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”No, they are much more straightforward than that. Tap my shoulder if you need to get my attention, thumbs up good, thumbs down bad and that means I'll stop. If you want me to go faster you can use your pointer finger to point up, or if you want me to go slower point down. If I squeeze your hand or leg, it's because I'm asking if you're okay, and then you can respond with one of those. Make sense?”

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I smile and take Nic's hand as we hurry back to the car to leave. We checked in on Mrs Scott before leaving and she was fast asleep. I hoped she would be okay, and that Mr Scott would find the precious gems missing before we had a chance to get to the police station.

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I nod in understanding, surprised at the simplicity but also grateful for it. “Makes sense. Alright, let’s help Kiki not be terrified of bikes.” I say with a nervous grin.

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“Whereto first? Police station or Cary?” I ask as I drive away from the house. For at least a little bit, both places are in the same direction from the contractors home.
“And what would you like to drink?” He asks with a small smirk.

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I laugh and put on my helmet. ”Alright, let's go spidermonkey,” I say and start the bike up. I rev it up a few times while I wait for Kimiko to get settled.

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”Hmm, let's go to the police station first. I'm sure Costa will need time to work out some story to make it okay that we broke into this man's safe.” The red tape of police work was exhausting.

I look at Nic as we drive away and I laugh. ”I'm okay. We can stop on our way back from the temple,” I declare. I reach over and squeeze Nic's leg before he can do it to me. ”If you don't want to come into the station with me, I understand.” I remembered he was unhappy with the whole force, especially now that he knew there was a police force working supernatural cases.

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I snort as I put my helmet on. “You know, I’m friends with Pat actually. You should see his face when I quote the movie to him. Funniest shit, I swear on the gods.” I say loudly over the engine before I wrap my arms tightly around Avery.

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I nod as I mentally note to head to the station. Drumming my fingers on the steering wheel, I mule over what Cass has said. Memories of how stressful it had been to get the police to perform even the simplest of their tasks with my parents. My hands tighten on the wheel for a moment before I take a deep breath. “I’ll walk you to the door, but I don;t think I can go inside yet.” I tell her finally.

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Somehow, Kimiko knowing the golden boy doesn't surprise me. I just pat her hand once she's on before driving off. I get up to a moderate speed, and wait to make sure Kimiko is doing okay with that.

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I reach over and give Nick's leg another squeeze when he answers me before I pull my hand back. ”I understand. I'll make sure not to be too long,” I tell him.

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I give Avery a thumbs up, resting my head on his back lightly so that I’m not digging into his shoulder blades this time. The scenery is beautiful as it passes by us and I’m glad we can enjoy it at this speed right now, even if I know Avery probably hates how slow it is.

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I snatch her hand back when she pulls it away and kiss it. “You do what you need to do, don’t rush on my account. I’m sure after some time, I’ll be able to face Costa again without seeing images of my mom flash before my eyes.” I tell Cass, giving her hand a light squeeze before I rest both our hands in her lap.

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It's definitely not the speed I am used to going but Kimiko isn't trying to squeeze the life from me, so I think she is actually enjoying it. I take one of my hands off the handle bar and rest it on my thigh while I drive leisurely.

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I'm surprised by how quickly Nic recaptures my hand. I rest my head against the headrest to watch him, a comfortable warmth settling in the centre of my body from his touch.

I shift my focus to our hands joined in my lap, and I trace his fingers with my free hand subconsciously. I can't help but feel somewhat responsible for Nic's mother's death but we weren't called in until after his parents disappeared.

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I feel Avery shift his arm and my impulsive thought is to grab his hand. I frown at myself - I could understand the sexual fantasies with him that play in my head often, but something like holding his hand felt more intimate somehow. Mentally shaking it off, I focus my attention on the scenery again.

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I feel as though I could easily fall asleep as Cass traces my fingers, the touch soothing especially while the memories of the last week keep trying to play in my mind. Stopped at a light, I lean over the center console and kiss Cass’ cheek before shifting back behind the wheel just as the light turns green.

“Thank you for being so considerate and empathetic.” I tell her genuinely.

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We weave in and out of trees and broad countryside on the way back to Caden's. I was grateful he decided to buy property out in the country like he had in Montana.

I move my hand back onto the handlebar when we near Caden's property. I gear down as we get to the driveway and I turn.

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I froze when Nic kissed my cheek, having been not expecting it. My body relaxes and I smile when he thanks me.

”It's like I told you dad. That loss never goes away, but the pain of it gets easier to bear. It'll get better,” I assure Nic.

