Chance's chin jerked, the tiniest flicker of panic in hisgaze.
I didn't wait for him to lay it out again. "I'm coming with you."
Chance tried again, softening his voice like maybe I'd melt if he dialed back the tough guy. "Tash?—"
"No," I said, even sharper. "You need me. Taryn's part of this, whether you like it or not."
Xavier stepped in, holding up both hands. "Let's not debate this now. Time's running."
Damon rolled his eyes, but said nothing. He actually looked impressed, which for his stone face was a miracle.
Chance turned to me, eyes blazing gold now, no pretense. "You just got this power. You don't even know?—"
"I know exactly who those bastards are," I bit back, "and I'm not letting them hunt us like animals. They said over and over, once you grab the mate, the whole clutch is at risk. I'm not leaving my kids at the mercy of these psychos."
Taryn roared in response, giddy with pride.Kill them all!
My chest went hot, magic climbing my spine so fast I had to bite my tongue to stay human.
Chance stepped closer. Crowding me, but not touching. He wanted to win by sheer gravity, but Imight as well have been a hundred pounds heavier. I didn't move.
Fifi watched from the floor, blinking, arms crossed exactly like her dad. Mere sat next to her, eyes darting from face to face, calculating every micro-expression.
The girls didn't say a word, but the set of their jaws told the entire story.
Chance saw it too. For a split second, his mask slipped. He looked at me, at them, back at me, and the realization hit him. My dragon wasn't going to be leashed.
His hands hit his hips. "This is insane."
"Let me make it simple," I snapped. "I'm going. You can fight me, or we can do this together."
Taryn howled. I nearly swayed on my feet with how ready she was to rip the ceiling off and go.
Damon whistled through his teeth. Even Xavier's mouth twitched.
Chance dropped the pretense. "You hang back. No heroics, no grandstanding."
I mirrored his pose, hands to hips, chin lifted. "Deal."
Xavier blazed through the rest. "Get ready. We go in hard, sweep the property. Damon's with me. Chance, cover the perimeter with Tash. If it goes sideways, you get to the sky."
He didn't even blink at the idea of me going. That felt good. Honestly, it made everything else pale.
Damon shoved off the wall, scowling at the drama, but didn't say another word. He led the way out, boots pounding the front steps.
Heart beating a war drum, I pivoted for the door then chanced a look back at the twins. Fifi smirked, pure pride. Mere's mouth twitched in a smile that was half terror, half respect, but her eyes gleamed gold behind the lenses.
"Don't do anything stupid," Fifi said.
"Define stupid," I shot back.
"If you die, I'll never forgive you," Mere whispered.
I wanted to hug them both, but my brain said if I touched them I'd crumble. No time for that. "Stay with your grandmother," I ordered. "If anyone but us comes to the door, run for the safe room."
Fifi saluted. "Go get ‘em."
Damon and Xavier in dragon form had already taken to the sky. Chance stalked out ahead, eating up the distance with pissed-off purpose.
