Jose jumped in. "How did you know it was them?"
Wes shrugged. "There were white-blond hairs inside the notes tied to the rocks. Theirs is the only family with hair like that. And while they might've felt tough to threaten a human, they clearly underestimated Cris, the Protectors, and me. They confessed before Cris went to their house and found similar rocks tied with notes, ready for their next attack." Wes's eyes turned dangerous. "While they haven't admitted it—yet—I think they were hell-bent on continuing until you either left or they killed you."
Victoria resisted swallowing. Wes's tone right then had been that of a guy with which you didn't mess around.
And she sensed he was keeping his anger under control for her.
Never piss off Wes Dalton, she noted.
Jose growled. "What's going to be done to them?"
"As much as I know your inner dragon wants retribution, this is the twenty-first century, which means I have to talk with ADDA." The dread Victoria felt inside her stomach must've also shown on her face because Wes's expression softened, as did his voice. "I'm going to do everything within my power to allow you to stay, if that's what you want, Tori."
Not wanting Jose to speak for her, she nodded and said, "Yes, I do. I know it's going to be hard, and there's still a lot to learn, but as long as you and Cris can keep me safe, I'd like to stay."
Jose tightened his hold on her shoulders a fraction, but she kept her eyes on Wes. If she looked at Jose right now and learned she may have to leave anyway, she'd break down crying.
Wes leaned forward, placing his forearms on the table. "I will do everything to keep you here, Tori. I promise you. But I can't guarantee it."
"I know," she mumbled.
Jose cursed and gently cupped her face to look at him. "We'll find a way to be together, remember?"
Not wanting to argue in front of the clan leader—let alone break down crying—she nodded again.
Wes cleared his throat. "Cris will be by shortly to take official statements. I'll need you to stay here, in case anyone from ADDA needs to talk to you as well." He stood. "I'm going to call them right now and get this whole thing started. The sooner I can get rid of the Randalls by handing them over to ADDA and make an example of them to the clan, the better."
Maybe she should leave her questions for later, but Victoria couldn't bear the not knowing. "What about the rest of the clan? If you fix this, and I'm allowed to stay, what if someone else tries to scare me off?"
Wes's pupils flashed. "We're taking care of that tonight, at a mandatory clan-wide meeting. Cris will give you the details. You both need to attend, but I want to keep you hidden in the back until after I lay down the rules going forward. I don’t want to take any chances, especially since no one reported the incident in the first place."
Wes left then, and she let Jose drag her into his lap. As they waited yet again for someone to arrive, Victoria decided she definitely wasn't going to take the future for granted. From tonight, she wanted to get to know as many people from PineRock as possible. Just like humans had misconceptions about dragon-shifters, they probably had them about her kind, too.
And if she wanted the best life possible for her child, she needed to work hard to change things now so that her child wouldn't have to face as many hardships.
Jose paced the small room, the one off to the side of the main stage inside the great hall and wished he could be out there to hear what Wes was saying exactly.
Because whatever it was, it would determine his mate's future and safety.
Victoria grabbed his hand as he walked by, pulling him to a stop. "Wes already worked out some kind of bargain with ADDA for me to stay. Have faith he can do even better with the clan."
"A bargain he won't disclose," he muttered.
His female rolled her eyes. "Don't look a gift horse in the mouth. Or, should I say gift dragon?"
Despite everything going on, his lips twitched. "Who would choose to be a horse over a dragon?"
She leaned against him before looping her hands behind his neck. "I don't know. Horses have it a lot easier. They don't have to worry about people hunting them with pitchforks or swords, let alone crashing into planes if they go too high into the sky. They also get waited on hand and foot."
He grunted. "Exactly. That means they can't take care of themselves."
"But at least I could ride a horse. No one is opening up to my idea about allowing humans to ride dragons."
His dragon snorted. I'm open to it. After the baby is born.
Knowing his female would ask, Jose explained, "My dragon says maybe, once the child is born."
"Hm, then I'll remember that. Maybe he and I can come up with some kind of plan when he's in control."