Hidden Flame 105

**Clint**My brothers are completely overreacting. Yes, the medallion wore off a while ago, and we were supposed to have been
back by then, but we wanted to lift Rory’s spirits, especially after what Avery saw. “Guys, we made it. She’s fine. Rory,
those assholes are my brothers and our friend Draven. The poor girl we left stuck here with them is Trisha,” I explained,
trying to calm the tension.
Avery blushed as she looked at my brothers. “I didn’t kill anyone. I only told them off and made them bow,” she said,
defending herself. Cassius grinned as his eyes flashed Asher’s color, adding to the intensity of the moment. Rory jumped
back, clearly startled by the sudden turn of events. Avery reached out to comfort her, “Asher will behave. He’s just
amused that I didn’t.” The tension in the air was palpable as we all stood there, waiting for the next move. The drama of
the situation was almost too much to bear, but we had to stay strong and united in the face of adversity.
Cassius nodded, “Alpha commands, my oh my, we will have fun with those later, little mate.”
“But…” Draven exclaimed, his grip firm on Avery’s hand as he ushered her inside. With a commanding presence, he
gestured for her to greet her friends before joining him. I was puzzled by his actions, but the allure of being near my mate was irresistible. Avery’s face lit up with a smile as she approached Draven, who was seated with an air of authority.
“Kneel, but keep your gaze locked with mine,” Draven instructed, his voice low and intense. Avery followed his command,
her posture submissive yet eager. Draven leaned in, scrutinizing her with a keen eye before pulling back with a satisfied
smirk. “Just as I suspected.”
Curiosity piqued, we all inquired in unison, but Draven simply shook his head cryptically. “You will soon understand,” he
declared, his words laced with mystery and intrigue. The tension in the room was palpable as we awaited the revelation
that Draven promised.
I am utterly frustrated by this enigmatic behavior and cryptic shit! It infuriates me to no end! I exhale a cloud of smoke,
demanding answers from Draven, “Why won’t you just tell us?”
Draven gazes at Avery and confesses, “My interference in trying to give myself a dragon could have jeopardized your mating bond or put Avery in danger. I will not meddle any longer. Just embrace Avery, and soon everyone will see and
understand as I do.”
I let out a frustrated sigh, still seething with anger. Avery then shares with Draven the vision she had when she touched
Rory. Draven’s face lights up with a smile, “You are beginning to unlock all of your powers, even without having mated
with The King Of Kings yet. I can only imagine what more awaits you once you do.”
He looks at Avery, “My meddling to give me a dragon could have ruined your mating bond or harmed Avery. I won’t meddle now. Just embrace Avery and soon everyone will notice and understand as I do.”
I huff because I am still pissed. Avery tells Draven about the vision she saw when she touched Rory. Draven smiles, “You
are getting all of your powers now, even though you have not mated with The King Of Kings yet. I wonder what more
there will be once you do.”
I think we are all wondering it, but Avery. “Rory is going to live here. If Nightshade won’t follow, we will make them.”
Conner takes her hand, “Avery, Naga doesn’t interfere in nondragon affairs. We leave that to Talos. Tim can tell you some
of what he helps his cousin handle.”
Avery’s eyes bore into him with a fierce intensity. “Our so-called mean girls have revealed themselves to be treacherous
rats, nearly destroying our tribe,” she declared. “Those wolf-like individuals are nothing but trouble. I can sense it, and it’s
not just because of the hurtful names they hurled at Rory, stirring up painful memories. I had a vision of a woman with
snakes for hair, a clear warning not to trust those who are snake-like.” As the weight of her words settled in, Avery felt a
rush of embarrassment and quickly averted her gaze.
Cassius scoops her up. “Avery, we all will look into it, but not tonight. We want our dessert before dinner.”
**Draven**
The Trio whisked Avery away to their lavish chambers, a sight that still leaves me in awe. Rory, too, seemed uneasy in this world of opulence. “Rory, care to join me for a stroll before dinner?” I asked, and she nodded, falling into step beside me
as we wandered the grounds. I shared with her the secrets of what lay beyond.
