Hidden Flame: Bound to the Triplet Dragon Kings

**Avery**

I try to hide my panicked soul as I shield my body from them. Conner stands and I wince. He puts his hands up, “Before we discuss all of this, I have an idea.” I narrowed my eyes as he shook his head. “Avery, we won’t push you into doing

anything. This can be at your pace, but what I am suggesting is a quick shopping trip because you will need something to wear besides that shower curtain,” he said softly.

I looked down. He’s right, but if I take away from my savings I won’t have much to leave my adoptive parents when I go

to college. Growls started emanating from The Trio. I scrambled back, but when I did the shower curtain shifted. Clint and

Cassius both surged forward, but Conner caught them by the collars of their shirts.

“Brothers, restrain yourself. Let’s let her put some clothes on,” Conner said calmly as he pulled them towards my now

doorless doorway. “Avery, this short trip is on us. Consider it part of our penance, please.” He poked his head in, “Knock

on the wall when you are ready.”

I sat on my bed for a few minutes to make sure that they wouldn’t return until I was ready. Still wrapping the shower

curtain around me, I walked into my closet and shut the door. I rummaged through the few things on my rack before I

settled on a black knit dress that Trisha had given me. It was always too big because my body resembled a toothpick. I

my bras because of my boobs. I now have

me fits rather snugly but it isn’t baggy on

to peek through. After I ran my fingers

and closed

rapidly beating heart. Once I wasn’t on the verge of a panic attack, I looked through the

an iridescent white and blue dragon with a golden crown of scales around its horn. It looked at

me as I do you even

a soft firm yet sweet

voice resumes, “Think, Avery. Your nightmares aren’t dreams, they’re memories. There’s a reason that your favorite color is

crack open the closet door, “If you know so much about me, what song did Mom sing?” I have never sung it out

considered my best friend.

see. She lays in wait, sleeping, dormant

to my bed and sitting beside the

to fall as I began to remember it all. I reached

hummed and sang with her, “In

anew. Rise, rise our

down at the dragon who was silently sobbing as she

looked up at me with

to glow as I heard her voice in my head, “Avery, I am

your dragon. We

long, but the night that our parents were slaughtered took