Hidden Flame: Bound to the Triplet Dragon Kings

**Avery**

I think that I understand the Trio better. They literally have a split personality. I need to pay better attention to their eyes

so I know exactly who I am dealing with. Also, I wonder what it means when their eye colors evenly combine. It also

makes me wonder about the dragon that marked me. Was he like the Hags or more like the Trio? I just want to

understand why he marked a human child, but I guess that I will never know.

Cassius kept giving me funny looks as he paid for our beach shopping spree. Does he know that I only shopped on the

clearance rack? He must because I can hear him fighting back a laugh. Money or not, I don’t see the point in paying full

price for something that I will only use today. I have never been to the beach so I don’t think I will be back. I feel exposed

and I don’t like it. After I dug the cover-up out of the bag, I put it on. I think that I will wear it until I must remove it.

Cassius can be the half-naked one in his swim trunks and tank top. His skin is flawless unlike mine.

We walked along the boardwalk for a bit. The breeze felt good on my skin and I like the saltiness too. Cassius looks at me, “You have never been to a beach, have you?”

“Is it that obvious?”

He chuckles, “No, but you just confirmed it.”

I nudged him but he barely moved and I knocked myself off balance, “Ass.” He laughed as he reached over to steady me.

“Look, a fortune teller. I have read about those,” he says.

I laugh, “Nerd alert.”

winks, “Now who

to the fortune teller’s booth. She was an older lady with long wavy hair. Her eyes were such a light blue

put a few bills onto her table. She fanned out the cards and

read the young man first,”

points to each as she speaks, “This is The Fool. In

The card representing your present is

future card is The Lovers. You will find

is not wrong.

to shuffle them. I did as she asked. Then she had me pick three

them as she did before, “Your past card is Nine of Swords. You have a past filled with anxiety and fear.

harmed you. That saddens me, child because you seem to have such a light

sudden and violent as represented by the Knight of Swords.

that you will rule one day. You are the

or perhaps he

eyes reverted back to their original color. I exchanged a look with Cassius and he shook his head. We

spot on the sand. “Was she

“She was human but very

all of

me

non-date. I need to not make a fool of myself.

sunscreen, “Let me

“Do me, huh?”

faint blush tinge his cheeks, “Not what I meant, Avery and you know

After our lotion was applied, we stood up. He reached his hand out to me and we walked into the cool waves. We waded out until the water came to my waist. He

just watched him because he looked so at peace. I screamed as I saw a fin stick out of the water.

looked where I was. He chuckled as he sat me down. “What are you doing? Run, it

shark!”