Page 49 of Claimed By the Dragon
Not that she was ready to share her feelings. She wouldn’t distract her dragonman right before he needed to leave and help a suffering boy.
She nodded. “If you trust these people who’ll send extra help, then I do, too.” She paused and then asked, “But will you be okay with the drastic change in your schedule and routine?”
“The only parts I’ll miss are the ones with you and the boys.”
Smiling, she caressed his jaw. “You’re such a sweet man, Trahern Lewis, and I’m glad you’re mine.” He hesitated, and she kissed him gently. “Help the poor dragon child. I promise I’ll be okay.”
After a few long seconds, her dragonman nodded. “Okay. But I want two video calls a day. More if you need me, Grace.”
“Done. When do you have to leave?”
He pulled her closer and nuzzled her hair. “Probably later today or tomorrow morning. I need to talk with Dr. Turner some more.”
So soon.But no, Grace wouldn’t be selfish in this. She knew what it was like to be a prisoner and mistreated. And for them to have experimented on a child? That was bloody awful.
And given her brilliant mate, he might be one of the few who could help save the dragon child with some kind of magical serum or concoction.
She held her dragonman tightly, breathing in his scent, and murmured, “My only requirement is that you spend a few hours with me and the boys before you leave. We’ll even take lots of pictures and videos, so you can keep us close.”
Grace had learned early that Trahern usually hated being photographed, let alone recorded. However, he nodded. “I want some with us all together. I want to keep my family close.”
“Oh, Trahern.”
Pulling his head down to hers, Grace kissed him, letting him know how much she’d miss him while he was gone.
Saying with actions what she couldn’t quite bring herself to say with words.
Chapter Fifteen
Katrina “Trina” Lau parked her car in front of Stonefire’s Protector building and took a few deep breaths.
This day had been coming for a while. She’d known it. And yet, meeting her half-sister face-to-face for the first time still made her heart race.
Stop it. You’ve survived serving in the army and Antony’s training. This will be a walk in the park by comparison.
And yet, she had to take a few more deep breaths to calm down.
Trina had only learned about Nikki’s existence a little over a year ago. Not from her mum—who was also Nikki’s biological mother—but from her boss, Antony Holbrook. He’d warned her about Nikki Hartley-Gray the first time Trina had worked with Stonefire. However, while she’d met her brother-in-law, Rafe Hartley, she’d never met Nikki.
Nor had she told Rafe about who she really was, either.
Today, however, she would stop hiding. The last thing she needed was for someone to find out her connection, tell Nikki, and have her half-sister distrust her forever.
What I wouldn’t give to tackle a dragon hunter to the ground right now to get out this excess energy and calm the hell down.
Her assignment this time, however, was to look after Grace Lewis and her twin boys. There was a dragonman who wanted to sell the boys to the hunters, even though he was their biological father.
The world was fairly fucked up sometimes.
Channeling her disdain and disgust at anyone willing to sell their child, Trina finally tamed her racing heart and put on her usual cheerful mask. Some of her male co-workers preferred scowls or menacing looks to intimidate. However, Trina was only human and of average height at best, and relied more on having others underestimate her.
Gathering her mobile phone and bag, she exited the car and headed to the building’s entrance. Once inside, she gave her name and was shown to an empty conference room. Too full of energy and anticipation to sit, she stood and studied the room out of habit. A table, chairs, a two-way mirror, and at least two discreet hidden cameras. She quickly calculated how long it’d take to use a chair to break the glass versus picking the door lock.
In her line of work—unofficially a secret agent for the British government—a person always looked for an exit.
By the time someone knocked on the door, Trina had formulated three exit strategies. However, as soon as the door opened, she focused on the dragonwoman who entered.
While taller than Trina, Nikki was short for a dragon-shifter. She had light tan skin, black hair, and brown eyes. While Trina’s were a darker brown, the shape was similar, as was her nose.