Page 17 of Her Enemy Dragon Captor (Dream Team Shifters #5)

CHAPTER 17

J ane couldn't stop smiling as Alex led her from the gathering. The afternoon had been surreal in the best possible way—meeting his friends, being introduced as his mate, catching all those proud glances he kept throwing her way when he thought she wasn't looking.

"So," Alex said as they exited the warehouse, "what did you think?"

"They're great," Jane replied honestly. "I especially liked Cindy. And Jessa, even though she's a bit... intense."

Alex chuckled. "That's an understatement. But you made quite an impression."

As they walked back toward the cabin, Alex reached over and took her hand. "Now that were official," he began, "maybe you'd like to come back to my house? I’m sure you aren’t going to shed any tears leaving that shack behind...”

"Your house?" Jane felt a flutter of excitement. She realized with a start that she hadn’t even thought about where he lived. She had kind of assumed he had a room or something in the warehouse, or maybe in their version of a barracks nearby. That would have suited him. But a house? That sounded pretty good. “Does it have a shower... with a real bathtub I mean?”

He just laughed. "Yes, it has two actually. Maybe three. I’m not sure.”

“Not sure?”

“I don’t spend a ton of time there... and haven’t had it that long either. I’m pretty sure there are three, okay? Is that better?”

Wow... so now we’re official.

I guess membership has its privileges.

Then why do I still feel so uneasy...

She had been trying to push it down, but it wasn’t working.

It wasn’t that she couldn’t feel his warmth. It flooded her whenever Alex was near, and the connection they shared—it was more real than anything she'd ever experienced.

But still something in her gut nagged at her...

Of course it does... he locked you up!

But the uneasiness wasn’t with him so much... It sounded crazy, but she had never felt so safe.

That is crazy Janie. You sound crazy...

Whatever. She was sure the connection was real. But at the same time, something else was off.

Very off.

Even at the meeting. It was great... they were great. But the whispers. And a few glances. Her FBI gut was never wrong...

They were crossing the open ground toward the back of the compound where Alex had said a path led back toward his house. Just then she was surprised to see a figure jogging up to them...

Wait... is that the guy... the turtle guy?

It is... the guy who was so paranoid... and frightened...

The “turtle guy spotted them and waved enthusiastically, jogging over with a beaming smile that was markedly different from the wild-eyed panic she'd seen when she had that weird interaction with him the day before.

"Hello!" he called out, approaching them with an eager bounce in his step. "You're one of the Dream Team, right?" He looked at Alex with something like reverence before turning to Jane. "And oh my gosh... it’s you!” Recognition bloomed in his eyes. “I really must apologize. I didn’t know what I was saying yesterday. I was very upset. I didn’t understand then. I hadn’t awakened to what is really going on, ya know?” He gave her a conspiratorial look. But wow, now I get it. What we are doing ya know? What you are doing sir! It’s just amazing, mind blowing even- and a little scary too maybe, but I am ready! I will lay down my life if I have to. I swear it!”

“Okay there...uh...”

“James, sir.”

“Um, James, right. We will do everything we can to assure it won’t come to that, okay?”

“Yes sir, but you can count on me sir... when it comes...”

Alex's smile faltered as he glanced between Jane and James. "Yes, thank you... for your... enthusiasm, James. We should be going."

"Of course, sir! I understand. Just wanted to apologize to the lady here for my behavior yesterday-“

But Alex cut him off, “Consider your apology accepted.” With that, Alex led her back toward a path that cut into the woods at the back of the compound. Alex had said that it connected to the various residences he and his team owned.

"That was weird." she said, trying to disguise her unease. "Yesterday he was having a complete meltdown about some threat, and today he's ready to 'lay down his life'? And lay down his life for what?”

Alex ran a hand through his dark hair, a gesture she was beginning to recognize as his tell when he was uncomfortable. "Some recruits ...or I mean, some of our new students, can get a little, um... into it."

“Into it? And you didn’t answer my question...”

“Connecting to your inner beast is a lot...as I think you know. And it’s just an expression,” Alex said, taking her hand again and gently tugging her forward. "Come on, my place is a little hike.”

“Good, my legs need some exercise.” She was actually happy for the distraction. And the opportunity to think.

As they walked in silence, Jane felt the weight of unspoken words hanging between them. Her training screamed that something was very wrong here. The change in turtle boy – James – was alarming, to say the least. But at the same time... her dragon - or whatever this new part of her was—hummed with contentment just being near Alex.

