The Prophecy

Six weeks earlier………..

NickolaiPOV

I watched from my hiding post across the street, as my mate tucked our son; Henry, into bed and said goodnight to our daughter; Gabrielle- Gabby. She was gorgeous, almost sixteen and a sight to behold. I ducked behind the shrubs that I had taken refugee behind the past week, as I watched over my family. The family that was mine but that I couldn’t be apart of because of a prophecy and the threat I posed to their lives, specifically Gabrielle’s. This threat that I had vowed to eliminate, to keep my mate and kids safe, before I could become a part of them.

SuddenlyTerekyi; my dragon perked up, no longer slumbering though he was never to far away from my consciousness; years of being on the hunt had made our state of alert a permanent thing. We sniffed at the air, sensing something had shifted and changed. I went completely still as I gave over my senses to him, I closed my eyes breathing deeply I gave way to the half-shift that we were feared and famous for. I let go of my humanity and allowed my dragon to come to the forefront. Instantly my sight got sharper, my sense of smell was heightened and my body was coiled to strike and eliminate the threat sensed in the atmosphere.

Mountbatten dragons had always had the ability of the half shift; before we invaded the north and unified the supernatural community, we lived on the frozen ice tundra of the north east of the world, where there was constant winters and darkness. This forced our dragons to adapt and evolve into a unique type of dragon. We mastered the half-shift a few centuries of living there, it came in handy especially when we hunted in or human skin.

Terekyigrowled and hissed bringing my focus back to the present and the threat at hand, a noise off to our left had me turning my attention that way. Like a snake our forked tongue flicked out tasting the air; “Threat”Terekyihissed, as the stench of the Druid assassin came up to our nostrils. Dragon eyes followed his movements as he slowly advanced on the small bungalow that held my mate and children.

My ire rose, over the past ten years I had had to dispatch many assassins, sent by theWyvernSect; who were determined to prevent the prophecy from coming through by taking out my daughter. I was not sure how they always knew where she was, and how they constantly found her. I had contemplated the fact that she maybe sending out a beacon with out realizing it. But how could that be? Patricia and I had agreed to let our kids grow up as normal as possible, they knew nothing of their heritage or the fact that they were dragon shifters just like their parents.

I growled as we watched the assassin pause to scope out the bungalow and his best possible path of entry. Another growl threatened to give away my hiding spot, this damn prophecy was going to be the death of me. When the council had rediscover the prophecy there was a sense of joy. Of course there would be; we all grew up on the stories ofTiamutand her blessings on theDrakon, we all knew the lore of howTiamuthad become jealous of all the other gods and their creations, likeFenirwith his wolf shifters,Ambrogioand his vampires. She petition the gods to create her own kind but they said no, which angered her, she became so enraged that she wiped out an entire settlement of wolf shifters and vampires, which in turn angeredFenirandAmbrogiowho plotted to take her out. ButTiamutwas clever and tricky she went toBahamut; her brother, and asked for refuge fromFenirandAmbrogio’sire, knowing that they were afraid of Him. She then seduced him and from that dragons were born; and as she was tied to the earth so to are her offspring.

TheMountbattenscould trace their lineage all the way back to the first born; making us the strongest and biggest dragons on earth. Of course we took this to mean that we should also be the sole rulers of the Supernatural community, which lead to the wars and eventually the unification of the dragon clans and other supernaturals.

I was determined to stop theWyvernSect; no one would hurt my daughter, my family.Terekyihummed in agreement as we kept track of the Druid assassins progress to the roof of the bungalow. Quietly I left my position and stalked after the assassin, pushing my senses out, doing a scope of the surroundings of the bungalow, we quickly ascertain that it was only a one man team this time around, in the past it had been teams of twos or three, but I’d always dealt with them, quietly and quickly dispatching them so they posed no further threat to my family.

WithTerekyiat the forefront leaping from the street to the roof of the bungalow was no feat. Landing softly on the balls of our feet we stood from our crouch and advanced on the back of the assassin turned away from us. He was distracted with trying to get the sun roof open that he didn’t hear us till it was too late.

The cold of the steel of our sword pressed on his neck halted his movement mid stream.

“Slowly drop your weapon and step back.” I instructed him, My voice a lethal whisper cutting through the silence of the night directly to his ear.

A hitch of breath was all the warning I needed to duck and roll as the Druid’s sword arm came up and around as he flipped from his crouched position to a standing one. Feet set apart we faced each other, the cloth hiding the bottom half oh his face fell, the clean cut half falling silently to the roof . A look of startled surprise flicked across his face, the left side of my lip curled in a quick smirk as I swung the sword in my hand in a quick motion of crazy eights ending in a sharp slicing motion cutting across the night sky separating us, the tip of my sword pointing downward to the roof, hilt held loosely in my hand as I waited for his next move.

A slight shift in the air; caught only by our superior hearing, was the only warning we got as the assassin leapt from his position, sword pointing in our direction. Moving faster than he could trackTerekyiand I spun deflecting the downward trajectory of his sword, countering it with a quick flick of our wrist; the sound of steel clashing in the night, the force pushing us away from each other.

