Firefighter Dragon's Demi-God Daughter Page 4

  But she couldn’t have him. She had to stop before they went too far, too soon.

  She pushed against him, just a fraction, and his head popped up. “Want me to stop?” he asked.

  She nodded. “I can’t think straight when we’re kissing.”

  “I can’t either,” he said. He kissed her forehead but made no move to do anything else. She immediately regretted the decision. “And we do need to talk. I need to know about the demons, as much as you can tell me. I’m going to see my clan today.”

  She chewed on her lip. “I’ll tell you everything I know about the demons.”

  He got a piece of paper and a pen from the hotel room drawer to take notes, and she started talking when they were back on the beach. She started with the smell of the demons, and the way they looked, where they came from and ended with the best ways to kill them.

  “Holy shit,” he said when she was done. “That’s uh… That’s some real apocalyptic crazy stuff you’re talking about.”

  “Yes. They could very well end the world if they move unchecked.”

  “I need to know how to fight them. I need to be able to tell my family and my clan. I know a witch. She might be able to get us some weapons,” he said.

  “You do not want to fight them. Not unless you have to.”

  “I get that. I just don't want to leave them unprotected.”

  “We will not leave your clan unprotected,” she vowed. And she meant it.

  “Will you go with me today? To talk to them?” he asked.

  He wanted her to meet his clan? That was an overwhelming thought. Hundreds of beings like him would be looking at her for information and guidance. She could not let Ares find out about this. He’d insist on coming and frighten everyone senseless with his blunt speech and his too-direct commentary.

  “I will. But tell me more about you and how it works to be a dragon shifter,” she said.

  So he told her everything he could think of. He explained that he could focus his mind and change his body at will into the form of a dragon, a creature that was much bigger than he was as a human man. He explained what it was like to soar off the top of a cliff and dive straight down into the ocean.

  “I would like to see that,” she said.

  “Maybe you will.” He tucked a piece of her hair behind her ear. He seemed to really like her hair. He’d touched it several times.

  He told her about the way his tan skin became scales, how he sprouted wings and how he even had a tail. He told her it was genetic, passed on from parent to child, and that if they mated with a human, they would still have shifter babies.

  “Mate? How does that work?” she asked.

  “It’s a strong commitment to a person, stronger even than marriage,” he said. “When a shifter finds his mate, the relationship is cemented. That’s it for them, for life.”

  “That sounds intense.”

  “It is. But it’s usually a good thing,” he said.

  “Do you have a mate?” she asked.

  “No! I just kissed you.” Jackson’s eyebrows drew together, and his easy expression morphed into one of distress. “I could never kiss someone else if I were mated.” His green eyes were full of sorrow at just the thought.

  She stared at him blankly. On Olympus, marriage wasn’t honored in the traditional sense. There had always been a lot of palace intrigue, so to speak, revolving around who slept with who. Almost no one was faithful. She imagined that tended to happen when someone lived for thousands of years. But the traits had carried on, even in those of them who weren’t immortal.

  But she could understand Jackson’s revulsion. If she ever married, or even committed to another person, then she would not cheat. She’d seen too much misery result from it.

  He took her hands in his. “If I were mated, I wouldn’t want to kiss another woman. It wouldn’t even be possible for me to do it. And I assume that she wouldn’t want to either.”

  “Does that only apply if she’s a shifter too?”

  “I think so, although there have been some shifter-human marriages I know of that are pretty freaking strong.”

  “I’m glad you told me,” she said. She didn’t want to walk into this situation unaware of their quirks.

  He stood up. “Me too.” He held both hands out to her and hauled her to her feet. “Now. Are you ready to go with me? I can’t stand them not knowing there’s a threat to them out there.”

  She would go. She needed to gather all the facts for both of the cases she was working on. She could gain far more information by visiting their home than just hearing about them.

  But even as she tried to reassess her role now that she’d gain an ally, she realized Jackson could become a distraction.

  He could be a real detriment to her work. Or Jackson could prove to be a valuable ally, and so could his clan. A large group of hearty shifters who could withstand the attack of a demon—at least if they were trained and well prepared—was an asset she had not counted on when she came up with her plans for this mission.

  On the drive over, she listened with rapt attention and asked questions. He told her how his clan had lived in peace and harmony for centuries in the Pacific Northwest but that other clans, namely in Portugal and Ireland, hadn’t been so lucky.

  Before she was ready, they were in Cape Meares, driving down the winding road to his home. Buried in the forest, there was a row of houses, each one large and on about an acre of land. He parked in front of a two-story home with white siding and a porch that wrapped all the way around.

  “It’s beautiful,” she said.

  “We all live in groups. My grandparents and aunt and uncle live in this house too, and my little sister, Jenny, when she’s home from college. It makes it easier for us to live in one space without being as obvious.”

  “That sounds nice.” She’d always been isolated from others when she lived with Ares because he didn’t like being around humans, and when she’d visited Olympus, she’d felt excluded.

  Her hands trembled as she popped the car door open.

