Nolan raced down the hall of the dragonkin facility. His heart slammed against his chest. He hadn't felt this kind of fear since Valentina had been killed. Her death nearly broke him. His children would argue that it had. But Rhia... Rhia was different. If something happened to her...

He slid to a halt at the admitting desk, gripping the laminate desktop desperately to keep his hands from shaking. "Rhia Kincaid." He demanded. His voice was higher than usual. "Where is she?"

The female looked up at him, uncertainty in her eyes. "I'm sorry, sir. Who are you looking for?"

"Rhia Kincaid." Nolan said slower and louder. "Human, mid-twenties, redhead... Sophie Whittaker called me, she was brought here."

"We... we don't take human patients. Um..." the female was visibly distraught. She was fidgeting with her papers and her eyes flicked between Nolan and the computer. "I need to find Sophie. I'm sorry, I can't-"

"Nolan?"

He turned to see Madeline coming towards him. She was pale and tears stained her cheeks. "Madeline."

He reached out to take her hand, but she threw her arms around his neck. "They're still with them." She broke into sobs. "They won't tell me anything. I don't even know if they... if they..."

"They?"

"Maddy and Rhia!"

She started crying even harder, and Nolan awkwardly held her in his arms. As a parent, he could sympathize with her. One the other hand, she was the mother of his girlfriend, and as much as he liked Maddox, he was far more invested in Rhia's health and safety.

"Is there anything you can tell us?" he pleaded to the female at the desk.

"I'm sorry," she shook her head desperately. "I'll try paging her again."

Nolan frowned at her. The usual dead calm of the dragonkin was completely gone from this one. "Come on, Madeline." He whispered soothingly. "Sit down."

She nodded shakily and let him guide her into one of the uncomfortable plastic chairs. "I can't believe we have to go through this again." She whimpered. "First Christian took advantage of my baby, then Maddy got shot, and now..." she shook her head, gasping. "I'm sorry, you're going through this too."

"It's fine, Madeline." He tried to sound as comforting as possible, but the words just felt hollow. "It's been a rough year for your family. But Rhia and Maddox are tough as hell. They're going to make it through this."

Madeline gazed up at him through watery brown eyes. "She's been better since meeting you. She was so excited about France. I haven't seen her so happy since... well... it doesn't matter." She groaned and rubbed her eyes with the heels of her palms. Rhia did that. They were entirely unrelated, and yet he could see exactly where Rhia got all her ticks. She raised her head to give him a guilty look. "You weren't... going to turn her into a vampire... right?"

A strained laugh escaped his lips. "No," he chuckled. "I never considered it, and from what she yelled at me, she doesn't want it either."

"She is very good at getting her point across." Madeline laughed through her tears.

"That she is." He stared down at his hands and sighed. "The human experience is undervalued. Ancients are quick to look down on it for simply being short. Yet it is humanity that got the world where it is, good or bad. Not the dragons, not the elves, not the fae. Humans. I have been around a very, very long time, Madeline. I think I've forgotten what it's like. Rhia's special like that. She reminds me of what I was before I was... this." He looked back at the woman. Tears sparkled in her eyes again. "Maybe it's selfish... But I would worship the ground she walks on to hold onto that feeling. I won't make her be anything she doesn't want to be. I don't want to take her away from anything. If she changes her mind about the vampire thing... We would have to discuss it, but I don't want this life for her. She deserves better."

"That won't be an issue."

Nolan and Madeline stood up sharply as Sophie came into view with another male kin. The two of them looked like they just got out of a war zone. They were covered in ash, burn blisters, and a world-weary look on their faces. "Are my children okay?" Madeline demanded.

"Mrs. Kincaid," Sophie said slowly. "My name is Sophie Whittaker, and this is my colleague Mithras Compton. I am one of the medical leads of this facility and Mithras is our head healer. Both Maddox and Rhiannon are alive."

Madeline whimpered and clutched her chest. Nolan ran his hands through his hair. "Can we see them." his voice cracked with emotion.

"Of course." Sophie managed a week smile.

"Sophie," Mithras hissed under his breath.

"It's okay, Mithras." Sophie stepped back and indicated for Madeline and Nolan to follow. "Rhia is still with the healers. We have had to put her into an artificial sleep with a mix of magic and medications. We will bring her into the room momentarily."

She pushed open a door and Madeline rushed past towards Maddox sitting in an overstuffed chair. He struggled to get out of the chair in time to catch his mother in a hug. "Mr. Kincaid," Mithras said wearily. "We warned you against any sudden movements. We have no idea what kind of damage your body has sustained."

Maddox ignored them and just held Madeline tighter. "What do you mean, damage?" Nolan frowned.

Maddox looked like he'd been dragged through the same battlefield as the healers but didn't have to experience it first-hand. He was covered in ash and his eyes were red, but he looked good. His arm wasn't even in the sling anymore and, while he was clearly stiff, there was no evidence of the lingering injury from being shot. "Maddox has gone through multiple cycles of third-degree burns followed by rapid healing." Mithras explained quietly. "We have no idea what that kind of effect that has had on his body. We want him to get an M.R.I., but..."

