Page 22 of Her Enemy Dragon Captor (Dream Team Shifters #5)

CHAPTER 22

A lex crashed through the forest, every nerve in his body screaming that something was wrong. His dragon thrashed within him, agitated and desperate.

"Jane!" he called, though he sensed she was still too far away to hear him.

He'd just left the warehouse a few moments before, but was already torn. Will this path take me closer? Or further way... His mind raced with possibilities, each worse than the last. Had she run? Or had someone—something—taken her? And then there was the fate of the world. He pushed that aside.

Suddenly, a bolt of pure terror shot through him—not his own fear, but Jane's. The sensation was so powerful it nearly knocked him to his knees. Their mate bond... but he hadn’t truly claimed her? Or had he? Was their bond that strong? There was little doubt something of a bond had already begun to crystalize. It was fragile, not yet fully formed, but it flared to life nonetheless with an intensity that stole his breath.

She's in danger.

His dragon roared, clawing to break free, to fly to her rescue.

"Alex!" Dylan's voice cut through his panic as the jaguar shifter sprinted toward him through the trees. "We've got trouble. The FBI has been spotted south of the perimeter. Some kind of disturbance?—"

"Jane's there," Alex interrupted, already changing direction. He didn't need to explain how he knew. He just knew. Fear...no, terror, pulsed through their connection, growing more desperate by the second.

Dylan hesitated only a moment before nodding. "Let’s go."

They ran together; Alex's longer strides quickly outpacing his teammate. He could hear Dylan breathing hard behind him, but couldn't slow down. Not with the awareness of Jane's terror pushing him forward.

As buildings came into view through the trees, the sounds of combat reached them—gunfire, screams, the distinctive wet tearing, chittering sound that Alex knew all too well.

Krita.

They burst from the treeline to find even more chaos and carnage than they were prepared for. Black SUVs formed a makeshift barrier, behind which several FBI agents took cover, firing uselessly at the advancing Krita. Bodies—human bodies—lay scattered across the asphalt.

And there, backed against one of the vehicles, was Jane. A Krita loomed over her, its claws inches from her throat. It almost seemed to be taking pleasure in her state of suffering and fear.

And that will be your undoing.

Alex didn't think—he reacted. His partial shift happened in an instant, scales erupting across his skin as he launched himself forward with inhuman speed. He had only transformed enough to enhance his speed and for lethal talons to erupt from his hands. He slammed into the Krita just as its claw descended, throwing it off Jane and into the pavement hard enough to crack the asphalt.

The creature screeched, rolling to its feet with unnatural quickness. Alex positioned himself between it and Jane, his body tensed for combat.

"Stay behind me," he growled, not taking his eyes off the Krita.

"Alex?" Jane's voice was small, disbelieving.

With that he allowed the full shift to take hold. He felt his dragon surge to the forefront. His body contorted, bones cracking and reshaping as the transformation completed. His spine elongated, wings bursting from his back as his clothes shredded around him.

Where Alex had stood, a massive dragon now towered, its amber eyes blazing with primal fury. His dragon, practically shaking with primal fury and ancient power—roared, the sound turning the heads of anyone within a mile.

The Krita faltered, its attack halting at the sight of the fearsome beast. It was a mistake it wouldn't live to regret. Alex lunged, his dragon’s jaws snapping with terrible precision, catching the creature by its torso. With one powerful twist, his dragon tore the Krita in half, black ocher spraying across the pavement.

Alex raised his dragon head up and bellowed out his savage triumph. Through his dragon's eyes, he caught sight of his mate watching him, her expression filled with intensity as she witnessed his transformation.

Around them, the battle continued. Dylan had shifted into his jaguar form, tearing through Krita with his own brutal efficiency. The remaining government agents stared in shock, weapons lowered at the sight of the massive dragon that now dominated the battlefield.

Alex, in his dragon form, stood protectively over Jane, wings partially extended, tail lashing as it surveyed for more threats. His massive head lowered, hot breath washing over her as intelligent amber eyes—Alex's eyes—studied her intently.

Jane reached out a trembling hand, touching the scales along its muzzle. "Alex," she whispered.

Alex pushed his mind forward and his dragon's form began to contract, scales receding, wings folding into nothing. The transformation reversed until Alex knelt on the pavement, naked.

“Alex!” she repeated, this time in embarrassment.

"Are you hurt?" he asked, ignoring her blush as he rose to his feet.

She shook her head, eyes wide, trying to keep her gaze on his face. "You came for me."