  Jackson bounded out of the car and grabbed her by the shoulders. “Hey. Don’t be nervous. They’re going to be so fascinated to meet you.”

  She bit down on her lip. “Can I ask you for a favor?”

  “Sure?”

  “If they assume I’m a witch, will you let them keep thinking that’s what I am? Just for now?”

  “I won’t lie to them,” Jackson said. “But I won’t say anything to correct them either.” His eyes narrowed. “When are you going to tell me what you are? Don’t you think I’ll eventually find out?”

  “I have no doubt.” She looked down at the ground and then back over at him. “But I cannot tell you.”

  “We’ll let it go for now,” he said.

  She sighed in relief at the temporary reprieve. “Thank you,” she said. “I can’t—”

  She never got to finish because the door of the house banged open and several people poured out. “Jackson!” one of the women yelled.

  And then they were all rushing toward her.

  There were about ten people, suddenly on her, very close. All of them were talking. She’d never been this close to so many people at once.

  She sucked in a breath of air.

  You are an FBI agent and the great-granddaughter of Zeus. You can handle this shifter clan.

  She felt Jackson’s arm come up around her. He took a step back, pulling her with him. “Okay, everybody. Chill out. You guys are acting like a pack of hyenas instead of dragons.”

  Several people laughed—loudly—and she heard a few whispers that said, “is she a witch? You said there were witches lurking around in the world. If she’s not a witch, then where’d she come from?” but none of the whispers were hostile.

  Jackson told them the truth. He introduced her as an FBI agent who was working on a case in a nearby area.

  “We do need to talk to all of you,” he said.

  His father nodded. “I’ll get everyone rou
nded up.”

  “Do you mind being the one to explain it to them?” Jackson asked her.

  “Will they listen to someone they don’t know?” Her own people wouldn’t. They inherently thought they were better than anyone else. There was no way in hell they’d accept the word of a stranger.

  “Sure. If they know you’re in the FBI, they’ll listen.”

  That wouldn’t matter one bit to the demi-Gods. They’d think she was stupid for caring about a badge given to her by a human.

  The meeting with Jackson’s clan happened quickly. His father called as many of the clan together as he could. They went about getting everyone together in the old-fashioned way, where they rang a bell from the middle of the neighborhood, and for the modern way, they all had a GroupMe thread that buzzed all their phones.

  Within thirty minutes, all the shifters who were at home had joined them in the field not far from Jackson’s house. Some stood, some sat. Some were clearly older, but none were stooped or infirm with age. She would have to ask how long their lifespan was or if they ever got sick. He had been truly shocked when her blade cut him, so they must not deal with injury very often.

  He hopped up on a tree stump. Everyone was chattering, but when he said “Hello, all,” they all stopped and turned to look at him.

  His voice was no louder than normal. Their hearing must be exceptional.

  As Jackson began to introduce her, she admired his easy way with words and the camaraderie he shared with his kin. He clearly felt at home with his family and his clan. He belonged to them. And they were a part of him.

  She was tired of feeling the same loneliness. It did her no good. And yet, she could not shake it. She had no one to talk to. No friend to complain to. She couldn’t even visit a therapist.

  The dragon shifters were truly exceptional. How had she lived this long and not known of their existence?

  He wrapped up what he was saying and held his hand out to her. She joined him on the stump.

  She should have prepared something to say.

  “Has anyone here ever heard of demons?” she asked.

  The crowd murmured. There was one roar.

  She turned in the direction of the roar. “That was good. It’s good to be angry when demons are concerned. They are real. And they’re a threat.” She spread her hands apart. “And I’m going to tell you how to protect yourselves and your clan from them.”

  9

  Jackson

  Jackson stood behind Helena while she spoke to his clan about the demons. He couldn’t take his eyes off of her. She had the clan captivated too as she told them everything she knew about demons.

  His good friend Eli came to stand beside him. “What is she?” he asked.

  Jackson’s dragon growled, but Jackson held it in. He didn’t want to alarm anyone, especially not when Helena was talking about demons.

  Instead, Jackson turned to glare at his friend. He could see the curiosity in Eli’s eyes, and he knew he didn’t mean to be rude. But still. Jackson didn’t want anyone treating Helena like she was an oddity. He’d have to make that clear.

  He and Eli had been friends since they were young hatchlings, and from Jackson’s earliest memories, Eli had always wanted to know how everything worked and why everything happened.

  He was naturally curious about the world around him and never stopped asking questions. It was no surprise to anyone when he became a scientist, with one degree in molecular biology and another in astrophysics.

  ”She’s not someone for you to study,” Jackson said.

  Eli blinked. “I apologize.”

  Jackson nodded. “It’s okay. It’s clear that she’s different. She’s not a dragon shifter, and she’s not totally human.”

  “I’m fascinated. I know you’ve met others, like the Fae, the wolf shifter, and the witch.”

  “I understand. But she can let us know the details. She’s doing us a big service by telling us about the demons.”

  Eli held up his hands. “I won’t ask again.”

