Chapter 9 #2
Glancing back at the cottages in the distance, he replied, “I’m rarely able to deduce a stranger’s mood or emotions.
With time, I learn clues, such as body language, tone, and facial expressions, and can mentally construct a guide to decipher them.
By now, I know Sid and Gregor fairly well.
Same for Emily. However, small things most people would understand in a film or story fly over my head.
And more often than not, it results in me not being able to follow the story.
” He shrugged. “So I don’t watch or read fiction. ”
“Hmm. I never really thought about that—the small unspoken clues in films and TV. But you’re right, they play an important role sometimes. However, I think you might enjoy answering silly questions with me. Shall we try?”
He wanted to brush it off. But it was getting harder and harder to tell Grace no, so he nodded.
She continued, “Right, then pretend anything is possible, putting aside science and logic, and tell me: if you could pick between being able to teleport anywhere in the world or being able to move things with the power of your thoughts alone, which would you want?”
“Neither is possible.”
“No. But if they were, which would you pick?”
It was on the tip of his tongue to state neither. Because it was a waste of time to posit the impossible.
And yet, at the curiosity in Grace’s eyes, he took a second to think about it. If this game made her smile, or eased her worries about Dawn for a bit, it would serve another purpose, a better one. Because he liked it when she smiled or laughed, or at least had fewer frowns.
He finally replied, “Teleportation, if possible, would be more useful.”
“Useful, yes. But it also means you could travel whenever you wanted. You could enjoy sunsets in Thailand one day and then the view from Machu Picchu the next.” She sighed. “That would be so lovely.”
At the slight change in her tone, he asked, “You would like to travel to those places?”
She bobbed her head. “Yes, among others. I’ve never left the UK. And yet now, with the boys and me worrying about their biological father maybe finding us, I probably never will. I might never be able to leave Stonefire.”
He could definitely detect the listlessness in her voice. Her eyes also looked a little empty to him, too.
His dragon spoke up. She is sad and worried.
Trahern spoke to Grace. “Stonefire is quite good at protecting humans. We have the most human mates in the entire UK.”
“I know. But I overheard the guards back in the prison say…”
Her voice drifted off. Normally, Trahern would remain silent. And yet, he needed to learn of any threats to his family.
Because despite the strange circumstances of their mating, Grace, Eddie, and Eli were his family now. His to protect and take care of.
Ignoring the confusion rushing through him at where that thought had come from, he focused on Grace. “What did they say, Grace? I wish to help you, but I need the information to do so.”
Her voice was soft, almost inaudible, as she stared at her sons and replied, “They said that a pair of twin dragon boys would fetch several hundred thousand pounds on the black market, and that their…he would get a percentage cut from the sale, since he’d turned me in originally.”
At the thought of someone selling children to strangers, he clenched his fingers into fists. He did not anger easily, but hurting those who couldn’t defend themselves was one of the things he detested the most.
Somehow, he needed to find a way to eradicate the threat to his family. Without thinking, which rarely happened, he stated, “I will talk to Bram and Kai.”
“Trahern? Are you okay?”
He growled, actually growled, and replied, “I will ensure they find that dragonman and the DDA imprisons him. He will not hurt you or the boys, Grace. I vow it. One day you will be able to travel without worry.”
Silence fell, but he couldn’t look at her as he tried to pack away his anger and the urge to do harm. It hadn’t happened in a long time, not since he’d come across Emily back at university, running away from a group of drunk males trying to catch her.
They had never bothered her again.
And yet, his anger in this moment was tenfold.
His beast spoke up. It will not go away until you talk to Bram and Kai. Maybe not even then. But it’s best to talk with them now, so they can protect our mate.
Trahern didn’t want to leave Grace again. And yet, this time it was to help her.
His beast said, Tell her this time. So she doesn’t worry.
His cottage was about twenty feet away. “Grace, go home. I will be back later.”
Her arm touched his. “Where are you going, Trahern?”
As she squeezed, a fraction of his anger eased. “I need to inform Kai and Bram to look for this bastard and tell them about the threats he poses.”
“But don’t they know it all already?”
