11.

 

“This is getting pretty serious,” Gavin said, frowning deeply at the other five Dragon shifters in the room.

Norris sighed heavily. It had completely slipped his mind to use the device to test his connection to Lisa, but now that he saw the depth of his friend’s concern, he knew he would have to do it as soon as possible. Probably during their date. Unless he could find a piece of her hair in his car, which was highly likely.

Lisa hadn’t gotten back with him one way or another about whether or not she still wanted to go on a date yet, but he had a good feeling about it. Everything was going to work out as it was meant to. He was sure of it.

“We just have to make sure that the bunkers are secure and none of the negative entities out there are going to be able to find the artifacts. As long as we are able to keep them with us, we will be able to sustain ourselves as long as necessary until we find the rest of our fated mates.”

Gavin shot a look toward Norris, clearly hoping for him to speak up about his hope of finding someone. But he didn’t want to tell the others until he was sure about it. He had actually been planning a surprise getaway to the new Dragon club that was opening in downtown Brookside. It was the first time Norris had allowed himself to get excited about an event like this and he was thrilled at the thought of being able to share it with all the other hard working Dragon shifters. They were due for a break.

He even had security covered. While all of them were out at the club, Norris had arranged for the base to be guarded by a machine he had been setting up to secure the area so that everybody could relax and have a good night together at least one last time before things got really dangerous.

During that event, he was hoping to introduce Lisa to the others. He had been hoping to convince her of her place as one of the sacred Loni people and it had been quite a difficult task, to say the least. Everything that came out of his mouth probably sounded like complete and utter crap to her. He couldn’t blame her for being skeptical and concerned when dealing with him. But he had a feeling that sooner, rather than later, everything was going to work out for the best and they were going to have everything they needed. She would believe in her role as his fated mate and maybe, they would be able to consummate the relationship and bring another golden child into the world.

Gavin continued speaking, driving Norris’ thoughts away.

“Fortunately, we were able to locate potential area where the enemies could be congregating. There is a high likelihood that it is a place of interest, and we are planning a raid for three nights from now. All of our tactical strategies have to be put into place in order to really flush out the area. It is becoming harder and harder for us to maintain our Dragon forms without some form of help, such as from the totems we were given when we first arrived on Earth. Perhaps the Elders had anticipated just such an event occurring. Whatever the reason, it is obvious that we have a lot of work to do.

“As the only Dragon shifters on Earth, it is our duty to seek out and protect all of those with a sacred bloodline. It is common knowledge that there are not usually more than ten sacred beings on a single planet, depending on the communities. So, the children that we have already brought into the world are taking up a significant portion of the population on Earth. Perhaps with more on the way, this will no longer be quite as serious of an issue. As you know, the sun on our planet provided us with much of the shifter magic that maintained our Dragon forms. But having the sacred children in their rightful place may ultimately prove to be just what we need to maintain some form of balance.”

The Dragon shifters listened grimly as Gavin spoke. All of them were well aware of just how precarious their situation was at this point. Norris was still tempted to tell everybody about his plan and the possibility of having met his potential fated mate, but he couldn’t bear the thought of having the others get their hopes up for nothing. He still wasn’t even sure if Lisa would agree to go out with him to the club. He trusted fate, but he didn’t trust anyone who couldn’t even trust themselves. That was a sad fact of the matter.

“We need to start strategizing then,” Max said, taking charge of the meeting as he had a tendency to do. “I want everybody to report to me early tomorrow and we will start figuring out what our next steps are going to be. I’m not going to take any of this lying down and neither are you. It may seem bleak, but there is always a way. Never forget that. And if you do, talk to somebody who will remind you rather than someone who will let you stew in your own juices and make it impossible for you to move forward. Does anybody have any other thoughts or concerns?”

Again, Norris could feel Gavin’s gaze burning into his back, but he chose to ignore it again. He wasn’t going to make a fool of himself. He needed proof. Gavin had been right about that much at least. He was going to go into the underground bunker and test the security system, and then take the device with him so that he could test Lisa and find out once and for all whether or not his suspicions were accurate.