My dragon... I am a dragon, right?

She went over her experiences in her mind of the last few days. The dream...the scales... the weird feelings...could she have imagined it?

Am I losing my mind? The thought flitted across her consciousness before she pushed it away.

Alex's house took her by surprise. She'd expected something spartan, maybe military-like—a reflection of his personality. Instead, they approached a modern cabin-style home nestled among the trees, with large windows and a wraparound porch.

"This is... not what I pictured," Jane admitted as he led her up the steps.

"What were you expecting? A cave?" Alex's smile returned, and despite her misgivings, she couldn't help but smile back.

The interior was spacious and surprisingly warm—lots of natural wood, comfortable furniture, and an open floor plan that somehow managed to feel cozy rather than cavernous.

"It's beautiful," she said, meaning it. "Do you actually live here, or just use it as an occasional crash pad?"

"The others all got houses around here, so I didn’t want to be left out. But honestly, I spend my fair share of nights on a cot at the warehouse. I'm working on making it more of a home," he replied, watching her explore with an intensity that sent pleasant shivers down her spine.

Jane ran her fingers along a bookshelf, noting the titles were mostly classics and history, with a heavy focus on past conflicts. A collection that seemed curated rather than accumulated. "The Art of War?”

“Yes, one of your classics, is it not?”

“Our? What do you mean, ‘one of our?”

“Oh, nothing, it is very popular ...um, in America, is it not?”

“I wouldn’t know... not exactly my line of work...”

His demeanor once again struck her as odd but she let it go.

I have enough to worry my poor brain about...

“So, when exactly did you move to Greenrock?" She was genuinely curious.

"About a year ago," he said, moving to the kitchen. "Water? Wine?"

"Water is fine." She accepted the glass he offered, their fingers brushing in a way that shouldn't still send electricity through her system but absolutely did. Not that she was getting tired of it or anything...

“And you came from...?”

“The north... um, Canada...”

“Canada?”

“Umhm...” he said as he swallowed a particularly large gulp of wine she thought.

"Okay, but why did you all - the Dream Team – decide to come to Greenrock, of all places?”

He gave her a look that said something like: So, I guess we are both going to ignore this ridiculous sexual charge between us that won’t quit?

Yes, we are. We can’t very well be screwing all the time, can we?

His actual verbal reply to her actual question snapped her back to reality.

"Oh, that..." Alex began.

“Does it have something to do with the Serpent Mound? There is nothing else but vanilla middle America for miles ...”

“Yes, yes,” he seemed to jump at her suggestion. “It just seemed like an appropriate place... being that we are all shifters, you know...”

“Right...” she began...

Oh, screw it... this is ridiculous.

"Alex, what aren't you telling me? And don't say 'nothing' because I know there's more. I can feel it-“

But before she could say more, the doorbell rang. Alex's relief was almost palpable.

"That'll be Dylan and Cindy," he said, moving toward the door.

Convenient timing, Jane thought, but plastered on a smile as the couple entered.

Cindy gave Jane a quick hug. "Nice to see you again," she said with a small smile. "I brought wine."

Dylan nodded at Jane, then shot Alex a look that Jane couldn't quite interpret. "So, you're settling in?"

"As much as one can after being locked in a cabin," Jane replied, her tone a little darker than she had intended. “I get it. That is... I sort of understand... me working for the FBI and all...”

“Yes,” Dylan offered with a bit of a forced laugh, “It’s been a little complicated I suppose.”

“That’s one way to put it,” Jane replied.

Holy moly but is this awkward.

The strange feeling hung in the air for a moment.

"Well come in, please. Let's sit," Alex suggested, leading them all to the living room.

Jane watched them as they settled with their wine glasses—noting the careful glances between Alex and Dylan. They were trying to act casual, but her FBI instincts hummed.

She glanced over at Alex. As they met, she felt a calm come over her.

It was the strangest thing... the undeniable connection she had with him...and then the undeniable off-ness...

But that connection... whatever it was, gave her the final strength... or maybe confidence to just put it all on the line.

"So," she said finally, setting down her barely-touched wine. "What exactly is going on here? I keep hearing about threats and enemies. James—the turtle guy—was talking about laying down his life. For what?"

The three exchanged glances.

And look, No more run around, okay? I’m not an idiot. Also, I get it... like we said, I am an FBI agent. But, this ...bond...being Alex’s Mate... I just know-

She didn’t even know what she was going to say that she hadn’t already said, but it turned out to be unnecessary.

