Page 16 of Axes & Nos

“What did I say?” Dax asks as I continue to think about all the women he’s probably told. For some reason it irks me more than it probably should. He doesn’t owe me anything. We’re not together, we’ll never be together. He’s the typical pretty boy whocharms women by the dozens. My thoughts are interrupted by Chase’s voice.

“Nothing.” I quip back quickly, shaking my head. He doesn’t need to know what I’m thinking, his ego is big enough already. Besides, why do I care if he’s told a hundred or thousand women. It makes no difference to me. He’s not mine and I’m not his, we are not anything to each other. So why does it still irk me to think he’s told his secrets to some other woman.

“I’m not boring, I’ll have you know that Alia thinks I’m hella exciting to be around. Don’t you baby? Tell him I’m not boring.” Chase demands, pointing at his brother. Alia rubs the bridge of her nose like she’s trying to keep her patience.

“Do you see what I have to put up with?” Alia huffs out in exasperation. “This is every day all day with these two.”

“Ha! She didn’t back you up. She thinks you’re boring too!” Dax shouts, laughing while sticking his tongue out at Chase like a three-year-old.

“Oh my God Dax! Will you knock it off before he actually changes and bites you in the ass. I won’t stop him either, I’ll just sit back and laugh.” Alia glares whisper screaming at him, fed up with both of their antics. I’m not sure how she’s put up with them this long.

I probably would have killed both of them in their sleep by now if this is how they act on a daily basis. Chase gives Dax a smug smile but before he can open his mouth with a response Alia cuts her hand through the air in the universal sign for enough and he backs down. I can’t help but smile at the interaction when I finally realize what’s going on.

Even though it seems as if they are acting like petty toddlers that’s not really what it is. It’s more like two grown men who love and respect each other butting heads. They don’t understand how to show their frustration or fears. Chase is used to being in charge, but it seems like Dax is pushing for more independenceand it scares Chase. They resort to name calling and teasing instead of facing the actual issue. I’m pretty sure if I had siblings, we would probably act the same way.

“Were you born this way or were you turned into this?” I blurt out interrupting their arguing.

“We were all born this way.” Chase says not missing a beat.

“Like did a witch curse your family or something and that’s why you can shift? Is it genetics, like an abnormal DNA strand or something?” I ask, trying to understand how they came to be.

“No idea, this is just what we are. There are myths from ancient times about us, but it’s hard to decipher fact from fiction.” Alia answers smoothly this time and I think about how sad that must be to not know where you came from essentially.

“Can you change a human? Could you change me? Am I in danger of being changed by being around you?” I ask slightly nervous about their answer.

“Yes, we can change a human. Yes, we could change you. No, you are not in danger of being changed just by hanging out with us. One of us would have to bite you.” Dax practically growls out, his eyes bouncing back and forth from green to gold again. Did I insult them by asking that question? Is that why he’s upset?

“Dax.” Chase warns again and Dax narrows his eyes at him with a growl, confusing me even more.

“What about unicorns, dragons, or mermaids?” I ask quickly, trying to break the tension between the brothers. It works because both chuckle at my question.

“Dragons yes, unicorns and mermaids no. At least not that I’ve ever seen or heard of.” Alia answers as Chase and Dax’s faces are still full of mirth at my expense. Meanwhile my mind is focusing on the fact that there are actually people out there that can change into a dragon and humans are none the wiser.

“Humans aren’t the top of the food chain, are they? No, you don’t need to answer that one, it's pretty obvious that we aren’t.We have no idea what’s really out there and while it’s kind of scary to think about it’s also pretty cool that I know.” I say in awe, thinking about how I feel like I am part of something bigger than myself. They are trusting me with a secret that could affect all of their kind. It’s a big responsibility and I’m not a hundred percent sure I’m up for the job.

“Honestly, there are fewer of us than there are humans. We have the teeth and claws, but they have the numbers. They could easily pick us off one at a time if they had a mind to do so.” Chase states, making me aware of just how fragile their existence really is.

They are trusting me with their lives, the lives of their families, and the lives of every shifter in existence. Their trust is both an honor and a burden, but one I’m willing to shoulder for their sake. Alia is like a sister to me. I would protect her with my life if it came down to it. I will take their secret to the grave.

“Now you know all our secrets.” Dax says with a flourish of his hands like he’s performed some magic trick. I can’t help the small smile that cracks my lips.

“I’m pretty sure that’s not all of your secrets. Maybe Alia and Chase’s but definitely not yours. You probably still have a million secrets.” I’m pretty sure most of those secrets are women he keeps on the line, but I don’t say that part.

“Not a million, just one.” He says with a knowing smirk, and now my curiosity is in full swing. My eyebrow arches in response, but my unspoken question goes unanswered.

Chapter Nine

Dax

I can tell I’ve piqued her interest, but there's no way I’m going to tell her my final truth just yet. If I told her she was my mate now she would run screaming away. Until I have her addicted to me, I’m not letting that slip. I can’t afford to lose her now that I’ve found her. Once I have her thoroughly addicted to me then I’ll tell her that she’s my mate and we will live happily ever after. Just like Chase and Alia, only better because I’ll be a better mate than Chase ever thought about being.

“Now that you know all of our secrets, care to share one of yours with me?” I tease as we are leaving the restaurant.

“I don’t have anything close to your secrets to share. Mine would seem paltry comparatively.” She smiles, shaking her head in denial.

“Oh, beautiful Myra, I think you have secrets that could rival our own. There is only one I am interested in at the moment though. Your phone number.” I say with a wink and smile at her. It’s a lie, I want all of her secrets, I want to know everything about her. She doesn’t trust me enough to give me those yet though. Until she does, I’ll settle for the small secrets she hides from me.

“That again. Oh, poor Dax, my answer is the same as it was the last time. No.” She says with finality as she moves to get in her truck.