Chapter 2 - Fraya

Whilst something in me told me to trust them, I knew that I couldn't, I knew that doing so could be my downfall. the one who was holding me against his chest was Kaelin, the most fierce of the dragon kings. yet he held me with such gentleness. Why? he was built large, with sharp facial features, and unkept brown hair, his eyes piercing my very soul. I wanted to scream, to jump out of the car and runaway. but I could already feel this way of the vehicle moving, and I knew I was already too late. I didn't know where they were taking me or what they wanted, but I already knew I would be found out. by the end of the day they would know what I was.

 They all wore black suits, each one smart and clean, How you do is known about the dragon kings, most powerful shifters in the city. you are either loyal to them, or you were dead. they tended not to give people second chances, don't break the rules and you'll be fine. only I have broken them all, I kept myself hidden, off the radar, breaking the highest rule. all supernaturals must be vetted, they had to go before the dragon kings,  Asking for entrance into the city. Only, I didn't do this, to them I don't exist, to them I'm dangerous. could they tell I wasn't a normal person, could they tell I was a super too?

 I tried to climb off Kaelin, to get some distance between me and the dragon kings, to give myself a clear head.yet, when I tried to move, his arms only tightened around me, locking me on his lap.

“Where do you think you are going young one?” He asked me, his blue eyes seeming to pierce through me.

A second one of the dragon kings spoke before I could utter a word, his name Gabriel Cross; his amber eyes cruel and cold as he watched me, his hair a strawberry blonde shade. “She’s going nowhere until we figure out what’s going on.”

“W-what do you mean?” I whisper, my pulse once again skittering.

Yep, I was done for.

Gabriel gave me a look that stated he was already onto my bullshit, that he just needed to prove himself somehow, show the others that in nothing but a liar. Yeah, that’s a lot to decipher from just one glance, but I’m panicking and I’ve always been somewhat paranoid.

“It’s nothing to worry about.” Said another, Silas Black I believe was his name, though I wasn’t entirely sure. He had night night black hair, and eyes that could put ravens to shame, he was handsome, in a bad boy kind of way, his nose, left eyebrow and both sides of his lips pierced. “Just looking for you on the database, can’t say we remember you.”

“I won’t be on there.” I whisper softly, my entire body tense in the arms of Kaelin. “I never registered.”

“Why’s that love?” Said the fourth and final of the dragon kings, Maddox King, Kaelin’s brother (adopted at birth) his silver hair and emerald eyes inviting, yet at the same time butterfly terrifying, he had a tattoo of a dragon wrapping around his neck, it’s head disappearing into his shirt somewhere. “Everyone knows that they must register, are you new?”

“No, not new.” I half laugh, I had been in this city long enough to know I’m in big trouble. Better just to tell the truth. “I’m in hiding.”

The look on all their faces was that of pure shock, even on Kaelin as he held me close to him, as though afraid I might break. It was odd to think I was actually enjoying being in someone’s arms, it had been years since I had contact with anyone.

“Why?” Kaelin asks, straight to the point; his eyes trying to break into my soul.

I couldn’t lie now, they would know straight away, I had never really needed to lie whilst I was in hiding so I didn’t know what to expect should I try. It wasn’t a good idea. Besides, the dragon kings have the right to sentence me to death should they choose, it’s just a shame for them that I wouldn’t stay dead, it’s better to come clean and take things one step at a time. I had the power to control fire to an extent, so I could always fight if needed. Though, I didn’t know what use I’d be against four dragons shifters. They were much more powerful that I was, much more skilled and adapt to the fight. I had never fought before in my life, only ever practiced on occasion.

“I’m a Phoenix shifter.” I smile, throwing my shoulders back.

Three of them burst into fits of laughter, whilst Maddox stares at me with a strange look in his eyes, one I didn’t even want to decipher, I had boiled it down to either sex or murder, neither of which I would appreciate. I should have known they would find it hard to believe, their hadn’t been a Phoenix sighting in many years, the last one when I was only a child and I didn’t know to hide what I was. But I didn’t know if they knew about that.

