I wondered what color and type of dragon Logan, Robert’s other brother, was as I tested my legs and stood. This time I shook less.

I walked back and forth toward the drapes and heard the wind rustle the pine trees.

Robert had gone to reassure his children, and who knew where Grayson had disappeared. I reclined on the couch, closed my eyes and tried to reason this out. Vampires were real and they wanted to kill us. Were there other predators as well? Genies were enslaved. Succubi and demons, I can’t even imagine. Somehow dragons and werewolves made an alliance, but I didn’t understand the details. Where were the angels and others?

Harper’s word “others” was easier.

A howl of pain sounded outside from the courtyard. Robert was upstairs, which meant I needed to help. I stood on shaky legs, grabbed one more glass of orange juice and decided it was time to go. Another deep howl echoed.

Adrenaline fueled me as I pushed forward. If I was a dragon and went right into the air, no vampire could catch me off guard. I raced to the door and flung it open, then closed. On the porch my heart beat so fast and then I did it. I became my golden self and flew just by thinking it.

The sky was dark still, and it took a few seconds for my eyes to adjust. Then I heard another scream. I dove in that direction and saw a vampire and a werewolf in battle. The wolf's leg was badly cut. I narrowed my gaze. If I shot fire, I'd hurt the werewolf.

I slashed down with my tail, breaking them apart. The vampire fell one way, the wolf another. I breathed fire.

Only my flame didn't work.

Now what? I picked up the werewolf with my claw and flew the animal out of the way.

Just then Robert emerged from the house and breathed fire at the vampire.

The trees behind me caught fire as I heard Robert in my head. Go home.

What about the werewolf?

Get Mrs. Adams inside and tend to her leg. I will put out the fire.

Mrs. Adams? I forgot she was missing. My claw held her firmer.

If he burned the forest down, we'd have no home. I gently placed her on the front porch and then circled. I had to transform without Robert's guidance. I stared at the door and told myself to be calm.

As usual that didn't work.

I looked over my shoulder and saw Robert dive into the Atlantic Ocean, the forest red and orange with fire. How did he intend to douse the flames?

I had to believe he would. One day he'd say he loved me too.

I took a deep breath and then dove for the door, landing on the porch beside Mrs. Adams. This time I turned into myself, but I couldn't run.

I could hardly move, my energy wiped.

Grayson slipped out and picked up Mrs. Adams, offering me his shoulder. I hobbled to follow him. "Get orange juice for yourself, quickly. I'll find Samantha to help with Mrs. Adams."

"Thanks." I dragged myself into the living room and toward the orange juice. I didn't even pour a glass but drank it from the pitcher. The liquid in my throat was an elixir that practically offered new life. I gulped the entire bottle.

As I regained my strength in my legs, the door opened and Robert rushed inside. I looked down and realized I drank it all. Drat. "I'll get you more in the kitchen."

"I can't wait. My mouth is full of salt. Let's go."

Salt? The ocean dive must have reached his lungs. "How did you put out the flames?"

"I carried the water in my mouth. Come with me."

I took his hand and followed.

On our way we passed a sitting room. Mrs. Adams was lying on the couch as Samantha and Grayson tended to her. She kicked Samantha off her. Feisty still but why had Mrs. Adams been out there alone?

Grayson bandaged her leg. I almost left Robert to join them and offer my help, but he swayed at my side. They could wait.

The kitchen had an entire refrigerator full of orange juice. I took one of the bottles and grabbed a glass. Robert leaned against the marble counter with a firm frown on his face. He seemed upset I’d gone without him, but neither of us said a word. I poured the juice and handed it to him.

He drank it in one gulp. Once he put the glass down and swallowed, he said, "Thanks. Now, what were you thinking going out there alone?"

“I heard a cry of pain. Mrs. Adams.” Robert had to understand that I wanted to help.

"Next time, you need to come and get me."

Fire reflected in his gaze. I looked down and wiped a spot from the counter. "I didn't think there was time."

He put his hand on mine. "Vampires are smart. They were once human. That could have been a trap."

Traps weren't good, but neither is letting an old woman suffer when I had the power to help. "So I was to let Mrs. Adams die?"

"You should have called me."

I threw the sponge in the sink. "I'm sorry I didn't think. I responded because she needed me."

"Next time..." he placed his hand on the small of my back "Don't leave me now. We just married."

Leave him? What was he worried about? I married him and never said a word about divorce. Here, I’d learned who I truly was. "Robert, I don't want to ever leave you, but we ought to see if Mrs. Adams needs anything and why she went out there in the first place."

He let me go. "We will continue this conversation."

I dried my hands and offered one to him as we walked. He took it, warm and strong. In the hallway, I asked, "How are the children?"

He glanced at the stairs. At least Harper and Helen hadn’t gone outside with Mrs. Adams. "In bed now. Every time I sleep I fear one of them might get taken."

Sleep. Finally, though now I understood why Samantha was keeping up their adrenaline. However, this house could benefit from a routine. Routine breeds strong children or at least my grandmother said so. I kept that thought to myself and squeezed Robert's hand. "Fear is natural, but you haven't let anything happen to them and we won't."

"Their mother died because the vampire wanted to kill me." He slowed down as we neared the door.

I placed my hand on his jaw and stepped closer to him. "I'm sorry. I know how much you loved Serena."

"Serena was loyal and sweet." He nodded and took my hands off his chin.

Jealousy wasn't a good quality, and I might have liked her. I'd have died protecting my family as well. "And beautiful."

He led me toward Mrs. Adams again. "Beauty is an outer shell that is judged person to person. Most people who have joy express that inner peace and that is what makes true beauty."

"You are poetic.” My Robert clearly thought a lot. Perhaps part of that thinking was why I was so drawn to him. I knocked on the wide-open door. "Mrs. Adams, do you need anything?"

She held her head high and then glanced at both Grayson and Samantha like they served her instead of the other way around. "Mrs. De Marco. I want to talk to you. Alone."

Fair enough. Last time we spoke she told me that she had no time for people who didn't know what they were doing or something like that. I understood now. "Sure. Go ahead, guys, go. We’ll be fine."

Samantha and Grayson filed past him and then Robert stared right at me. "We're in the next room, when you're done."

Whatever Mrs. Adams had to say, I would be here to hear it. "Thanks. I'll get you so someone can help Mrs. Adams to bed."

"I don't need help," she chimed in behind me. I should have expected no less.

Robert whispered in my head. Don't be afraid.

I'm a dragon. I'm stronger now.

Mental conversations were good. I liked the intimacy. I turned around and nodded. "We're alone."

The old woman reached into her pocket. "Close the door and pull up a chair."

Nothing would stop me from taking the seat beside her. I’d found my home and she was a part of it. We had to make peace. I had to try.