Hidden Flame: Bound to the Triplet Dragon Kings

**Draven**

I keep wondering if I should have followed Cassius and Avery. That strange feeling has kept growing. When I was on my

way to pick up the Hags from Jessica’s home, I got a text from her stating that the girls had last minute shopping to do

and to wait for them in front of the school instead. At first, I didn’t think anything of it but as my trepidation grew so did

my assumption that the Hags were going to attack Avery. My poor friend can’t have a normal moment, at least she did

get a formal proposal. Oh shit! What is going to happen when her tormentors learn that she’s engaged?

I was left waiting for nearly an hour when my dates, and I use that term loosely, showed up. They look elegant but I smell

Avery on them. Just what the fuck have they done? Once inside, I make eye contact with Conner and Clint. I motion for

them to meet me outside. I left my dates to socialize with the other cheerleaders as I snuck out. “Have you heard from

Cassius or Avery?”

They check their phones and their eyes glaze over. Clint’s eyes snap open, “No and our dragons can’t reach them.

Something is very wrong.”

I lookup at the sky to say a prayer to any god who is listening, when three ravens fly overhead. Each raven drops a gold

coin which the guys and I caught. Conner asks, “What does this mean?”

I hold up my coin and show him both sides, “Death. The Ravens bring death.”

**Cassius**

I should have killed Jessica and her friends when they nearly killed Avery. But foolishly I thought that justice would be

served once I found and marked my mate. Instead, the Hags still draw breath. We know that they are likely the rats and

thought that they could change fate. Our fates are sealed. Avery is my mate and nothing can change that. She is The

I keep thinking about our offspring from that genetics lab in Mr.

touched by the

her a kiss before I take her hand and we walk into the abandoned

nostrils. I growl, “Jessica and her bitches are here. Tim is too but it is different.”

Just as she was about to answer, I opened a door that

I hadn’t. There lying against the wall is a nearly dead Tim.

moment she is close to Tim, Jessica and Lenore

neck. It has an odd coloration on its

Jessica stops me. “One more step and I will slit

won’t make you Queen. But I know what can. In fact, I know how all three of

I obviously have their attention because I see their guard drop so

Draven can make one of you Talos’ Queen. And I know that Tim could make you one of you Queen Of Queens because he is a Balans.” I watch their eyes glaze over do I inch even closer.

I see them for the monstrous bitches that they are. I see nothing but

Avery and remove your mark. Heidi can be your Queen. Lenore can be Talos’ and I will be Queen Of

Jessica says.

Naga, nearby renounce Avery as my mate and

I feel Avery’s spirit break. I don’t mean anything that I just said. Avery is

Avery go, she cut her near her clavicle. At the sight of

reached for her and put her behind me in the stairwell. However,

her but I couldn’t evade Lenore. She rammed the

I was wracked with immense pain before it

**Avery**

watched Cassius’ lifeless bloody body fall onto

I have to do something, so I press

and merge. I feel Regina pull Asher towards her. I lean down and breathe

my fallen mate. With everything in me, I will him to live. I began to feel

Lenore drive their blades into my scars

bad her change

**Draven**

and Conner both shifted into their dragons. Carter put me on his back and we took off to where Cassius and Avery were supposed to meet Tim.

and it is extremely haunted. This

devolving into one of the most deadly mental institutions in American history. As we walk in

past patients whose souls still aren’t at rest. This place was opened in 1925 to serve residents of the area. Forest Haven was initially a beacon of