Dragon's Fire [PUP Squad Alpha 3] (Siren Publishing Ménage Everlasting) by Abby Blake

smiled shyly, and then ducked her head in embarrassment. She dropped her voice to a whisper. “Why would they want to say hi to me?”
    “Because they’re nice people and they want to make sure you’re getting better.”
    “Oh,” she said in a voice that suggested that humans being nice was a misnomer.
    “Keira,” Ava said from the doorway. “It’s okay. If you don’t want visitors we can go, or maybe come back another day when you’re feeling better.”
    “No,” Keira said in a voice filled with lonely desperation. “Y–You can visit now. I won’t mind. I…um…I don’t have anything else to do.” She sat up straighter, grimacing in pain when she moved her broken leg awkwardly. “I…um,” she said breathlessly, “don’t have anyone to…talk to so…” Her words trailed away, and a sob hiccupped from her mouth.
     
    * * * *
     
    Nathan knew the child’s distress would make it impossible for Ava to stay away. She had a kind heart and, despite telling them stories of bored and difficult teenagers, obviously cared very deeply for the children she’d taught in high school. Her compassionate heart was one of the reasons that he’d fallen so deeply in love with her.
    Clearly her kindness extended to children of other species as well.
    Nathan managed to let Ava into the room and still keep himself between the woman he loved and potential danger. She touched his forearm affectionately, but didn’t try to get any closer.
    “Hi, Keira. I thought you might like some art supplies,” she said, lifting up a bag with a sketch pad and various pencils and charcoals they’d bought from home. “Your uncle tells me you’re quite a talented artist.”
    Keira nodded enthusiastically, acting more like a human seven-year-old than a teenager. It probably made sense. Dragons lived a lot longer than humans, so it was likely that their offspring took longer to mature as well. It did raise more questions about the child Ava carried though. There had never been a human-dragon hybrid, so nobody had a clue what was going to happen.
    Ava handed the sketchpad to Keira and the child grabbed a charcoal and began drawing and talking at the same time.
    “Did you know that dragons have to learn all about thermal updrafts and wind direction and all sorts of confusing stuff before we can even fly? I mean, we get wings and all, but father says I’m not allowed to even think about getting off the ground before I know how to land.” She looked up at Brody and wrinkled her nose before she asked her next question. “How can we learn to land if we’re not allowed to even get off the ground? Is that even possible? When I get my wings, my dad promised he’d teach me. Except that he…”
    Keira fell silent, perhaps realizing that she no longer had anyone capable of teaching her to fly. From what Nathan understood of dragon society Keira would be shunned by the other families. Apparently the feelings of superiority extended to other dragon families as well as the rest of the paranormal and human species on the planet.
    Considering that male dragons outnumbered females by four to one, it seemed like a very self-defeating attitude. There were others who believed as Brody did, but most of the families were mired in centuries of tradition, hatred, and bigotry.
    “It’s okay, sweetie,” Ava said very clearly, almost daring her men to disagree as she said her next words. “Your uncle Brody is more than capable of teaching you. When the time comes, he’ll make sure you know what to do.”
    “He will? That is so cool. Did you see him flying the other day? He was so awesome. He’s the best flyer I’ve ever seen. Even with six other dragons trying to hurt him he—” She cut off her words, seemingly frightened by the reminder that her parents had attacked Brody. Tears welled in her eyes and she gasped for breath, the word “sorry” hissing from her lips as she began to sob.
    The sound broke Nathan’s heart, but it was the sudden