Page 32 of Red Fury (The Dragon Tributes #8)

“I wish you would listen to me, Steel.”

“I am listening, and I don’t like what I’m hearing. Stand down, Fury. That’s a direct order. We’ll handle Kozlov through the proper channels. This female…this Draiger will be rescued in good time. I will make it one of the directives. You have my word.”

“There is no time, Steel. He’s dangerous, and he has her. I have to go in there now.”

“The female is expendable.”

“She’s not expendable to me,” I say.

“Then you’re compromised.” Steel’s voice goes quiet. “I’m ordering you to stand down and return to base immediately. If you go after her, you’re on your own. We won’t back you.”

I stare up at the twentieth floor, my decision already made.

“Then I guess I’m on my own.”

I end the call and power down the phone, tossing it onto the passenger seat.

My dragon surges forward as I get out of the SUV, scales pressing against my skin with violent intent. The night air hits my face, carrying the scents of the city – exhaust, concrete, millions of humans living their oblivious lives.

Twenty floors up. Good thing I’m not afraid of heights.

I walk around to the back of the building, staying in the shadows as I scout for the best approach. The rear facade has fewer security cameras, and there’s a fire escape that goes up about ten floors before stopping.

Perfect.

I check my weapons one more time. Then I start climbing.

The first ten floors go quickly, my enhanced strength making short work of the fire escape. When I reach the end of the metal stairs, I grip the building’s facade and keep going.

Handholds that would be impossible for a human are easy enough for me to find. My fingers dig into tiny crevices in the concrete, my boots finding purchase on architectural details.

One of the guards does a perimeter check and I press up against the wall, waiting for him to walk away, then to make the turn that will take him around the other side of the building. I push out a heavy breath as soon as he disappears and keep going.

The windows on the upper floors are huge. I keep going until I reach the top floor – the floor where Kozlov lives.

Once there, I peer through each set of windows, looking for any sign of Shadow, careful not to be spotted. I look into empty bedroom after empty bedroom. How many bedrooms does a person need? There’s also a gym and a room with blacked-out windows. I hope she isn’t in there.

Just when I’m giving up hope, I spot Shadow through the next set of windows, pacing back and forth like a caged animal.

But she’s alive. She looks unharmed.

I sigh, feeling some of the pent-up tension release.

I tap softly on the glass, and her head snaps toward the window. Her eyes widen when she sees me, and she rushes toward the glass. I pull myself up onto the small ledge.

But instead of opening the window, she shakes her head and gestures that she can’t. That’s when I can see the heavy-duty locks and bolts securing the windows from the inside.

Shit.

She looks at the door and gestures for me to be as quiet as possible by putting a finger over her mouth. I nod once.

Then I pull out the glass-cutting device from my tactical kit – a small laser tool provided for situations exactly like this.

I use a suction cup on the section I plan on removing.

The beam cuts through the reinforced glass like butter, creating a hole just large enough for me to slip through.

I bring the piece of glass inside, placing it on the thick woolen rug.

As soon as I do, Shadow throws herself into my arms. “I can’t believe you came,” she whispers against my chest. “How did you find me?”

She smells like soap and fear, but underneath it all, she still smells like Shadow. Like everything I’ve been craving.

“You need to leave,” she whispers, pulling back to look at me. “Right now. He’s dangerous, Fury. He’s not human. He’s—”

“I had hoped you’d show up,” Kozlov says as he opens the door to the bedroom.

He stands there in jeans and a white T-shirt, looking completely relaxed despite the fact that I just broke into his penthouse. His eyes glitter with amusement as he takes in the scene.

“Leave him alone!” Shadow yells. “You have me. You don’t need—”

“Oh, but I do need your friend. I had hoped you would take the bait and come running. Now I have both of you to auction off.”

I push Shadow behind me even though I know she won’t like it. Then I move into a fighting stance, my dragon snarling inside me.

“Let her go,” I growl. “Your business is with me. You don’t need her.”

Kozlov laughs. “How cute. So, the two of you are together. Is it a budding relationship? Are you still in that honeymoon phase? Since you’re willing to die for one another, I would say it is the case.”

“Let her go,” I repeat.

“Not happening.” He shakes his head. “I—”

I don’t give him a chance to say anything else. I launch myself across the room, intent on tearing his throat out with my bare hands.

