Chapter 75

**Avery**

After talking with them all about my vision and the strange feeling, I felt better, but I still think something was looming.

As I reflected back on my life so far, I have had strange feelings similar to this before, like when that green dragon appeared. Now that I can remove the fear that I initially felt, I noticed its presence as if it emitted energy...perhaps it possessed magic. Have all of these things happened to me because I am The Mother or for some other reason? But if there is another reason, I wonder what?

I sigh, patience will likely reveal everything, but I have been so anxious lately. The guys suspect it is the mating bond, but what if it is something else? I wish my life came with an instruction manual or there was some oracle that I could consult.

But life is not meant to be easy and we will never learn everything. I am just lying in my bed awaiting sleep when there is a tapping at my window. I am very high up so I have no clue what it could be. I hurried over only to find nothing but three pebbles. Curious, how did they get there?

I opened my window and grabbed the pebbles. When I did, I was thrust into a vision. I saw Tim unconscious and bound on the floor. Blood was starting to pool around him. In a darkened stairwell was my body and Cassius’ sprawled on the stairs coated in blood. I didn’t see anyone else, but I heard cackling. I recognized it too! Fucking Lenore! So this is what the Hags must be plotting. But how did they know about Tim? Were they at the mall? They must have been because there is no other way. Draven wouldn’t have told them either, would he have?

I took the pebbles and went straight into Draven’s room without even knocking. He gasped in surprise. Before I could utter a word, my mates stood behind me. I held up the stones, “Care to explain these?”

Draven sat up in his bed and stared at me in confusion. “I see pebbles. Avery, I don’t understand.” I walked over to him and put them in his hand. His eyes glazed over before they sprang open and he dropped the pebbles. “Tim is in danger.

Avery and Cassius, you can’t go near the Hags.”

Based on his reaction, I knew that he had nothing to do with putting Tim in jeopardy. “I heard a tapping on my window and I found these pebbles. I saw what you just did when I held them in my hand. The Hags must have been at the mall and seen me with Tim. They are going to hurt him to get to me and Cassius. Who could have sent this warning?”

He shrugs, “I don’t know, but we need to be prepared. You and your mates can’t be easily killed but Tim can.”

“I should just go kill them now!”

My mates pull me to them and sandwich me in their calming embrace. Conner says, “Avery, I don’t want to have to tie you down, at least for that reason. We need to know who is aiding them before they die.”

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“I will not let my friend die because of some jealous bitches!”

Draven pulls on a shirt and walks over to us. “Give me Tim’s number and I will meet him as you. I can give him an amulet.

It will buy us time and we should be able to heal him before death comes for him.” He looks at my mates, “It will take all of us.”

They looked into my eyes. Cassius strokes my cheek, “Avery, there is nothing we won’t do for you and Regina. We love you both. Tim was a friend to you long before we ever were. If we must lend our magic to prevent his death, we gladly will.”

**Cassius**

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There is far more at play here than just my ex and her friends enlisting the help of a dark mage. Why are they so hellbent on destroying Avery and taking control of Naga? Jealousy can’t be the only reason driving them now. It could have been at first, but to kill an innocent is beyond them aiding in poisoning our tribe. Having The Mother bless our tribe should be celebrated as it means that we will avoid extinction and that my family will continue to rule.

I know why I am the Hags’ target because I was set to be king. However, I don’t think my parents would have wanted it that way even though they put in the heir clause. I think they did that to encourage my other brothers to want to search for their mates. My parents knew that I wanted mine as I had talked to my mother about it. Come to think of it, she looked at Avery during that conversation. Did she suspect? I really wish that I could ask her. Maybe one day I might get the chance. I will hold onto hope until that day comes.

After we told Draven goodnight, my brothers and I tucked Avery in. I crawled in bed beside her as my brothers put blankets on her small sofa and chair. We aren’t going to let her sleep alone after this. Yes, this time the message was a warning to aid us, but what if the next one is the opposite?

Worry kept me from sleeping. I spent the night watching over my family. This must have been how my father felt when war was imminent. Perhaps, a war is coming, but it won’t be one of teeth and talons. This one will take on mystical proportions and I fear that we are not ready. Draven is going to have to give us a crash course before anything else happens. What if we are asking too much of him? What if he betrays us?

I feel Avery’s soft touch before I feel her lips. Her kiss is tender and sweet. As she rests her forehead on mine, she says, “Draven won’t betray us. He’s one of us. I don’t know how, but I feel it. Trust me.”

It is my turn to pull her into a kiss. My hands cup her beautiful face as my lips claim my marvelous mate. We pull away breathless. “I trust you with all that I am