Free Loving Two Dragons (Awakening Cycle Part 4) (BBW Dragon Shifter Paranormal Romance) by James D Horton

jarring shake. He speeds ahead of me through the tunnels and I give chase. If he gets enough of a lead and bends space I won't be able to follow him unless I'm directly on his tail.
    He banks and turns. He's agile, fast. I pace him but I'm not closing the distance. Ahead I know there's a large cave space and if he's too far ahead of me when he reaches it he'll be able to bend space and I'll lose him. His tail is just beyond my grasp. I strain my neck reaching for it. The space around us opens up. I strain my neck forward just a few inches more! My jaws close on empty space and he's gone.
    Damn it!
    I bank around and return. Unfortunately, Mateas is free but he'll be hard pressed to find safe haven now that his mother is exposed. I can only hope Archer will do the necessary thing and end her.

Chapter fifteen
    Jennifer
    "No," I say. "No. We are not her. I won't change my mind on this."
    "Jennifer," Logan argues.
    "No!" I put all the finality into that one word I can.
    Archer traces a pattern with his finger on the table in front of him. This decision weighs heavily. Logan and I have argued back and forth on this for the past hour while Archer sits, listening. The final decision is his but I can't support killing Marathe. There's no justice in that.
    "She's right," Archer says at last. "I cannot be a kin-slayer."
    Logan slumps back in his chair admitting defeat without a word.
    "I understand," I say. "I feel the same desire. After all she's done, after Elise-" Tears threaten again and it takes me moment to continue. "We cannot become that which we fight."
    Logan and Archer both nod.
    "Remy will have to find a way to restrain her. There is no redemption for her that I can see but maybe that will change in time. For now, she will be imprisoned. Now, to other matters," he reaches out and rests his hands on Logan's and mine. I smile at both of my men as we rise and head for our bedroom.
     
    ***
    I wake with a start. Something's off.
    Awareness floods in as I try to pinpoint what's setting off mental alarms. Archer and Logan's arms are wrapped around me. Did I hear the door? No...
    I sit up. Standing at the end of the bed is a woman who's running her fingers up and down the carvings on the corner post of the bed. She's medium height with shoulder length dark hair that hangs loose around her face. She's beautiful in a very classic sense but as she turns to look at me, the left side of her face is marred by three angry scars.
    "Good morning," she says like it's the most natural thing in the world for her to be standing in my bedroom.
    I pull the covers up to lessen my exposure. Archer and Logan sleep soundly beside me. Maybe I'm dreaming?
    "Who are you?" I ask.
    "My name is Athene," she says smiling which twists her scars. "We haven't met formally yet, though we have in another time."
    Athene. Yes, I remember her. We have met. She's a seer. Remy consults with her as does Archer. I also recall that I don't trust her. She's manipulative and more than once I feel certain she's been behind events that have led Archer and Logan into danger.
    "What do you want?" I say my voice low and edging towards a growl.
    "I wanted to wish you a Happy Birthday," she says. What? Birthday? But I'm not- "You've made it," she smiles.
    "Thank you," I say but I don't feel it. I want this woman out of my bedroom. Out of our lives.
    "I know, you don't trust me. I understand. Your path has been hard. It gets easier now."
    Archer and Logan stir. Subtly I try to reach over and wake them. Logan sits up rubbing sleep from his eyes then Archer does the same.
    "Athene?" Archer asks.
    "Good morning to both of you," she says. "I wanted to offer my congratulations in person."
    "Congratulations?" Logan asks sleepily.
    "You’re going to be fathers," she says looking at my womb.
    I wanted to tell them!
    "Huh?" Archer says. "Father?"
    "Both of you," Athene says. "The pyramid is complete. After all these years, you've broken the cycle. Oh, and of course, I was wishing