Chapter Thirteen – Kim

“Do you believe him?” Kim asked as they drove back to the house, where their own little shifter was playing, unaware that someone intended to take away his birthright before he’d even had a chance to experience it.

“When you first told me you were hooked up with a family of dragons…” Jay gave her a sideways glance. “I was wary.”

“I noticed.”

“Now do you see why?”

Kim leaned on the car door and rubbed her forehead as she stopped at a road junction. She needed a moment to compose herself. “It’s the craziest thing I’ve ever heard.”

“Crazy doesn’t mean it’s not true.”

She nodded. “I know. I mean, once you get your head around shifters being real, then a whole world of possibilities opens up like a wide chasm under your feet.”

“If we believe Guy,” Jay’s voice stalled. “I have to do something.”

“No. We have to do something.” Kim sat up straight, pulling herself together as she continued the journey home. “Listen, you are not doing this alone. Whatever the plan is, we are in this together. And I’m not necessarily talking about us.” She pointed at Jay and then at herself. “I mean a collective we.”

“Kim, this is too sensitive.” The warning in his voice wasn’t going to stop her from insisting they tell the others.

“We can’t keep it to ourselves. At least not from the dragons. You heard what Guy said. My guess is if Quentin Harrod ever found out they were here, he’d wipe them out. That incredible family, that took me and your son in when we had nowhere else to go…” A sob erupted from her chest.

“You’re right.” Jay stared ahead. “We have to take him out before he can hurt anyone else.”

“You mean kill Quentin Harrod?” Kim asked, appalled. Yet what choice did they have?

“He has to be stopped. If this scientist has produced a virus to make the shifter gene inactive.” The blood drained from his face, he looked pale and drawn. “I’d lose a part of myself.” He shook his head. “I already have lost part of myself. If he’s responsible for the death of my parents…”

“We won’t let it happen. We won’t allow him to hurt anyone else.” Kim turned into the driveway leading toward the house. “We need to tell them. I mean now. We can’t put it off.”

Jay nodded. “Come on.” He got out of the car and shut the door, looking up at the sky, and then turned to stare at the mountains. “It’s so beautiful here. I wish we could shut it all out. Although I know we can’t. I have to see it through to the end.”

Kim approached him and wrapped her arms around his waist, resting her head on his chest. “I want our child to roam these mountains as a bear.”

Jay placed his hand on her shoulder and massaged it, easing the tension just a little. “We’ll do whatever it takes.”

They walked toward the house hand in hand, and mounted the porch. As Kim pushed the door open, Jay froze. “What is it?”

“There’s another dragon here.” He returned her questioning look. “They smell different. Like a metallic residue.”

“It’s probably Alex’s mom.” Kim opened the door, and turned to say, “We can’t just stand here, our son is in there.”

Jay nodded, entering the house first, putting his body between Kim and any threat. Voices came to them, Kim was right, it sounded like a family reunion. Kim hesitated, they were imposing, worse they were about to give them bad news. Really bad news.

“There you are. Come in, Alex’s mom has arrived.” Sapphi met them in the hallway and grinned at Jay. “We haven’t met either, I’m Sapphi.”

“Hi, Sapphi,” Jay replied, lifting his hand in a small wave.

“Did someone die?” Sapphi asked, her expression changing as she read their expressions. “They did?”

“No. At least…” Kim didn’t know what to say, how to put into words the danger they were all in. “We need to talk to you all.”

“Come through.” Sapphi led the way into the kitchen, where the family was gathered. “Mom.”

Fiona was talking to another woman, who wore a silk dress, her long hair as black as a raven’s, despite her older years. “What’s wrong?”

“Kim and Jay have something to tell us.” Sapphi sought out Alex and went to him, ducking under his arm as he looked at her with concern.

“What’s wrong?” Alex asked, tightening his grip on Sapphi.

“We’re sorry to bring this to you now…when you’ve just arrived.” Kim looked apologetically at Helen.

“Whatever you have to say must be important.” Helen walked across the kitchen and hugged Kim, kissing her cheek. “I’ll just get Tiberius.”

“And Harlan.” Fiona took Kim’s hand. “Let me get you some coffee. Or wine. Helen and Tiberius brought us some jinjiu as a gift.”

