“Tell us what happened.” Jacob held my hand tightly. I could feel soothing fey energy seeping into me.
I quickly detailed the dream. As I was putting it into words … well, it didn’t sound scary. But something within that event had created heart-racing fear. I just wish I knew what it was.
“Do you think it means anything?” I asked. “Or was it simply a by-product of Mischa mentioning her dreams of being a dragon.”
“So there was more than one female dragon?” Braxton asked.
I nodded. That’s why all the dragons had seemed so delicate, they’d all been female.
“There were three and … myself.” Because apparently I was also a dragon shifter.
I felt like such a moron. “I’m being stupid. It was just a dream,” I said, waving my hands agitatedly. “Just a dream.”
I forced myself to calm, but the moment the quads moved off the bed panic flooded through me again. I hadn’t realized how much their presence had been keeping it at bay. I bit the inside of my cheek. I wouldn’t ask them to stay. I’d shown enough weakness tonight.
“We’ll stay with you until you fall asleep,” Braxton and Maximus said together. Again it was as if these men could read my thoughts.
Jacob grazed my cheek with his fingertips. “Just close your eyes, the boys will keep you safe, even from your dreams.”
Tyson landed a kiss on my forehead and then those two left the room.
My vampire and dragon shifter sprawled out their large bodies on either side of me, and with a sigh I slithered down under the sheets and closed my eyes. Trust me when I tell you, nothing makes a girl feel safer than a Compass on either side of her. I challenged any scary dream to try to get me now.
The heat woke me. I was so … damn … hot. I tried to move out from under the boulders holding me to the bed. Not a chance in hell of that happening. My eyes opened. Small streams of light were filtering through the large single window. It was morning, and not that early judging by the light low on the wall. A thick arm rested across me, and that’s when I remembered the dream and falling asleep with Maximus and Braxton. No wonder I was so damn hot, those two threw off heat like the roar of a fire. Maximus had rolled away. Vampires didn’t sleep like a pack. But Braxton was all over me, one arm and leg thrown across my body, and his head buried in the crook of my neck.
“Ugh,” I groaned, “get off you hot, heavy-ass dragon.”
I tried shoving him, but by the lack of movement I’d have had more luck moving the house we were in.
“Go back to sleep, Jess, or I’ll bite you,” Maximus grumbled.
I used my free hand to pinch him. “You wouldn’t dare.”
I’d never shared blood with him, although he had tasted my blood when he’d healed a cut or two, but for feeding he used his vampire women or other volunteers. There was something quite intimate when a vampire fed from you. Apparently the feelings it spread were … well, inappropriate toward a friend. Even a best friend.
“What’s the time?” I tried to squirm free again. “I have to meet my father.”
“It’s just after eight.” Braxton’s voice was low and husky. I had no idea how that man always knew the time, but he was scarily accurate.
“Shit.” I lifted my head and without thinking bit the muscled arm over me, my teeth leaving marks in his dark skin. Just blunt human teeth. I wouldn’t shift to wolf. That would leave more than a mark. “I’ve got to shower, I stink from my run last night.”
Braxton slowly lifted his face, hooded eyes locked onto my face, black hair tousled all over the place. How did the Compasses look so good when they first woke?
“Did you just bite me?” he said, his tone low and hypnotic.
Both of his eyebrows raised, and his lips lifted in a half-curved smile. I immediately felt like prey and I had to fight the urge to run. Braxton could be a scary mother when he locked you in his gaze.
“Um, no, it wasn’t me.”
“Lie.” He growled, dropping his head back into my neck. “You’re lucky I love you. And you smell fine.”
He moved his body then, letting me escape to the bathroom. I rolled free. Three minutes later I was blasting myself awake with a freezing cold shower. I had clothes everywhere through this house from all the years of staying over, so I wasn’t surprised to reenter the bedroom after my shower to find a stack on the end of the bed. The bed which was empty of men.
I dressed quickly. I was starving. This stupid talk with my father better not ruin breakfast.
That was something I wouldn’t forgive.
Chapter 5
The dining hall was packed. Supernaturals were everywhere. The groups were distinct, each sticking to their own races. Vampires were in the back right corner, shifters to the left, magic users outside on the open deck, with the fey close by them, and the demi-fey scattered throughout. The council members, along with other advisors, chiefs, alphas, the head mage and so forth, were in the center of the room. All that power in one spot was quite a shock if you walked too close.
I grabbed a tray and started moving through the buffet, making sure I checked under each hot cover. Before I’d even reached the end, my plate was overflowing. I glared at the three covered dishes I hadn’t gotten to. I refused to look under them, just in case they were better than what I had. Nothing worse than seeing what I couldn’t fit on my tray.
I mused as I moved toward my usual spot: Were they making these plates smaller? I swore I used to be able to fit more on them. I took a seat at my usual table, close to the council but not within hearing distance, except maybe for the vampires. My father would find me here. A tray landed next to mine. I grunted and flicked my eyes to the left, but I’d already scented who it was.