Page 38 of Red Fury (The Dragon Tributes #8)

F ury

I wake up and stretch, putting a hand to the back of my neck, squeezing my eyes shut as I wince.

Then I sit and roll my shoulders as I try to work out the knots. The leather sofa is comfortable enough, but sleeping on it is another story entirely. My spine pops in three places as I arch my back, and I can’t help the low groan that escapes.

I could have been in my massive bed. Shadow told me I could share it with her. That it wasn’t a big deal.

Only, it would have been a very big deal. At least for me.

I glance toward the bedroom, where she’s still sleeping. I can just pick up her scent. It makes my dragon roar inside me.

And that’s the problem.

I’m freaked out about having feelings for her.

Real feelings. Not just the physical attraction that’s been driving me crazy since the moment I met her, but something deeper.

Something that makes me want to protect her, to make her smile, to hold her while she sleeps.

Something that could quite easily grow into… complications.

Who am I kidding? It’s already as complicated as it can get. There’s always worse. I could completely fall for her. That would be a shitshow. Nope! Not happening!

I need to keep my distance. Keep a clear head.

This mission is too important, and there’s too much at stake for me to lose focus now.

I need to get us safely to the airport, then I need to convince Steel that I’m still the right male for the job, which means I have to truly believe it, or it won’t work.

I yawn. Just under four hours of sleep. That’s all I managed, and my eyes feel like someone rubbed sand in them. I’m still tired, but I’m too wired to fall back asleep. Too many thoughts racing through my mind, too many decisions to make.

I reach for my phone on the coffee table.

I open it up and sure enough, there is a message. It landed in my inbox two hours ago already.

Crap!

The message gives my flight details, telling me to pack everything. I won’t be returning to the Mainland. It’s non-negotiable.

Double crap!

I stare at the words until they blur together.

This afternoon. I have to leave this afternoon for Mistveil. Steel hasn’t changed his mind. Maybe the decision came from higher up. Perhaps it was Arctic’s call. I sigh.

It’s bullshit. Complete and utter bullshit.

Yeah, I had sex with Shadow. And yeah, I have feelings for her. But I’m not that far gone, dammit. I’m not compromised. I have not gone rogue.

They’re dead wrong. I only wish I could prove it to them somehow. I will prove it!

Choosing to rescue her might not have been the smartest decision, but it worked out in the end. We gained intel we never would have had otherwise. Vampires and wolf shifters. Holy smokes! Who would have ever thought? That information alone is worth the risk I took.

But try explaining that to Steel.

I set the phone down and drag my hands through my hair. I don’t know what to do about this flight. About being called back like some rookie who can’t handle his assignment.

The bedroom door opens, and Shadow emerges like a vision designed to torture the hell out of me.

Her hair is mussed from sleep, sticking up at odd angles in a way that’s somehow incredibly sexy. She’s wearing another one of my shirts. The hem hits mid-thigh, giving me an excellent view of those long, toned legs of hers.

Fuck, but she’s beautiful.

I have to work not to stare. Force myself to look anywhere else. The coffee table, the window, the ceiling. Anywhere except at the way the light streaming through the windows making her skin glow.

“Morning,” I manage, my voice rough.

She yawns, covering her mouth with the back of her hand. “Morning. Although it’s nearly lunchtime.” Her voice is husky with sleep, and it does things to me that I really don’t need right now.

“Sleep well?”

“Like the dead.” She stretches, the movement making my shirt ride up even higher on her thighs. “Sorry, my flight notification just came through. Woke me up, or I’d still be lights out.” Another yawn. “I have a late afternoon departure. We have some time before I need to head to the airport.”

She moves into the kitchen area. “Have you heard anything more from your side?”

“They’re still insisting I return,” I say, my voice flat. “My flight is also this afternoon.”

She stops moving, turning to face me fully. There’s sympathy in her eyes. “I’m sorry, Fury. I can see how upset this is making you.” She takes a step closer. “What are you planning to do? Have you made a decision yet?”

“If I don’t go back, I’ll be in huge shit.

I’ll only be proving them right. That I have gone rogue.

” I widen my eyes. “How will that help anyone? On the other hand, if I go, I might be able to convince them to let me come back to the Mainland. I might be able to prove to them that I’m not compromised at all.

