Page 9 of Alan

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Alan

“Why do they call this football?” Ainsley looked around the room to everyone in general, as the question had not been posed to any one of us in particular. “Everywhere else in the world, football is a different game entirely. Even I know that.”

Klaus was sitting beside me on the sofa. He snickered. “Because Americans must do things their own way. What they call soccer is what the rest of the world knows as football.”

She exchanged a frown with Leslie, who sat across from her at the chessboard. “I’ve always found organized sports to be something of a waste of time,” Leslie shrugged. “Even the names are rather arbitrary.”

I shook my head. “Women.”

Klaus nodded.

“I’d watch myself, if I were you,” Ainsley warned him. Her eyes, which were so like mine, narrowed in mock anger. “You might not want to agree with him on all things, is all I’m saying.”

He shrugged. “You see what I’m up against. I must choose my battles wisely.”

“You’ll get no argument from me there,” I chuckled. My twin was a force to be reckoned with. I had been on the losing end of her sharp tongue many times.

It occurred to me at that moment that I was satisfied with the turn life had taken. No, I wouldn’t have chosen for Gavin or any of the other members of our clan to die so needlessly. I would rather he still be alive to lead our clan, as he had for so many hundreds of years before the terrible day when our enemies found our home.

There had been additional challenges since then, too. Life had not settled into comfort or peace in the aftermath of our return.

But it had been weeks since Kiera had joined us and since then, things had settled down considerably. We had fallen into our old roles, ensuring the clan’s safety and secrecy from the outside world.

Humanity had been through quite a lot in over a millennium, but there was little doubt they would still look unfavorably upon dragons. If anything, the improvements in technology would only lead to the truth of our existence spreading more quickly than we ever could have imagined.

Even my own dragon had been strangely quiet and contented in the days leading up to that football game. As though he could find nothing to rage and roar about. A small blessing, to be sure. In his silence, I could hear myself think when making decisions on clan business.

When Tamhas motioned to me from the doorway leading out to the corridor, I thought little of it. My guard was that far down. I joined him without thinking twice.

Only when I noticed the deep frown, the creased forehead, did the dragon stir to life and my instincts warn me of what was to come.

“What is it?” I asked, glancing over his shoulder to where Keira stood.

“It seems as though we have a problem,” he murmured. “We ought to have a meeting on it. Right away.”

“Everyone,” Keira added. In her hands was a beaded bracelet which she kept running her fingers over, turning it again and again. She seemed ready to explode with nervous energy.

“All right, then.” I made the announcement to gather in the round room, between the cave entrance and our living quarters. It seemed as good a place as any.

As I walked with Tamhas, I asked, “Is there anything you wish to tell me before everyone is gathered? You know I little appreciate being the last to know things.”

“We found something out in the woods. Signs of a struggle.” His words came out sort, clipped. “Keira believes it has to do with that friend of hers from home. The one who located our mountain.”

“You’ve proof of this?” I asked before remembering the bracelet she fretted over. It seemed a strange thing for her to carry as she did. If it belonged to the girl…

What? What did it mean?

Nothing good. I should have known the short-lived peace we’d enjoyed was too good to be true.

By the time everyone gathered, all eyes on me for an explanation as to why they’d been pulled away from whatever it was they’d been involved with, I was seething. The dragon all but roared, demanding answers.

“It seems we’ve had a visitor,” I announced, glaring at Keira.

It was her fault for leading her friend to us. If anything happened to her, if she lost her life or was tortured for information, it would be on Keira’s head and not mine.

I could only take responsibility for those in my clan. They were already more than enough for me to look after. Foolhardy friends could not be my concern.

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