Theodore (Xavier's Hatchlings #2) - Kathi S. Barton Page 0,11

grandparents under your wings, but I do appreciate it. Even though I have a father and an uncle, Grandma is all I have.” She told him the names of the other two—even the kids. “The kids, Stan and David, are shits. Neither one of them would have lived very long if they’d spoken to me the way they have their parents. They need their asses beaten.”

“I’ll keep that in mind.” Theo put out his hand. “I want to help you, Pem. I need to see that you’re going to be all right. I won’t push you into anything. But for the sake of your grandma and you, I’d like it if you were to take the magic I have to offer you.”

“What will it do to me?” He said other than giving her something that would protect her and a few little things, he didn’t know. “I guess that is about all I can expect. But no more. I don’t know what this shit is going to be bringing around, but I want to deal with it as best I can. If you show any fear to my family, they’ll eat you alive.”

“I’m a dragon. I’ll be doing the eating if anything goes tits up.” She stared at him for several seconds before she laughed again. It was the first time she’d laughed…well, in longer than she could remember. “If you would, just touch my hand, and we’ll both be safe.”

“How will you be safe?” He told her. “Oh. I guess I never thought about it along those lines. If I’m hurt, you’ll kill someone and go to jail. Please don’t kill anyone.”

She put her hand into his. There wasn’t anything at first, just a tingle that started at the tips of her fingers. Then as she stood there, she realized that whatever she was getting, it was powerful as fuck. Trying to pull her hand from his, it was like they were glued together. Pem had a feeling, just as she was falling back that he hadn’t any idea at all it that going to be this epic.

Chapter 2

Theo finished cleaning out the gutters as he spoke to his aunt. Aunt Carson was able to find out a great deal about Pem’s relatives. Not only were there several warrants out for her dad in different states, but he also was wanted in connection with a few mailbox robberies.

This guy Austin. He’s a piece of shit of the highest order. His wife, Caroline, she’s someone I would absolutely hate. One of those “my shit doesn’t stink” kind of club women. Theo laughed and asked her if she’d found out much about the kids. Yes. They’ve been in three boarding schools since they started school. The oldest one, Stanley, is a failure at about anything he does. I don’t say that to be mean, but he can’t even read. He’s twelve years old, for Christ’s sake. Right now, they’re being homeschooled. I bet that is going over well too.

Pem told me yesterday that she hadn’t seen them in a while. Also, she told me that she’s been paying for her grandparents’ upkeep since she joined the service. When I asked MaryBeth about it, just to make sure it wasn’t stolen out of her mailbox, she told me it went straight into a bank account. Pem made it so no one could take that money out except her grandparents.

I found it. There is just a little over fifty thousand in the account. She really did take care of her grandparents. She also paid for the taxes and repairs around the place. Were you aware that there are about five thousand acres around that place? He told her that Harold told him about it. It was the nest egg that none of them could touch. Speaking of which, I have some other things you should be made aware of. Pem is a decorated officer. Major in the army. She’s been on their payroll since she was hurt overseas. Theo, by all accounts, she should have died over there. The fact that she was able to get away from the chopper makes me think that she’s got some magic of her own.

She told us about that. Theo explained to his aunt what she’d said about being stressed and what she could see. It could well be magic. But since she has an eidetic memory, it’ll be hard not to attach some of what she can see to that. I’ve seen others with that