Look out. A net covered Robert's head and someone put a rope around his dragon’s neck. I huffed and breathed fire on the rope. At least this time I had the strength, not that I saw right away where to aim. Trees caught fire but the yelp of a dog honed my senses to look closer.

I breathed fire again and the rope around Robert's neck frayed and broke. He flew upward and then dove toward the racing car driving away from the house. Get inside. "Daddy." Helen's cry pierced the air and Robert tried to breathe fire at the werewolves who’d escaped from me the first time.

Harper and Helen were in the backseat of the speeding car. I aimed fire at a werewolf as he chased the vehicle. I didn’t understand any of this. Had Mrs. Adams betrayed us? I thought werewolves and dragons were aligned. I swooped higher in the air—I knew whoever had the children intended to kill them.

I won't leave you.

Samantha has the children. Robert flew to get in front of the vehicle and the pack of wolves that surrounded the car.

How did he know? Could he see? I had a million questions. He made a thunderous cry as he tried to grab the car, but wolves reached for the dangling rope still around his neck. He dodged their attack, but missed the car. Get Grayson.

His brother had experience fighting. I followed him for a second. I can't leave you. You're still injured.

I won't let her have them. Get my brother. He has more strength.

Grayson had one minute to get out of the house and into the fight. If he was injured I'd return without him. There was no way I'd ever leave Robert alone to get his children.

Be careful. I dove toward the house. This time I flew into a run and then transformed back into my old human self without thinking.

I rushed into the living room and saw Mrs. Adams tied to a chair, tethered with a muzzle. "Mrs. Adams."

"Get me out of here." She growled though the red strap around her mouth.

After I freed her hands, we both worked on the muzzle until I untied it. "What happened?"

"Samantha. She made a deal with Cassandra."

The vampire who wanted Robert. I had no time to waste. "Where is Grayson?"

"Knocked out. Samantha drugged him."

"He's no use to Robert, then." I turned to leave.

Mrs. Adams grabbed my hand and pulled me into the kitchen, opening the refrigerator and handing me a bottle. "Drink this fast." As I gulped the orange juice, she said, "I'll get Grayson. Go help Robert. Don't let anything happen to those children."

I wiped my mouth with my fingers and then rushed toward the door.

I ran off the patio and transformed, growing huge. My golden tail powered my body as I flew into the sky. Robert had stopped the car and wolves were tearing at his red skin where they could reach, thanks to the rope tethered to him. I rumbled and then instinctually breathed fire at Robert in the air. The werewolves grabbing the tether burned and dropped to the ground but my Robert didn't blink. Robert!

He didn't respond. Instead he dove toward the car and the werewolves, attacking without fire. The kids. Coming behind him, I picked up the car, then shot straight into the air. I have Harper and Helen.

And Samantha.

Right. I’d forgotten she was inside too. I felt something sharp prick at my feet. Arghh.

The car shifted in my claw. I gently dropped it away from where Robert and the other werewolves were fighting.

Samantha got out of the car and I transformed into a human so that Helen and Harper saw that it was me. "You thought you could have those children, Samantha? Which one were you going to sacrifice first?"

"They are my sister’s blood. My blood."

I picked up a rock, not that I knew how to go against a werewolf. Robert was fighting the rest of the pack in the distance. My heart raced as I told myself I had a better chance if I’d transform, but then how could I help the kids? I stayed in front of the car, rock in hand.

A werewolf darted from the trees and attacked Samantha from behind, pinning her to the ground with heavy paws. She howled, "Get off, old lady."

Mrs. Adams.

Grayson's green dragon flew toward his brother. Any second, they’d have the werewolves conquered.

I opened the car door and pulled Helen free. She screamed as I picked her up but Harper followed without a word, putting his hand in mine.

I turned them away from where Samantha and Mrs. Adams fought, too close to the cliff. Mrs. Adams threw Samantha over the side. I clutched Harper to me so neither saw.

"Get the children inside." Mrs. Adams loped through the trees toward the pack.

Harper and I ran home, hand in hand, while I held Helen tight.

"We're home." I said to sound normal as I closed the door behind us. I hugged both of them. Harper let out a small moan that was part relief and part pain as he gazed at the door. Helen tugged my shirt as she said, "Daphne, what's happening?"

'Your aunt wanted to kill one of you' was what came to my mind to answer. However I changed my wording to, "Your Aunt Samantha was crazy with sadness about your mom I think. But you're safe now and that’s all that matters."

Helen curled her head into my shoulder. "Don't let us go. I'm afraid."

"Okay." The children had to see that they were okay. "Why don't the three of us go into the kitchen and get the orange juice for your father when he returns with your uncle. And I don't know what to get Mrs. Adams, at all. Do you?"

"Meat." Harper still held my hand.

"Sounds good. Let's go get them all what they will need."

Helen played with my hair. "Why would Aunt Sam want to hurt me or my brother?"

"I don't know but you have me for a stepmother. I won't let anything happen to you. Your father had me sign papers the day I arrived because he loved you so much."

Harper kept his voice low as he stared at a fire-blackened window. "Will Dad be okay? He was already hurt."

