Melanie didn’t have that kind of time. There was a small window between the attack at the press conference and the various media outlets putting their own spin on both her book and the shooters. She needed to find a way to sway stronger support to her side.
An idea popped into her head, but she pushed it aside. She may want to change the world, but she wasn’t about to exploit any of her friends to do it.
Try as she might, Mel still hadn’t thought of a different idea by the time they reached the door to their house. At the sight of the two-story stone cottage, the attack and ideas of change faded and all Mel could think of was seeing her babies.
Rushing through the door past Evie and Samira, she raced into the living room and picked up her son. As she hugged the light, warm bundle to her chest and breathed in his baby-powder scent, Evie moved next to her. “Bram sent me a text, something about a shooting at the press conference. I pressed him for details, but haven’t received a reply. What the hell happened?”
Since Tristan would embellish the danger, Mel recounted what happened minus Bram’s wound, just like she’d promised.
Frowning, Evie crossed her arms over her chest. “I knew something like this would happen. I tried to persuade Bram to reach out and obtain permission to hold the press conference on Stonefire.”
/> Opening her mouth, Tristan beat Mel to it. “That would’ve been even more dangerous. What if one of the shooters had slipped away? He or she could’ve gone after the young.”
Evie was just as fierce with her reply. “I’m not daft, Tristan. They would’ve been subject to searches and pat downs.”
Sensing a powder keg about to explode, Mel moved between them. “Stop it, you two. Not only will your shouting wake the babies, it’s pointless. The press conference is over and done with. Now, we need to think of the future.”
Tristan’s gaze swung to meet hers. Shit. His pupils were slits. “Right, such as moving to Skye until Stonefire is safe again.”
Only because of the baby in her arms did Mel keep her voice low. “No.” He opened his mouth but she beat him to it. “I’m the one who put the clan in possible danger. I’m staying. I’m also doing my one-on-one interviews.”
Tristan took a step toward her, his pupils at least round again. “Doing more interviews is mental and just inviting someone else to attack you. Unlike today, they’ll be within arm’s length. You won’t have time to dodge a bullet then. Would you really risk making your children motherless?”
Narrowing her eyes, she somehow managed to keep from shouting. “Don’t try and lay it on thick, Tristan MacLeod. I’m doing this for our children. You grew up on Stonefire’s land and are used to rarely venturing off it. But our children are half human, and they deserve the chance to get to know both sides of their heritage. I will fight to give them that chance, whether you like it or not.”
Tristan took another step closer. “I want them to know their human sides as well, but not at the cost of your life.”
She softened a fraction. “I’m not about to die, Tristan. I’m clever and have common sense. Let me try it my way, and if something comes up again, we’ll revisit this discussion.” He stood taller and she pushed on. “I didn’t say I’d leave, but I’ll at least consider sending Jack and Annabel away.”
Tristan stared at her and her heart beat double-time. He was a protective male dragon-shifter; she knew that, but if she had to give him a time out to cool down, she would do it.
However, before her mate could respond, Evie cut in, her tone disbelieving. “Something else has happened.”
Both Mel and her mate turned their gazes on Evie. Melanie asked, “What?”
Evie looked up, her face pale. “There was a BBC News alert. Both the London and Manchester DDA offices have been attacked.”
Mel’s remaining anger eased at the look on her friend’s face. Evie loved living with her mate, Bram, but she had spent eight years of her life with the DDA before joining Clan Stonefire. “Is everyone okay?”
Samira touched Evie’s shoulder and guided her to the couch. In the soothing tone she was famous for, Samira attempted to calm her. “Sit down, Evie, and tell us all about it.”
Evie plopped on the couch and looked at Mel, Tristan, and Samira in turn. “Someone bombed the London office. In Manchester, there was a gun attack.”
Mel moved to sit next to her friend. “Oh, Evie. I’m so sorry.”
Strong, sassy Evie blinked back tears. The action squeezed Mel’s heart.
Evie’s voice cracked. “They don’t know the extent of the damage or the number of casualties.”
Mel placed a hand on her friend’s cheek. “Do they know who did it?”
Evie shook her head. “Not yet. But given what happened here today, I have a feeling it’s connected.” Evie’s eyes flashed with determination. “Neither the gun attack on humans nor the bomb are common M.O.’s of the dragon hunters. It must be one of the other anti-dragon factions.”
While her friend didn’t say it, Mel understood. “Probably brought on because of my book.”
Evie placed her hand over Mel’s and squeezed. “Don’t blame yourself. If all it took was a book to bring about the attacks, then it was bound to happen eventually anyway. Crazies look for the smallest excuse to do their damage. Besides, if the DDA had planned to act indifferently about your book, that has now changed. You’re about to receive more support than you ever dreamed of having for Revealing the Dragons.”
Mel should feel elated, but the thought of it taking the deaths of innocent people to help her cause didn’t sit well.