“I’m not lying, I can’t prove it.” I say, adding certainty into my voice, something that I rarely do. I’m shy and I avoid conflict. Or more importantly, I avoid dying. It is always painful.

They abruptly stopped laughing, everyone's eyes coming to land on me as the limo began to slow down, clearly informing me that we had reached where we meant to be. the vehicle became oddly quiet, and suddenly I miss the sound of their laughter, strange I barely knew them and yet I was craving what made them happy. what did this mean? I had never felt this way about anyone before and now suddenly I’m interested in four different men? Something isn’t right about this, I’ve never been one for intimacy, there are too many risks involved so naturally I’ve never had those urges before. Yet, say here in Kaelin’s arms, a warmth is spreading through me that I haven’t experienced before this, and I want things I never thought that I would.

“Let’s discuss this inside, we don’t want anyone to overhear this.” Maddox frowned, motioning for the others to agree, though I knew right away that Kaelin would, something told me that even though he laughed, he believed me.

“Agreed.” Both Silas and Gabriel say together, clearly realising that this was a sensitive subject.

Maddox opened the door where he was sat and everyone made their way out, Gabriel packing up his laptop and the others shuffled out around him, Kaelin still keeping me cradled to his chest, as though I may either run or break should he let me go. I would have probably ran if I had anywhere to go, by now they probably knew everything about me, including where I lived and worked, I was stuck with them until they decided otherwise. Though, some deep part of me would be disappointed if they let me go, whilst the intelligent part hoped for it, that would be the best outcome here, to be released. Yet, as I looked up at the mansion sized house, I realised that they had taken me to their private home, somewhere that not even reporters have seen inside.

We’re they going to bring me here before I told them what I was, had this been planned?

Did they know what I was before I told them?

Why bring me to their home?

I shifted slightly in the arms of the youngest dragon king, my heart continuing to beat rapidly in my chest, I hadn’t transformed in years, and whilst I knew that I could, I was afraid of how these shifters would react. I was the last of my kind, the last one ever to exist if I never have children, what could that mean to them? I was valuable in the supernatural world, and whilst selling others wasn’t always allowed, I would fetch a high price, especially to  the vampire lord who killed my parents seven years ago. The day I found out what I was, the first day I died. It was followed by many more as he tested my abilities before I eventually escaped, it was fourteen months I would never get back, fourteen months of agony.

I shuddered and Kaelin pressed me closer to his chest, perhaps thinking that I was cold, and whilst it was mid winter, I didn’t naturally suffer from the cold weather. A perk of being a fire bird I guess. Maddox lead the way into the large mansion, his face sour and frozen in the frown he had on in the car, the strange feeling within me stirring once more, wanting me to comfort him. I wanted to make him smile again, and whilst I couldn’t quite understand why, I wanted it more than anything else in that moment.

Gabriel joined us in the large entryway once he retrieved his technology devices, including three other laptops I assume belong to the other kings. They skipped the tour of the vast place and escorted me to an office on the first floor, my breath raspy and fearful. I needed to make sure that they wouldn’t use me if I showed them, I wouldn’t be able to fight my way out, I needed a new strategy, someway of ensuring I could leave if that’s what I wanted. Which it would be, I didn’t want to be anyone’s prisoner, not again.

Maddox took a seat behind the desk, whilst Gabriel leant against a bookcase to his left, Silas choosing to sit on the edge of the desk to the right. You could tell that they were a team, each knowing where to be and how to act. Whilst I felt even more vulnerable in Kaelin’s arms, like I was a small child about to get scolded for something I had done wrong. He placed me onto my feet and took a step back, moving to stand with Gabriel near the book shelf whilst I began drowning in my own panic, something was going on here that I didn’t know about and I didn’t feel comfortable telling them anything until I knew what they had planned for me.