Hidden Flame 59

**Avery**
Draven thinks that being stuck in this town without a mate is hell. I never thought I had a mate. I thought I was a lowly
human devoid of everything. At least he had magic, I didn’t even have that. Yes, there is something dark and wrong about
this town and there must be a reason none except for dragons can escape here. But that gave him no right to steal a
dragon. Could reliving my life kill him? Perhaps, but at least he will see and feel what it is like to truly suffer.
Draven fell to the ground crying. He took in a few sobering breaths as he wiped away his tears. As he sat back on his
heels, his eyes met mine. I could see and feel the change in him. “Mother or not, you didn’t deserve that. I will take a life
of solitude compared to what you endured.” His eyes then landed on my mates. “And you, you did nothing! What if her
being The Mother didn’t save her? Could you live with knowing that you doomed us all?”
Cassius turned his hand into Asher’s red paw and went to strike Draven. I reached out and grabbed his wrist. I pulled him
to face me. “Do not touch him! After I told you everything, you let them remain in Naga. You did nothing! I don’t care
that you regret it, you still did nothing! Now, now I am going to do something.” I turn to look at Draven as I put my
taloned hand on his shoulder, “And you are going to help!”
**Draven**
The woman in front of me lived through real hell. Why did her dragon let it happen? Why was The Mother hidden from
those who worship her? Because it appears that even she does not possess all of the answers. I bowed my head in
reverence. “Great Dragon, Mother Of Dragons, Mother Of Life, I beseech you-Sear this woman’s wounds! Let her screams
of the past be your breath! Lift her on the wind of her will! Let her burn her shadows to ash! Let her rise triumphant in her
fury! Rise! Rise oh Great Mother!”
She cocks her head as she looks at me. “Why did you do that?”
“Because you deserve your vengeance even against me. My family has tried for generations to acquire a dragon because we worship them and thought having one could break the curse of this town. Plus, the notion of having such a powerful
beast is very appealing.”
She lifted her taloned hand off of my shoulder and to my surprise, she offered me her hand. I felt an odd jolt. She grins, “I
am borrowing your magic until you deserve it.” She looks at the brothers, “Meet our new butler and driver.”
“Avery, you can’t do that,” Cassius says.
Her grin turns dark and that is when I see Tiamat in her. She isn’t just a descendant, she is the goddess herself! “I can and
did!” She said as she looked at me and winked. She walked us to the sports car. “Get in,” she commanded and I followed.
I could have killed the goddess whom I worship. I failed her once and I will not again. The backseat would have been too
cramped if I were sandwiched between the brothers so Clint sat upfront with Avery on his lap. I felt their love and desire. I was both jealous and saddened by it because I would never experience such bliss.
As Cassius is turning around, Avery says, “Before we go back, we are fixing this town. Take me downtown to the oldest
building that still stands.”
“My goddess, you do not need to show me such kindness.”
She turns and looks me in the eyes, “Your intentions were good albeit extremely misguided, but good. The road to hell is
paved with good intentions while the road to heaven is paved with good actions. C.S. Lewis said, ‘The safest road to hell
is the gradual one. It is a gentle slope, soft underfoot, without sudden turnings, without milestones, or signposts.’ You
need to know the difference between what someone intends to do and the outcome of their actions. The consequences
of one’s actions can be tragic instead of the good intentions that led to them. This can be the result of poor planning.
Poor planning is what cursed this town and its inhabitants. Everything they tried backfired and rightfully angered the
spirits that dwell here. You must atone before the healing can begin.”
“You are correct. Desperation, envy, and greed blackened my soul to the point I stole what I coveted the most. I am sorry
and if you kill me later, I know that I deserve it.”
She offers me a soft smile as she squeezes my hand before she reaches that hand out to Conner who takes it and kisses
it. She giggles as her arm peppers with goosebumps. She blushes as she turns away to lean over and kiss Cassius on the
cheek before her lips claim Clint’s in a heated kiss. I tell Cassius how to get to Citadel Of The Raven. This building hasn’t
always been a place of worship. It was a Machicomuck, before Europeans settled here, which is a temple or house where Native Americans would worship, pray, sing, and make offerings. Its grounds extend to Black Lake. It has a history of its
own because of the bizarre rituals that were held there and the strange beasts and demons that emerged.
After we parked, we emerged from the car. Avery’s eyes scanned what little remains of the Citadel. She sighs as a tear
trickles down her cheek. She must feel all of the pain that happened here over the centuries. Living in constant sorrow
can crush even the strongest of wills and nobody knows that