He meets my charge with a right hook that hits like a sledgehammer.

The impact sends me flying backward into the wall hard enough to crack the plaster. Pain explodes through my ribs, and I taste blood in my mouth.

“He’s not human!” Shadow shouts as I push myself back to my feet.

No shit.

A human couldn’t hit like that. Kozlov advances on me with inhuman speed, his eyes taking on a reddish tinge that makes my dragon rear back in alarm for a split second. His canines elongate into fangs that gleam in the lamplight.

What the fuck is he?

His face is a mask of rage and terror. He’s a fucking monster.

Good thing I am, too. If he thinks I’m going down without one hell of a fight, he’s wrong.

He swings at me again, but this time I’m ready. I duck under his fist and drive my knee up toward his solar plexus. The punch connects, but it’s like hitting a brick wall. He grunts and surprise flares in his eyes.

Yes, fucker! You picked the wrong battle.

His return punch catches me in the jaw, snapping my head back and filling my mouth with more blood. I stumble, my vision blurring for a moment.

“Leave him alone!” Shadow screams, launching herself at Kozlov from the side.

He backhands her, sending her flying across the room. She hits the floor hard and doesn’t get back up. Instead, she groans and pulls herself up onto her elbows. Why is she so weak? What’s going on?

Rage explodes through me like a detonation.

My dragon surges forward. The room is too small for a full shift, but I can manage a partial transformation.

My bones elongate, muscles expanding as scales burst through my skin and my clothing tears off, my weapons thudding as they hit the floor. I don’t need them.

My hands become claws, and a powerful tail whips out behind me. Best of all, I can feel the fire building in my chest. Smoke wafts from my nostrils.

Kozlov’s eyes widen with…delight. He should be afraid. He should be running. Why isn’t he running?

“Holy fuck! A dragon shifter,” he growls. “I should have known. Oh, this is perfect. You guys are from those little islands, aren’t you? Do you have any idea how much you’ll sell for?”

I don’t give him a chance to answer himself because it’s clear he isn’t looking for an answer from either of us.

I take the opportunity while he is distracted.

My tail whips around with bone-crushing force, catching him in the ribs and sending him flying across the room.

He hits the wall hard enough to break through it.

For a moment, I think I’ve won.

Then I hear him laugh from between the debris and dust. My heart sinks.

“Very impressive,” he says, wiping blood from his mouth as he steps back through the break in the wall. “But you’re not the only one with tricks.”

He shouts something in Russian, and within seconds, the bedroom door bursts open and half a dozen men in tactical gear pour in, all carrying rifles.

I bare my fangs and prepare to roast them alive. Human weapons are useless against a dragon. We are notoriously difficult to kill. A few bullets will sting, but they won’t kill me.

Shadow shouts from where she’s still lying on the floor, but I don’t hear what it is she is saying. My dragon is in hunt mode.

“Bring it!” I growl. My voice is guttural. I will kill them all.

I roar.

The rifles fire in unison, and instead of the crack of gunshots, I hear the soft pops of compressed air. Darts sink into my hide all along my arms and chest.

I grunt in shock.

Human drugs shouldn’t have much effect on me. They can go to hell. I take a step toward them and falter.

The drugs don’t just hit my system, they flood it.

No!

Fuck!

My partial shift begins to collapse, scales retracting as my bones shrink back to human proportions. The fire in my chest gutters out.

“You don’t play fair,” I snarl at Kozlov as I fall to my knees. These are not human drugs. They can’t be.

“Fair is for losers,” he replies, his fangs still visible as he grins. “And I never lose.”

I try to reach for my dragon, but he’s far out of my reach. More like a whisper or a shadow than a solid presence. It’s all wrong. All wrong! No! My enhanced strength evaporates, leaving me as weak as a human.

Weaker, even. My limbs feel like they’re made of lead.

“What did you give me?” I slur, my vision blurring.

Shadow screams my name.

“Something special,” Kozlov says, crouching down to look me in the eye. “Something designed specifically for your kind. For shifters. Don’t worry; you’ll live. You’re far too valuable to kill.” He looks over at Shadow.

The last thing I see before the darkness takes me is Shadow’s face, pale with fear.