The druid looked at me, anger taking over his face. His lips moved in a silent pray, probably a curse of some sort. Not allowing him to finish, with another quick movement; to fast for the druid to track,Terekyiand I spun in a dance of steel and feet bringing us within an inch of the Druid’s face a quick slash of sword against flesh drawing blood as his top lip landed with a wet plopping sound to the roof of the bungalow.

A roar of pain and anger shook the sky as the druid advanced and then it was a dance of assassin and dragon, steel against steel, blood drawn, grunts like sharp burst of explosions in the sky, as ground was lost and gain in our battle of wills on the roof of my family’s bungalow that still night.

’Enough’Terekyigrowled pushing our partial shift to the max, causing the sword to fall from my hands as claws replaced fingers,our tail offering us another advantage allowing us to make quick work at dispatching the assassin. like a blur we shot across the roof, raking and slashing our claws against every surface of the Druid’s body. A jumping leap connected our legs with his chest forcing him to the ground, our tail wrapping around his expose neck, moving in quick succession not allowing him a moments break, we struck our fist plowing through flesh, bone & sinew to the heart beneath.

With a final grunt we ripped it from his chest, squeezing till it fell in two halves on opposite sides of our closed fist covered in his dripping blood. A whoosh swept across his body, as fire consumed his remains, leaving nothing behind but ash swept up by a small breeze.

I stood,Terekyiretreating now that the threat was gone, a quick scan of the neighborhood assured us that no other threat was around. Walking back I retrieved my sword, swinging it in my hand and returning it to the scabbard, attached at my back. With a running leap landing on the grass below, I stretched from my crouched landing, turning to take a final look at the home of my family my gaze collides with my mate Patricia. She stood by the kitchen window looking straight at me.

PatriciaPOV

I sighed as I closed the door to Henry’s room, my baby boy was growing up so quickly, I could feel his dragon under the surface, which meant only one thing, I had to return home. I stood outside the closed door a second longer and turned to head to the kitchen. My progress was stopped by my beautiful, stubborn daughter; Gabrielle.

Giving me a look she turned and stomp back to her room, I sighed and followed. I stood in the doorway as I watched her pack her bags for our departure the next day. I know she knew I was standing there, but she refused to acknowledge me.

“Gabby…” I said walking into her room, sitting on the end of the bed that wasn’t covered with clothes. She continued folding clothes and putting them into the open suitcase. I reached out grabbing her hands, stilling her movements. With a deep sigh she stopped looking to me, pausing some of the closes one side I pulled her down to my side, wrapping my arm around her for a one arm hug. She sat stock still for a moment before relaxing into my embrace quickly returning it.

She sighed; “Mum I just don’t understand why you just don’t explain to us why we have to keep moving.” she mumbled into my side. I kissed the top of her head lovingly, holding her away from my side at arms length, I looked into her amethyst eyes, Zara peaking out quickly, taking a read of our daughter; still nothing, no dragon, no powers, nothing.

“Gabby, you just have to trust me okay. I’m doing this for you and Henry’s safety.”

“Ugh.” she exclaimed pushing away from me, returning to her folding. She threw the close into the suitcase, the fall unfolding under her harshness.

“It makes no sense mum!” She exclaimed. I held back a chuckle; as she reminded me so much ofNickolaiin that moment, herfirerytemper especially.

“Protecting us from what?! We’ve been on the run for as long as I can remember and we’ve never been attacked.” She argued.

“Exactly.” I countered.

“Arrgh!” she exclaimed stomping off to the bathroom, returning with a handful of products and things she proceeded to dump in to the suitcase.

“You know you can just say you don’t want to explain instead of being all crypt.” she groused. I chuckled at that, getting up from the bed and walking towards the door, with a glance back over my shoulder I said; “Okay I don’t want to explain.”

“Arggh!” she screamed as I chuckled stepping outside her bedroom back into the hall. I turn as she plopped down on the bed looking defeated. I sighed, I hated to see her this way, we’d had this argument more and more frequently as she got older, but I still couldn’t give her the answers she deserved.

How could I explain that we were Dragon shifters; though I had yet to sense her dragon, it was inevitable she was the product of two of the most powerful Dragon Clans in the supernatural world, and that her father and I had taken her away from her birthright to protect her from a crazyWyvernSect and a Prophecy no one truly understood the scope of.

“Gabbs” I said, getting her attention, she looked up from her shoes she was scuffing on the carpet.

“What?!”

“I love you baby.” I told her with a sad smile. She frowned her lips pinched for a moment till a small smile took over her face, with a sigh she replied.

“I love you too mum.”

With a nod I closed the door, truing to make my way back to the kitchen when a thump paused my feet.

‘What was that?’ I thought, Zara rushing to the forefront, making my senses sharper. There it was again, a slight shuffle, it was coming from the roof, I thought as I looked up. Moving quietly to the kitchen to get a weapon from the knife drawer, I stopped as a soft thud sounded, then nothing but silence.

