Hidden Dragons Read Online Free

bikini. Maybe more things than Cass knew had changed while she was away.
    Pip squealed with delight as his playmates evaded him.
    Sensing something was up, Cass gave Rhona her attention. Her friend bit her lip before she burst out with it. “Did you have a chance to talk to your dad?”
    Rhona wanted Cass’s dad to serve as Pip’s faerie godfather. In their belated wisdom, Resurrection’s fae overseers had decided the city’s “miracle babies” were entitled to extra protection.
    “I spoke to him on the phone this morning, but like I warned, I’m not sure what he’ll decide.”
    Rhona’s cute-pretty face fell slightly.
    “If he doesn’t come through, the Founders Board will assign someone.”
    “I know,” Rhona said. “I just hoped it could be your father. Sometimes purebloods are brr .” She hunched her shoulders and made a shivering sound. “Your dad isn’t like the rest of them.”
    For a fae, her dad was a sweetie, but that was sort of the problem. “He’s concerned he’s not powerful enough to protect Pip like he deserves.”
    “How can he not be powerful enough?”
    Cass wondered how to navigate this question. Resurrectioners tended to assume all purebloods were super powerful. In some cases, this was true. In others, not so much. The misconception wasn’t one the fae wanted to clear up. Though they’d created the Pocket, most remained aloof from its citizens. They merely visited or lived in their own enclaves. To marry a human the way her father had was practically unheard of. The impression her dad had given Cass was that the match hadn’t mattered because his power level was modest. Whether this was true, she couldn’t say. Even as a child, she knew direct questions were unwelcome. Purebloods had issues about lying—and about sharing personal information. Because truenames could be used to weave harmful spells, she couldn’t even swear she knew his real surname. Her mother hadn’t taken it after they married.
    “Uh,” Cass said. “I’m sure Dad is just being careful. He’s always been fond of you.”
    A wash of pink colored Rhona’s cheeks. “I’m sorry,” she said. “I didn’t mean to push.”
    The blush caused Cass’s eyes to widen. Not wanting to think too hard about what it meant, she chafed her best friend’s arm. She didn’t touch people often—another habit from her father. Faerie dust rubbing off on others could be awkward. “I’ll talk to him again when I see him in person. If he can’t do it himself, maybe he’ll recommend someone.”
    “Sure,” Rhona said. “That’d be just as good.”
    Cass couldn’t help but notice her old friend’s gaze remained stubbornly lowered.
    Luckily, the awkward moment was cut short. “ Pizza !” Jin growled like a weretiger. “Pizza!” Bridie agreed, and they ran over with Pip laughing.
    Setting up on the outdoor table was like old times.
    Who remembered the soda?
    What does your Gran do with all these forks?
    Really, Cass? You want us to eat on the good china?
    “Please,” Cass insisted. “Gran would like knowing we’re using it.”
    Bridie snorted out a laugh with her mouth full of hot pizza. “She wouldn’t have liked knowing how many plates you un-broke for us.”
    “I’m sure the practice using my magic helped. I’m quite good at unbreaking now.”
    “Ooh.” Jin pointed Cass’s way with a celery stick. “Remember the concealment spells you used to do for me? My mom never understood why my skirts were twice as short when I got home from school.”
    “I remember trying to ‘conceal’ Tony Lupone, so he could sneak into your bedroom.”
    “That so didn’t work,” Bridie hooted, jostling her cousin’s arm. “And you were so busted.”
    “Those Lupone boys were hot,” Jin declared airily. “If Tony hadn’t secretly been gay, it would have been worth it.”
    Cass gasped. “Tony the werewolf is gay?”
    “Tony the werecop, and—yes—he is. He came out a few months ago.”
    “Noo. He was a