We meet Serenity's parents and our dragoness get shot again only more serious this time.

Serenity's POV

"Hey! You home Serenity?!" Broadway called from my living room. I chuckled before leaving my bedroom to find the aqua colored gargoyle standing next to my sofa.

"Hey you" I greeted Broadway and gave him a hug which he happily returned.

"I hope it's not a problem I came by to say hi I was in the neighborhood" Broadway said after we pulled apart.

"Want to see that move again huh?" I teased him with a smirk.

"Of course Show Down rocks!" Broadway replied with excitement.

"If you say so I'm more a science fiction and fantasy person" I said to the gargoyle.

Suddenly my dragon roared in alarm and I was about to ask her what was wrong when the glass behind Broadway shattered and a bullet pierced my side. I held back a yelp and I placed a hand on top of my bleeding wound and blood stared back at me. Blood began to drip onto the carpet and I was about to fall when Broadway caught me.

"Serenity!" he exclaimed. "What's wrong?"

"I've been shot" I said weakly. "I need to get to a hospital"

"Okay just hang on" Broadway said before picking me up and he went to door that led outside to the roof. He opened it and he used his foot to kick it shut before he took flight.

Broadway's POV

Serenity lost consciousness when I finally landed at the hospital entrance. Her breathing was labored as I placed her onto a stretcher. I scented some humans were approaching and I hated to leave her but I had no choice. Plus I didn't want to scare others I liked this world and its occupants. I chose a spot to watch Serenity and remained out of sight as two humans saw her.

They examined her before she was rushed into the hospital. I prayed she would survive because it couldn't be a coincidence she was shot again by accident. Someone was out there to hurt her and perhaps other dragon shifters. Sunrise was fast approaching and I took to the sky to find a place to rest until sunset tomorrow.

Goliath's POV

The sun was starting to rise and when Xanatos's assistant came to me.

"I'm afraid I have some bad news for you"

"What is it? Speak quickly"

"Your friend Serenity Grey has been shot and the doctors think she may not live"

A roar escaped my throat just as the sun rose and I felt myself turning to stone. My body went into dormancy and I was relieved when I broke free from my stone form after the sun set. The others sensed something was wrong and they followed me as I headed to Owen's office. I opened the door and approached Owen desperate to here any updates on Serenity.

"How did it happen?" I demanded placing my claws on the desk.

"We're not quite sure but it's likely the shooter is the same one who shot her in the wing earlier last month"

"And it wasn't Xanatos or others that work here?" I asked.

"No in New York it's illegal to shoot a dragon shifter and whoever is doing it must be skilled"

"Likely a hunter" Hudson said gravely. "Where is she?"

"Manhattan General last I heard she made it through surgery but the next twelve hours are crucial, the bullet grazed vital organs but she had quite an amount of internal bleeding, she still could die"

Owen then stood up and excused himself.

"Broadway still isn't back yet" Brooklyn said to me.

"You and Lexington go look for him, Hudson you stay here and guard the castle, I shall go see how Serenity is doing"

The others nodded before I took my leave and headed to the roof. I opened my wings and took to the sky following the wind currents until I landed on the roof on top of the hospital where I sensed Serenity was. I searched and stopped at a skylight that looked into a hospital room. In the hospital bed lay Serenity and she was hooked up to several machines.

Suddenly I got out of sight as the door to the room opened and in came a doctor followed by Noah, Elisa, Michelle, and two older people. The older looking male was Serenity's father and I could sense the dragon blood within him. His hair matched Noah's and his human mate, Serenity's mother got to her knees beside her daughter's bedside.

The woman had black hair and she cried at seeing her child in such a state. My heart felt like it was broken in half and I didn't know why. I wasn't going to deny that I was attracted to Serenity. She was a skilled fighter and she valued her loved ones and treated me and my clan as though we were part of hers.

Serenity's family stayed for a bit longer before taking their leave and when they did I opened the glass panel and entered the hospital room and came to Serenity's side.