“No, thanks, I need a clear head. Maybe coffee. I’ll make fresh coffee.” Kim busied herself making coffee. After pouring two cups of coffee, and handing one to Jay, she took his hand and pulled him across the kitchen to Alex. “Alex, this is Jay. Jay, Alex.”

“Jay, good to finally meet you,” Alex greeted Jay, a slight edge to his voice.

“Kim’s told us so much about you, Jay. Great to put a face to a name.” Sapphi hugged Jay. “We all love Archie. And Kim.”

“I know what you probably think of me,” Jay told them. “But I didn’t abandon Kim. And I want to thank you for taking care of her and Archie.”

“Someone had to,” Alex replied easily. “And I enjoyed playing daddy. You’re a lucky man, Jay. I hope you know that.”

“I do,” Jay replied. “I really do.” Kim’s eyes filled with tears as Jay put his arm around her and pulled her close. “A very lucky man.”

“Everyone’s here,” Fiona said curtly as Harlan and Tiberius entered the kitchen. Did she think Jay was here to cause trouble? Or did she sense the enormity of what they had to say.

“We met with Guy, as you know,” Kim began and then floundered as she looked at the people she’d come to love as a family.

“I was undercover for many months, trying to bring down a man named Davelchi.” Jay took over, his voice strong, commanding respect. “What I didn’t know at the time was that he had connections with a dragon shifter who goes by the name of Quentin Harrod.” Jay looked at each face in turn, trying to gauge if anyone knew him.

“A dragon shifter. Are you sure?” Helen asked.

“Absolutely,” Jay answered. “He liked to splash his money around, and often hired Davelchi to do his dirty work.”

“I thought you brought down all the bad guys with your undercover sting?” Alex asked.

“Not this one, he has connections. And deep pockets.” Jay paused as he tried to figure out the best way to voice the next, crucial piece of information.

“Is he after you, Jay, for bringing down Davelchi?” Harlan asked. “If he is, we can protect you.”

“We can take you to our cave,” Helen offered. “It might not be what you are used to, but it will be hard to track you there. The three of you are welcome, until this blows over.”

“Thanks. All of you,” Kim said. “But it’s more than that.”

“He knows about us?” Fiona asked, moving into the center of the room, as if guarding her family. “Is he a threat?”

“He doesn’t know about you, no. As far as we know, at least.” Kim rubbed her forehead.

Jay carried on. “Guy told us that Quentin Harrod is developing a virus that will stop the shifter gene from working. He believes that he can wipe out all shifters. What his plans are after that, I have no idea. Vanity, because he’d be the only one. Power…”

“What?” Alex interrupted. “How the hell does he intend to do that?”

“Apparently, he’s already made the virus. Taking over the world might be a bit of stretch, but I do believe he is power hungry. He has money, he is a fire-breathing dragon, and can do a lot of damage. He’s already corrupted the police force. Who’s to say his reach doesn’t go higher?”

“And you are certain Guy is not making this up?” Fiona asked calmly.

“Wait. How do you even go about making that kind of virus?” Alex asked. “It’s bullshit posturing, surely.”

“No, it’s not.” Helen stepped forward and they all looked at her. She was incredibly beautiful, with an air of royalty that made Kim want to curtsy in her presence. “When I first met Tiberius, we wanted a child so much. But it wasn’t to be. I contracted a virus that killed the fetus before it reached full-term.”

Tiberius comforted her, even though she was incredibly composed. “We didn’t know it was a virus at the time. It was several years until Helen sought help.”

“With the correct treatment, I overcame the virus, and gave birth to my beautiful boy.” Helen tilted her head, a sad smile on her lips. “The doctor said the virus seemed to target something in the child’s DNA.” Helen shrugged. “We thought no more of it, we were content with one healthy child.”

“The green tea we drink is an antiviral,” Tiberius continued. “We made you drink it as a child, Alex, just in case it ever returned.”

“Do you think someone has taken the same virus and mutated it?” Sapphi asked.

“Possibly,” Helen agreed. “So you see, this Guy of yours, may be telling the truth.”

“There’s more…” Tiberius sighed, and took both of Helen’s hands in his. “I met Helen when I was sent to kill the dragon…”

“Go on, my love.” Helen held his gaze, the depth of their love profound.