“Some. But when money is involved, people go to extreme lengths to get it. It may make him desperate and reckless, which means unpredictable.”
From the corner of his eye, he watched Grace’s skin turn ashen. For reasons he didn’t understand, he touched her cheek. “He will not hurt you or the boys, Grace. I won’t let him.”
Her brown eyes searched his own before nodding. “I believe you. But Trahern?”
“Yes?”
“You’ll come home right after, won’t you?”
“I will try.” He removed his hand from her soft skin. “Feed the boys and yourself, Grace, and then try to get some rest.”
His mate hesitated a second but finally nodded and headed toward the cottage. Only after she was safely inside did he turn around and stride toward Bram’s place.
Before long, he knocked at his clan leader’s door. Repeatedly. Until Bram’s mate, Evie, opened the door with a frown. “Trahern? What is it?”
He rarely visited the clan leader’s home, preferring to talk with Sid or Gregor. However, this was too important. Grace and the boys were too important.
His dragon hummed in approval.
Trahern’s pupils must’ve flashed, because Evie’s eyes widened and she stepped aside. “Come in, then. Bram’s with the children, but I’ll send him to his office.” She pointed down the hall. “It’s down there. Will you wait?”
He nodded, thanked her, and went to the indicated room. He’d barely noted the desk, or chairs in front of it, or the bookcases full of books and binders before Bram’s voice echoed behind him. “Trahern, what a surprise. If you’re here, it must be important, lad. Tell me what it is.”
“The threat to my mate might be bigger than we realized since he will get a lot of money if he turns in the twins. You need to find him and ensure he pays for his crimes so my mate doesn’t have to worry all the time.”
Bram raised his eyebrows. “Aye, well, I think we need to chat. Sit down and tell me everything you know. I can’t help you if I don’t have all the facts.”
“But you’ll look for him and ensure Grace and the boys are safe?”
“As best as I can. Now sit down, lad, and tell me everything.”
Trahern didn’t know Bram well, although the clan always said good things about him. Personally, Trahern had always been grateful the male had allowed him to stay on Stonefire.
So after gingerly sitting in one of the chairs, he recounted the guard’s conversation and the money involved. And by the end, Bram was scowling.
Before he could ask why, Bram stated, “We’ve been looking for the bastard, but we’ll try to make it a bigger priority now that a few other things have been taken care of.
Don’t worry, Trahern, we’ll find him. Although if Grace could talk with Kai or even Nikki about anything else she might’ve remembered since returning to Stonefire, it would be helpful. Do you think she will?”
Trahern counted the binders on a shelf—eight—before answering, “I don’t know, but I will ask.”
“That’s all I need.” Bram hesitated before asking, “How are you doing with Grace?”
Emotionally exhausted from the ups and downs with his mate throughout the day, Trahern stood and replied succinctly. “Good. However, she’s had a long day, is tired, and I need to return home. Please let me know once you find the bastard.”
A quick glance showed the corner of Bram’s mouth kicked up before he replied, “Aye, I will. Go home to your mate, Trahern. And don’t hesitate to see me again if you need to. I’m always here. Goodnight, lad.”
With a nod, Trahern exited the office and, thankfully, didn’t run into anyone else in the hallway. Once outside, he rushed toward the clan restaurant. It was getting late, but he wanted to ensure Grace had something to eat. She’d mentioned liking pasta once. He’d get her that.
However, by the time he returned home with the food, she was sleeping on her bed, snoring slightly, and he didn’t want to wake her.
So he pulled the blanket up around her, did the same with each of the boys, and then retreated to his home office.
The urge to wake up Grace and talk with her was strong, but he resisted.
Not only because she needed sleep, but also because Trahern knew himself. He was already getting attached to Grace and if he gave in to the urge once, he’d want to make it a part of his routine.
However, Grace wasn’t really his mate. His friend, maybe. But that was all. He had no right to demand so much of her time. Especially since once he adjusted his routine to include her, it would be difficult to stop.
So, he would be careful and look after her, protect her, and be her friend, but nothing more. It had to be that way, to save both of their sanities.
Even if his stomach swirled and his dragon huffed, neither liking the distance.