"Jane," Alex cut her off gently, "there's more to the Dream Team than I've told you."

"I'm listening," she said, bracing herself. “Please don’t tell me this is a creepy sex trafficking ring.”

“What? Ewww!” Cindy exclaimed. “Gross.”

Alex took a deep breath. "No, it’s not. Look, I told you we are shifters... but we are more than that. We're also ... representatives. From different planets."

Jane's eyebrows shot up. "I thought you said you were from Canada?”

“Not really...” he murmured.

“Different... planets?"

"I'm from Fiora," Alex continued, his eyes never leaving hers.

“That’s the dragon planet,” Dylan offered, as if he were being helpful.

"And Dylan is from Oncara – the Jaguar planet. We came here through portals—gateways between worlds."

"You're aliens." The words felt ridiculous leaving her mouth.

“And you were right... we didn’t pick Greenrock for nothing,” Alex continued.

“The portal hub is ancient... and under the Serpent Mound.”

“What!” She had braced herself...but nothing could have prepared her for this. “You saying you’re aliens?”

"Well, technically, so are you," Dylan said. "Our forebears... from all our planets, sent our sick to your planet long ago."

"Excuse me?"

Cindy leaned forward. "Yes, it’s true. All humans have shifter genes. Our ancestors were sent here thousands of years ago – because we were special... as in special needs... they couldn’t shift..."

Jane's mind reeled. “What?” It sounded insane.

It is insane.

Jane stared at them, her mind spinning. She'd investigated cults before—many had elaborate mythologies and claims of special powers. But this made them look like Sunday school.

Unless it’s real.

It can’t be real!

"Let me get this straight," she said, keeping her voice measured. "You're all aliens from different planets, and humans actually come from your planets too – like a long time ago? I don’t even want to know about this ‘special needs’ thing...”

“Shifting is core to our identities, and your ancestors could not shift... so they were sent here, to earth, to be properly cared for,” Dylan said simply.

“What!” She tried to process it all.

But this wasn’t even the real issue.

“And I gather, you are here to protect Earth from... what exactly?"

"The Krita," Alex replied. "Twisted, mutated descendants of shifters who were exiled to the Prison Planet long ago."

“Naturally.” She began to watch her breath to keep her mind from racing again.

"And they want to come here because...?"

"Resources. Territory. Revenge," Dylan shrugged.

“I think they’re just mean.” Cindy offered.

"And James—turtle boy—is ready to die fighting these... Krita?" Jane kept her tone neutral, even as her FBI training screamed cult indoctrination.

But the scales on my arms were real. I felt them. I saw them. Didn’t I?

"The Krita's magic affects humans, paralyzes them," Alex explained.

“And they have technologies that render human machines and electronics useless,” Dylan added. "Only shifters can fight them. That's why we've been recruiting furries."

“You ... they, are closer to their inner animals...and are more adept at learning to shift. We don’t have much time,” Cindy said simply.

"Magic." Jane nodded as if this made perfect sense.

"I know how this sounds," Alex said, his eyes never leaving hers.

Jane smiled, the perfect picture of acceptance, while inside her thoughts raced. Part of her wanted to believe him—wanted to embrace this fantastical story.

Of course you do.

She glanced at Alex, and had to almost stop herself from swooning. To say he was a specimen was an understatement. And the way he made her feel. Who wouldn’t want to believe it’s true...

I could ask them to help me experience the full shift... or maybe ask them to shift?

Vaguely she wondered what Cindy was.

She must be a shifter too? Right? She said we all are...

At the same time, she remembered Melissa's brainwashed eyes as she'd insisted that "the collective" had special powers.

Is that what’s happening to me?

"It's a lot to take in," she said carefully.

"I can only imagine. You are handling it well, my mate." Alex said, a note of vulnerability in his voice that nearly broke her resolve. But it did help with her decision.

Just play along. Maybe it is true... maybe? But if it’s not you can’t risk letting them know you are not on board.

You’re an FBI agent Donovan. Act like it.

"It sure is," Jane replied, not really lying at all as she reached for his hand. "But it explains everything."

As they continued talking, Jane smiled as she slowly fell back into what was a mix of the real “Jane” and her undercover “Lucy” persona. She asked all the right questions. She needed to get out, to think clearly away from Alex's intoxicating presence.

I must be losing my mind. Or could they have drugged me.

A new alarming thought she hadn’t really considered.

Wonderful.

But as Alex's hand found hers, another thought surfaced.

What if it is real?