“Surprisingly, there is more nature here than I anticipated. It reminds me of the pack lands,” Rory remarked.
“Dragons are truly misunderstood creatures. I once had a dragon of my own, and now I hold them in the highest regard,”
I revealed.
“How did you come to possess a dragon?” Rory inquired.
I chuckled softly. “It all began when I attempted to summon Tiamat to help me control the dragon I had taken. Instead,
Avery appeared. She taught me that dragons cannot be owned or stolen; they must choose their own master.”
“It must have been exhilarating to wield such power,” Rory mused.
“Don’t you have your wolf?”
She sighs, “I should but I have yet to meet her.”
“Could she be hidden?”
She gasps, “They can do that?”
I nodded, “Yes, Avery’s was weakened protecting her when she was a toddler. Regina didn’t emerge until the Trio’s Grand
Ceremony.”
“Could mine be waiting for our mate?” she asks.
“It is possible. I am still waiting on my mate or mates.”
She suddenly turns to face me. She grabs my hand. “Oh my god! You are bisexual too!” she yells.
“Shhh…I don’t want the whole kingdom to know.”
She sighs, “Do they banish you like wolves do?”
I chuckle, “I don’t think Avery would allow that. Her and I have been through a lot and I love her as I would my sister.”
“She is pretty awesome,” Rory says with a huge smile.
“She is. We are lucky that she likes us. I have seen what she does to her enemies.” As I said that I felt this odd current. It
coursed through Rory’s and my joined hands. “Did you…”
The space between us lessened. “I feel it too. But I have no wolf and you aren’t a wolf or shifter. This can’t be possible.”
I laughed as she stared at me. “Avery. This is Avery’s doing. Do you want to reject it?”
She shook her head, “No, you seem pretty cool. Let’s take it slow though.” I kissed her hand and walked her back to the
palace.
My brothers are completely overreacting. Yes, the medallion wore off a while ago, and we were supposed to have been
back by then, but we wanted to lift Rory’s spirits, especially after what Avery saw. “Guys, we made it. She’s fine. Rory,
those assholes are my brothers and our friend Draven. The poor girl we left stuck here with them is Trisha,” I explained,
trying to calm the tension.
Avery blushed as she looked at my brothers. “I didn’t kill anyone. I only told them off and made them bow,” she said,
defending herself. Cassius grinned as his eyes flashed Asher’s color, adding to the intensity of the moment. Rory jumped
back, clearly startled by the sudden turn of events. Avery reached out to comfort her, “Asher will behave. He’s just
amused that I didn’t.” The tension in the air was palpable as we all stood there, waiting for the next move. The drama of
the situation was almost too much to bear, but we had to stay strong and united in the face of adversity.
Cassius nodded, “Alpha commands, my oh my, we will have fun with those later, little mate.”
“But…” Draven exclaimed, his grip firm on Avery’s hand as he ushered her inside. With a commanding presence, he
gestured for her to greet her friends before joining him. I was puzzled by his actions, but the allure of being near my mate was irresistible. Avery’s face lit up with a smile as she approached Draven, who was seated with an air of authority.
“Kneel, but keep your gaze locked with mine,” Draven instructed, his voice low and intense. Avery followed his command,
her posture submissive yet eager. Draven leaned in, scrutinizing her with a keen eye before pulling back with a satisfied
smirk. “Just as I suspected.”
Curiosity piqued, we all inquired in unison, but Draven simply shook his head cryptically. “You will soon understand,” he
declared, his words laced with mystery and intrigue. The tension in the room was palpable as we awaited the revelation
that Draven promised.
I am utterly frustrated by this enigmatic behavior and cryptic shit! It infuriates me to no end! I exhale a cloud of smoke,
demanding answers from Draven, “Why won’t you just tell us?”