"I will always come for you," he said simply.

More Krita were converging. Alex quickly assessed—they were outnumbered, and the humans' weapons were as ineffective as ever.

"We need to retreat," he called to Dylan, seemingly oblivious to his nakedness. "Back to the compound. Bring whoever's still alive."

“Here, at least wrap yourself with something,” Jane said, her face a rather bright shade of scarlet.

“Really? With all this going on, that’s what you’re worried about?” He looked around, surveying the scene.

“Please?”

Dylan shifted back to his man form as well and shouted to the agents. "If you want to live, come with us! Now!" He tossed Alex a light jacket he grabbed off the ground, which Alex quickly tied around his waist.

“Better?” Alex asked his mate.

“Much,” she said, beaming.

To Alex's surprise, a commanding voice almost instantly called out from amongst the agents. "Do as he says! Move!"

The surviving dozen or so agents fell in behind Alex and Dylan, some covering their retreat, as they cut a path back toward the compound. Jane kept close to Alex's side, her cheeks still flushed.

By the time they reached the warehouse, Jack and the others had begun to fully mobilize both the recruits, such as they were, as well as the newly arrived reinforcements. A small group of both came out to meet the rag tag retreating group as they approached the gate, forming a defensive perimeter as the battered agents stumbled first inside the gate, and then the warehouse.

"Get reinforcements out on that line!" Jack ordered. "And get the wounded to medical."

Someone tossed Alex and Dylan some clothes, which they gratefully changed into. As soon as he returned, he pulled Jane into a quieter corner, his hands gently checking her for injuries.

"I'm okay," she insisted. "I mean as okay as I can be after realizing it was all true. Everything you said. And I doubted you." She looked down.

"Is that why you ran?" he asked, the words more hurt than accusation.

Jane's eyes dropped. "I saw you... with the old man – Walter. I knew him... he was nice to me, and then, when I saw you kill him. I thought you killed him... I thought—" Her voice broke. "I thought it was all lies. That I'd been brainwashed. That you were a monster."

"The Krita scout?" Alex asked. “You saw me take its head? But how?"

"Mmm,” she stammered, “I might have climbed up on the roof...”

“You are sneaky...” Alex said, but in truth he was impressed.

“How could I know he was an alien mutant?" Tears welled in her eyes. "I’m sorry I doubted you.”

"No," Alex said firmly. "I’m sorry. I should have told you everything from the beginning. I was afraid you'd run, and in trying to prevent that, I caused exactly what I feared." He sighed. "I hope I can win your trust in the future."

"What? No, no... I’m sorry..." Jane said, almost annoyed. "And you will accept my apology.” She looked up at him shyly.

Is it me or is she batting her eyelashes a little hard?

“Okay. I accept your official apology.”

“Thank you,” she said, hugging into his chest. “I didn't know what to believe. I was torn. But you need to know I didn’t call in the FBI. Although... my I was going to... But I didn’t! My father sent them when I missed check-in."

Alex's eyebrows rose. "Your father? The director of the FBI?"

She winced as she looked up at him again. "You know then. I should have told you that part too. I know."

"And I should have believed in what we are." He said, renewing their hug. "I haven't been there for you. I've been so focused on the mission that I didn't realize... but it's all been for you. For all of us."

Jane pulled back just enough to look up at him, a hint of her usual spark returning. "Well, if you're going to start making excuses, I have to admit, saving the Earth is a pretty good one." She leaned closer. "And by the way, do you think maybe we could take a break from saving the world for a little make up sex? Make up sex is the best sex, ya know.”

Despite everything, Alex felt laughter bubble up. "I wish," he said. "But, priorities. But we’ll revisit that, okay? If we get the chance. Unfortunately, I'm afraid we're fresh out of ideas on how to save the Earth."

Before Jane could respond, they were interrupted as Jack approached, with a big, burly looking federal agent by his side.

“Alex, this is Agent Carlson... um... my boss.”

An awkward pause followed before the man spoke, “Look,

I um... well, I don’t even know what to say... about any of this, beyond that we are obviously indebted to you. To you and your... um... your men . Tell us how we can help.”

Jack nodded, acknowledging the man, but making no attempt to answer his many unspoken questions. "Alex, the Krita aren't just testing our defenses anymore. This was a coordinated attack. I don’t think we have days anymore. I think we have hours. If we are lucky."

“And then they could be streaming through their portals to points unknown, not just here... but around the globe,” Alex replied, as both Jane and the Agent Carlson’s faces went pale.

