Page 71 of Hidden Fate

So that was exactly what Vlad, Tyson, Cassidy, Thorn, Saphira, Theron, Hydra, and I did as we waited for Wyvern and the others to arrive.

* * *

My body wasslick with sweat as Cassidy and I sparred. We’d been out here for over three hours, and the hot Missouri sun was beating down on us.

Any time we took a break, restlessness would seep back in.

The others were slowly waking and joining us. The warriors were training Kari, Chandra, Saphira, and Errol on firearms across the pond so they wouldn’t risk hitting anyone, while Vlad and Thorn taught Mindy, Eva, Elliott, and Tyson how to shoot with arrows about a hundred yards within the thick trees. The rest of us sparred. Part of the strategy we’d decided on was that we needed to use different tactics on the warriors: dragons, gunfire, arrows, daggers, and whatever else we could get our hands on. That would force them to split their response against different groups, based on how we were fighting, versus them employing a straight strategy across the board.

My stomach growled, eager for the pizzas we’d ordered to get here pronto, but I didn’t dare take my eyes off Cassidy to search the road. I would hear the vehicle coming, anyway. Rex and Opal had left thirty minutes ago to get the food, and I was hoping they’d be back any minute.

Cassidy swung her fist at me, and I ducked, avoiding that blow, but her left fist swung upward and nailed me on the chin. My neck jerked back. Pain exploded through my jaw, and I stumbled a few steps.

A loud roar rang in my head, and it wasn’t my dragon. It was Thorn’s. His concern wafted through me, but I pushed it away.

The last time he’d distracted me, I’d gotten hurt, and I refused to take another blow like that. A groan slipped from me, but I pushed through the pain as I bounded over to Cassidy. She raised her hands, an arrogant smirk on her face, and I almost questioned my next move.

I faked a punch with my right arm, and she went to block it while keeping an eye on my other hand. Making sure my arms didn’t move, I placed my weight on my left leg and kicked her in the stomach.

Her eyes widened, and she stumbled back several feet, more than I had. She hunched over and wrapped an arm around her stomach just as Thorn reached my side.

“Are you okay?” he asked, pulling me into his arms. His mesmerizing scent was even better with the musk of his sweat laced through it. My stomach clenched with need.

“I…think…” Cassidy gasped, then chuckled painfully. “She’s more than fine.”

My eyes flicked to Vlad, who was staring at Cassidy with concern.

“I’m sorry—” I started.

“No, it’s my fault.” She stood straight. “Vlad has been telling me to come out and train with you instead of cooking all the time. I didn’t realize I was quite this rusty.”

I moved my jaw from side to side, pain flaring back to life. “You got a good hit in yourself.”

Thorn’s hands gently touched my jaw as he examined it.

My chest swelled with how much I loved him.I’m fine. I’ll be healed in a few hours.

He scowled.That doesn’t make me feel better.

The sound of an engine purred, and my heart quickened. Food!

Should I be jealous that the sound of food arriving has your heart racing more than when I pulled you into my arms?he teased, his eyes lightening.

You have me warm in a whole different way I plan on showing you later,I connected and kissed him.

Theron’s red truck appeared with Rex behind the steering wheel. We smiled and waved, but Rex didn’t respond, and all Opal did was lift her hand and nod curtly.

When Thorn and I reached the vehicle, Rex climbed out and said, “We shouldn’t have let Peter go.”

What had my stepdad done now?

CHAPTERTWENTY-FOUR

Thorn’s body turned rigid,and the world shifted under my feet. With all the bad things that had happened to us, I thought I’d have been used to the anxiety, but I stumbled a step.

A large, warm hand grabbed my arm, anchoring me in more ways than one. Without Thorn, I wouldn’t have been able to get through this with my sanity intact. He was my foundation…my home.

“What happened?” Thorn gritted.

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