Chapter 1 – Aline
Chapter One
Aline
A groan escapes as my arm throbs with an aching burn I shouldn’t be feeling while I’m wrapped up safe in my bed.
My eyes flutter as I try to hold on to the dream. This always happens. I can get stuck in a nightmare, and it seems like I’ll never escape, but a good dream? Those are fleeting.
I expect to see someone leaning over me.
It feels like I was in the middle of a conversation, but as I blink awake, the contents of the exchange are completely gone.
I pull my hand protectively to my chest, sitting up and glaring at the sneaky dragonling currently on the verge of scorching my sheets, again .
Smoke spills from his nose as he huffs in his sleep.
It’s strange to see the dragon in shifted form with race car pajama pants on. They’ve fallen down around his tail, and his legs are nearly bursting at the seams. It’s not unusual for growing shifters to change while they’re asleep.
It’s cute, but I can’t allow it to lessen my anger.
“Veryn,” I hiss.
The small dragon doesn’t move a muscle, but his blue and green scales bristle, like they always do when he’s annoyed. I try again, and his chunky tail flicks, showing his displeasure.
“Yeah, tough luck, you rotten child,” I grumble, trying to determine if this wound is severe enough to require magic to heal it.
The skin is red and blistered from Veryn’s warm breath.
Even dragonling dragonfire is enough to scorch through to human bone.
Luckily, all I got was a few puffs of condensation.
It’s terrifying to consider what could happen to Charity if she made the mistake of falling asleep holding her young. Not all fae have the ability to heal their own wounds, but my magic does.
I’m not a healer, not by a longshot, but it’s one of the few perks of my magic. Unfortunately, I’ve never learned how to overcome the magical backlash that comes when I use too much power all at once.
I twist on the bed until my feet hit the floor and aim for the bathroom, not-so-quietly slamming the door behind me. That little dragon is on my last damn nerve.
He’s lucky he’s adorable.
It must be a protection that evolution builds in to keep young alive. Especially in the supernatural world, where accidents and injuries happen regularly as a youngling learns to master their gifts.
Grabbing the burn cream from the bathroom cabinet, I carefully apply it. For an injury this size, it’s not worth the risk of using my magic. I finish that, use the restroom, wash my hands, and stride out to wake up Veryn. Only, the little guy is already awake.
“Morning, Ali,” he says, giving me a toothy grin. He’s back in human form, leaning his head of black hair against his palm.
“Why are you in my bedroom again, young man?” I ask, stomping over to open the blinds.
“Mom’s still sleeping. I came to see if you were awake, but you weren’t neither,” he says, shrugging a thin shoulder.
“I wasn’t either,” I correct.
“Nope, so I laid down and waited, but you sleeped forever,” he says, huffing an annoyed breath.
“Slept, you goofball.” I chuckle, shaking my head.
Children are adorable.
The dragon has more personality than his small body should be able to hold. His bright cerulean eyes flash to a yellowy green for a second, and he cocks his head to the side, listening to something intently. He’s only five, but he looks more like a seven- or eight-year-old human child.
“Aww, Mom’s awake and she’s mad,” he grumbles, shoving himself off the bed. Scale-covered wings sprout from his back, and he takes flight.
My arm aches as I follow him out of my room, through my small upstairs living room, and down the main stairs toward the front door.
The setup of the houses in this neighborhood is bizarre.
There are four homes in this cluster, all facing the same courtyard.
I suppose it’s due to the area being in the middle of our small city.
To get to the parking spots, you have to walk down a long sidewalk, and there’s one on either side of each house.
They spill out into the parking areas for our cluster and then the road.
Charity owns the house directly across from mine. To the left is Mrs. Segar, and to the right is a cranky shifter named Bane.
I have no clue what type of shifter he is, because his scent is like nothing I’ve ever encountered.
When I first moved in, I swore he didn’t exist. To this day, Charity and I have a running joke about it.
The man only comes out at night, and even though everyone in Haven knows everyone else’s business, I still have no idea what he does for a living.
Veryn yanks open the door to Charity standing in her slippers and housecoat, poised to knock. Her hair is wild and wavy. She looks like she’s on the verge of panicking, which makes sense.
I’m sure waking up to discover your child missing would scare the living daylights out of any parent.
“You snuck out, again .” Charity squats down and picks up her son. He’s more than half her height. Without her half-fae heritage, I can’t imagine she’d be able to lift him at his size.
