Dragon's Revenge
6.

"Hold on. We can still expose the video as a fake. We can post our own video. One that can prove the footage on the news outlet is fake. Once we discredit the video, the media will move on with another big story."

"That's not a bad idea, Elodie. But we still have to replace the original video-" just then, he sees his mother on the caller ID. He answers, with the video facing them.

"You know why I'm calling. We've been able to stop the spread of the video. But it won't last. I need you to get the video from the news outlet that has it, destroy it before it's too late." - Desmonda.

"You can count on us, mother."

"And son, replace out who gave the tape to them. We need to know who's working with the hunters."

Jonah hangs up, turning to Elodie with a serious expression. "I hope Mino's taken Maria to safety, because you and I are going after the tape."

"Jonah, you can count on me. I'll be with you every step of the way."

"Good, because we're gonna get all the allies we can get. This was planned. The hunters kept the Jebel compound distracted with defense, while they kidnapped Maria, drew us to the city, then waited to tip off the news."

"Then who's responsible for organizing this attack? And who was the dragon? A rogue Jebel dragon?"

"That's what we're going to replace out."

~W~

When they reach the city, they head straight to Seattle Local News' headquarters.

Jonah goes to scope it out, giving her a moment to sift through her thoughts.

"You're doing it again. Lost in your mind. Wanna tell me what you're thinking about?"

She looks up to see he's returned, his eyes sharp. She quickly makes up a lie. "I was thinking about ways to break into the office."

"Should be easy. This place seems deserted right now. What do you suggest?"

"We should go through the delivery area. Since deliveries come and go all night, it'll be easier to blend in if someone sees us."

"And we can use our surroundings as cover." They wait for a large delivery, then stroll in with the rest of the workers. Once inside, her and Jonah move freely. The lights are off, no one is in the building. "Something doesn't seem right. This feels a little too easy. Where's all the security?"

"Sleeping?"

"Humans do sleep an awful lot." Jonah leads her down a hall. From there, they locate the mainframe computer. "According to our sources, the video originated here." They study the mainframe. The wires are intricately webbed, connecting to multiple hard drives. "I don't think I can do this. I can't make heads or tails of where the center is."

"Well, lucky for you, I can."

"What, how?"

"In my last life, I used to be a hacker. Well, technically, an engineer. But I know computers like the back of my hand."

"By past life, you mean....."

"Before I met you." The words slip out before she can take them back. "I meant, before all this. Before shifters, before hunters, before dragons."

"Well, I'm glad you're in this life now. Because I don't know how I'd do any of this without you." He seems like he wants to say more, but holds back. His gaze is hopeful.

She studies the wires and the USB drives, crossing her brows. "I don't even know where to start with this."

"Don't worry about it, we'll think of something. We always do." Jonah looks around and notices an emergency axe hanging up on the wall. He grabs it and swings it down hard on the computer, smashing it to pieces. "There you go. Problem solved."

"Jonah, I could've done that too."

"But you didn't have to. I took care of it." Jonah sets the axe down and lets out a frustrated sigh. "But you were right. There is a deeper conspiracy going on here. There's more to these hunters than meets the eye. Could they be working with a rival clan?"

She's careful not to let her mask slip, but her heart starts beating faster. "I heard Mino say something about the Aelon Clan. Do you mean them?"

"Yes. They've been in hiding for five years, but maybe they've come back."

"Jonah, do you think getting into this office and destroying the footage was too easy? Like maybe someone wanted us to replace the video?"

Jonah thinks about it for a second, then nods in grim agreement. "I'll go tell my mother. See what she wants us to do."

As he reaches out to Desmonda, she sneaks off into another room to text Jebeem. 'Is this all you? Are you behind everything that's happening?' She stares at the phone, waiting anxiously for a response that never comes. 'Damn it, uncle. Where the hell are you? And who the hell are these dragon hunters you're working with-' her thoughts are interrupted when she hears helicopters approaching the building.

She runs back to Jonah. He's already scanning the floor, looking for a way out. "It's a police helicopter. We must've triggered a silent alarm or something."

"I know a way out! When we snuck inside, we passed a fire escape. We can use that."

Within seconds, they reach the fire escape. It's old, rickety and doesn't appear very safe. "I'll go first and then help you down it." He descends the steps. It seems to be holding up okay, so he waves her down. She takes one step, then the railing breaks off the wall and the steps crumble underneath her feet. They both slide down, gripping it for dear life. Jonah lands on the ground and she falls on top of him. "I got you, Elodie." He wraps his arms around her, absorbing the impact as they both land with a thud. One the ground, he retches loudly, struggling to breathe.

She lays Jonah flat onto the blacktop and straddles him. She tilts up his chin and props open his mouth. She brings her lips to his and blows out a breath. He sucks it in and out with ease. "There you go, just like that. Slowly now." Jonah takes a moment to gather his energy. As he realizes what happened, he looks up at her, worried. "I'm not hurt, don't worry. You took the brunt of it."

He reaches for her, then stops. They both hear it. The helicopter is circling back. "We have to get out of here. There are still hunters roving through the city."

