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Chapter Nineteen

D ragonwomen had started to vanish.

Zoe had been keeping track of who she thought she could persuade to trust her. Every morning, she discreetly surveyed the cells around her, trying to determine who was in the mood to listen to her and maybe change their minds.

Then, one morning, someone was missing. The first female to disappear had been the one who cried all the time. She’d been separated from her son and worried about what had happened to him. She always pleaded with the guards, hoping they’d tell her where the boy was.

She’d been taken to be examined by a doctor and had never returned. The guards had used her disappearance to threaten the rest of them, saying that anyone else who acted up or became a problem would visit the doctor as well.

One other female had tested that theory, wanting any reason to heckle the human guards and spit on them. She’d also been taken away.

And now, days later, neither female had yet returned.

Some of the other prisoners had started to notice the disappearances as well, and rumors ran rampant. Most thought the females had been taken to be killed or impregnated. While their captors might eventually condition some of the females to follow orders and have them shift to draw dragon’s blood, a better long-term strategy was to raise obedient dragon-shifter children and have them shift on demand. Which meant the impregnating route was more likely.

She resisted grimacing. The stories of some of the other facilities running experiments and getting dragonwomen pregnant still haunted her.

What she wouldn’t give to worry about teenagers sneaking off of Lochguard again. It was miles better than trying to think like their enemy.

Her dragon would probably say something like it kept people safe. However, nothing but silence filled her mind.

How did humans endure the isolation?

Her cousin, Rebecca, sat down next to her. She’d been seeking out Zoe more and more often. And while she hadn’t revealed all her secrets—Zoe thought she knew something important, probably learned from Rebecca’s father—she’d reminisced about their childhood.

Today, however, her cousin leaned closer to her ear and whispered, “A third one is missing.”

“Aye. Her mouth probably got her in trouble.”

Chelsea had been taunting the human guards more and more. Her plan was to get them frustrated, to the point they opened her cell and she could attack them and make a grand escape.

It was a stupid plan, given how the guards carried all kinds of dragon-specific weapons—special stun guns, tranquilizer dart guns, syringes, and more that Zoe hadn’t been able to identify yet.

In the end, Chelsea had vomited for most of yesterday. By the time the guards had retrieved her, she’d barely been able to hold up her head.

Zoe hadn’t eaten anything since.

Rebecca whispered so no one else could hear her. “I’m scared, Zoe.”

She was just about to comfort her cousin when one of the guards opened the giant door at the end of the hallway and entered, with six other males behind him. He made a beeline for her cell.

Zoe stood and walked to the bars. Despite everything that had happened, she wanted to protect her cousin. Rebecca had started to see the light now that she was away from her domineering parents, and Zoe wanted to have both of them walk out of this place alive.

The male stopped in front of her. Like all the guards, he wore a mask over his face and dark clothes. “That’s her, the one planning to escape.”

Before Zoe could think of what to do, there was a sharp pain in her neck, and the world faded away as she fell to the floor.

It’d taken nearly a week to assemble all of the other teams and outfit them with the discreet filters before they could search the hidden, underground areas of Birkwood Castle.

The days flew by as everyone shared information, devised plans, and waited for Dr. Turner’s okay that the filters should keep them from dying, even if she couldn’t guarantee it.

In the whirlwind, Iris hadn’t spent much time alone with Antony. Certainly not enough to be intimate again, no matter how much she itched to see him fully naked.

Even now, as he gave some instructions to Kai Sutherland and Trina Lau, she stole a glance, loving how he talked with his hands and could make Kai roll his eyes at some corny joke.

Her dragon spoke up. You love his jokes.

Aye, maybe so, but I’m not going to encourage him.

So will you let him kiss us on the mouth once we finish this mission?

Maybe.

Even if the thought of being a mother scared her, she’d seen how Faye MacKenzie balanced being a mum with being a Protector. It wasn’t easy, but Faye’s mate supported her. And the more Iris thought about it, the more she thought Antony would do the same. Not once had he tried to convince her to take a safer job, away from danger.

Her dragon spoke up again. Then we need to watch his back and make sure he survives. I’m more than ready for sex and maybe a frenzy.

The frenzy isn’t guaranteed, dragon.