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The ride home is actually enjoyable and I think to myself how maybe if I ride the bikes more, I’ll stop being so scared. When we pull down the driveway, I loosen my grip on Avery.

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I nod, starting to understand it better. At least with my sister, we knew death was coming for her - her chances of survival had been slim to start with. My mom’s death is a little harder to come to terms with and I know I’ve been distracting myself with Cass and this case. I can’t think of what to say, but I squeeze Cass’ hand to let her know I’m grateful.

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I sit on Caden’s lap still, resting my cheek on his chest and tracing the tattoos on his hand. It’s not even lunch yet, but it feels like it’s been days since waking up this morning.

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When Kimiko releases her hold on me, my fingers twitch over the throttle with a desire to go faster so she has to hold onto me again. I'm glad she can't see me because I screw up my face in confusion on why I miss her hold.

Stupid. We were practically at each other's throats an hour ago and now I want her arms to stay around me?

I pull up outside the garage and wait for Kimiko to get off before I flip the kickstand down and shut the bike off.

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Nic and I fall into a companionable silence while he drives to the station. It feels like we are going through the same motions as our minds wander to the past and the pain of loss, but there's a comfort knowing neither of us are alone. It brings a little smile to my face, even if I'm the only one thinking about it.

We stop outside the station and I release Nic's hand to unbuckle my seatbelt. ”I won't be long,” I told him again, even though he told me it was fine.

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I sat with Nero on my lap, eyes closed, and sighed in contentment. In the distance I hear a motorbike getting closer and surmise that Avery must have gone for a ride.

I open my eyes and kiss Nero's head. ”We should talk about the traditional mating ceremony for my people,” I say, speaking gently.

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It’s easier to dismount from the bike when I’m not desperately holding onto Avery. I take off the helmet and shake my hair out. “That was much more enjoyable.” I tell Avery with a smile.

“And I’m sure your abdomen appreciated the break.” I want to ask him if we could make this a weekly thing - going to that diner and then the Garden of the Gods - but I hold myself back. We were making too good of progress for me to ruin it all.

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“I know,” I tell Cass with a smile. “Can I walk you to the door?” I offer. It’s not like we’re far from the entrance, but it feels weird to just kind of… drop her off like this. I want to open her door for her and watch her blush when I lean down into the vehicle.

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Moving my head off his chest, I tilt my head while peering up at him. “There’s a ceremony?” I worry my bottom lip. Did it have to be done in front of other people? Am I just going to embarrass Caden by being his mate?

I conjure up an image of me swatting the thoughts away mentally. Caden had already assured me that I could be his mate, that it’s not dependent on what I am. I still feel nerves prick at my mind.

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I chuckled and nodded, refraining from speaking my internal thoughts on the matter of their arms around me.

I pulled my helmet and gloves off before getting off the bike. ”Well, I'm glad you enjoyed it, despite how it started,” I said.

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My stomach does a little flip at the shy way Nic asks to walk me to the door. I just nod, feeling my voice caught in my throat. I grab my back and open up my door.

Caden usually did these things for me, too. Walking me from place to place, or escorting me on his arm, but that was just Caden. We were from a different time. There was something about Nic doing it though that made me feel shy, and like a woman being courted in the 1800s.

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I note the fear in Nero's eyes when they look at me. My eyes drift to the tension they put on their bottom lip and I brush my thumb across their lip to relax them.

”It's private,” I assure them. ”We could even do it right here, right now if you wanted to. But we also don't have to do it that way. There are different things we can do,” I told Nero.

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The question is at the tip of my tongue and I fidget as Avery dismounts himself. “Well uh, if you do that again and feel like having some company, do think of me.” I try to say casually.

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I hop out of the SUV and join Cass on her side. I grab her free hand and squeeze it gently before walking her to the entrance. “Thanks for humoring me.” I tell her with a smile.

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Focusing on the way his thumb runs along my lip, I give a small nod. I’m grateful that I wouldn’t have to put on a performance. “So, how do we have the ceremony?” I ask.

“Or I guess, what’re the basics for this ceremony?” I give a small smile.

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I look at Kimiko when she expresses interest in going for another ride. I feel myself start to, but hold back from grinning.

”Will you let me go faster?” I ask.

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”I don't mind being doted on. It's just been a while for me since someone I've been with has done so, and I don't know, it's different with you,” I state, fiddling with my hair while we walk up to the police station.

We stop outside the front door and I turn to look at Nic. I'm still feeling shy but I want to see his eyes.

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”Well, there are vows we need to say plus a couple other small things, but there's also a big thing. Now, this one we can change. I want to make it perfectly clear I'm not expecting this from you,” I said, my tone serious as I look into Nero's eyes. ”I want you to know and understand that you have a say in this.”