I sigh, glancing away from the tender way she runs her hands down his arms and over his back.
I’ve tried to accept that having children is something that just won’t happen for me, but even after all these years, I haven’t figured out how to come to terms with that loss.
It’s difficult to process losing something you never truly had.
Charity frowns as she returns Veryn to the ground. “I’m so sorry he woke you up again.”
“It’s okay.” I laugh at the pouty look that covers the dragonling’s face. “To be fair, I’m usually up earlier. It’s been busy at The Den lately.”
“Yeah, Venom was packed last night too.” Charity grins. “Okay, we’ll get out of your hair. Say goodbye to Aline.”
“Bye, Ali,” Veryn says, chucking himself at my neck. He gives me a tight squeeze while Charity rolls her eyes. He is kind of like a child-sized tank.
“Behave for your mom today.” I swipe a hand through his hair as Charity pulls back, heading off.
Veryn waves as his mother leads him across the breezeway. I wave back and turn to head inside. I slept later than I expected, and with the full moon coming up, I know I’ll be needed at work.
The line to get into the club is already wrapped around the building.
Venom is the nightclub portion of The Monster’s Den, and the employee doors are on the back side of the property. I walk with purpose, sidestepping monsters on the front sidewalk. The fact that it’s this busy already means it’s going to be a long freaking night.
The Den itself is going to be even more packed. I can feel it before I reach the employee entrance.
The alleyway isn’t extremely wide as I head down it, but I don’t drive, and monsters aren’t always known for their care and concern for others.
I might be immortal, but I’m more the type of undying where I don’t want to put that theory to the test. Meaning, I avoid the employee parking lot at all costs, even if it would be much less sketchy to get to the doors that way.
This entire area is in the warehouse district that’s right next to downtown. It’s perfect for monsters who prefer to stay under the radar.
As I navigate the cobblestone walkway in my heels, a weird feeling slides through my system, and goosebumps break out along my arms. I glance around. Perhaps I need to initiate some type of walk-home program for the human employees of The Den.
I pull back my shoulders, letting out a heavy sigh. I’m psyching myself out this evening, apparently. I’m not human. I have my own protections, if necessary.
I do avoid using my magic, if at all possible, but that’s because being found by the hunters is the makings of my nightmares.
The last thing I’m expecting to find against the brick wall just opposite the alleyway exit is Atlas pummeling the hell out of some type of shifter. I stumble back a step before I can right myself.
I don’t recognize the man, but he’s got his claws extended, and he makes a swipe for Atlas’s throat.
My favorite half-giant, half-orc bouncer doesn’t blink as the shifter’s claws rake down his shoulder and arm. He’s still holding the man by the throat as he lands a hit that knocks the shifter out completely.
Atlas is a mountain of a male. His broad shoulders stretch his polo shirt to capacity as he shakes out his hand, glaring down at the wound.
“That was dramatic,” I say, inching closer.
Atlas goes rigid for a second before spinning around to face me. He’s holding the six-foot-something shifter suspended in the air like he weighs nothing.
“Ali,” he growls in his low tone.
I wave a hand, letting him know I’m only joking. He’s always hypersensitive about violence in front of me. I think it goes back to both of our roots in Faere, especially since he’s two species that are known for their aggressive natures.
However, I’m not afraid of Atlas. Not even at his most brutal and ruthless.
Myself? That’s a completely different story.
“I’ve got to get inside, but once you dispose of him, you should come find me, so I can clean that up for you.” I nod to his injury. It will likely heal before I get the chance, but I feel compelled to at least offer. “I swear, it’s like you can feel the full moon coming.”
Atlas chuckles. “I’ll find you soon.” He winks, and I nearly miss a step on the cobblestone path as I slide by him to head inside.
Growing up as a princess in a legit castle failed to teach me many things I’ve had to learn since entering the human realm. One of those things is how much an angry troll spits while ranting.
Or perhaps that’s just Marv.
I’m lucky, because I love my job.
Normally.
I’m trying to remind myself of that fact as the furious troll glares up at me.
“I’ve said three times that I don’t want another female,” Marv snaps, jabbing a fat finger at me.
“And I’ve said four times that Lysandra is no longer available for scheduling with you.” I tap my pen against the book I keep all the girls’ appointments in.