Page 48 of Fanged Secrets
I jumped slightly when Dylan’s fist ghosted past my nose and slammed onto the table, and I swiveled my head to catch her words. “So what do we do?!”
I followed her gaze to Jordan, who had her fingers laced in front of her, brooding over something.
“We catch him out.” She moved her fingers so I could see her lips and shot a wary glance my way. “But we’re going to need some tantalizing bait.”
Dylan looked from Jordan to me and back again, confusion morphing into downright fury when she caught on to what Jordan was implying. “No. Hell no! Absolutely not!”
“Don wants Amara dead by your hand. If he can’t have that, no doubt he’s going to try and make it happen himself. We need to catch him in the act,” Jordan said firmly. “We need to expose his plans and draw out the dragon shifters. And when we do, we kill him.”
Dylan’s grip on my leg tightened. “No. It’s too risky. I won’t let you put her in harm’s way.”
“It’s not up to you,” Jordan continued, unfazed. “Amara has to decide for herself.”
I swiveled my head between them, turning it over in my mind. The idea terrified me. I wasn’t even sure I could truly trust these vampires, despite their reassurances. But I trusted Dylan. I wanted to keep her safe.
My feelings toward Don were complicated, a tangled mess of loyalty, fear, and a desperate hope that he would one day love me the way fathers are supposed to. But his actions had shown me time and time again that his heart was made of stone. He didn’t care about me, not really. Not at all. I had to stop clinging to the false hope that he might. His latest stunt was the final straw.
I squeezed Dylan’s hand back, offering her a reassuring smile.
“I’ll do it.” I typed into my cell and the app read out my words. “We need to stop him, and this is the best way. I’ll just have to trust you all to keep me safe.”
Dylan rounded on me with a disbelieving expression, mouth and hands moving in a flurry as she vehemently protested. “Are you fucking crazy?!”“Not crazy.” I hushed her, signing slowly with a weak smile. “Just stubborn.”
Jordan nodded. “We’ll set the trap at the gathering. We’ll make sure Don believes everything is going according to his plan. Until Amara comes out unscathed.”
“And when he makes his move,” River added, “we’ll be ready.”
Maxine leaned over to me, whispering lips moving conspiratorially, “You’re so brave, Amara. I can see why Dylan is so smitten.”
Dylan turned a ferocious scowl on the poor woman. “Maxine, I will turn you over to the dragon shifters myself.”
“Oh, lighten up, Dylan,” River teased. “You’re always so tense. Not exactly team player material.”
Dylan shot back with a withering glare, “You’re planning to usemy wifeas bait. Forgive me for not being ecstatic about it.”
I couldn’t help but laugh, the tension in my chest easing a bit.
The meeting continued, plans were made, and roles were assigned. Dylan oscillated between fawning over me and glaring at the others like a medieval dragon guarding her gold.
The gathering at the Leyore hall was going to be a turning point. Don had gone too far, and it was time to put an end to his schemes. With the plan in place, I felt a newfound resolve. This wasn’t just about survival anymore – it was about protecting the person I had come to care for and ensuring a future free from my father’s manipulations.
As the meeting adjourned Dylan pulled me aside, her eyes searching mine as she signed, “Are you sure about this?”
I nodded, touching a hand to her chest before signing back, “I’m sure. We need to do this.”
She held my gaze for a long moment, then pulled me into a tight hug. When we broke apart, she signed again, “I won’t let anything happen to you. I promise.”
“I know. I trust you.”
And, maybe for the first time since we’d been married, I meant it.
Chapter 25
Dylan
The night before the gathering was a restless one. I found myself pacing the apartment, walking a hurried loop from the kitchen to the living room and back again as I worked myself into a frantic mess.
I didn’t like the idea of Amara being bait, but we had no better options. The thought of her in danger made my blood boil. I couldn't shake the nagging worry in the pit of my stomach, the fear that something might go wrong, that I might lose her.
