“Are you sending us out with a patrol?” Aedan asked.
A deep voice boomed from the doorway. “No, with a dragon.”
Lucie turned her head to look at the voice. A towering, sculpted young man with dark brown hair and hazel eyes leaned against the doorway, a small smirk playing on his face. It was Brian, the son of Xander and Lila, the Dragon King and Queen of the West.
“Brian!” Lucie squealed happily and ran up to him. He lifted her up into his chest and hugged her. They were all really close. With their family having the black pearls, they were able to visit each other all through childhood. And while technically he wasn’t blood related, he was family. His father, Xander, was her aunt’s soul twin. Together, they were the Gemini Twins, rescued by the Moon Goddess herself for a particular task, which they had already completed. Regardless, this made them all family, and Brian was like a cousin to her.
“Luce Luce! I heard you found your mate. Well, that’s an interrogation for another time, I guess.” Brian’s lips curled upward as Aedan came and slapped him on the back.
“Brian, what are you doing here, man?” Aedan grinned widely.
“A little slow piecing things together, I see.” Brian chuckled. “I’m giving you three a lift. Safest way to travel besides the pearls.”
“Nice.” Jasper pretended that the idea of flying didn’t bother him at all. “How are things going with the ladies?” Jasper had also built friendships with everyone Lucie was close to, since he made it a point to visit often.
“I’m hoping I’ll find my girl at the next mating ceremony. Until then, you know, I’m just playing hard to get.” Brian winked with a chuckle.
Lucie openly rolled her eyes. These boys never played hard to get. That was their way of deflecting because they didn’t have girlfriends.
“When did you guys ask for Brian to come?” Lucie looked at her parents. Dragons were fast flyers, but not that fast. Her parents just got back today, so even if they’d sent a messenger immediately, he couldn’t have been here already.
“We just did. We used the pearl to see if a dragon could escort you to the vampire kingdom. We either would need two dragons or one capable of carrying three people. Levi and Xander are working on this Wicker business, but Brian immediately offered his services. So we brought him back with us.” Hunter felt more at ease, knowing they would be traveling by dragon.
“And I was out making sure some werewolf wasn’t the future woman of my house,” Brian said with a chuckle. “Alas, none are lucky enough as of now. So, you guys ready to take flight?”
“I need to pack still,” Lucie said, looking at Aedan, who also nodded.
“Just pack the few things you need. We’ll have the rest taken directly to the dragon kingdom for your extended stay there,” Freja added as she watched her two children head up toward their rooms.
Both returned only a few moments later, each carrying a bag. Hunter and Freja took turns hugging their kids tightly.
“Take care of your sister. And don’t wander from the castle,” Hunter said sternly to Aedan.
“Trust in yourself, Lucie. And please, think before you act.” Freja kissed her daughter’s forehead and they slowly walked outside.
“Don’t worry. It’ll be like camp. They’ll be safe and we’ll have a blast,” Jasper said, trying to lighten the mood. He then looked over at Brian. “Should we make him take a breathalyzer test or something? We don’t need a tipsy flyer.”
“I could fly you there blindfolded and half asleep. Plus, what are you implying, Jasper?” Brian quirked his brow and gave him a crooked smile.
“You’re a smart guy. I hardly need to explain myself.” A cheeky grin reached Jasper’s lips.
“Yep, read you loud and clear. You’re afraid of heights,” Brian said with a chuckle.
“We’ll visit you. Just try to enjoy this time,” Freja said quietly to her two children.
“Don’t worry about us, Mom. We’ll be just fine. It’s you guys and the pack I’m worried about.” Lucie hugged her mother tightly one last time as Brian shifted into his enormous, dark red dragon.
“We’ll all be just fine here.” Hunter patted Lucie on the head. “Be good, Lucie. And keep your brother out of trouble.” He winked at Aedan, who snuffed out a blast of air from his nose. “Lucie … here.” He held out a small black object attached to a string. It was the fourth piece of the black pearl. “Use this to go to the dragon kingdom afterward. With this, you’ll always be connected to your family.”
“Thank you.” Lucie pursed her lips slightly as she stared at the object. Her link to her family.
She took a few steps backward and then turned, taking Jasper’s hand as she climbed on Brian’s back. Aedan took his spot beside her, and soon, they lifted off into the air. Lucie continued gazing down at her parents as they became smaller and smaller. She looked over the territory of the Black Ice Pack and realized … this was it for her life there. She originally thought she’d have the whole summer to say goodbye, but instead, last night was it. They were going from the Vampire Kingdom to the Dragon Kingdom. Once everything was settled, Derrick would be bringing her back to the Vampire Kingdom. The Black Ice Pack was no longer her home.
She watched the ground beneath her until it vanished from her sight and then turned forward to look ahead, now heading into the future and to her new home. She had been preparing forthis moment … and yet there was a bitter sting about losing her pack. She was sure she would adjust to wherever she was with Derrick by her side. But he wouldn’t be there now, and she was going to have to keep up the pretense that the fill-in “Ryan” was her Derrick.
Brian’s fast wings brought them to the vampire kingdom in no time, and Jasper pointed to an area behind the castle where they could land. It was completely enclosed, with tall walls and guards around the entire outside perimeter. Lucie had been here before but she’d never seen an aerial view of the place. She never realized just how many soldiers were always very close by.
Jasper slid off of Brian first, making sure the soldiers were all able to see who it was. They immediately relaxed and returned to their posts. Aedan hopped off next and Jasper helped Lucie slide down.
