Page 14 of Red Fury (The Dragon Tributes #8)

F ury

The familiar commotion of the airport surrounds us as our group makes its way through the terminal.

Travelers rush past with rolling suitcases, and the constant announcements over the PA system blend into white noise.

After three days in New York, I’m exhausted.

A security team took over from us upon landing.

They are with Secretary Harrison now. I get the afternoon and evening to regroup before having to be back again tomorrow.

I’m up for it. Excited, even. I hope these upcoming meetings will end up being a breakthrough for us. Maybe we—

“Did you catch the game last night?” Jake asks, falling into step beside me as we navigate through the crowd. His duffel bag is slung over one shoulder, and he’s got that easy grin I’ve come to expect from him.

“Game?” I glance at him, confused.

“Yankees versus Red Sox. Bottom of the ninth, two outs, bases loaded.” He shakes his head with a laugh. “Man, I thought you were off shift last night. Don’t tell me you didn’t watch? It was epic.”

Shit. I should know this stuff. “I don’t really follow football,” I admit, making a mental note to start paying attention to sports if I’m going to maintain this cover long-term.

Human males seem to bond over games and the statistics that come along with them in a way that doesn’t come naturally to me.

“Football?” He laughs, even hitting his thigh a few times. “I’m talking about baseball, you fool.”

“Oh…shit…okay.” I smile. “Not really my thing, either.”

Jake stares at me like I’ve just confessed to being an alien. “Dude, what do you do for fun?”

I think about shifting into my dragon form and soaring through mountain peaks, feeling the wind beneath my wings and the freedom of the sky. About hunting and the primal satisfaction of the chase. About the simple pleasure of breathing fire and watching it dance through the night air.

I can’t tell him any of that.

“I work out a lot,” I say instead. “Lift weights, run…that kind of thing.”

“Fair enough. Maybe we should hit the gym together sometime.”

“Sure thing.” I nod, though I have no intention of working out with Jake or anyone else from the team. The last thing I need is someone questioning my strength levels.

Up ahead, I catch sight of Shadow moving through the terminal with purposeful strides.

She’s wearing a gray suit that hugs her toned body in all the right places, and her short hair catches the overhead lighting as she weaves between other passengers.

She’s walking fast, putting distance between herself and the rest of our group.

She’s been avoiding me ever since we got back from the park two nights ago.

Not that I can blame her. What happened between us was intense as hell, and probably not something either of us should repeat.

But that doesn’t stop me from watching her every move or remembering exactly how she tasted when she came apart on my mouth.

Her pussy squeezed the hell out of my fingers.

I can well imagine what it would feel like to…

Focus, you idiot. Not happening!

I force myself to look away, concentrating on Jake’s continued chatter about some upcoming golf tournament.

Golf…also not my thing at all.

My eyes are drawn back to her like a magnet. The way her hips sway as she walks, the confident set of her shoulders, the memory of those long legs wrapped around my waist as I pressed her against that tree.

My cock twitches, and I have to adjust my position to hide my body’s reaction.

She can tell me all she wants about how it was her dragon, that it wasn’t really her making those desperate little sounds as I fucked her good and proper with my tongue.

But I’m not buying it for one second. I’ve seen the way her pupils dilate when she looks at me, caught the way her breath hitches when I get too close.

And Christ, I can still remember her scent – candy mixed with fruit and that musky arousal that made my dragon purr with satisfaction.

“You listening, Marsh?” Jake’s voice cuts through my thoughts.

“Yeah, sorry. Just thinking about tomorrow’s schedule.”

“Right. Early flight to Chicago. At least it’s just a quick trip this time.”

I make a noise of agreement.

We reach the exit area, where team members start saying their goodbyes and heading toward their respective vehicles in the parking structure. I’m walking toward the black SUV I’ve been using when I spot Shadow about fifty yards ahead, standing next to a silver sedan with the hood up.

Even from this distance, I can see her frustration. She leans over the engine, then straightens and pulls out her phone, probably calling for roadside assistance.

I should keep walking. Should get in my vehicle and drive away without getting involved. The smart thing would be to maintain our professional distance and avoid any more situations that could compromise either of our missions.

Instead, I find myself changing direction and walking toward her car. Bottom line: I need her. Whether she wants to admit it or not, she needs me, too. We will have more chance of being successful if we work together.

“Having trouble?” I call out as I approach.

She looks up from her phone, and I catch the flash of surprise in her eyes before her expression becomes carefully neutral. “Nothing I can’t handle.”

“Right.” I gesture toward the raised hood. “Mind if I take a look?”

She hesitates, glancing between me and her phone. “I seriously doubt you can help, but knock yourself out.”

I move to the front of the car, rolling up my sleeves. “You don’t trust me to look at your vehicle because you think all of us from Mistveil are feral and brainless, right? We don’t know much about anything that requires actual thought. At least, that’s what you Draigers believe.”

There’s a long pause behind me, and when she speaks, her voice is softer than before. “I don’t believe that anymore. You’ve done more than enough to change my mind.”

