9. Sai
Sai
“This is fucked up, Marco,” I hissed as I paced back and forth in the bastard’s office.
He worked from home most days, and once he’d handled things at the school this morning, today was no exception.
Though he had an extra excuse to be home today, as we were overseeing work being done in our seventh bedroom, because everyone agreed Maya should have her own space.
That trailer thing wasn’t going to last.
Dragons were protective and possessive by nature, so her situation was like true torture for us.
“She has four days,” Marco grunted. “We can’t take her away before that.”
“Her back was flogged!” I yelled. Atlas’s reaction to the memory was barely perceptible, but I didn’t miss how his muscles went rigid and his jaw clenched in anger, though he kept his own feelings in check as he kept a careful eye on Marco’s reaction.
Marco’s eyes flashed darkly as his dragon forced out a snarl at my outburst. I felt mine give a huff at his dominance before I threw myself down into a chair. This was fucking stupid.
“We just need to keep her here as much as possible,” Marco murmured after taking a deep breath. “I don’t want her to live there either, but until she’s eighteen, we can’t do anything. I don’t think her mom would push anything legally, but I’d rather not risk it.”
“How do we even know that’s her birthday?” I growled.
Atlas sighed. “We don’t. When she turns eighteen, she’ll realize who her mates are, which is convenient for the group of us but will probably really freak her out. I don’t even want to think about what the hell we’re going to do about the mating heat…”
Marco put his head down. “I didn’t even think about that. We need to figure out what she is. Do either of you have any leads?”
Of course we fucking didn’t.
My entire body stilled as the door downstairs closed and voices rose up. Without a second thought, I rushed down the stairs to see Maya. It was difficult to control myself around her, and it didn’t help when she flashed me a brilliant smile.
“How was your day?” I asked her before grasping her jaw gently.
“Good,” she chirped while leaning into me. “Very good. My friend Jordan mentioned something though, and the twins refuse to explain, and Henry went all quiet, so I’ve been throwing out theories on the drive from school.”
Henry shook his head and threw himself down on the couch as the twins walked towards the kitchen. Marco was next to me, pressing a kiss to the top of her head before offering me a look of curiosity and amusement. What was she asking that made them so damn uncomfortable?
“What was the question?” Marco asked lightly.
Before either of us could respond, Atlas made his way downstairs and Maya offered him a massive smile, slipping between us. Now, it goes without saying that Atlas is scary—legitimately terrifying—so when Maya all but threw herself in his arms, it had both Marco and me pausing.
He picked her up so she was sitting right on his crossed forearms and tossed us a wink. Bastard. I followed after as Marco stole her away and we sat down on the couch, Maya’s slight form tucked against him. My hands twitched to hold her, but there was no getting her away from Marco right now.
“Jordan McFury mentioned shifters in passing, and Maya would like to know more,” Henry drawled, looking both amused and stressed.
My lip twitched because I could tell this entire situation, the chaos of it, bothered him.
Normally I would’ve found that funny—I liked messing with Henry—but this time I was in the shit right with him.
Marco made a low sound and twisted Maya so she was facing everyone, leaning against the sofa’s armrest. My eyes flickered down to her long, lean legs.
Don’t get me wrong, I knew in the human world eighteen was an important age, but I can tell you that as a nineteen-year-old dragon, I didn’t give a fuck.
A feeling that was only strengthened by the fact that the human standard for consent in Washington was age sixteen.
So I didn’t feel bad about appreciating how fucking gorgeous the woman was.
I did scowl at Ledger’s hoodie on her—I had better sweaters than that.
“What do you want to know about shifters?” Marco asked, looking genuinely confused about where to start.
She grinned. “Well, what type of shifters are you? Better yet, what’s a shifter?
Why did Jordan say she was a wolf? I mean, do you just pick which animal you like and pretend to be it?
If so, I’m totally gunning for a house cat.
I looked up the phrase and everything—it means I’m aiming for it or trying to get it. ”
Anani burst out laughing, and Henry threw himself back, hiding his face behind his hands.
“Gunning?” Atlas asked, amused.
“Jordan said Becky Ash was ‘gunning’ for you all,” she chirped. “I mean, I don’t want to be mean, but she seemed very rude. I’m not a fan.”
I shook my head as Marco absorbed what she was saying. Fucking Becky Ash.
“Henry?” Marco rose a brow.
“I explained that none of us have friendships outside of Maya,” Henry said, his hands tapping on the leather armchair. I was bouncing with energy because I was really interested to see how Marco was going to explain all this. I never denied that I wasn’t a fucking instigator.
“How about we explain what shifters are first?” Ledger suggested.
“Alright,” Marco began, looking at Maya. “Remember our conversation about dragons earlier?”
She nodded. “Yeah, about dragons eating princesses.”
Holy hell.
“Maker, Marco,” Henry bit out.
I didn’t blame him. Now all I could imagine was spreading her legs apart and showing her just how well dragons could eat princesses.
Marco chuckled and pressed his head down on Maya’s collarbone. “Yes, honey, that conversation. Well, unlike your mom and Jed, some people on Earth have the ability to turn into certain animals. The six of us turn into dragons.”
My lips pressed together as Maya’s magic, unintentionally, surrounded Marco, searching for lies. “Really?”
“Really.”
“Prove it,” she said, poised like a live wire, ready to jump up at a moment’s notice.
Why hadn’t we considered this?
“We would have to go outside…” Atlas didn’t finish, because Maya was up and heading towards the back door.
“Who’s going to shift?” Anani asked quietly.
“I’ve got it,” I responded as hot energy flashed through me. My dragon was way too fucking excited to show off. I pulled off my dark shirt, taking a moment to appreciate how stunning our little mate was, her eyes darkening upon seeing me as her cheeks turned bright red.
I fucking loved that blush. I wanted to see that color all over her body.
I would also like to see her in a jacket—it was cold out.
“You sure?” I asked.
She bounced on her toes, nodding bravely.
I stepped back, and with ease, I shifted.