"Not until I see Rhia." Maddox snapped. His voice was rough, like he had inhaled nothing but hot, dry air and smoke for hours.

"Mr. Kincaid, your sister is fine. If you would consent to the scan, we will be back before they bring her into the room."

"I'm not going anywhere with you bastards until I see-"

His outburst was interrupted by a dry, hacking cough. With the air of a man who's done it a thousand times previously, Mithras stepped forward, pushed Maddox back into the chair and pressed the oxygen mask into his face. "One thing's, for sure, his lungs are trashed." The healer snapped. "Are you a smoker, Mr. Kincaid?"

"No, he's not." Madeline answered for him quickly. "Please, tell me what's wrong with Rhia."

Maddox looked like he was about to speak again. "You stop talking." Mithras snapped.

"Mrs. Kincaid, please, take a seat." Sophie cut in as gently as her irritation with Mithras would allow. "Will your husband be joining us?"

A stony look cross her face for a brief second before she straightened her shoulders and reached out to take Maddox's hand. "No."

Her word hung heavily in the air for a minute before Sophie nodded and looked up at Nolan. "You should sit as well. This will not be easier to hear."

Nolan perched on the edge of the seat next to Madeline and watched Sophie intently. She took a deep, steadying breath. "There is no easy way of putting this," she visibly hesitated for the space of a heartbeat. "Rhiannon is a dragonkin."

Shock and disbelief resonated through the room. Nolan felt cold. He heard the words, but they didn't make sense. He couldn't comprehend the enormous statement she just made. "H-how..." Madeline's jaw was on the floor, her eyes were wide with disbelief. "How is that... possible?"

"She is a half blood."

Maddox shook his head, fighting against Mithras. "Dragonkin can't mate with humans." He bit out, struggling to keep his breath. "You're too... well... and humans are..."

"We have taken great strides to hide that half-blood dragonkin exist." Sophie continued in the same gentle, hesitant voice. She glanced at Nolan before looking back to Maddox. "The purpose is to protect them. Our half bloods are particularly vulnerable."

"You didn't know about her?" Nolan asked. He was shocked by how quiet his voice had gotten.

Sophie looked apologetic and Mithras shook his head. "We aren't perfect. We try, but it's nearly impossible to keep track of every lover of every kin at every moment." Mithras looked to Madeline. "I assume that Rhiannon is adopted?"

"Yes." Madeline looked blankly down at her shaking hands.

"Did you go through an adoption agency? We might still be able to track down her human parent."

"No. We... I found her. She was five... but she was so little."

The two kin exchanged a look. Nolan could only assume they were speaking to each other through the psychological link.

His heart suddenly slammed painfully against his chest. He stood up and started to pace. She was... what were the odds? He felt his breath catch in his throat. He felt sick. Was that why he felt so drawn to her? Why, even from the beginning, he couldn't stay away from her? Why her blood smelled so good to him? He drank from her. Oh, gods he fed from her! It didn't matter how careful he was, he could have... he could have...

Sophie was at his side in an instant, gripping his elbows and holding him steady. He stared at her and, for the first time in thousands of years, wished he had Quin's bond to keep his emotions under control. He felt the sharp pain as she forced a connection with his mind. Further reminder that he wasn't able to make the connection himself since he'd been turned. "Deep breath." She told him. He could hear her voice shaking, even in his head. "We should speak privately. There is more, but I can't speak in front of them."

More? How much more could there be? "I need to see her."

"The healers are bringing her now." Sophie nodded. Then, through the link said; "Please come outside with me. This cannot wait."

He nodded and pulled free of her grasp. He walked back to Madeline and Maddox. "I'm going to go take care of the paperwork." He hated himself for lying to them. "Stay here."

Madeline could only nod and Maddox glared at the dragonkin still forcing the oxygen mask on him. Nolan followed Sophie out the door back into the hall. "Are you alright?" she asked quietly.

Nolan felt his knees go weak and he slumped against the wall. "How did this happen, Sophie?" he gasped. "I knew she had to be some kind of mixed blood, but..."

He stopped as three dragonkin came around the corner pushing a bed towards them. Nolan instantly recognized the intensity of her red hair. His eyes went to one of the kin walking next to her. Holy shit. "Hello, Nolan." Dáithí said warily.

A surge of adrenalin hit Nolan like a freight train. All of the pent-up anger and anxiety had him rushing forward. His fist slammed into Dáithí's face with enough force to break concrete. Dáithí flew down the corridor and Nolan went right after him. His foot connected with his ribs next, throwing him into a wall and cracking the heavy concrete. "What the fuck are you doing here?" he roared and kicked him again.

Dáithí snarled animalistically and tackled Nolan. A second later a pair of hands gripped his arms, and they were hauled apart. "That's enough!" Sophie barked, looking between them. "Twenty-thousand fucking years, and I'm still keeping you two from killing each other! Grow up!"

