Chapter 23 #2
Hayden trumpeted Jacks’s name as well, warning anything that might be out there trying to take his son away that he was coming and that he was pissed off. If somebody had taken Jacks, they better just leave him in the snow because between him and Daniel they would rip that fucker apart.
A glance down at the snow told him Dusty was running along down there. The big cat was a fast runner and not a stamina animal, but he was keeping up. He was dedicated to Jacks, devoted to him, and Hayden loved him for it.
He caught up to Daniel, flying next to him.
They soared together, their wingtips almost touching, but then they peeled off in opposite directions so they could go look for Jacks in two different locations.
He let Daniel take the base of the mountains while he went higher, knowing he had better flight control. He knew the landscape more fully.
He scanned the terrain, his heart pounding. Feeling as though he was missing something, as though he wasn’t covering enough ground.
When Dusty turned off to follow Daniel, he knew he had to go down, not up, so he let himself pick up a thermal that popped him up so he could dive—his wings fully extended, his tail out like a rudder
If they were taking Jacks to some sort of vehicle that was hidden near the main road, they had to get there before things started to go downhill, literally, because flying as dragons into town was a bad idea.
All the terrible scenarios ran through his head but he also had a couple of major thoughts, mostly including new security systems.
He roared at Daniel when an ATV came into sight, bumping across the ground exactly as he thought, heading for the main road.
We have to cut them off. I’ll go around in front of them. You stay behind them and drive them right into me.
Hayden could feel Daniel’s concentration, could hear the affirmative that Daniel couldn’t actually speak because he had to focus on flying.
They raced toward the vehicle that had to be carrying Jacks, Hayden popping back up on that same thermal so he could catch some speed and come down in front of them instead of staying behind them.
He made it just in time, landing with a whomp in front of the ATV, blocking it off from the vehicle that was parked hidden behind some scrub.
He could hear Jacks now in his head, not aloud, wailing for him, screaming for him and Dan Dan.
Broke his fucking heart.
Daniel let out this wild roar, the sound literally shaking the mountain. Then his mate reached up, ripping the back of the ATV off, leaving it shattered on the ground.
“Dan Dan! Dan Dan!”
Right here, baby.
Bad mans!
Yes. We’re going to have to punish them, but first I need our baby boy safe. Daniel’s fury was a living thing.
Pure ice.
On the other hand, he was going to immolate someone. Maybe a number of someones.
While Daniel worked on destroying the ATV and extricating their son, Hayden got to work on the front end, just stepping in front of a vehicle and leaning down to peer in.
There were two men in balaclavas, one with a gun that was pointed at him.
“I’ll shoot.”
Oh, he didn’t think so.
He reached in with his claws to crush the weapon, possibly a goodly amount of the man’s arm. It was really hard to tell with all the screaming.
He found himself remarkably unconcerned.
I have him. I have him.
Excellent.
Jacks was cradled in Daniel’s arms. His dragon felt huge and fierce, crackling with his fury, the snow coming down harder and faster.
Dusty came running into the clearing, and Daniel grabbed him up too, without even thinking. Just one huge wing scooping Dusty off the snow and wrapping him around Jacks to keep him warm.
Get them out of here! Hayden roared it in his head and Daniel took off, clutching Jacks and Dusty in his claws gently.
Then he turned to look at the men who had tried to take his baby. He let loose with a lava-like flow of flame that just incinerated everything in front of him on the spot, leaving it ash. He scorched the earth with it because he wanted no trace of them left behind.
There was still plenty of snow season left to cover the burn scar.
Once he was sure there was no one else working around who could injure any of them, he lifted back up into the sky, circling once to make sure the fire was out.
It had burned so hot and so hard into the snow that it had sort of created glassy obsidian in the spot right where he’d burned up the ATV.
Then he swooped down, grabbing the SUV in his claws and flying up before tossing it down the mountain.
Then he followed his mate home, making sure Daniel wasn’t laboring to get there. He shadowed Daniel the rest of the way, ensuring he could get there safely. He was so proud of his icy beautiful mate, whose sleek, beautiful blue and gold colors were the most perfect thing he could imagine.
A touchdown outside the house and Daniel opened his claw to allow Dusty to gently roll out onto the ground. The big cat gained its feet immediately and shook off the snow.
“Papa, Dan Dan, Papa, Dan Dan.” Jacks was calling to both of them, his little voice strong and no longer scared.
