Hidden Fate

34

His words were like a blast of cold water. I’d known we were at a disadvantage, but he’d spelled it out so blatantly that there was no way we were going to win unless we took risks. Worse, if we lost, we’d run out of places to hide. This was potentially our one shot. “He’s right.” Denying it would be like blow-drying an oil painting—futile and messy.

I could see his smirk out of the corner of my eye. He was eating this up.

Bite me, I connected, pushing my humor and annoyance toward him.

Gladly, but when we get home. I don’t mind showing affection in front of Mom, but we have warriors in our midst. Even I have boundaries. He glanced back out the window.

Two could play this game. Though I knew nothing would happen, I couldn’t let him say something like that and drop it.

Uther was strolling up to Errol and Vlad, and we were safe—for now—so I leaned over, keeping my gaze on the entrance behind us, and brushed his crotch ever so subtly.

He growled faintly. Then again, maybe I don’t.

I snickered, surprised I could be somewhat happy in this moment, but I shouldn’t have been. Thorn made everything better. I moved my hand, knowing we didn’t need more distractions.

You were gloating, so I had to give you hell. Some of the tension uncurled in my stomach. So far, no other suspicious vehicles had entered the lot. That didn’t mean we were safe, but at least they hadn’t come barreling in, trying to force Errol and Vlad into a car.

The humor between us ebbed as he connected, Sorry if it came off that way. It just felt nice, needing to convince you of something for a change. I love you even more for being able to admit I was right.

My heart ached. He’d been dealing with emotions that I’d never fully understand, and he was working through them and seeing things I couldn’t. And I love you for wanting to protect us and your people.

It just took me time to come around and understand you were right. Thorn leaned forward, toward the passenger front seat. With Drake in charge, we’ll never be safe. Unease filtered through the bond, and I turned forward to see that Uther had his arms crossed and was frowning.

“What’s going on?” Thorn asked.

Cassidy glanced over her shoulder. “Uther isn’t thrilled about following us to another location. Apparently, he had a plan of his own, but he conceded.”

I grimaced. “Did he say anything about the other vehicle?”

“No.” Cassidy tapped her fingers on the steering wheel. “We’re all hiding stuff.”

Neither side trusted the other. I understood that Uther might feel conflicted about meeting with us, but hell, he was the one who’d contacted us.

Errol and Vlad headed to the new rental car, while Uther went back to his sedan. Vlad pulled out of the spot and headed toward the exit.

We had to be on alert to ensure no one else was following us. My gut churned. What if I didn’t pick up on someone following us and we got hurt?

What’s wrong? Thorn connected, his gorgeous eyes scanning me, and my heart skipped a beat. Do you see something? His concern added to mine, and my chest constricted.

I had to get a hold of myself, or I’d have a panic attack. The last time I was close to feeling like this was when I’d been struggling with Mom’s death. Knowing that if this meeting went wrong, everyone I loved would be at risk had the helpless feeling swirling inside me all over again. Just worried I might miss something.

This is a group effort, he replied, taking my hand in his. If something goes wrong, it’s all our fault, not just yours.

That didn’t make me feel better, but if I didn’t get control of my emotions, I would miss things because they were ruling me and not my logic. I forced the agonizing sensation away. You’re right.

Vlad, Errol, and Uther drove past us in their respective cars with our group leading the way. Neither Vlad nor Errol glanced at us, and Uther was too focused on staring in his rearview to notice us.

That was good.

A minute later, the Tahoe pulled out of its spot and trailed behind them, keeping fifty yards between themselves and Uther.

Cassidy followed the same protocol and stayed back the same distance, and I could only pray the Tahoe didn’t notice us. We didn’t have to keep up with them to learn where we were going, but we had to stay kind of close to see if anyone was also following them.

I gripped Thorn’s hand more tightly, realizing this was harder for me than anything else before. I felt helpless sitting in the back seat of a vehicle, waiting and watching. In every other tense situation, we’d been moving or fighting. I’d had the illusion of control, or at least my mind had been preoccupied.

Pressing buttons on the dashboard, Cassidy called Theron on the Suburban’s Bluetooth. It rang once before Theron answered. She filled him in as Thorn and I watched the cars between us and the Tahoe. If more people joined them, they wouldn’t expect us to be behind them, so they would fill in between Uther’s vehicle and ours, likely behind the Tahoe.

The two of them hung up with a plan. Hydra would stay near the vehicles with Theron’s phone in case someone saw anything or we needed to call with an update while the rest of them shifted and scouted out the area. Either way, Hydra could use her fated-mate connection with Theron to get the messages across.

Twilight was upon us, which meant humans would have a harder time making out the dragons and hopefully think they were a flock of birds.

A maroon Ford Explorer pulled into the lane beside us and slowed, merging as we got onto the interstate heading west. The woman in the vehicle was taller than average and had long, silky blonde hair. Could she be a warrior? Judging by how quickly she’d rushed up, I had to at least consider it.

We turned onto the interstate, and Cassidy sped up. Breaking my gaze from the Explorer, I noted that we’d fallen behind and she was trying to catch up.

The woman beside us did the same and glanced at me. I jerked my head down, trying to hide—not that it would do any good. The windows were tinted. It wasn’t like she could make me out, even with dragon eyesight.

What’s wrong? Thorn connected. Do you see something?

I don’t know yet. There’s a woman in the car next to us, but I’m not sure if she’s following them. I bit my bottom lip, trying to calm my raging nerves. Do you?

He shook his head. Not yet.

At least that was something.