The Auction

Tatina POV

I lay on the floor beside the tub watching Aurora suffer. I cannot believe what I am watching. For a brief moment I felt happiness. Now I lay here on the floor watching my new friend covered in ice and blankets trying to cool her fever.

I don't have a complete understanding of what has happened. Draco did not explain much only that she was pregnant by a wolf and very sick. His sister. How hard it must have been for him to watch his sister die like this?

Aurora whimpers. I reach for her. She cannot die. I need something good in my life. That is selfish of me. I want her to live. I want to see her make a life beyond the horror she and I have experienced.

“You to have to survive the night,” I say to her.

I take her hand and hold it. I cannot lose her. What if I lose her and Jayne? I have to have faith in Draco. I am putting all my trust in him that he will save the two of them.

Aurora continues to shift her body under the ice. I wonder what happens if she survives the night. Draco said if she survives the fever she will live. What about the child inside her? Will the baby survive? Then what will happen to the baby?

Draco returns to us. He peers into the bathroom but doesn’t speak. He was right about one thing I am starting to feel weak again. I have to hold myself together for Aurora.

“How long will it take for her fever to go down,” I ask Draco.

He shifts not answering me immediately. His mind is spinning I can tell. Maybe he doesn't want to answer.

“Tatina, If she breaks the fever she will be okay, but there are only a very few that have ever survived breeding with a wolf. A hybrid is not made for wolf breeding. Prepare yourself. This may not end well,” he says.

I turn back to Aurora. I watch her take in a shallow breath. Oh Aurora, you got to make it. I will be there for you

“What would happen to her baby?" I ask.

"That is complicated, but we will figure it out,” he says.

"Tatina,” Aurora whimpers my name.

“I am here. Please rest,” I say.

“I am so hot,” she says meekly.

“SShhh,” 1 rub her hand.

I hear Draco’s phone buzzing in his pocket. He takes it out and looks at it.

“Sin has Jayne,” he says.

Thank goodness. At least something is going right.

“When will she be here,” I ask.

Draco steps into the bathroom and kneels onto the floor. He looks at precious Aurora fighting for her life and then looks back at me

“Tatina, I sent a very special person to retrieve her. I know she has her but I do not know her condition. We will not know until Sin brings her here. So until then we will focus on our friend making it through the night,” he says.

“What will happen to us all?” I ask.

“We will figure it out?” he says.

“Draco, are you going to continue trying to stop them?” I ask.

“Until the day I die,” he says.

I lay my head on the side of the tub and listen to Aurora breath. Every time I hear her inhale I know we are one step closer to making it through the night. “You can do this Aurora,” I say to her.

I hear a commotion downstairs. “Stay here. Lock the door,” Draco says. He rushes out of the bathroom to investigate the disturbance. I quickly lock the door. I wish I had supernatural abilities of some kind so I could protect us.

I listen but hear nothing. The commotion stops. It is way too quiet. I hope Draco is okay. Who am I kidding he is very strong. I suddenly hear footsteps approaching. I dare not move. I press my ear to the door listening.

“Tatina,” I hear from the other side of the door.

I open the door to see Draco standing in front of me.

“Sin, is here. She brought Jayne. Jayne is dead. I am so sorry Tatina,” Draco says as he pulls me into his arms.

“Can I see her? What happened? Who killed her?” I ask. I sob into his chest.

“Sin found her in a hotel outside of New Orleans hiding from the authority. She was already dead when she went in to bring her here. I am sure it was the authority that killed her,” he says.

“I want to see her,” I say.

Draco releases me from his embrace. “No you do not. We will give her a funeral tomorrow. We have to focus on Aurora tonight,” he says.

He is right I need to help Aurora through the night. Tomorrow I have to bury my friend. I sit back on the floor beside Aurora. I cannot cry. I cannot be upset right now. I need to keep my focus on Aurora.

Draco sits with me on the floor. We continue to watch Aurora. Draco repacks the ice on her body and checks to see if she still has a fever.

“I think her fever is coming down,” he says.

“What will happen after her fever breaks?” I ask.

“She will be unwell for a few weeks, her baby will have a slim chance of survival,” he says.

“Are you going to make us leave?” I ask.

Draco reaches for me to comfort. “You are Aurora are welcome here for as long as you need me,” he says.

"I think the three of us need each other,” I say.

I lay my head back on the side of the tub and drift off into a deep slumber. I dream of fairies. I dream of hearts and flowers. I dream of a peaceful meadow where we are free.

I awake. The sun is shining through the window in the bathroom. Aurora is cold. I give her a nudge to wake her. She does not move. They will pay for this.

I step out of the bathroom looking for Draco.

“She's dead,” I sob.

I run for him. I melt into him. He holds me like a father comforting a daughter. “I have no one now,” I say.

“You have me little one. I will protect you for always,” he says.

“I have to make them pay,” I sob.

“We will. You can help me stop them,” he says.

"How," I ask?

“I will teach you everything. It won't be easy but I know you can do it,” he says.

Draco kept his promise to me. We buried Jayne and Aurora. He allowed me time to grieve. When I was ready he showed me how to bid on breeders. He taught me how to act and what to say. He taught me to mind my thoughts and be ruthless in the presence of others. With my new identity and will to succeed I helped Draco rescue thousands of breeding fairies from all other the world. We have not stopped them all but we have saved many.