclaim their own. Our mayor has never shied away from keeping them informed. If anything should arise, we’re open… as we should be. I’ll go down to city hall and give a heads up. Especially since dragons are sniffing around and not coming out to say hello.”
“We’ll talk to Quinn tomorrow, see if anything’s changed,” Avi added. It felt like we were all just grasping at straws.
“Death magic doesn’t work like that. She just gets visions when they hit. As far as I know, she can only look back at visions she’s already had, not seek out new ones,” Niko countered. “She can try, but I don’t know if it’ll work.”
Before we could say anything else, timid footsteps approached. Angela was coming over with a bright smile on her face like she couldn’t contain whatever it was she was going to tell us.
“Hey, Angela, that smile looks like you have good news. Did Connie get back to you?” I asked, glad to see her slowly coming out of her shell.
“Turns out she needed someone to handle the desserts and stuff for the dineranda part-time waitress, so I took both on. She even offered me an apartment! I can’t stay here forever,” she said, and the last part held a hint of sadness. Mountainview had become her safe place just like it had been mine. I wouldn’t be able to easily part with it either.
West shrugged. “We were talking about turning this into apartments anyway, so staying here is always an option.”
“I’d like that. This place just feels like home,” she said quietly.
“Well then, you're welcome here. We can discuss leasing sometime soon, but for now you focus on that new job.”
She nodded eagerly at West’s words. “That’s perfect. I’m actually heading over to talk shifts with Connie anyway. I just wanted to say thanks. Without all your kindness, I never would have made it this far.”
“The bravery's all on you, Angela,” I promised. “You're the one who made the decision. We just helped give you the opportunity. Good luck with Connie, though. She’s a handful wrapped up in a Southern accent.”
She laughed before heading out, leaving us all in a bit of a better mood. It was nice seeing that we’d made a difference for someone.