  Jackson finally relaxed. His friend was not a threat in a traditional sense. He would never attack or accuse. But he wanted to know all about Helena. It was written all over his face.

  Now Helena had finished up, and the group was asking her questions about the demons. Some she had very clear answers for, some she did not.

  “Will the demons come here?” Jackson’s uncle asked.

  “There’s no way to know for sure,” she said. “But being prepared is always best.”

  “What do we do?”

  “I’m going to talk to your council and give them some very specific ideas.” She held up her blade. “This steel is enchanted to kill demons. A regular blade won’t affect them.” Her eyes darted toward Jackson. “But be careful. The enchanted blades can injure you all too.”

  The crowd murmured.

  Jackson hopped up on the log and lifted his shirt, showing off the vivid red line across his ribs.

  The crowd gasped.

  He needed them to take this seriously.

  He’d already planned to call his cousin’s friends in Ireland and Texas. Both groups had fought witches and wizards. They might have some advice. He wasn’t going to mention it to Helena just yet. He trusted her, but not with the fate of his clan.

  “This is from her blade,” he said.

  “How’d it happen?” his dad asked.

  “She thought I was a demon. So she came after me while I was working. And, of course, I didn’t think the blade would cut me. But it did. So I want you all to be aware of that.”

  That declaration set off quite a bit of chatter among the clan. None of them were used to thinking there was anything that could harm them.

  Helena was looking distinctly uncomfortable by now, so he stepped off the log. Jackson took her hand and tugged her toward him. She’d given them everything they needed to protect themselves.

  He put his arm around her, which she seemed to accept. Jackson led her away from the clan, motioning for Eli to follow them. They walked until they reached the small lake that separated them from the rest of the town. Several fishing boats lay along the bank.

  “Let’s go out on the water.” They’d be less likely to be overheard by any clan members if they were out on the lake.

  Jackson again held his hand out, helping Helena into the small boat. He was well aware that she didn’t actually need the help, but he couldn’t stop himself. He felt an overwhelming urge to touch her at each possible opportunity. He would continue to do so until she told him to stop.

  “Eli? Can you join us?” Eli hopped into the boat and grabbed an oar while Jackson pushed the boat away from the bank.

  The water rippled around them, and they shot straight toward the middle with the force of his push.

  Eli was staring straight at Helena again. His eyes were round, and his mouth was turned up at the corners. Jackson could see the wheels turning in his mind. He was clearly making a list of every type of creature she might be and going through the process of elimination.

  “Helena, this is my friend, Eli, and Eli, this is Helena.”

  “It’s nice to meet you,” Eli said.

  “And it’s nice to meet you as well,” Helena said. She was sitting stiffly on the seat of the boat. Although her posture was nearly perfect all the time, at that moment, it was particularly rigid.

  Jackson leaned in close. “Do I need to take you home?” Again, he was aware that she was a grown woman, as well as an FBI agent, and a skilled fighter. She could remove herself from the situation at any time. And she’d probably speak up if she wanted to leave.

  “No. I’m glad to be here,” she said.

  He nodded. He’d take her word for it.

  “Can I see your blade?” Eli asked suddenly.

  Helena tensed up even more, but she slowly withdrew the blade from her belt and handed it to Eli.

  He took the weapon, holding it by the hilt. He turned it over, staring at it. “Does it matter if you’re wieldi
ng it? Or will it cut me if I’m holding it?”

  “The blade itself is imbued with magic. It will injure you no matter who’s wielding it.”

  “Fascinating.” He touched the tip of the blade to his forearm, hissing when his skin turned red. A welt appeared from just the tiny touch. He handed the blade back to her. “Thank you for your trust.”

  “You are most welcome,” she said.

  “How are your ribs?” Eli asked.

  “They feel fine now. But there’s a scar.”

  “I am sorry,” Helena added again.

  “Don’t be. It was a good reminder to me not to get complacent. And it was a good visual aid for the clan. Sometimes they’re a stubborn group. Visual proof is a good thing.”

  Helena pressed her lips together, but she didn’t argue. Then Eli began to ask her more questions about the demons, and Jackson listened as she explained everything she knew. He could tell Eli was cataloging each answer and Jackson knew that he’d be making notes about it later.

  His dragon wasn’t interested in strategy. His dragon was content, happy that his best friend and the female he liked were in the same place and getting along with each other.

  10

  Helena

  “How was that? Was my clan too crazy?” Jackson asked as soon as they were back in the truck. He’d just helped her into the truck and then closed her door for her. She found his chivalrous behavior charming.

  “Not at all. It was a bit overwhelming, but I enjoyed meeting them.” She wasn’t being polite. She’d enjoyed the boisterous clan. They all seemed to revel in each other’s company.

  After she, Jackson, and Eli had returned from rowing on the lake, they’d eaten dinner with the clan. They’d sat at long picnic-style tables outside, all of them talking at once, none of them bothered by the fifty degree chill in the air. She hadn’t picked up on any tension or rivalry. She was sure it wasn’t always perfect, but it seemed pretty darn close to her.