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“How do you feel?” he asked quietly.

“Like I’ve been hit by a supernatural truck,” I replied honestly. “Everything hurts, I have memories that don’t feel like mine, and apparently, I have fan clubs camping on your property. So, you know, just another day in Cedar Grove.”

Despite everything, Marcus’ lips twitched into a smile. “We have a lot to talk about,” he said gently.

“You need to eat first, mijo,” Maria said, coming in with a tray laden with food.

“I’m not sure I can—” I began, but Maria cut me off with a stern look.

“Dragon blood requires fuel,” she said firmly, placing the tray across my lap. “Jorge has been researching the proper diet. Eat.”

The authority in her voice was so absolute that I obeyed without question. The moment the first bite of Jorge’s perfect Spanish omelet hit my tongue, I realized she was right—I was starving. Ravenous, actually, with a hunger that felt like it started in my bones.

“See?” Maria said smugly, watching me devour the food at a speedthat would have embarrassed me under normal circumstances. “A mother always knows.”

“I’ll leave you to talk,” Luke said, giving me a significant look that clearly meant ‘we’ll catch up later.’ “Eomma wants me to help her with some protection rituals anyway.”

“Make sure she doesn’t burn too much sage,” Maria called after him as she gathered my now-empty tray. “It upsets the tigers’ meditation or something. Very particular, those people.” She turned to the brothers with a stern look. “Don’t tire him out. And if he gets hungry again, ring the bell. Jorge has more food ready.”

As Luke and Maria left, closing the door behind them, I found myself alone with my mates.

“How much do you remember?” Marcus asked quietly.

“More than I did before,” I admitted. “The seal my mother put on my memories is breaking. I remember that night now—parts of it, anyway. The Coven, the Blackwoods chasing me, your grandmother…” I swallowed hard. “The marking.”

The three brothers exchanged glances, a silent communication passing between them.

“We need to talk about that,” Marcus said gently. “About what happened that night. About what we’ve learned since.”

“The crimson mists,” I said, the thoughts sending a visible shiver through me. “They were there that night, weren’t they? Using the Blackwoods, feeding on the conflict.”

“Yes,” Marcus confirmed, his voice tight with suppressed emotion. “But we didn’t know it then. We thought it was just the Blackwoods attacking our territory.”

“And your grandmother knew,” I continued, pieces falling into place. “That’s why she insisted you mark me. She saw what was coming.”

“She was a seer,” Caleb explained, his hand finding mine. “In her final moments, she had a vision. She knew someone wanted you, though she never said who or why. She just insisted we mark you before ‘they’ could.”

“Because I’m a supernatural hybrid,” I said, the words still sounding strange. “Wolf and dragon. The ‘twice-blessed child’ or whatever they called me.”

“The perfect vessel,” Marcus confirmed, his expression darkening. “Your dual nature makes you uniquely capable of channeling power—both kinds. The Coven wanted to use you, to feed on your potential.”

“But our marking protected you,” Derek continued. “It created a bond they couldn’t break, a connection that kept you anchored to us even when you were far away.”

“That’s why my mother ran,” I realized aloud. “She knew what they wanted. She was trying to hide me from them, not from you.”

“We think so,” Marcus nodded. “Sarah must have known about your dragon heritage, about the danger it posed. She did what any mother would do—she protected her child the only way she knew how.”

I absorbed this information in silence, trying to reconcile the quiet, hardworking woman I’d known with this new image—a fierce protector hiding a supernatural child from ancient evil.

“So what happens now?” I finally asked, the question that had been weighing on me since I woke up. “The Coven’s still out there, right? And they still want me.”

“They’re weakened, but yes,” Marcus confirmed. “The binding ritual at the stone circle was temporary. They’ll return, stronger and more determined.”

“Which is why you need to learn to control both aspects of your heritage,” Derek added, his tactical mind clearly already planning for future confrontations. “The wolf side we can help with, but the dragon blood…”

“Let me guess.” I sighed. “That’s where the ninja camping trip in your garden comes in? Because nothing says ‘learn your ancient heritage’ like a bunch of strangers in white robes setting up shop in the hydrangeas.”

“The White Tiger Clan has protected the Imperial Dragon bloodline for centuries,” Marcus explained, his lips twitching at my description. “They can teach you to control your abilities, to channel your dragon heritage safely.”