But Norris was royalty. He already knew his suspicions were correct. But, he also understood Gavin’s need for confirmation. It could be a significant waste of time and energy if it turned out the person he wanted to be with wasn’t going to further their cause and help them to save the universe. But that wouldn’t change his feelings toward her.

After everybody had filtered out, each of them speaking briefly to Max about things that had been bothering them before heading out for the day, Gavin took Norris aside. “I have been waiting to hear from you about this girl of yours. I know you keep saying she is some sort of special, but how can you possibly know that for sure? You really need to get her tested.”

“Yes, I know. I’m going to do that when I see her next. It’s just the last thing that has been on my mind. I have been having kind of a hard time with her.” Gavin nodded sympathetically, and then his face fell.

“Don’t tell me that you tried to tell her about being a Dragon shifter after I told you what a stupid idea that was,” he scolded. “Norris, you’re going to get us in some serious trouble. You never know who’s lurking around the corner trying to get information out of us. You have to be more careful than that.” Norris prickled. He didn’t like being told what to do, and certainly didn’t like having the implication that he will put his friends in danger. If anything, he was doing everything in his power to help them.

“Everything is going to be fine,” Norris said, shaking his head. “Give me the stupid device and I will get the blood sample or hair or whatever it is you guys need. I’ll get her tested and we will find out for sure. And if I’m wrong about this, then you don’t have to say you told me so. Just put me on guard duty for the rest of my life. I will accept that.”

Gavin grinned despite himself and sighed heavily. “All right, man. I guess you’re just going to do what feels best to you. I can’t talk you out of it. Just make sure you aren’t doing anything that could be considered dangerous. I’m not trying to insult your intelligence or anything, but things are not as simple as they used to be anymore. I’m just concerned.”

“Gavin, buddy, you are always here. And I’m sure there is good reason for it. But what you need more than anything lately is a chance to relax. And I’m going to give you the chance. Come here.”

Norris led him to the underground bunker where he had already set up the security device he built. Norris had always been very good with his hands and now he was pleased to be able to use that skill in a way that would help him to create a better life for his friends, even if just for a short while.

“What’s all this?” Gavin asked, looking around at the impressive array of machinery curiously.

“This, my brother, is a security system. I put it together myself. It isn’t quite as good as what you might find back home, but it’s damn good. If anybody is messing with the area, we will know right away.”

“Wow,” Gavin said, looking around quietly at the machinery. “I hadn’t thought of all this. I’m so burnt out…”

“Well, I did, and it works. And that means, you are going to take a break and we're all going to have some fun together, whether you like it or not."

"How is it fun if I don't like it?" Gavin asked, but his face was suddenly light with relief and gratitude. It did Norris’ heart some good to see that his hard work had paid off and he was able to give his overworked friend something to look forward to.

“Well, you’re just going to have fun so that it’s worth it,” Norris teased. “I’m not going to take no for an answer. You have to do this for me. And for yourself. I want us all to go out this weekend and have some fun. It’s really important. You surely understand that. If you are burnt out, there is no possible way you are going to be able to function at the capacity you are needed to function. We have to take care of ourselves and each other. You used to preach that to us all the time, but you don’t practice what you preach. You act like you are some sort of impenetrable machine. And maybe it feels like that now but look at you. You are so burnt out that you didn’t even consider how easy it would be to set up a security system like this.”

Gavin mulled this over quietly for a few moments and then finally nodded. “All right,” he said. “I suppose I’m going to let you have your way on this one. We will go out this weekend. And hopefully, I will have fun. Or at least do what is necessary in order to become a little bit more relaxed so that I can focus better on the mission at hand. I cannot stress the importance of all of this enough.”

“Trust me, Gavin, I understand. And I’m going to take the device with me and ask out the woman I’m in love with beyond the shadow of a doubt and find out for sure whether or not I have been wasting my time with her. How does that sound?”

Another wave of relief washed over Gavin’s features and he nodded enthusiastically.

“Please. I have been waiting for this.”

Norris chuckled to himself. “I know you have. I am willing to do what it takes to help our people thrive in this difficult time. Just leave it to me.”

Gavin nodded seriously, and Norris slapped him on the back before leaving the bunker, grabbing the device as he left and turning his thoughts back to Lisa. Everything is going to be okay. It had to be.