I stand and go over to my dresser, grabbing a black sports bra, a neon orange tank top, a black thong, and black yoga shorts. I quickly tie my hair into a high ponytail and walk out the door. The first thing I notice when I step into the hall is the utter chaos going on around me. I’m thankful for the soundproof rooms, I wouldn’t have been able to hear myself think otherwise. Clearly word about the Council’s visit has gotten out. Witches and shifters are running around, cleaning, organizing, planning, and apparently just freaking out. There’s one woman crying on a bench near the entryway to the house. Okay. So I’m going to need to address everyone once I talk to Kelly and Olivia, maybe give out a few hugs or shots. Maybe try to find some of these people a Xanax. I know this is a big deal, but my community doesn’t know just how big a deal it really is, because if the Council finds out what I am, I’m essentially going to become a lab rat or worse…a housewife.
I eye the chaos for a few more seconds before heading into my study. Kelly and Olivia are already there. Kelly has natural honey gold hair that falls to her shoulders. It always seems to have a solid beach wave to it, which I’m mildly jealous of. She’s taller than I am too, which is no surprise, coming in at five feet seven inches, so when she wears heels she may as well be a giant. Her eyes are a crystal-clear blue, and it’s easy to see how intelligent she is when looking her in the eye. She always seems to be studying everyone and everything around her, absorbing it like a sponge. Where I’m curvy, Kelly is willowy, not supermodel skinny, but in an athletic but not obsessed about it way. She’s also got a soft golden glow to her skin, which I’m also jealous of because I look like the walking dead whenever I’m next to her. She’s essentially the girl next door.
Olivia is simply out of this world stunning. Her hair is a milk chocolate brown and falls to her waist. She usually wears it braided in a way that reminds me of Viking shieldmaidens, which is pretty badass. Her hair is fairly straight but has a gentle wave to it that gives it some decent volume. She’s an amazon, coming in right under six feet, and has one hell of a rack and ass. She’s all lean muscle with some serious lady bits to go with them. The woman has legs for days I seriously lust after and have a raging lady boner for.
But their physical appearances pale in comparison to their personalities. Fiercely loyal, stunningly kind and understanding, and so damn loving of their people, both witches and shifters. I am constantly humbled that they believe in me, are friends with me, and desire to help me lead this community. While we may not have been born of the same mother, our trials over the last few months have made us sisters. The tribulations that are heading our way will cement that bond for eternity. I am one lucky bitch.
They glance over with smiles when I walk in the door, each holding a glass of wine and a bowl of ice cream. Bless their hearts. I close and lock the door to my study behind me, taking one last deep breath before joining them around the fire, sitting at the spot saved for me with a glass of wine and bowl of ice cream. I can see their curiosity behind their smiles. They’re attempting to reassure me that whatever I have to say, they’re still my friends, but they’d also really like to know what I’ve been hiding. They must be dying to talk about the Council’s visit as well, but there’s no more to tell than what I’ve already talked to them about, so we’re all left in the dark there.
I take a sip of my wine, looking between the two of them and trying to figure out where to start. Do I dive in? Do I ease into things? I feel like this should be a rip the Band-Aid off sort of situation. At least they aren’t rushing me.
“I’m a queen.”
Chapter Three
Just word vomit it out there, great strategy. But it’s out. I know I’ll need to explain further, but it’s in the open now. I feel oddly relieved. Hiding that secret for so long has weighed on me, and I hadn’t realized it until just now. It’s also mildly horrifying. While I trust these two women with my life, giving them this information shifts our relationship slightly. Trusting them with my life is one thing, trusting them with my secret is entirely different.
But their response isn’t quite what I thought it would be. They’re just…well…staring at me blankly. It’s making me fidgety and anxious as all hell. I want to scream at them to say something, anything! Are they shocked, scared, confused, what?
“A queen dragon?” I supply. They blink and glance at each other.
“Aren’t queens a myth?” Olivia looks at me as though I’ve lost my damn mind.
“Not myth exactly,” Kelly chimes in, “But I thought they had all been wiped out by the demons.”
“We’re certainly not a myth. And, if you’d like, I can prove I’m a queen. I’m the last one left.” I feel bad hiding the truth about my sisters, but I won’t risk their safety, not when I’m not even sure they’re still alive.
I let down the wall I have that blocks other shifters from sensing my dragon and witches from fully determining my power level. When mixed, it’s a pretty heady combination. If I push it, I could have these two flat on their stomachs without even lifting a finger. I can tell the moment they feel my power. Shudders run through them, their pupils dilate, and they gasp in shock. They struggle to remain in their seats, sweat breaking out along their foreheads.
“Holy shit,” Olivia whispers in awe when I rebuild my wall. “I can’t believe you’re real. Why have you been in hiding all this time? Why not let shifters and witches know you’re alive?”
“It’s not that easy. The Council would have snatched me up in a second. They still might if they find out what I am while they’re here. Not only that, but drawing attention to myself also paints a red flag on any community I’m in. Archdemons wouldn’t think twice about destroying an entire population to get to a queen.”
“Why step out now?” Ah, there’s the Kelly I love, her wheels always turning in her head.
“Because I couldn’t stand by and let Morgan continue to sell off female shifters. Not after getting to know the two of you, knowing you both didn’t want a war between witches and shifters, and especially not after my investigation.”
“Your protective instincts were triggered, it makes sense.” Olivia nods in agreement with Kelly’s deduction.
“I suppose you’re right. My dragon mentioned earlier that we are meant to live in communities like this. She reminded me that we’re meant to protect those around us. I had almost forgotten about that.” I go quiet and start to play with the ice cream that is melting in the bowl in front of me.
“There is no shame in survival,” Olivia states, firm and unyielding. “Don’t ever feel bad about surviving. For all you know, this is what was meant to happen. You were meant to survive until you found our community.”
“Olivia is right, Ayla. You survived to help us. Your resurgence into our world may mean the turn of the tide in the war against the demons and the reconnection of our communities.”
“I don’t think I would go quite that far. But I do feel like I’m where I’m supposed to be, doing what I’m meant to be doing.”
“But we can’t let the Council know what you are.” Kelly’s tone is calculating, as though she’s already formulating a plan. “We can’t be sure that the Council won’t just force you to mate with one of their members, or hide you away, or worse, use you as a weapon.”