Hope was needed here. As we were in the hall, I knelt down to stare into Harper’s young face. "The reason your dad and I went away this afternoon was to find out how to cure him. When he gets back, your dad can be fully healed."

Harper's eyes were glassy. "What if he dies out there."

I hugged him close. "Don't think like that, Harper."

"What if..." He tried not to cry on my shoulder.

I massaged the back of his head. "Don't frighten your sister. Have faith."

For a few minutes none of us moved. We huddled in a group hug. When I saw Harper and Helen were no longer crying, I stood up. Helen decided to scoot off me and walk. We went into the kitchen and found meat for Mrs. Adams, glasses and another full bottle of orange juice. Helen held the glasses to her chest. I told Harper, "Carry the orange juice. We'll serve them in the living room."

"I don't want anything to happen to Mrs. Adams either,” Helen said. “Samantha is stronger than her."

Neither of them had seen how fierce Mrs. Adams was on the cliff. If Samantha bounced off that fall and still lived, then one of the dragons would get her. I couldn't say any of that. As we set the table the way they’d set it for me last night, I simply said, "You forget she went out there with your uncle and your dad, fighting the pack."

A moment later, we heard footsteps. Helen and Harper clung to me as Harper said, "The door!"

I braced. Werewolves could open a front door easy and there was a pack out there. I tensed, prepared to defend the children. Then we relaxed as we saw a familiar brown-haired, muscular man with blue eyes and a red aura. "It's your father."

"Dad!" Harper and Helen left me and rushed to hug him.

Robert said in an out-of-breath manner, "Helen, can you get me a glass of orange juice?"

Harper tugged on his father's shirt. "What happened out there? Are you okay?"

"I'm fine, son. Samantha won't trouble us ever again."

Good. I pressed my lips together and kept my mouth shut. Then I heard Robert's voice in my head. She killed her sister that night. I thought I wasn't fast enough! Samantha intended to let Cassandra have me. When I came home with you, she had to change her plans.

I'm so sorry. Helen looked at me funny, like she knew we were talking. I turned and poured a glass of orange juice. "Here, Helen. Can you give this to your dad?"

Helen walked toward me but the second we heard the door rattle, she grabbed my legs. I held her as the door opened wider and Grayson and Mrs. Adams came in. Harper cried, "Uncle."

"Mrs. Adams!” Helen said. “I was scared."

"Don't be." Mrs. Adams entered the living room, and headed straight to the hotdogs we’d prepared for her.

I smiled and placed my hand on her shoulder, looking back at Grayson. "Thank you."

After gulping down a hot dog, she seemed to regain her composure. Then she turned to Robert and me as she pulled out another handkerchief. "Mr. De Marco. You are injured and cannot protect us against vampires until your wife heals you. Please take these."

I took the cloth and opened it. My lips parted as I counted. "There are five more scales."

"Daddy's hurt!" Helen cried.

"I can fix him." I reminded them, but my cheeks heated—I didn’t want the kids knowing how.

Mrs. Adams joined Robert and Grayson. Her eyes were misty as she reached out and hugged them. "You are like my own children..." I realized that after their mother died it must have been Mrs. Adams who’d watched over the boys. Being scared of the woman had made me oblivious. She turned her face toward me. "And I know you can put them back on."

I nodded. "Mrs. Adams, thank you for collecting these."

"I can't have my dragons hurt." She untangled herself from hugging the men. Then she straightened her shirt like she had a wrinkle. "Now that Samantha is gone, I will hire assistance from my old pack. This time I will choose and it won't be because a pretty wolf flirted with my boys." She directly stared at Robert who looked down. Then she added, "Your mother made me swear I'd watch out for you."

"Mrs. Adams raised you?" I tried to remember our earlier conversations. I hadn't felt the love the first time, but it was so clear now.

Robert joined me, his hand on my lower back. "Didn't I tell you earlier?"

"Not exactly, but I was too scared to appreciate it if you had." I admitted the truth. So much had changed about me and it wasn't just that I could fly or grow scales. It was something internal. I was stronger. “And you’re not really a talker, Robert De Marco.”

Robert massaged my back. "Are you still scared about life?"

I laughed. "I should be more scared, now that I know there is an actual threat, but no. With you, Harper, Helen, Grayson, and Mrs. Adams, we're a family and with family, we aren't alone. Besides, I'm a dragon, which is pretty darn cool."

Harper brought another glass to his uncle to drink but then looked over his shoulder and smiled at me. "We're glad you're not an evil stepmother."

"I never thought you were evil." Helen tugged my jeans.

I patted her blonde waves and smiled at her too as I pressed my hand to her back. "Thanks Helen."

Mrs. Adams lifted her chin. "The children will come with me. I will read to them. Your father and Daphne need to be alone so she can heal him. I want everyone to be healthy and whole. Harper, you may choose the book."

Helen let go of my leg. "Okay. Daphne, make sure Daddy is good as new. Uncle Grayson, will you read to us too?"

I placed my hand on my heart. This was my family. All I needed now was to know that Robert loved me to make this whole thing worthwhile.