I’d have the opportunity to do it face-to-face. ”

Might. It’s a word I fucking hate. So much uncertainty wrapped up in five little letters.

“I’m worried I might not get it right. I could end up stuck on Mistveil indefinitely.

” I look up at her. “I know they’re sending an immediate replacement, but they’re fooling themselves if they think the new male will pick up where I left off.

They may not be able to get anyone else in as close as I am to Kozlov’s operation.

In the meantime, the Mainland is about to buy weapons from that bastard. ”

Shadow is standing in front of my espresso machine, frowning at the array of buttons and dials like they’re written in ancient Greek. She puts her hands on her hips.

Despite everything, I find myself smiling.

“Why don’t you take a seat?” I tell her, standing up from the sofa. “I’ll make you a cappuccino. It took me several days to learn my way around this thing.”

She gives the machine another once-over. “I’m too tired to figure it out myself,” she mutters to herself and then does as I say, sitting on one of the stools at the kitchen island. She gives me a smile. “I would love a coffee.”

I grab the bag of grounds and a cup.

“Do you think Kozlov is going to come after us?” she asks as I start the machine.

I measure out the grounds, my movements automatic. “I don’t think they’ll break in here. Certainly not in broad daylight. Too many people around. It would cause too much of a scene.” The machine hisses as it heats up. “We should be safe in my apartment, at least for now.”

The milk steamer comes to life with a sharp whistle.

“Although,” I continue, watching the foam build, “make no mistake, by now, Kozlov will know exactly where we both live and work. He probably has eyes on us as we speak.” I glance toward the window, then back at her.

“He’s dangerous, Shadow. We can’t relax for one minute when we’re out there.

” I nod toward the door. “He made it clear that we’re worth a lot of money to him.

He’ll probably try something before too long.

I’m sure he’s cooking something up as we speak. ”

I finish making the cappuccino and put the cup down in front of her.

She gets a look of revulsion and shudders. “I hope you’re wrong. He gives me the creeps.”

“He’s a self-serving asshole. I’m almost hoping I get another shot at him.” I push her coffee cup a little closer to her.

“I hope I never see his face again. Thanks.” She pulls it all the way to her and takes a sip, groaning. The sound shoots straight to my cock. “That’s good.” She takes another sip, licking the foam from her lips.

I glance down at my boxers. The last thing I need is an erection right now. I turn back to the machine, getting to work on my own cup, trying to get myself back under control. Jesus, you would swear I was a teenager again.

This is exactly why I slept on the sofa.

Shadow

A chill races down my spine just thinking about Kozlov coming after us. My mind goes straight to his fangs. To how the asshole bit and drank from me without my consent. I wrap my arms around myself, trying to shake off the feeling of being hunted.

I hate it.

A dragon shouldn’t feel this way. We are the apex predators. At least, we would be on a fair playing field.

“We’re both leaving for our respective islands this afternoon,” Fury says. “So Kozlov, hopefully, won’t get to us in time.” He sighs.

“I hope so, too,” I tell him. “I wish we were more prepared for this. We’re flying blind, and the thought of facing creatures we know nothing about terrifies me more than I want to admit.”

“It would be good if we were prepared,” Fury agrees.

His jaw clenches as he stares out the window.

“I don’t know the first thing about vampires.

How to fight them. What their weaknesses are.

” He shakes his head in frustration. “Up until recently, we didn’t even know they existed beyond books and television.

Problem is, I don’t watch much television and I’m not much of a reader. ”

“That gives me an idea.” I dash back into the bedroom, grabbing my cell phone from the bedside table. “Maybe I can find something useful. Let me Google vampires,” I say as I slide back onto the stool.

I start scrolling through the search results, reading aloud. “Okay…so, their weaknesses are… The first one they have listed is sunlight. They supposedly burn in the sun, and if exposed long enough, they’ll turn to ash.”

Fury frowns, turning from where he’s making coffee.

He looks at me for a few seconds before turning back, giving me a great view of all of him.

I hate his abs and those broad shoulders.

I hate how good he looks in those low-riding boxers that show off that whole “V” thing perfectly.

He’s all muscles and tats. It doesn’t help that I find it super sexy that he knows his way around a fancy coffee machine.