"What is he doing here?" Nolan demanded again.

"I don't know." Sophie threw her hands up in exasperation. "He showed up in the ambulance with Rhia."

"I saved her fucking life." Dáithí spat out a tooth and rubbed his jaw. "A little gratitude would be nice."

"Gratitude?!" Nolan fought against the kin holding him back. "How do you even know her?!"

"She asked me for help. Good thing, too, apparently you can't!"

"Let him go." Sophie snapped, looked at the two holding Nolan. They did, but didn't move back, ready to jump him again. She turned to stick a finger in Dáithí's face. "If you spit on my floor again, I will rip out your tongue."

Dáithí's eyes narrowed. "What the hell is wrong with you?"

"What's wrong with me?!" she shouted and slapped him. The sound reverberated sharply off the sterile walls. She grabbed both their arms and forced them out a door into an open courtyard. "What do you expect? We only see you every few thousand years, and every time you blow into town, you bring nothing but destruction and chaos! You can't just waltz in with Nolan's awakening girlfriend and not expect to get yelled at! For all we know, you're the one that caused it!"

"I didn't do anything to the girl." He snapped, dodging another swing of her hand. "She's lucky I showed up when I did. The shopping center was overrun by demons. They would have torn her apart long before her powers woke. Fuck, I'm lucky I got out of there alive."

"Demons?" Nolan gaped. "Fucking demons at a mall? I thought it was a missing kid situation."

"Changelings. If those kids existed at all, they're dead now."

"Fuck!" Sophie shouted and whirled around to start pacing.

Nolan watched her over-the-top reaction. "Are you okay, Sophie?" he asked.

"No." she stopped and propped her hands on her hips. She sighed heavily. "Quin pissed off to who-knows-where with Luna, Ares, and Ozin. The bond has loosened, and we can't get a hold of them. We can't get a hold of Keoni, either. We're flying blind right now."

Dáithí smirked. "Perfect timing. You can break free, and he won't even notice."

"Not funny. I can barely think straight. Quin keeps things... quiet." She shook her head again. "It doesn't matter. The dragons aren't here, and Rhia's in for a rough awakening without a bond."

"Bond?" Nolan looked up sharply. "What bond?"

Sophie blinked. "The dragon bond. The only bond that ever matters to us. More than family, more than mates. The yfeerie aren't bonded at their awakening, you know that."

"She is not bonding." Dáithí snarled.

"If Rhia wants to bond, it's her choice." Nolan snapped back.

Dáithí straightened to his full height. Nolan met him, face to face and let his fangs descend. He would love nothing more than a chance to drain the bastard. It would take a while, but it would feel damn good. "She's not bonding." He said again.

"Rhia has hellfire, Dáithí." Sophie sighed tiredly. "It's ten years too early for her awakening and it's violent. She almost killed Mithras for opening his damn mouth, and we have no idea what she did to the faeling and her brother. She's going to need a bond to keep her from burning someone alive."

"Hellfire?" Nolan looked around at her again. "I thought that was some kind of primordial elven wars shit. When was the last time a dragonkin had hellfire?!"

"I'd have to check the records to be sure," Sophie sighed. "But if I'm remembering correctly... your grandfather."

Dáithí burst out laughing. "Perfect. Remind me, Nolan, wasn't he an unbound?"

Nolan punched him again. Yeah... that felt good. "How did she even fucking find you?" he hissed, shaking out his aching hand. "I thought you were hiding out in some fucking swamp in Louisiana."

"She got my name from a friend. She came looking for a bodyguard to protect her from your shitty king."

The anger drained out of him, quickly being replaced by guilt. He turned away and started to pace. "I had no idea she was that scared." He muttered more to himself than the others.

"Scared?" Dáithí snorted. "Have you met that woman? She wasn't scared, she was fucking pissed. She didn't want you to be worried about her at every second of every day, she didn't want to be a pawn in Constantine's game. She didn't want him to have the same kind of control over you that the dragons have over us."

"She said that?"

"She didn't have to. She's a dangerous mix of fearless and stupid. Someone like her should never be chained by them."

Nolan felt the emotion well up in his chest. "I need to see her."

He rushed back through the door and ran down the halls back to her room. Rhia lay motionless on the bed. An oxygen mask compensated for her rapid, shallow breathing. He could hear her heart beating unevenly against her chest. Her skin was pale and sickly, heavy shadows under her eyes. hair, lifeless and tangled, almost glowed against the white of the sheets. His breath hitched in his throat. She looked terrible.

Madeline looked around, tears streaking her face. "They took Maddy to do the M.R.I." she said softly. "Can you stay with her?"

He could only nod and stumble forward. He didn't hear her leave. He reached out for Rhia, needing to touch her... he needed to feel that she was alive. Her skin was hot. Too hot.

Dragonkin. She was fucking dragonkin.

He pressed his lips gently to her forehead before settling into a chair for a long wait.

~