Page 19 of The Dragon’s Surprise (Tahoe Dragon Mates #7)
Chapter Thirteen
L exi was aware of someone talking to her, although the voices were garbled and unclear.
Her head also hurt, and she struggled to wake up. Bit by bit the voices became defined until she could make out, “This is how you fly when with a group of friends. That way, you can each look out for each other, in case someone pulls a muscle and falls behind.”
“But how do you not crash into someone?”
“Lots of practice.”
It took her a second, but then she placed the voices: Kyle and Ethan.
Ethan! Hearing the boy motivated Lexi to try harder to open her eyes. It took longer than she liked, but eventually she opened them and blinked against the light and groaned.
Someone gently grabbed her hand. “Lexi, are you awake? Tell me, love. Please.”
Kyle. Her eyes finally focused on the large dragonman above her. His pupils flashed, and she noticed the stubble on his jaw. “You look like hell.”
He chuckled. “Not the first thing I expected you to say, but I’m glad to hear it.” His voice dropped a fraction. “You scared me, Lexi. You scared the both of us.”
Before she could reply, Ethan’s head popped into her field of vision. “Lexi, are you okay? Did you hear me tell you to wake up?”
She smiled, wishing she was strong enough to sit up and hug Ethan. Her voice was still crackly as she replied, “I don’t remember, but I’m sure it made the difference. I’m glad you’re okay.”
Ethan patted her shoulder. “You helped them find us. You were brave and smart and I’m sorry they hurt you.”
She frowned and glanced at Kyle, and he answered, “Your information helped them form a better plan, according to Rio and Axel.” He cupped her cheek and caressed her skin with his thumb. “I’m glad you’re here with us now, love. We both are.”
It was the second time he’d used the endearment. Part of her yearned to ask what it meant, secretly hoping he still wanted her as his mate. But her head buzzed a little, and she wasn’t sure she could handle a complex or serious conversation right now.
Although she hoped they could talk about it later because during her escape attempt, she’d realized how much she yearned to return to Kyle, run into his arms, and never leave his or Ethan’s side again.
For now, she murmured, “Water and then tell me everything.”
Kyle frowned as he reached for the nearby cup. “You should wait until you’re stronger before we go over all that.” He lifted her head and placed the cup at her lips. “Here, drink this. Slowly.”
After she drank a little water and sighed with relief, she said, “Please, tell me. Is everyone okay?”
Once she settled back on her pillow, he said, “Yes. We rescued all the dragon-shifters and most of the attendees were handed over to ADDA. No one knows what will happen to them—no doubt some will make deals and give information—but I doubt they’ll use that location again for any sort of illegal activity. ”
Ethan moved closer to Kyle. “I don’t want them to take me again.”
“They won’t. I’ll protect you. The entire clan will. I vow it, Ethan.”
As the boy snuggled into his father’s side, Lexi’s heart warmed. More than ever, she wanted that future.
However, before she accidentally blurted that, Dr. Alvaro came in, shooed Kyle and Ethan out, and then asked her a series of questions.
By the end, the doctor told her it would take some time to recover.
And even though she yearned to talk more with Kyle and Ethan, her eyelids drooped and Lexi fell fast asleep.
The next time she woke up, her sister sat in a chair next to her bed, typing something on a laptop. Lexi blinked. “Jennifer?”
Her sister placed the computer on the side table, stood, and took her hand. “Lexi! Thank goodness. I would hug you, but I don’t want to hurt you.”
“Not that I don’t love seeing you, but why are you here?”
Her sister arched a dark eyebrow. “You were drugged, kidnapped, and bashed over the head. Of course I came to see you.”
As she studied her sister’s face, she could tell Jennifer was hiding something. “What is it, Jen? It’s not like you to beat around the bush.”
Her sister sighed. “It’s not good news.”
Ignoring her pounding heart, she said, “Just tell me.”
“Well, you’ve become a major target of the League now, Lexi. They even have your picture posted all over the dark web, with an offer of a small reward for your capture.”
“What? Why?”
“You foiled the plans of a rather powerful alleged ally of the League, and he doesn’t like it. And so now your future will be one of two options—enter Witness Protection or stay with a dragon clan who can watch over you.”
Even though she knew the answer, she couldn’t help but blurt, “And my job with DOCS?”
Her sister shook her head. “I’m sorry, but the best they’ll let you do is help with clans in the area, if you decide to stay with a dragon clan.”
Lexi wanted to stay with Kyle more than anything. But she didn’t want him to feel obligated. Because the only way humans were usually allowed to stay on a dragon clan was to mate a dragon-shifter.
And yet, the thought of leaving him and never seeing him or Ethan again made her heart squeeze. Would he want her, even if she didn’t mention she had to make the choice?
Sitting on the side of her bed, Jennifer said, “I haven’t told Kyle about your options.”
“Please, don’t.”
Her sister leaned over and gave her a one-armed hug.
“I won’t. But for what it’s worth, I think the dragon doctor cares for you, Lexi, if not loves you.
He’s been a complete, overprotective bear—or, er, dragon, I guess—since I arrived.
I had to get the clan leader to come and force him out so I could spend some time with you.
” Her voice softened. “Do you feel the same way about him? The human named Jenny Torres here seems to think so, but I want to hear it from you. No matter your answer, I’ll fight to keep you safe and stay in your life, I promise. ”
As she studied her older sister’s face, her eyes heated with tears. Jennifer had always looked out for her and had given up so much when they’d been younger to try and make Lexi feel less alone once their mother had left.
And she was doing it again, without a thought. “You can’t give up your job, Jen. You love it.”
Her sister waved a hand in dismissal. “Tell me your answer, and we’ll figure the rest out. Because if you want to mate Kyle, then me keeping my job and being in your life will be easier than you think.”
“I don’t want him to feel like he has to.”
Jennifer rolled her eyes. “If that dragonman doesn’t love you, then I’ll shave my head. At least talk to him. Maybe don’t mention the two choices until after you see how he feels.”
She sighed. “I guess. I never thought I’d be that woman, the one who falls so easily. And yet…”
“Well, dragonmen have their charms, for sure. Especially if you’re his true mate. Are you?”
Needing to unload, she told her sister everything—about being Kyle’s true mate, his son, and what she’d seen at the place in the desert. By the end, her sister had one question. “Do you love him then?”
Lexi rubbed her forehead. “I think so. I mean, waking up in that abandoned building in the desert, unsure if I was going to die or not, I kept thinking of Kyle and Ethan. Of how I wished I could see them again and finally have a family of my own.”
Her sister took her hand and squeezed. “Sometimes these things happen fast. A long relationship before a mating doesn’t make a difference. Just look at me.”
“I’m sorry, Jen. I forgot all about him.”
“I was young and na?ve. But having met Kyle, you’re both grown-ass adults, and he clearly knows what he wants. And that’s you and Ethan.”
“I guess that means I have to talk with him, huh?”
“Yep. But not before you tell me some more about him. Oh, and I need to call the doctor soon. I promised I would once you woke up again.”
And as Lexi talked with her sister, her doubts melted away one by one.
She loved Kyle and Ethan, and she wanted to stay with MirrorPeak.
She might not be able to keep her job with DOCS, but that didn’t mean she couldn’t do other things to help humans and dragon-shifters get along, or even help the children find forever families.
By the time her sister left and Dr. Alvaro arrived, Lexi was confident about her next steps. However, she wanted to be out of this hospital bed and well again before she took them.