Back in Bear Mountain
Deacon sat across from Bear Mountain’s alpha’s desk. Declan looked like he’d had a few sleepless nights. He lowered his phone onto its cradle before turning to Deacon. “What’s the final count?”
“Three shifters dead. Two children. One little monster vanquished. One wrecked wall and a handful of other minor repairs.”
“You all know how to throw a grand opening, it seems,” Declan murmured. “And Cal’s boy? You’d thought him the weapon. I assume that’s changed—or are we still in danger?”
“I don’t believe so. After another conversation with 101, I think that 102 was the fuse to their bomb. Once he was taken down, the others appear docile. Many showed strong remorse for what they’d done to the soldiers. Reading them, the emotions are genuine.”
“Only time will tell, I assume.”
“Time is something we don’t have,” Deacon said. “Our facility was meant to house the monsters Zed created, not a bunch of children. We need to make space for those imprisoned there.”
“We still don’t know that they’re safe to house in our community. They just attacked your men.”
“And I told you that I believe the danger is over.”
“You believe. That’s not good enough,” Declan said. “I want to protect these children, but at the same time, we have a community here that is equally important.”
“We’re in limbo. We’ve delivered several blows to their organization and need to throw another punch. Yet you’ve tied our hands here. We’ve got soldiers playing nursemaid to babies and pre-teens.”
“When we can be sure that there aren’t any more surprises in store, then—and only then—will we move them into our village. We’ve already set up a list of families willing to take on a child down the road. It’s slowly filling—so we have something in place for them when the time comes.”
“We now have three full grown dragons. It’s time to hit one of the facilities and clear house. I need those rooms to treat their subjects.” Deacon was frustrated. They had all the firepower they needed and nowhere to place the shifters who were locked behind Zed’s walls and desperately needed their help.
“Three? I hear your ice dragon took off with a soldier and one of the elementals. Do you know where they are?”
Deacon had no idea.
“They’ll be back,” Deacon said, hoping he was right. “They’ll be back.”
* * * *
Cold fire…
Dario stood outside in the cold, blasting his cold fire at one of the tall pines. Instead of burning it to a crisp, his flames covered the evergreen in thick layers of ice. He looked at his hands, willing the heat to return, but all he got was blue flames.
He growled and flung both hands at the abused tree. It froze over before shattering into a million pieces.
Dario stared, stunned. Suddenly he realized the power he felt.
And his aim was perfect.
Had this been the plan all along?
Ice is water… Lightning is fire… was he not my replacement, but rather, I wasn’t who I was meant to be yet?
Are the four complete?
Dario stared down at his hands, feeling the power radiating through them.
All these months, I felt lost… a failure.
He churned power in his hands and sent a massive blast across the snow. An entire row of trees shattered around him, the tiny pieces of ice blowing away in a gust of Arctic air.
“Looks like you’re supercharged.”
Dario spun and saw Gator standing there in just his camo pants. He held Dario’s jeans aloft.
“I thought you might want these.”
“What’s the point? It’s only us here out in Siberia.”
Gator’s eyes widened. “How the hell did we get to freakin’ Siberia?”
“Ask the big, dumb dragon,” Dario muttered.
Dario saw something moving in the distance. The big, dumb dragon was on his way, stalking down the path Dario had made.
He wasn’t in the mood for another argument. Dario drew as much power into his hands as he could and shot it just before the dragon’s feet. A wall of ice rose ten feet high, keeping Jaeger from coming any closer.
“Come on, Dario,” Gator said. “You two need to talk it out.”
“He’s already shown that he’s unwilling to discuss this. I won’t make life easy for him until he changes his mind.”
“I hear you,” Jaeger cried through the translucent wall. “But even you have to understand my concern. I won’t let you be hurt.”
“It’s my life to sacrifice. I belong there, Jaeger. Deacon needs us. Sky and Samuel need me,” Dario yelled.
“I can see you’re stronger now… but what about Gator? He’s human.”
“I’ve been a soldier for a decade now. I’ve been trained to fight. I can hold my own,” Gator yelled.
“Look where your training got you,” Jaeger said.
Gator glared. “He was a child. I didn’t expect it. Now I know to expect anything.”
“He has the right to make that decision,” Dario said to Jaeger. “As do I. You don’t own us.”
Jaeger was silent, hands on his hips. He dropped his hands and nodded. “You have the right to make your own decisions. But I still disagree with that decision.”
“Which is your right,” Gator said. “But you can’t force us to do what you want.”
“I only wish to protect you both. It’s one of the things that drives me. To provide. To protect. And to love.” Jaeger punched the wall, shattering the ice. It fell like rain. “I care deeply for you both… and I don’t want to lose you.”
Dario took a few steps closer. “I understand that. But those two men in that alley? They tried to take away my choice. They tried to force me to do what they wanted to do. I won’t live under the rule of someone like them.”
Jaeger frowned. “You compare me to them? I’m nothing like those humans.”
“No—you’re not like them. But in that way? You’re exactly the same,” Dario said. “Even if your motives were good, you don’t have the right to imprison us here just to keep us safe. We belong in that fight.”
Gator turned to Jaeger. “You owe it to Deacon. Had he not helped save you—we all wouldn’t be here now.”
“True.” Jaeger was silent a moment before looking at Dario. “At least you seem to have come into your own. Your powers have grown… exponentially.”
Dario couldn’t keep the smile from his lips. “Seems so.”
“So I didn’t ruin your power.” Jaeger smiled at him. “Can I be forgiven?”
Dario hugged Jaeger. “Of course you can be forgiven.” Dario offered a hug to Gator, too—and then turned to Jaeger. “We need to go back. Together, we’re stronger.”
Jaeger nodded. “If it’s what you both want.”
Dario turned to Gator, who nodded. “It is,” he said, looking at Jaeger.
“Okay,” Jaeger said. He tilted his head. “But do we need to go back right now?” The dragon reached out and dragged him closer. “I like that idea of a honeymoon.”
Jaeger dragged Gator closer, too.
Dario linked his arms through one from each man. “A honeymoon… and then we go home.”