Hidden Flame 27

**Clint**
I had a pleasant time with Avery this evening. She can be funny when she chooses to be. She was dead on that I would
like that iced coffee too. None of the other girls have ever guessed what I like or even asked for that matter. They just let
me decide everything. Taking this chance with Avery was worth it. I didn’t get around to asking if she had had a male
friend before because I didn’t want to put a damper on our conversation if she hadn’t.
Once we arrived home, my brothers’ glares put me on edge. “How was your date?” Cassius spat as if he was forcing
something that tasted foul from his mouth.
“It wasn’t a date. We went to a cafe in the human world as friends.”
Cassius stands, his eyes taking on Asher’s red hue, and approaches us, “You and I both know that you don’t do friends.”
To my surprise, Avery steps between us. “We went and had coffee and a snack at Hidden Spice. We talked and he let me
listen to music. Nothing happened, not that it would have anyway.”
I see Cassius let out a breath. “Avery, after what happened on Friday we need to know where you are. What if you would
have been spotted together?”
Avery curls up her nose in disgust. She fixes her gaze on him. “Asher, you are a controlling prick. I hate dragons and you most of all. The others don’t let theirs out as much. If you want to have control so much, then control the Hoity Hags, not me,” she said before she went to the kitchen to prepare dinner.
Cassius and Asher both laugh, “What did you give her to drink on your nondate?”
I shrugged, “She ordered for me too. I think what the girls did to her awakened something inside of her or maybe it was
always there and just needed that push. Anyway, she is funny and I am glad that we are friends.”
Conner looks at me. “You didn’t try to fuck her?”
“No.”
“Maybe this can work and we can show her that not all dragons want to hurt her,” he says.
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He’s right. She’s only seen the bad in dragons except for a select few. It is up to my brothers and me to show her that
dragons can change and that we can be trusted.
**Cassius**
Conner had told me about Avery going with Clint. Am I glad that they went into the human world? Yes, because that
means that Jessica and her friends would not be able to use their dragons to hurt her. Our dragons can use their abilities
in the human world because we are of royal blood and our family made a deal with other tribes to only allow nobility to
retain their dragon’s powers in the human world. But there is something that bothered me. Would Clint protect her? I
don’t think that he would and I am not sure that his dragon would either.
Clint is not the protective type just as he is not the monogamous type. Once mated, dragons don’t share and he is
obligated to protect his mate at all costs. Honestly, I don’t know if Clint or Carter is ready for that, but I am. I have been
territorial and protective over Jessica for years, but that stopped the moment that I learned how she and the others
tortured Avery. Avery has not told us in detail, but her wounds spoke volumes. If one of those girls touches Avery again, I
will kill them without giving them a trial first.
Since Friday, I have noticed a change in Avery and I like it. The way that she stood up to Asher was fucking hot. I know
that he laughed it off, but I think her saying that she hated him hurt his feelings even if he won’t admit it. We all want to
get to know the woman that has taken care of us for years. I should ask her to go do something this week, I just don’t
know what.
**Avery**
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I had to run to my room after I said that to Asher. He is the worst of the dragons that live in the palace, so I wasn’t lying.
Conner’s dragon, Caleb, is the only one of the three who has attempted to show me any civility. He still left me alone in
the forest once, but he did look conflicted about following Asher’s orders. They all have a lot to learn about humans,
Asher the most. Yes, compared to any immortal humans are weak but we are resourceful and will fight back if we are
pushed too far. I think I have been pushed too far.
I need to ask Clint why he chose that cafe. There were several in that city if I remember how humans are. They like
choices so in most cities there are at least of few of every type of restaurant. As weird as it may sound, I saw some of
myself in that barista. I know that I am human, but I felt an odd connection to her. Maybe she was bullied like I was and
she found a career that she enjoys. She seemed so happy and at home in that cafe and she was right in what our drink
orders say about our personalities too. I hope that when I leave Naga and go to college, I find a career that I love too. I want to be happy and I think that I have more than earned it.
I hear a knock at my door. When I open it, Cassius is standing there. Asher is nowhere to be found. He’s likely still
annoyed with me, but I don’t care. The old me would have, but not the new one. “Hey.”
“I won’t keep you up or away from whatever book you are reading now, but would you like to hang out tomorrow after
school?” he asks.
I shrug, “Sure. But answer this, are you guys taking turns babysitting me?”
His head snaps back as he blinks rapidly, “No, but that isn’t a bad idea.”
I shake my head as I start to close my door, “Not happening. Now go, I will see you in the morning.” Cassius just can’t
hold Asher back it seems. Maybe unlike the others, Asher is more a part of him than separate. I wonder if such a thing is
possible among dragons.