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I think about it for a moment. “Can we do it in increments?” I ask, smirking a little despite myself.

“That or I’m going to be a very clingy spider monkey.”

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We pause outside the doors and look down at Cass. As she fidgets with her hair, I can’t help but think how adorable she is. “You deserve to be doted on and I’ll fight anyone who says differently.” I tell her with a smile, bending down to kiss her forehead.

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Tilting my head, I raise an eyebrow. The shift in his tone is mildly concerning, but my curiosity is ungrounded for the info Caden’s holding back. I shift in his lap so I can look at him more head on. “What is it?”

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I finally give in and laugh. ”We can do it in increments,” I say in agreement. ”I still can't quite believe you know the sparkly vampire. Does he know what you are?” I ask curiously. I release the bike from the kickstand and wheel it into the garage, glancing behind me to see if she'll follow.

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I can feel eyes on us from outside and inside the building when Nic kisses my forehead. I try to ignore them, but it's hard when I'm very aware of Nic's affect on me.

My eyes close when he kisses my forehead and I smile. ”So violent these days. I fear I'm corrupting you,” I joke, opening my eyes to look at Nic again.

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I brush my fingers lightly down Nero's cheek. I watch my fingers as I talk rather than Nero. ”Branding. With dragon fire. It's not supposed to hurt, but I don't know any of my ancestors who married outside our kind,” I tell Nero. ”We don't have to do that part. I would never want to subject you to that kind of pain again, regardless if it's brief or not.” Of course, the primal part of me would love to see my mark on Nero, but I couldn't do that to them. Not with the torture they went through.

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I smile when he laughs - it’s pleasant to hear, probably because of how little he lets himself. Taking his questions as an invitation, I follow him into the garage. “And have that be leaked? Gods no. He just thinks I’m a pretty face that can get something done.” Granted, the ‘something done’ is usually just some tonic or potion from our world to help with his career.

“Do you want to meet him? I could see if he can get you a meeting with Lautner and you can discuss werewolves together.” I’m entirely teasing, but that would be a great time to be the fly on the wall.

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I chuckle and kiss her nose before I kiss her softly on her lips. “I’ve always been passionate about those who are close to me.” I say in a low whisper, crouching just enough to almost be at eye level with Cass.

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I freeze, not entirely sure how to react to this part. Subconsciously, my left hand twitches and I frown in thought. I think back to the other day when the memory of how I got the scar resurfaced and how painful it was to relive.

“Will it be a mark on this body or on me?” I ask, choosing to focus on the zipper to Caden’s sweater.

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I park the bike inside and give her a sideways glance. Get things done? I wonder exactly what she means by that but I don't ask. Instead I remove my leather jacket and start looking over things on the bike. It was a bit obsessive but I always did a check of things before and after I rode.

”You could set me up with Lautner. I'd love to know the theory behind them never wearing a shirt.”

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I laugh when he leaves a trail of kisses, very aware of the heat rising to my cheeks. My eyes had closed again, so I was caught off guard when he kissed my lips, and again when he ended it.

I open my eyes as he whispers and blush when I see him looking directly into my eyes.

”Okay, stop. I'm supposed to be a tough sorceress and you're turning my legs to jelly. Go away now,” I said, gently pushing Nic away.

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”Both,” I said, my eyes continuing to track my fingers as they brushed across Nero's skin. ”Our fire burns hot, it can sear a creature from the inside out if we desire death and pain. Or it can be a slow burn, creating a path that connects soul to soul.” I place my hand on Nero's chest, and place their hand on mine. ”The mark it leaves would be one I and other dragons would recognize as a mating mark. Something that shows them you are claimed. The physical mark would be for others to know and to stay away from you in the sense you are claimed by and protected by a dragon. If I knew how to leave one mark but not the other I would try, but I am uncertain how to do it. I could call my family, but it could be awhile before they answered my call,” I confessed.

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“I believe it falls under ‘for the female audience’ category.” I say with a smirk.

“I don’t actually know shark boy though, most of my celebrity acquaintances are from Europe.” I hop on top of one of the workbenches in the garage as I watch Avery.

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“Would you prefer me on my knees next time then?” I say teasingly but I straighten and lean back again the wall of the police station. It takes a lot of restraint for me not to reach out and trace Cass’ blush. I love the effect I have on the ‘big bad sorceress’, but I also don’t want to effect her image.

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Holding the hand Caden has on his chest with my right, I pull my left hand towards me, inspecting the scarred tissue for the first time in a long time. “Does it have to be in a specific spot on my body?” I ask, an idea rolling around in my mind.

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