Theodore (Xavier's Hatchlings #2) - Kathi S. Barton Page 0,26

table that morning, and Amos had had a stroke that they were blaming on the boys. “Did you hear that? You’ve killed seven people for no fucking reason other than you could.”

“Yeah? You would have been one of them too if you’d not talked the old bitch into leaving her gun at home. Christ, you’re as bad a fuck up as Dad always says you are.” She looked at Theo when he didn’t so much as move. “What do you want, Pembroke? We are looking for a way to have some fun here. But this bitch behind you is keeping us under lock and key. That won’t work for us. We’re kids and need to have some fun, even if she won’t fix it so we can be alive. Did they tell you that we have a list of people we’re going to take care of? It’s huge, and you’re on the top of it.”

“Why?” He shrugged. David just laughed. The two of them looked like they’d been on the set of a horror movie and hadn’t changed out of their gory clothing. “You don’t have a reason to want me dead? Well, I guess it sucks for you that you’re going to miss that opportunity. You couldn’t have killed me anyway. I’m not ever going to die. However, you two are—”

“Everyone dies, dumbass.” She looked at David. Such a strong voice for someone that hadn’t even begun to shave yet. “You will die, and we’re going to be here waiting on you too. Such plans we have for you. Dad and Mom? Them too. They hated you. Did you know that? Because you think you’re so special when you’re nothing but a lazy bitch that can’t even hold down a job. You’re nothing at all like us.”

“You have that right. I’m alive, while you two aren’t. By the way, have you heard of the white room?” She saw Theo smile, then he laughed. The look on the boys’ faces told her they’d heard of it. “That’s where you’re headed. Right now, as a matter of fact. No mommy. No daddy around. Not even the two of you together anymore. Mom, would you please send these two monsters on their way?”

They didn’t just disappear as she thought they would, but actually left behind a cloud of smoke. She looked at Cindi, thanking her for what she’d done for her. Then she looked at Theo. He was still smiling at her even as Cindi left the two of them alone in the room.

“Did you know?” He shook his head. “Take me someplace with your dragon, Theo. Then make love to me. I need to know that we’re real. That we’re forever. Take me anywhere your dragon wishes.”

Taking her by her hand, he took them into the yard. Before she could ask him again to take her, he was his large dragon. Getting into his hand, she held onto him again as he took them to the skies. Whatever happened now, she thought, was something that both of them needed.

~*~

Theo took her to a place he knew better than his own home. The cave he’d been born in. The place where his family had stashed away a great deal of their fortune. He shifted to his other self even as he landed on the soft grass in front of the opening.

Putting his hand on the large stone, he used his magic to move it to the side. Once they were in the cave, he could also light it up with more magic. Today, he wanted to show Pem everything. Then he was going to do as she asked. Make love to her.

“This is wonderful.” He let her look around, touching things that hadn’t felt the touch of anyone but his family in centuries. “There is so much here. I guess when you’re around forever, you can stockpile a lot of stuff.”

“Mostly, it’s my parents’ things in here. And my uncles’. I was told once that I also had a Great Uncle Xavier—my dad was named for him. He lost his wife and children during the great purge. The night they were changed, my dad and his brothers, Great Uncle Xavier, ended his own life because his pain was so great for his loss. He left them what he had accumulated. It’s here as well.” He watched her pick through some of the gems. There was old money there as well. “Whatever you want from here, we can take it to the house.