“I was sent to kill the dragon who lived in the mountains. My village was scared of her presence so close to their families and livestock.”

“And I tamed the great dragon slayer,” Helen replied playfully.

“I’m not a true dragon slayer,” Tiberius admitted. “I may have exaggerated a little to impress you.”

“I knew that, my love, because I thought I was the only dragon,” Helen told him.

“But I knew you were not.” Tiberius withstood the fierce look from Helen.

“You knew there were other dragons?” Helen asked, her eyes fierce. “All those years…”

“I’m sorry. I’d never seen one. It was a passing remark from a villager in Tibet...”

“And you kept it from me.” Helen was visibly shaken.

“Because if you knew, you would have gone to find them, and I would have lost you.”

“You would never lose me, Tiberius. We are bound together.” Helen’s eyes blazed, fire danced in them, hot, fierce, and then it was gone.

“Do you forgive me?” Tiberius asked.

“Of course. I have known such happiness with you and Alex. Maybe you made the right decision. Just as Jay made the decision to work undercover. For the love of his mate.” Helen turned to Jay. “Please, continue.”

“Wait. There are real dragon slayers?” Sapphi asked. “As in they receive training to kill us?”

“Yes,” Tiberius answered. “They are trained in the ancient arts. To protect the world from dragons. They hunt them and neutralize them.”

“Neutralize them?” Sapphi looked sick.

“Yes, but they do not kill them. They send them into an eternal sleep.” Tiberius’s words didn’t allay Sapphi’s fears.

“Tiberius,” Jay turned the conversation back to the immediate danger. “Do you know Quentin Harrod?”

“I have heard his name.” Tiberius swung around to face Jay. “The villager I spoke to was part of a clan who swore a sacred oath to keep the world safe from dragons.”

“But not kill them?” Fiona asked.

“No,” Tiberius explained. “To the clan, dragons are sacred. They are never slain. Instead, they are placed into the eternal slumber.” Tiberius spoke with reverence. “They revere them. And I have grown to understand why. To stand here in the presence of so many dragons…I am truly blessed.”

“You won’t say that in the morning when everyone’s trying to use the bathroom,” Ruby said with a snort. Her words broke the tension in the room. “So what do we do? Is it possible to put Quentin back into this eternal slumber?”

“Yes,” Tiberius answered confidently. “I spoke at length to the clan member, and after he drank too much wine, he told me the secret.”

“Why?” Helen snapped at him. “Did you plan to put me to sleep if I bored you? In case you grew tired of your dragon?”

“No,” Tiberius implored. “In case I had to protect you. I told you I was more than I was. I told you I was a dragon slayer. But as soon as I saw you close up, I knew I could never slay a creature with such strength and power. I could never defend you against other dragons. So this was…a backup plan.”

Helen’s eyes flashed fire, and Alex moved to her side. “Mom. Dad loves you, he would never hurt you. But he would do whatever it took to protect us. You know that. When I was young, I knew he would lay down his life for me. And for you.”

Helen’s breasts rose and fell as she struggled to comprehend this revelation. “I would not have cared if you were a tiny mouse. You are my mate. It is my job to protect you, as much as it is yours to protect me.”

“I know that now. But you can’t blame me for feeling so inferior,” Tiberius said, hugging his wife and son. “You are the most precious things in the world to me.”

“Well, we’d batter act fast, or this virus will be set free, and I for one have no intention of giving up my role as a fire-breathing dragon.” To prove her point, smoke drifted out of Fiona’s ears. “I have a reputation to uphold.”

Harlan kissed her cheek. “You are a formidable woman, even without the fire and smoke. But I agree, I am not about to hang up my wings without a fight.”

“I feel the same about my claws,” Jay added.

“And I’m just jealous as hell I’m a normal human.” Kim shrugged. “But I’m in it with you all the way.”

“What’s the next move?” Alex asked Jay, all animosity gone.

“We wait for Guy to call, he’s going to dig as deep as he can. I only hope he doesn’t end up dead.” Jay’s somber words reminded them all of what they were risking. But it was a risk they had no choice but to take.

Not just for themselves, but for shifters everywhere.