"Keep fighting my warrior" I told the dragon shifter taking her hand into mine. "Don't give up and come back to us, come back to me, whoever hurt you will pay the consequences I swear it"

"So you are the male presence I sensed a few minutes ago"

Alarmed I looked up and Serenity's father approach the bedside opposite of where I was. His mate came up beside him. I hadn't heard them come into the room.

"I'm sorry for alarming you like this" I apologized. "But I needed to make sure Serenity was safe"

To my relief Serenity's father nodded.

"You are Goliath?" Serenity's mother asked.

"Yes I am" I answered. "And you are Serenity's mother"

"I am Arwen" the woman introduced herself.

"And I am Tobias, no doubt you can sense the dragon blood within me"

"I do sense your bloodline and I can see where Serenity gets her strength from"

Arwen blushed and Tobias shot his wife a loving look.

"May I ask a question?"

"Of course your no threat to us Goliath" Tobias reassured me. "I have a feeling only I can answer your question"

I looked to Serenity and stroked her face careful not to hurt her with my claws.

"Why is that whenever I am with your daughter I feel the desire to keep her safe at all costs, to make sure she is loved, to cherish her, I don't understand"

"It is because your are her destined mate" Tobias answered. My eyes went wide at his answer. Me?

I was Serenity's fated one?

"Why would she not tell me such an important thing?"

"Probably because she wanted to wait when it was right" Arwen answered. She looked to her daughter and smiled. "I can feel her love for you even now as she sleeps"

Arwen then looked back to me.

"Never question a dragons love for their mate, it's unconditional"

"Like ours is" Tobias joked walking over and kissed his beloved forehead. Arwen blushed and I couldn't help but smile in return.

"I will return tomorrow after sunset to see how she is" I told Tobias and Arwen. "She's needs rest to get well"

"Don't be mad at our daughter though please" Arwen said suddenly and I looked to Serenity's mother. "Don't be angry at her for not telling you about the mate bond you two will share"

"I am not, I understand why she waits and I will continue to wait until she is ready to tell me"

I then jumped up to the sky light and it wasn't long until I took flight into the sky. Upon arriving back at the castle I saw Michelle was with Brooklyn. Lately things between the phoenix and my friend were going well. I smirked because Michelle was the perfect match for Brooklyn.

"Goliath how is Serenity?" Brooklyn asked as I landed before him and Michelle.

"She is stable but the next twelve hours will only tell"

"She'll pull through" Michelle added. "Serenity is strong and a damn bullet won't hold her down"

"She is lucky to have you as a friend Michelle" I told the phoenix.

Michelle blushed and I patted her shoulder before going to find the others. Broadway was back and he informed me he was there when Serenity was shot and how he took her to the hospital. He didn't see who shot her but what mattered was that he most likely saved her life.

Next Day.

Serenity's POV

I ended up regaining consciousness the next day at late afternoon. My family was with me when I woke as was Michelle. The doctors liked the way I was making progress after the intense surgery I had. According to the doctor the bullet missed vital organs but made a huge internal bleeding situation which they got under control. Now that I was awake it looks like I was going to live since I passed the crisis point. However whoever tried to kill me wouldn't stop until I was dead and whom it was remained to be seen.

After my family left did Goliath and Broadway approach my bedside.

"Yo" I greeted

"Serenity I'm just glad your okay I thought the worst" Broadway said.

"It will take a lot more than a damn bullet to bring a dragon down from the sky my friend" I reassured him. Broadway picked my right hand into his and I smiled. Broadway placed my hand back down and excused himself leaving me alone with Goliath.

"I won't be long you need your rest" Goliath said turning to me.

"Seeing you here makes me happier than you know" I confessed to Goliath. "We may not have known each other long enough but you are precious to me Goliath"

"As you are to me" Goliath replied and I couldn't believe my ears. The gargoyle then bent his head down and his lips pressed themselves against my forehead. A single tear slid down my face and Goliath wiped it away.

"Sleep my Warrior of Flame"

I nodded as I closed my eyes and I felt Goliath caress my face before he left.

Let us sleep, our mate will guard us alongside Broadway

I smiled at my dragon's remark before I closed my eyes and sleep claimed me into its grasp.