Hidden Flame 36

**Avery**
It feels so alien to have a dragon so close to me and not be the least bit fearful, but I can’t doubt that Regina is mine. She
knew one of my mother’s songs. She said that all of the songs could have been premonitions too. What if she’s right?
Could I possess a similar ability? I guess that we will find out. I wish that I could speak to my parents to learn everything.
The Trio had it easy because they always knew what they were and their destiny.
Cassius slowly approaches us, “I am glad that you are willing to trust your dragon. Hopefully, in time, we can earn your
trust as well. Do you think that you could allow Regina to share your body as we do our dragons?”
That’s a good question. Apparently, she’s always been with me but can I trust that she won’t do anything stupid? Regina
looks at me and then I hear her say, “We are stronger now. I won’t allow us to suffer anymore. I also promise that I won’t make you become intimate before you are ready. Just because I am starting to feel the mating bond, doesn’t mean that
you are. I will let you decide when the human side of us is ready. I love you, Avery. You are my person.”
I kissed her head before I turned to The Trio and asked, “Will it hurt?”
Conner looked at Regina and she nodded before he took my hand that was petting her. His soft blue eyes met mine as
he spoke, “The only time it ever hurts is when our dragons first make contact with us. You shouldn’t remember the pain
because it happened after you were born. Why are you so worried?”
“I think our classes were wrong. Regina and I never chose each other. We were born this way.”
Cassius doesn’t hesitate as he walks over and picks me up. He sits down with me on his lap. His eyes change to one of his
and one of Asher’s. He touches Regina’s crown of scales and where my mark is on my thigh. “You both bear the marks of
nobility. Avery, you were born human as I was and Regina was hatched as Asher was. That’s how it works for us.”
I felt his touch on Regina and it intensified once he touched me. My instincts don’t think that he is right, but I have no
proof to the contrary. I wonder if I will ever know the truth. I briefly look up at the ceiling as I silently pray, ‘Mom, Dad if
you can hear me or have ever been able to, I could really use some answers. Just who am I?’ After I sent up my silent
prayer, I looked at the guys, “Alright, I will let Regina in, and let’s go find me a few things to wear for next week.” I will not
allow them to fully provide for me. I will get just enough to get me by until I can get to some human thrift stores. They
are wonderous places where you never know what you will find and they are always inexpensive too.
Cassius kept me on his lap as each of the other guys took my hand. After I took a breath to calm my nerves, I told Regina
to enter me. It didn’t hurt or feel uncomfortable. Instead, it felt as if I had just drank some of my favorite tea. Trickles of warmth and comfort traversed throughout my body calming my anxiety and elevating my mood. I also felt something
that I had never felt before, the inner strength of my hidden flame.
**Cassius**
This is going to be far harder than I had ever thought. One, I assumed that my mate wouldn’t fear what she is or me. Two,
I wouldn’t have to share her with anyone. Lastly, I would be mating her by now not holding her on my lap as she attempts
to trust her dragon and me. Plus, I already had to restrain Asher from wanting to mark and mate Regina. Now I am at war
with myself to keep me from wanting to do the same. We are going to have to be patient and that is a virtue that my
brothers and I lack.
“I will drive. Let’s go.” Once we were inside my car, I drove us into the human world. I park outside of a small boutique.
Avery sighs, “It is closed. It is okay. I can text Trisha to meet me somewhere on Sunday with some clothes.”
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“No!” I growl and she recoils. I put my head in my hand and mumbled, “Shit, sorry.” Avery lightly removes my hand from
my face and I can see what she is about to ask. “Avery, I don’t want anything on you that isn’t from me.” I hear my
brothers growl so I correct myself, “From us.” “I know that you aren’t used to this, and we aren’t either, but let us provide
and care for you. You are our long-awaited gift,” I admit.
Clint puts his hand on my shoulder as a show of support before he looks at Avery, “You were going to be our first female
friend but fate gave us something better. We will wait for you as long as it takes, but it won’t be easy. We desire you just
as our dragons desire Regina but that all will wait until you and her ask. Once we wear each other’s marks, the bond will
become unbreakable and we won’t be able to control our desires any longer.”
I am thankful that Clint explained it to her because right now the only words that are coming to mind are what I want to
do with and to her. I hope that both she and Regina will be ready to consummate our bond soon or I am likely to go
insane. Conner looks between us all before he makes a suggestion, “How about we take her on real dates and we each
try to teach her something? Now that she has a dragon, there’s much we can show her.”
I opened my door and got out. I went over to her door and opened it. I extended my hand to her and she took it. With a
confused look, she asked, “It is closed. What are you doing?”
I grin as I dangle a set of keys in front of her. “First lesson in Mate 101, nothing is ever closed to nobility, little mate.” She
gasped and I chuckled at her sweet innocence. Avery has been kept from or denied so much in this life and I intend to
rectify it all, starting with some new cloth