"I know a place we can lay low. My old apartment is close by, in the city." A few minutes later, they arrive at her apartment. It's mostly the same as she left it, except for a layer of dust. She watches Jonah as he steps through her home, eyeing it.

"So this is where you grew up, huh. Care to show me around?"

"Maybe, but you have to ask nicely."

"Elodie, can you please show me around?" She motions for him to follow her, leading him through the apartment. As she shows him past the photographs on the mantel, she keeps a close eye on his reactions. Jonah sees the photo of her parents on the mantel, pausing to take a closer look. She holds her breath, but there's no sense of recognition behind his eyes. "Are these your parents? I can see where you got your good looks from." His eyes rake over her body, causing every fiber of her being to come alive under his gaze.

Without saying a word, she takes his hand into hers. After a beat, he relaxes. "I want to show you something. It's my sanctuary. I don't normally bring anyone there, but after the day we had, I'd like to share it with you." She takes him to the rooftop garden, overlooking Seattle. "When times got hard, I'd come up here and look over the city from the garden. There's something about this spot that makes me feel... happy. Makes me feel calm."

"I can see why you love it up here. It's stunning." Next to her, he gazes at the city. She reminds herself not to get distracted again.

"So, Jonah, how many Jebels are in your clan?"

His eyebrows raise, but he's careful not to give anything away. "I'm not sure now's the time for a conversation about my family." He turns his attention back to the garden, palming a leaf on one of his plants. Jonah steps closer. His hand grazes against hers and butterflies shoot through her stomach. "I don't understand why you would leave all this, especially for us, of all people."

She opens her mouth, about to tell him the truth, when she catches herself and stops. "Some things in life are more important than gardens and homes. Like family, whether it's a blood family or a found family."

Jonah is quiet and she can tell that her words hit him close to home. After a few moments, he takes her hand. Her breath hitches in response. "I think this is the perfect moment to start training your dragon senses."

"Training? I'm sorry, but what about the tribunal? It wasn't that long ago that you threatened to bring me in for potentially hiding my secret. Or did you forget?"

"I didn't forget, Elodie. I just changed my mind. A lot has happened since then." He takes another small step forward. His eyes are locked on hers. "In the last day we've been slashed at, attacked, almost killed and driven into hiding. I think if there's ever a time to throw rules out of the window, it's now. Plus, if we're planning on getting out of this city and back to the others in one piece, you'll need to know how to defend yourself." He runs his hand up her arm and across her shoulder as he circles her. "We can't exactly turn into our dragons on your rooftop. But there are plenty of powers that shifters have, even in their human forms. We'll focus on those." Now behind her, he presses his body up against hers. "Do you know what an aura is?" She shakes her head in response. "It's the inner fire you feel when you're about to shift into your dragon. Being able to harness that power, even in human form, will give you speed, strength and the ability withstand heat." He closes his eyes and sucks in a deep breath. All of a sudden, the space around his body erupts in flames. "Now close your eyes and take a deep breath. Focus on the energy around you, harness it."

She follows Jonah's orders and closes her eyes. She feels the heat pulsating through her body and taps into it. "I'm doing it!"

Without warning, Jonah shoves her hard, her body lifting into the air before slamming back down. "Training is not just about your aura, Elodie. It's about so much more. You ready?" She tries to get back up, but she can't. Her aura slowly loses power until it flickers out. She blows out a frustrated breath and lays on the ground, defeated. Jonah approaches her and helps her up. She grabs his hand, but howls in pain when her flesh touches his. "You only have supernatural strength when your aura is present. Remember that." He drops his aura and pulls Elodie to her feet. She can barely look at him, she's so embarrassed.

~W~

Later, the sun starts to rise, casting a beautiful pink-gold glow onto the roof. Elodie and Jonah sit at the edge of the roof, watching the sunrise, when he turns to her. "Can I ask you something?"

"After everything we've been through today, you don't need to ask me, Jonah."

"For this, I do. I want to mindlink with you again. But this time, shifter to shifter."

"Isn't that a little personal? We'd be able to see each other's memories and who knows what else we'll stir up."

"But isn't that the point? It will help us get to know each other better, help us bond. Last time, it was me just offering to mindlink with you, but I had no idea you were a shifter. Which would explain why I felt some resistance during that mindlink. But this time it would be a whole different experience, if both of us do it."

"Or it could be more of the same. Intrusive, personal, terrifying."

"It's to keep you safe, Elodie. I'll know when you're in trouble, or when you need my help." He notices her expressions. "Talk to me, Elodie. What are you so worried about?"

"I'm worried that you won't like what you see. And after, you'll think differently about me."

Jonah takes her chin and brings her face up to his. "I have an idea. What if I promise not to probe your mind at all? But I will allow you access to my memories. That way our link will still be established, but your thoughts and memories will be protected. That's how much I trust you, but do you trust me?"

"I'm sorry, but I don't feel comfortable doing the mindlink."

"That's okay. I was actually worried that you might have seen something in my memories...." not wanting to meet her gaze, Jonah stares down at the ground. "There's something I need to tell you, Elodie. Something I should've told you when we first met. It's the reason why you looked so familiar to me."