I glance back at her, caught off guard by the admission. There’s something vulnerable in her expression that makes my chest tighten in a way I don’t want to examine too closely.

“Good to know.” I tell her, turning back to the engine, where I start checking the basics. The battery terminals are clean and tight; oil level looks good. I test the spark plug connections, then move to examine the air filter housing.

“Do you have vehicles on Mistveil?” she asks, moving to stand beside me as I work.

I snort-laugh. “I can drive, can’t I?”

“You most definitely can.”

“We do use our dragon forms to get around as well. Shifting and flying are par for the course on Mistveil.”

“You’re lucky.”

“Not really, since we’re confined to the island.” I glance her way, and she gets a sheepish look.

“What about grocery stores? Do you live in actual houses?”

I can’t help but laugh at the questions. “We have all the modern conveniences, Shadow. We’re not living in caves and hunting with spears.”

“Spears.” She laughs softly. “Now that would be something. I know that sounds stupid, but we’ve been told so many things over the years…

” She trails off, watching as I check the fuel injector connections.

“All the modern conveniences, you say. Does that include running water? Electricity? I’m assuming at this point that it does. ”

“We have everything.” I find a loose connection in the electrical system.

“There’s a city with shopping districts, restaurants.

Villages throughout the island with schools.

We’re in the process of building a state-of-the-art hospital, now that humans are living among us.

The island is ruled by a king, although he appointed a Council soon after he took the throne, so he doesn’t have absolute power anymore. ”

I work on tightening the connection, hyperaware of her proximity. Her scent fucking slays me.

“Everything we’ve been told by our Council, moreover by the Mainland government…” She shakes her head. “It’s all been lies, hasn’t it?”

“Glad you’re starting to realize that.” I straighten up, wiping my hands together.

She hands me a cloth from her back seat.

“Thanks.” I wipe my hands on it. “The question is why they’ve been lying. Why does the Mainland have you convinced that we need containing, when it’s not true?”

“That’s a really good question,” she says. “Maybe we’ll get some answers tomorrow.”

I nod toward the driver’s seat. “Try starting it now.”

She moves around to the driver’s side, and I hear the engine turn over once, twice, then nothing. She gets back out.

“Nope, she’s still dead.” Shadow sighs. “I can’t believe we have to be back at the airport tomorrow morning,” she mutters, running a hand through her hair. “Although it is the break we’ve been waiting for.”

“At least it’s just a quick trip.” I lean back over the engine, checking my work. The connection looks solid, but there might be another issue. “Everything okay? You seem more stressed than usual.”

“Everything’s fine,” she says quickly.

I don’t believe her, but I can see from her expression that she’s not going to elaborate. “Try it again.”

This time, the engine turns over and catches, purring to life with a smooth idle. Shadow’s face lights up with genuine relief and pleasure, and the sight of her smile does something dangerous to my chest.

“Thank you,” she says, moving to close the hood. “I really appreciate this.”

“No problem.” I wipe my hands clean on the rag. “Glad I could help.” I try to hand her the cloth but she shakes her head.

“You keep it.” She gives me this smile.

“Gee, thanks.” I smile back. “You’re too kind.”

Shadow laughs as she secures the hood and moves toward the driver’s door, buckling her seatbelt. “I’ll see you tomorrow morning.”

Instead of stepping back, I lean down to her open window, not quite getting into her personal space but coming close enough to catch her scent again.

I stifle a groan. She smells that damned good.

“I meant what I said before. If you need to shift again before we go home, I’m here if you need me, and I swear I won’t let things go as far as they did last time. I won’t let anything happen at all. You have my word.”

Her cheeks flush pink, but she maintains her composure. “Everything’s fine. I’m going home in a few days, and I’m feeling great. The one shift did the trick. I’m good, but thanks for offering.”

“As long as you’re sure.” I straighten up, stepping back from the car. “Drive safe.”

She gives me a small nod, then puts the car in reverse and backs out of the parking space. I watch her taillights disappear around the corner before heading to my own vehicle.

As I get in behind the wheel of the SUV, I can’t shake the feeling that she’s not being entirely honest with me. It feels like she’s keeping something from me, but I guess I can’t blame her since we are on opposite sides.

The truth is, I meant what I said about being there if she needs to shift again.

But the other truth – the one I’m trying not to acknowledge – is that I also meant what I’d told her about fucking and getting each other out of our systems. The attraction between us is only getting stronger, and the more time we spend together, the harder it becomes to ignore… At least for me, it is.

At the same time, maybe not going there is the smarter choice. The more I get to know Shadow, the more I find myself trusting her, and that’s dangerous territory for someone in my position.

I start the engine and pull out of the parking garage, trying to focus on tomorrow’s mission instead of the taste of candy that still lingers in my mind.

Tomorrow, we’ll hopefully get some answers about what the Mainland government is really planning. I have to pray that Shadow shares all the intel with me. I’m not sure she will. I can’t trust her even though I burn to be able to do just that.