“Gather the rest of the Dream Team, now,” Jack said simply.

Within a few short minutes they were all gathered around a conference table, along with Lester and Alexa as well, going over the whole situation, point by point, searching for some sliver of hope against the impending onslaught.

After an hour, all had spoken, offering their takes on the best defense against the alien threat. Carlson himself had even offered his connections to call on earth forces to support their efforts. His thoughts were neither rejected nor accepted. They needed a plan first.

“How can we even hope to stop attacks when we don’t even know where they take place?” Alex said, frustration evident in his voice.

Jane looked up, her expression thoughtful. "Uh. Excuse me.”

All eyes turned to the young woman.

“When I was fighting that Krita, or I guess before he was about to eat me - or whatever they do - just before you arrived, something strange happened. You keep talking about “portals.” I think it had just opened one, or someone or something had. It was like a hole in space or something —just for a second. But I saw through to the other side."

Everyone suddenly sat up straighter, leaning ever so slightly toward her.

"What did you see?" Jack demanded.

"Their base, I think. I don’t know. It was only for a second, but I could make out shapes—hundreds of them - Krita, all gathered in what looked like a massive cavern." Jane's eyes lit up with sudden inspiration. "But they were all, I don’t know what they were doing, but where ever it was did not look defended. Why can't we attack them first? Go through the portal before they have a chance to swarm through onto Earth?"

Alex shook his head. "We've considered it. It would be suicide. We're few, barely enough to defend one portal, let alone launch an assault on their planet."

"What choice do we have?" Jane countered. "If they attack through multiple portals simultaneously, we're done anyway. This could be our only chance. And didn’t you hear what I said? They were all just out in the open... like standing around. I don’t know. I just don’t think they would expect it."

“Or be ready to defend against it,” Jack added.

“Exactly,” Jane enthused.

"A Hail Mary," Carlson murmured.

"A what?" Alex looked confused.

"Football thing. A last-ditch effort," Jane nodded. "Look, what do we have to lose? You yourself said that if we don't try, we'll surely be destroyed?"

Jack seemed to consider her words. "What exactly are you proposing?"

"A preemptive strike," Jane said. "If you can create a portal to them? Is that possible?”

“Actually, there is a portal from the prison planet. But we walled it off. It is under the Serpent Mound, in a chamber near the others,” Jason affirmed. “It would be easy enough to unblock.”

“Well then unblock it. And meanwhile we can coordinate with the FBI to handle earth forces and setting up special ops teams around the world. Your shifter forces could send token groups to each location too.”

“But we could never hope to fight them back,” Dylan said.

“We don’t have to, not if we act quickly enough. We just need a diversion to draw the Krita's attention – to make them think their plan is working."

"While our main force hits their headquarters directly," Alex finished, seeing the strategy.

“But how do we locate the headquarters?” Dylan asked.

"If you can show me where that portal formed young lady, I am confident I can get a bead on the proper frequency to dial it up from the ancient Prison Planet portal under the mound," Lester said, his eyes gleaming with excitement.

Alex looked around at the gathered faces—shifters and humans alike, all focused on Jane's words. His dragon hummed with pride at his mate's strategic mind.

“All this,” he said, rather theatrically as he waved a hand in her direction, “and a warrior’s cunning brain too.”

“Jane turned a new shade of red as Dylan piped up, “Hey, Cindy is quite impressive too!”

“No one said she isn’t,” Alex quickly added.

“Okay, okay, plenty of time to brag about our mates after we save the galaxy,” Brian interjected. “But did anyone else here nab a princess? I ask you that.”

Jack gave a huff, bringing the group’s attention back to the situation at hand. "It's risky," he said, "But she's right. We're out of options."

“A Hail Mary.” Agent Carlson said raising his hands up as if to say ‘that’s what I said.’

"So, do we have a basic plan? We're really doing this?" Alex asked. "Taking the fight to them?"

Jack nodded grimly. "Yes, unless anyone has a better idea?” We waited a moment but there was only silence. “Okay, we are decided. Start making preparations. We move at dawn."

As the group dispersed to begin planning, Alex caught Jane's hand, squeezing it gently. In her eyes, he saw a reflection of what he felt—fear, determination, and hope that they might actually have a chance.

"I had no idea you were such a strategist," he whispered.

She shrugged, but couldn't hide her smile. "I've watched a lot of alien invasion movies."

His dragon stirred within him, no longer restless but focused. They had a mission now. And for the first time since this all began, they had a mate to fight alongside them.

Whatever came next, they would face it together.