Anchor of Secrets by Tessa Hale

33

My hands wentto my hips. “I’m going.”

“LeeLee…”

“Don’t even think about leaving me out of this, Colt,” I snapped back.

“We’ll be gone for an hour, tops,” he assured me.

“You said that last time.” Pain lanced through me as I remembered the last time they’d told me they’d be right back.

Colt’s arms went around me, pulling me close, as we all stood in the driveway. “This isn’t like that. There’s a treaty in place. We’re just going to get Declan’s stuff.”

My hands fisted in his T-shirt. “Then there’s no reason I can’t come with you.”

Colt huffed out a breath.

“We’re losing daylight,” Trace clipped. “Let her come. She’s just going to keep arguing.”

I glared at him and stuck out my tongue. Not my most mature reaction, but what could you do?

Dash chuckled. “We’ll take security, just in case we run into any issues.”

A muscle ticked in Ronan’s jaw. “No one goes anywhere alone once we’re on horde lands. We stick together.”

“He’s right,” Declan agreed. “You never know what Patrick might pull.”

I’d noticed over the last several hours that Declan had switched from calling the man his dad or father to calling him by his given name. I didn’t blame him.

“Fine,” Colt grumbled. He motioned to a handful of guards. “Let’s go.”

The guys and I piled into the Escalade as the guards got into the Range Rover. Colt and Trace took the front seats, as usual, while the rest of us got in the back.

I tapped my fingers along my thighs as Colt drove.

Dash reached over and took my hand, squeezing it. “We’re going to be just fine.”

I nodded but worried the corner of my lip.

“It’s Leighton we need to worry about,” Trace muttered. “One look at Patrick O’Connor and she might tackle him to the ground.”

Dash choked on a laugh, but Ronan leaned forward, squeezing my shoulders. “You need to keep it in check, Firecracker.”

“I know,” I muttered. “But I’m going to give him my death glare.”

Declan chuckled. “You’ll have him shaking in his boots in no time.”

I twisted in my seat. “I can be very intimidating when I want to be.”

Declan pressed his lips together to keep from full-out laughing. “I have no doubt.”

My eyes hardened on him. “You better watch what you say, or I’ll come for you next.”

He held up both hands. “I come in peace, swear.”

“Whatever,” I muttered as I turned back around.

“Everyone needs to be extremely careful with their words and actions,” Colt said, his gaze drifting to Trace.

“I already told you that I won’t make a move unless he does.”

But I could feel the vengeance swirling in the air. Trace wanted Patrick to make that move so he could set his demon free and end Patrick altogether.

Colt sighed, as if worried about my exact thoughts.

We drove in silence for about ten minutes. Then Colt turned off into a forest. A sign read Private Road, No Trespassing.

“Welcoming,” I muttered.

“Dragons are extremely territorial,” Declan explained. “Both of their lands and the air above it.”

A shiver coursed through me. I couldn’t imagine that Patrick would be thrilled we were here.

Colt pulled to a stop in front of a massive golden gate.

My jaw dropped. “Is that real gold?”

Declan chuckled. “We also have a thing for anything shiny.”

“Holy crap,” I whispered.

Two guards stepped out, their hands going to weapons at their side.

Colt rolled down his window. “Good evening.”

The guard on the driver’s side glared at Colt. “What can we do for you, Mr. Carrington?”

“We’re here to help Declan with some business.”

The guard peeked inside the vehicle, taking stock of everyone inside. His stare stuttered as it passed over Ronan. “One moment, please.”

He stepped into the guard house and picked up a phone. I gripped Dash’s hand tighter as we waited. A minute later, the guard reemerged. “You’re welcome to come inside, but your armed escort and the defector will have to wait outside.”

A wall of rage hit me from behind, but Ronan didn’t say a word.

“He’s my guest,” Declan argued.

The guard locked gazes with him. “A decree from your father.”

“It’s fine,” Ronan gritted out. “I’ll wait with our guards.”

“Ronan…” Colt began.

“I’ll be good,” he assured.

“Watch your back,” Colt warned.

“Always do. Especially around jealous micropenises.”

Dash choked on a laugh as the guard’s face went beet red.

Ronan opened the back door and slid out, going to the Range Rover and hopping inside. There was a tug deep in my chest. This felt all sorts of wrong.

The guard stepped back, hitting a button in the gatehouse. “Go ahead.”

Colt rolled up his window and took his foot off the brake. “Head on a swivel. I don’t have a good feeling.”

“Me neither,” Declan said quietly.

Colt guided the SUV down a winding road until we got to a fork.

“Go to the right,” Declan instructed.

Colt obeyed, and soon, small cabins poked out between the trees. I caught sight of children running and playing while adults chatted. It all looked so normal.

Declan seemed to read my thoughts before I spoke them. “There are good people here.”

Dash shifted in his seat. “Of course, there are.”

“Don’t get me wrong, there are bad apples, too. Ones who are as power-hungry as Patrick. And then there are the ones who have just been taken in by his lies.” Declan swallowed hard. “I guess I was one of those.”

I reached over the seat and grabbed Declan’s hand. “But you know the truth now, and you refuse to be blind to it.”

Declan leaned forward, pressing his forehead to mine, and breathed me in.

“I’m with you every step of the way,” I whispered.

“I know.”

Colt slowed, and I looked up, gaping. The house he was stopping in front of looked more like some fancy mountain resort. “This is where you live?”

“Not anymore,” Declan clipped.

A hulking man stood on the front steps flanked by two others, only slightly smaller than him.

Declan reached for the door. “Let’s get this over with.”

We climbed out of the SUV, the guys surrounding me.

The man I assumed was Patrick, with his white-blond hair and gray eyes so similar to Declan’s, glared at his son. “Give me one reason why I shouldn’t gut you where you stand.”