Draven gazes at Avery and confesses, “My interference in trying to give myself a dragon could have jeopardized your mating bond or put Avery in danger. I will not meddle any longer. Just embrace Avery, and soon everyone will see and
understand as I do.”
I let out a frustrated sigh, still seething with anger. Avery then shares with Draven the vision she had when she touched
Rory. Draven’s face lights up with a smile, “You are beginning to unlock all of your powers, even without having mated
with The King Of Kings yet. I can only imagine what more awaits you once you do.”
He looks at Avery, “My meddling to give me a dragon could have ruined your mating bond or harmed Avery. I won’t meddle now. Just embrace Avery and soon everyone will notice and understand as I do.”
I huff because I am still pissed. Avery tells Draven about the vision she saw when she touched Rory. Draven smiles, “You
are getting all of your powers now, even though you have not mated with The King Of Kings yet. I wonder what more
there will be once you do.”
I think we are all wondering it, but Avery. “Rory is going to live here. If Nightshade won’t follow, we will make them.”
Conner takes her hand, “Avery, Naga doesn’t interfere in nondragon affairs. We leave that to Talos. Tim can tell you some
of what he helps his cousin handle.”
Avery’s eyes bore into him with a fierce intensity. “Our so-called mean girls have revealed themselves to be treacherous
rats, nearly destroying our tribe,” she declared. “Those wolf-like individuals are nothing but trouble. I can sense it, and it’s
not just because of the hurtful names they hurled at Rory, stirring up painful memories. I had a vision of a woman with
snakes for hair, a clear warning not to trust those who are snake-like.” As the weight of her words settled in, Avery felt a
rush of embarrassment and quickly averted her gaze.
Cassius scoops her up. “Avery, we all will look into it, but not tonight. We want our dessert before dinner.”
**Draven**
The Trio whisked Avery away to their lavish chambers, a sight that still leaves me in awe. Rory, too, seemed uneasy in this world of opulence. “Rory, care to join me for a stroll before dinner?” I asked, and she nodded, falling into step beside me
as we wandered the grounds. I shared with her the secrets of what lay beyond.
“Surprisingly, there is more nature here than I anticipated. It reminds me of the pack lands,” Rory remarked.
“Dragons are truly misunderstood creatures. I once had a dragon of my own, and now I hold them in the highest regard,”
I revealed.
“How did you come to possess a dragon?” Rory inquired.
I chuckled softly. “It all began when I attempted to summon Tiamat to help me control the dragon I had taken. Instead,
Avery appeared. She taught me that dragons cannot be owned or stolen; they must choose their own master.”
“It must have been exhilarating to wield such power,” Rory mused.
“Don’t you have your wolf?”
She sighs, “I should but I have yet to meet her.”
“Could she be hidden?”
She gasps, “They can do that?”
I nodded, “Yes, Avery’s was weakened protecting her when she was a toddler. Regina didn’t emerge until the Trio’s Grand
Ceremony.”
“Could mine be waiting for our mate?” she asks.
“It is possible. I am still waiting on my mate or mates.”
She suddenly turns to face me. She grabs my hand. “Oh my god! You are bisexual too!” she yells.
“Shhh…I don’t want the whole kingdom to know.”
She sighs, “Do they banish you like wolves do?”
I chuckle, “I don’t think Avery would allow that. Her and I have been through a lot and I love her as I would my sister.”
“She is pretty awesome,” Rory says with a huge smile.
“She is. We are lucky that she likes us. I have seen what she does to her enemies.” As I said that I felt this odd current. It
coursed through Rory’s and my joined hands. “Did you…”
The space between us lessened. “I feel it too. But I have no wolf and you aren’t a wolf or shifter. This can’t be possible.”
I laughed as she stared at me. “Avery. This is Avery’s doing. Do you want to reject it?”
She shook her head, “No, you seem pretty cool. Let’s take it slow though.” I kissed her hand and walked her back to the
palace