There’s my little man. I’m so proud of you both. Do you know that? Do you know how proud I am of you?
Bad mans, Papa No go, no go, no go!
The snow was piling up around the house, threatening to close them off completely, and he went and touched Daniel’s arm.
Let’s bring him in. We can ward the house better.
I’ll talk to the groundskeeper. That’s mostly his job.
He has a couple of days every ten years or that he’s out of pocket. I bet this is one of those times.
Daniel arched one brow ridge. Does that mean the outbuildings are going to catch on fire when he’s reborn?
It’s been known to happen, but he’s pretty good at it at this point.
Good . Daniel seemed to be struggling to get himself back to his human form and Hayden understood that it was difficult when you needed to protect someone to let that go. But he did and Hayden had never been more proud of him as he was at this moment.
Hayden did the same thing, and Jacks sat in the snow, blinking at them because Daniel had had to put him down as he shifted. And their baby boy held up his arms. “Dan Dan.”
Love filled his heart so hard, making it feel like it was swelling in his chest.
Daniel reached down to grab Jacks up and kiss the top of his head. “Come on baby boy, let’s go inside.”
“Papa? Dusty.” Jacks made a grabby hand motion over Daniel’s shoulder.
“We’re coming too baby.” In fact, he hustled everyone inside and then made sure to lock the door and set the alarm.
The main console showed that Jacks’s window was still open, so Hayden kissed Daniel on top of the head.
“I’ll be right back. You should go to the kitchen and see if the ladies can make hot chocolate. ”
Daniel nodded, pulling on the extra set of clothes that was in the front door closet—sweats and a heavy sweater but they worked.
Hayden would find clothes when he went upstairs.
He wanted to look around and see if the people who had taken Jacks had left any kind of detritus or clue about who they were.
Obviously, it hadn’t been for ransom; there wasn’t a note.
There was just the open window and his ringing phone. When he got to the bedroom, the sound was coming from the pocket of his shredded pants.
Declan’s face was on the screen, and he swiped and barked. “What the fuck did you do?”
“They hit the Agency. They killed Pat. You need to protect your son.”
He was rocked back on his heels. “Are you okay?”
“I need you to hear me. They. Are. Coming. For. Jacks.”
“He’s fine. They’re not fine. What the fuck happened?” Had Declan said Pat was dead? Surely not.
“It was a bomb. The alarm went off in the back, and I ran in to see what happened. They had a bomb strapped to Pat’s chest, and as they ran off, they detonated it. He’s gone. Everything’s destroyed.”
“Are you hurt?”
“Does it matter?” The shock and sorrow and fury came through the phone line like a black string.
Suddenly his choices were clear, crystalline in his mind. Mate, prepare yourself for long-term visitors. “Yes. Come here.”
There was a long silence, then, “What?”
“Bring yourself here. We have room. We’re defensible. You’re my friend.”
“You know that they got the information from Pat. They killed him for setting off the alarm.”
He knew. Pat had sacrificed himself for the little dragons. “Yeah. I know. Come here. There’s room. Then you’ll be safe here. You can heal.”
Declan was quiet for so long. He thought maybe he had just walked away from the phone but then he took a deep breath. “I worry that I’ll be bringing more danger.”
That meant he was halfway convinced at least. “Come here, Dec. Please. I want you under my wing where I know you’re safe and where nothing else can be pulled out of your agency.”
“Okay, I’m on my way but I want everyone in your household warned.”
“I’m on it. I’ll be setting up more fortifications, too. Don’t worry.”
“Obviously, I wasn’t worried enough.”
He winced at Dec’s comment, but didn’t say a word because what was he supposed to say to that? “I’ll see you soon.”
As soon as he hung up, he could feel Daniel’s worry, his aggravation.
What’s going on?
I need to talk to you.
I’m not leaving the baby.
No, but we need to talk, and it’s serious. Incredibly serious. The idea hurt his heart.
So just talk to me now. I’m making hot cocoa with the ladies. What’s wrong?
You know the agency, the one I hired you from? There’s been an accident.
There was a pause, then— What kind of an accident?
He wasn’t sure how to explain rather than just to tell the truth. They bombed the place. Pat’s dead.
What? He heard something fall and break downstairs. How many people know where we are besides them? Are there going to be more?
If there are, we’ll be ready for them, but— He took a deep breath. I’m bringing Declan here. We’ve got room. I’m going to discuss it with everyone, but ? —