I stood still a moment longer, still no other sound came. I moved closer to the window over the sink, looking outside, but there was no one or no other sound . I rest the knife in my hand on the counter, looking down to make sure it didn’t fall off the edge. My head snapped back up as my ear caught a small whoosh of air, the swish of clothing-maybe.

My eyes returned to the window, my breath caught in my throat as I locked eyes with my one true mate.

“Nickolai.”I whispered, the sound traveling to his sensitive ears,illicitinga smile of pure joy from the both of us. Turning quickly I dashed to the door behind me, flinging it open I ran out the door joining my mate on the small lawn at the front of our bungalow. Coming to a sharp stop I stood still drinking in the sight of my mate.

“Nick, is it.. is it really you?” I asked stumbling forward in his direction. With a quick nodded yes, I threw myself into his waiting arms, wrapping securely around me, as I cried softly into his shoulder.

NickolaiPOV

My hands wrapped securely around her, as I buried my nose in the crook of her neck. Inhaling deeply I took in her sweet intoxicating scent. The last time we had been together had been a particularly harrowing night four years ago. We’d just dispatched a team of four assassins along with two Druids, sent by theWyvernSect to kill our family. Afterwards with the adrenaline still pumping in our veins, our blood running hot and our dragons at the surface we’d fallen into bed; which resulted in Henry being born a few months later.

When Patricia had let that human she’d been “dating” take the blame for the pregnancy it took all I had not to rip his head off. Thankfully he was as irresponsible as all humans and had ran away at the thought of raising his own kin. Making me want to hunt him down and kill him again, but by then Henry had come along and he too became just as important to protect as Gabrielle.

Our lips crashed together fused under the silvery glow of the moonlight. Our hands desperate for each other roam the other’s body’s getting reacquainted with the almost forgotten territory of the dips and contours of our bodies. With great effort I pulled away our breaths ragged mingling with a small puff of frost in the night cold.

“My love, my heart.” I said softly, lightly brushing my lips across hers.

“Nickolai.” she replied on a sigh. falling into my arms again. Time stilled as we stood locked in embrace, after a beat we reluctantly pulled apart. With a concerned look my way she asked;

“What’s happened?”

I shook my head, ” Nothing I’ve taken care of it.” reassuring her that they were safe. She nodded, with a raised eyebrow she looked from me to the roof.

“Was that you on the roof?” she asked. I nodded yes.

“They only sent one Druid this time, I dispatched him quickly.” I replied squeezing her into my side again. I didn’t want to let go but it was inevitable.

“We’ve already begun to pack,” she started, “I felt like something was off the whole week. Thought it would be safer to just pack up and leave. Plus..” her voice trailed off as she tugged her bottom lip between her teeth worrying it. I turned her to me pulling it from the firm grip, bending down again I quickly licked it, soothing the bite with another soft kiss.

“Tell me.” I said urging her to offload her worry on me.

“I’ve felt Henry’s dragon coming forth.” she admitted. My brows rose in surprise.

“Already?” I asked skeptically. She nodded yes.

“But he’s only four years old.” I argued in disbelief.

“Yup, which means he’s going to be pretty powerful. I don’t know what to do.” she said dejectedly.

I stood in silence contemplating the ramifications of what I was about to purpose next.

“There’s nothing for it. You have to take them home.” I said seriously. Her head snapped up shocked at hat I was saying.

“Home! What? No!Nickolaiwe can’t.” she argued.

“It’s the safest place for Henry right now.” I urged.

“No there has to be another way.” she argued.

“You know there isn’t. The best place for Henry now is with his family, surrounded by supernaturals and close to the King; in case anything happens.” I explained, as I couldn’t be there. I’d still be in the shadows protecting them as I always did, even more so now than ever they had to return to the lions den; so to speak.

Patricia sighed with closed eyes and a resigned shake of her head she looked back to me.

“Does this mean that you’ll be coming with us?” She asked hopefully. I take her face between the palms of my hands, with a gentle kiss I shook my head no.

“You know it still not safe. We still don’t know who these people are. But I’m getting close. And now that you’ll be returning to the fold I’ll be able to go off and do some spy craft knowing that you guys will be surrounded by family and the royals.”

“Okay I understand. I don’t like it but I understand. It’s just I miss you Nick.” she said leaning up on her toes to fuss her lips to mine kissing me again.

“I know I miss you to baby. I miss all of you.”

“Gabby keeps asking about you; her father. I’m not sure how much longer she’ll be happy with my non-answers.” she confessed.

Terekyigrowled perturbed that these fanatics were keeping us from our family, sixteen years we had to watch our daughter grow up from afar. Now Henry the last four years, how many more years did we have to suffer separated till this was all over? We thought.

“I vow to you that I will do all in my power to destroy all those who seek to destroy us. I will come home and we will be a family. I promise.” I said vehemently tugging her closely to me. With one final kiss we separated, she returned to the house and I returned to my hidden perch; watching over my family as they slept and the sun crept over the horizon rising into the morning sky.