Maybe not. It’s still unfair that male dragons can tell and females can’t. Maybe Dr. Turner and Dr. Sid can come up with something so that female dragons can detect true mates, too.

She smiled. I’ll make sure to bring it up. Just don’t expect them to drop everything, aye?

A familiar voice filled her ear, and she shivered at the heat of his breath as Antony said, “Am I the reason for that gorgeous smile?”

She wanted to playfully push him, but had decided to be more professional around her fellow Protectors. She whispered back, low enough so none of the others could hear. “Wouldn’t you like to know?”

He discreetly winked. “I’ll get it out of you later.”

Max’s booming voice prevented her from replying. “Did you hear my question, Antony?”

“Yes. And no, you can’t go off by yourself this time. You’ll stay behind until we give you the green light. If we don’t return, you know what to do.”

Max crossed his arms over his chest. “I don’t like it, but yes, I know—call my assigned contact in the DDA.”

Alice sat a few seats down from Max and waved her hand. “I’m sitting right here, thank you very much. My name is Alice.”

Before Max could reply, Antony jumped in. “Now, now, let’s get along, shall we? We’re due to leave within the hour and need to gear up. So, any last-minute questions about the plan?”

Gavin, the human male paired with Robin from Skyhunter, spoke up. “You’re 100 percent sure that Dr. Turner’s concoction will keep us from dying? I know every mission can be risky, but I don’t want to rely on something and make plans around it, only to fail any of you.”

Antony replied, “If it is the same type of gas, then yes, it will keep you from dying. The amount inhaled, however, depends on whether you’ll fall into a coma or not. Your implanted tracker chip means we should be able to find you.”

Gavin raised an eyebrow. “Should? I thought you said they were foolproof.”

“To a point, but if the dragon hunters have spent the last few years devising new technologies and weapons, then we fight the unknown.” He glanced around the room. “This is your last chance to back out of this mission and do perimeter surveillance instead.” No one raised a hand. “Good. Then kit up and in fifty minutes we’ll meet in the corridor just before the outer exit. Dismissed.”

Everyone stood and headed toward their assigned temporary accommodations. Iris hung back with Antony until it was just them and Max. Only once the door shut from the others did Max speak again. “Don’t do anything stupid, brother. I mean it.”

“Likewise.”

Max shook his head and then looked at Iris. “You, too. I might need a dragon guard for a secret dig coming up, and you’re the only one I trust.”

Iris smiled. “I’ll keep that in mind.”

With that, Max left. Antony turned toward her, took her hand and tugged her close. After he cupped her cheek, he murmured, “I know you’re capable and could kick the arses of most of my team, but still be careful, okay? Once this is over, once we find the hidden female dragon-shifters, I want to go on holiday with you. Undress you slowly, make you scream again, and kiss you anywhere you would let me.”

She looped her hands behind his neck and leaned against his hard chest. “I never thought I’d want to take a holiday, but I wouldn’t mind some time with you. Alone. You naked in my bed is my current motivation to get this job done quickly.”

He smiled. “Mine, too.” After nuzzling her cheek, he whispered, “Stay safe, Iris. I’m selfish and want more time with you. A lot more.”

“If you’re selfish, then so am I. Despite your awful jokes.”

Antony tickled her side, and she nearly yelped. He stopped and lightly swatted her bum. “You love them, you know it.”

“Maybe.”

He leaned back and searched her gaze, his expression unreadable. For once, she wished he wasn’t so bloody good at keeping his thoughts private.

Her dragon spoke up. Soon. Soon we can have him to ourselves and he’ll let down his guard. You had better do it, too.

Antony finally spoke again. “I want to say more, a lot more, but the clock is ticking. Let’s get ready and find your clan member and the others so I can share more with you, love.”

The “love” at the end of his sentence made her heart skip a beat. Somehow, this male had wormed his way past her walls. And maybe, just maybe, she never wanted him to leave.

But for the moment, she needed to focus on the assignment and finding Zoe. Only once she was safe could Iris be a little selfish and spend time with the male she fancied.

And so she nodded, and they went toward their separate temporary quarters to put on their gear and double-check they had Scarlett’s backup inhaler medicine, the kind that would hopefully keep them from dying.