Page 56 of Lion Conquers All
“You don’t understand how bad it’s going to be.” Naomi’s words were slurred by her emotion.
“We are together. That’s all that matters. We have this family at our side and we will stay together and protect each other, no matter what.”
She shook her head free of his hands and Aarav’s chest tightened at the pain he knew Col was feeling. Col’s mate and wife was scared and upset and they were all about to risk something that could have lasting consequences for all of them.
Col stood and glanced around the room.
The others were coming.
It was time.
The dragon’s gaze landed on Liam, where he stood next to Tor and Dawn. “Liam, would you stay with Naomi and Penny. Kann, you as well. I would not have you separated from your children. Ryder, you will also stay along with Ava to help pack trucks and necessities should we need to make a quick exit. All females remain behind and stay together.”
Ryder’s eyebrows rose, surprise evident that he’d been singled out to stay. He exchanged a questioning glance with Ava, who shook her head to dismiss the order made by their chief.
“Split into groups of two or three. Do not separate from each other. We don’t know what searchers from town might still be on the mountain. Be vigilant.” Col kissed his mate on the head and walked out into the still-dark morning.
Aarav glanced around the room and headed for the door to follow. Shenn kissed his mate, Heather, and then left the cabin with the rest of the males. Ivann had paired up with Saul. They got along very well. Veer and Raj were waiting for Aarav at the bottom of the stairs.
“Maybe no one will see us and everything will continue as usual.”
Aarav released a slow sigh. “Maybe.”
The cold wind bit into his skin and he was glad they were shifting into their beasts to hunt for the kids. His lion handled this winter weather much better than his human form.
“Everyone take a flare gun and a tranq gun. If you find the kids, fire two flares. If you get into trouble, fire one flare. If the kids are awake, tranq them so Col can come pick them up without causing a panic attack.” Penny stood in the doorway holding out a big duffle bag. “Now.” She shook the bag and the plastic and metal guns and cartridgesclinkedtogether noisily.
Aarav smiled and several of the other men chuckled. Penny was the expert in all things weapons and preparedness. She was also the one in charge of building an underground bunker not far from Naomi and Col’s cabin. Especially after the Tribe here in Mystery encountered Aarav and his brothers along with the Ka’lagh and then the dragon tribe from Oregon.
Her “bat cave” as she called it had become top priority. She had contractors lined up for next summer to start construction. She and Kann’s home already looked like a secret base from a spy movie—guns, cameras, and other technology he probably would never understand.
“How were you this prepared?”
She smiled and shook her head. “I have strategies and plans for all sorts of problems. You have no idea. Welcome to my brain.”
Aarav took a flare gun and several cartridges, along with the small metal tranq gun and several vials of the tranquilizer. He shoved them into a zippered pocket on his pant leg. Then took the bag from her and passed it around the group. The bag was nearly empty when he handed it back to her.
“Thank you.”
Her lips were tight, but she nodded. “Be careful out there. Connie will never forgive you if something happens to you.”
His shoulders sagged a little at the mention of his mate. He’d slipped away from the community center without speaking to her. She’d been against this from the very start. He couldn’t face her anger, not right now. Not when he knew what they were doing was the right thing. No matter the consequences. No matter how much it might hurt. They all knew this was the right choice. It had been all along.
Col walked further away from the group, giving himself room to shift. The rest of them stood still and watched with awe as his enormous black body appeared, huge black wings unfurled and flapped, lifting him a bit off the ground for a moment. His eyes were orange with fire. His mouth was big enough to swallow one of their beasts whole.
One snap.
That’s it. You would just be gone.
That’s why the dragons on Reylea had been the ruling Tribe. When you were big, powerful, fireproof, and could swallow your enemies whole. Nothing really tried to go up against you. Ever.
The big dragon growled low in his chest and the ground rumbled with the command.
Aarav could feel the alpha magick pressing against him, urging his beast to take control.
His lion pushed forward and he shifted.
They all did, taking everything they were carrying with them into the magick. Every shifter in Reylea was gifted with a charm from the Magick-Benders when they turned five years old. The charm allowed their clothes, weapons, anything they were carrying to merge into the shift with them and reappear when they shifted back to human form.
