Page 7

Chapter Seven

F ive days later, Antony sat in front of Rosalind Abbott, the Director of the Department of Dragon Affairs, and waited for her to speak. He’d been bloody summoned right before Dr. Turner’s examination to determine if Iris could shift back to her human form.

But while he could technically reschedule the meeting with the DDA Director, Antony knew it might cost him a few favors. Ones he’d rather keep for later.

So he currently sat, ankle propped over his knee, and tried his best to look bored.

Rosalind finally spoke. “We need to discuss the rogue dragon problem.”

“Ah, yes. So they finally showed you the report?”

“I’m going to ignore your insolence for now, only because we have more important matters to discuss. After all, a human family discovering a mass grave of dead dragons is a ticking time bomb.”

Antony had only learned of the discovery a few hours before. Even now, he had most of his team going to find out what they could. Discreetly, of course. “Keeping the humans quiet is your problem, not mine.”

“Which would’ve been easier if the teenager hadn’t live-streamed it to the world.”

“I will never understand teenagers and their need to share everything. But regardless of the blip, make it seem staged. Or created with AI.”

“I know how to do my job, Antony.”

“Then why am I here?”

She leaned forward. “Because your team is going to work with my department on this.”

He buffed his nails. “My team doesn’t exist, Rosalind. Therefore, we can’t work with anyone.”

“The Prime Minister, as well as the heads of MI5 and MI6, all said you will this time.”

Antony frowned. “What?”

“You heard me. If we can’t contain this, or if more mass dragon graves are found, then the humans will panic. Probably beyond our borders, given how fast information travels these days. And as much as it pains me to say it, your team is one of the best. We need you. Please.”

The DDA Director almost sounded desperate, which was new. So he dropped his act and said, “We are already working on it, which my superiors know. Meaning there must be another reason why they ordered us to work with you.”

She nodded. “Yes. For this assignment, your team is getting some new blood—some dragon-shifters and a human woman.”

“Wait, no. I pick my own team members. I always have and I always will. I won’t have some unvetted, bumbling idiot ruining everything.”

A secret door slid open, and several familiar dragon-shifters strode in: Kai Sutherland from Stonefire, Robin Driscoll from Skyhunter, Wren Jones from Snowridge, Kaine Ferris from Northcastle, and Killian O’Shea from Glenlough.

They were all head Protectors, in charge of security for the various dragon clans.

Kai drawled, “The bumbling idiots have arrived, human.”

He snorted. “And so you have.”

There were a few growls, but Antony merely stood. At his full height, he was only a few inches shorter than most of the dragonmen. He looked at each in turn as he said lightly, “I may be human, but I know every single way to incapacitate a dragon-shifter. Remember that.”

As Kaine opened his mouth, Rosalind stood and spoke first. “Now, now, lads, I know the lot of you are used to being in charge. But for now, you’re going to work together. Antony is technically in charge, but only just. And I would think the security of your clans and countries should be more important than a figurative cock measuring contest.”

The corner of Antony’s mouth kicked up. “Did you just say cock, Rosalind?”

The DDA Director raised her dark eyebrows. “A woman doesn’t get to where I am without hearing far worse.” She looked at each person in turn. “Lochguard elected to send Iris Mahajan as their representative, given the situation on Lochguard, and she’ll join you soon. For now, let’s review what we know and how far you can go past the usual laws and boundaries to clean up this little problem.”

As Rosalind went over things Antony already knew, he covertly studied the dragon-shifters. Throwing a tantrum would get him nowhere, but he didn’t fully trust all of them. Yes, some more than others. But it would be far better to have someone from his usual crew paired up with each of them. His people would grumble, but teams would be the fastest and safest way to proceed.

And he knew exactly who would be his partner, too.

Back at the secret facility, Iris waited for Scarlett’s answer. Would she finally be able to shift back to her human form?

The doctor stood inside the room, without any protective equipment, checking something on her tablet. She wanted to scream for the female to hurry up, but knew she was just doing her job.

Besides, over the last five days, Iris had grown to like the doctor’s sense of humor and honesty. Iris didn’t have any female friends, really, but she kind of wanted to be Scarlett’s.

Her dragon spoke up. The lack of friends is your fault. Kiyana has invited us loads of times to have coffee or a meal, and you always brush her off.

She always asked when I was busy. Besides, I think she only does that because Mum asked her to.

Kiyana Boyd spent a lot of time in the clan archives, researching one thing or another. And Iris’s mother ran the archives.

Her dragon sighed. I don’t even know why I try.

Scarlett’s voice prevented her from replying to her beast. “Everything points to you being healthy enough to shift. However, that being said, I will need to examine and run some tests on your human form. I brought some clothes so you can spare any passing humans the embarrassment. And don’t worry, Holbrook isn’t here, so he won’t come peek while you change.” Heading toward the door, Scarlett added, “The clothes are in the room next door. I’ll be back shortly to finish my examination. Fingers crossed, you’ll be cleared and can join the others.”

She tilted her head in question, and Scarlett shook hers. “I shouldn’t have said that. Usually I’m better at keeping secrets, but I’ve been chattering for days to you since you can’t answer without the prototype. Holbrook will fill you in once I clear you.”

With that, the doctor strode out of the room, and Iris’s dragon spoke up. Let’s shift so you can get answers. This stewing for days is tiring.

I wasn’t stewing.

Aye, you were since you mostly refused the thought-translator.

Only because you kept embarrassing me, dragon.

It’s fun. But I want to nap, so let’s shift and you can be in charge for a while.

Iris closed her eyes and imagined her wings shrinking into her back, her snout morphing back into her nose, and her limbs shortening. Within seconds, she stood in her human form and shouted, “Finally!”

Her dragon snorted. Considering how you’re usually not a big talker, it’s funny how much you want to do it now.

I talk when necessary, and there were a lot of bloody questions I need the answers to.

Iris hurried over to the small door off to the side, pressed the button, and it slid open. Once she put on the under things, jeans, shirt, and shoes Scarlett had left her, Iris stretched one way and then the other. As much as I love you, it’s nice to have a larger range of motion again.

Remember that the next time you want to fly anywhere.

Of course you’re better in the air. But on the ground, our human form is faster and more agile.

A beep sounded before Scarlett entered the room, carrying a medical bag. “Right, let’s see if you’re well and truly healed.” Once the doctor finished her examination, she bobbed her head. “Whilst I won’t get the final bloodwork for your human form for a few hours, I think you’re fine. Although I need you to be brutally honest about how you feel over the next week. Any pain, dizziness, or anything that feels off, tell me, okay? Especially with what you’ll be doing.” She leaned over and whispered, “And keep an eye on Holbrook as well. He finally took a shot of dragon’s blood for his broken ribs, but that male is bloody stubborn and could lose a limb and say he was fine.”

“Aye, well, if I were sticking around, I would let you know. However, I need to go back to Lochguard.”

Scarlett shook her head. “I’m afraid not. Come with me. You have a meeting with Holbrook.”

“Good. Then I can tell him I’m going home in person.”

The doctor glanced at her, but said nothing. Iris followed her out of the room, down the corridor, and out into a longer one.

Nondescript doors lined the walls, solid without windows and all painted white. There weren’t any labels or identifying information. “What are all these rooms for?”

“I can’t tell you anything yet. I wish I could, but I can’t. I’m sure you understand.”

Iris grunted. “So many bloody secrets.”

“Yes, but they help protect our kind. Which is why, despite thinking Holbrook could’ve helped Skyhunter sooner, I work with him to better protect my clan now.”

“You sound more like a Protector than a doctor, aye?”

Scarlett glanced at her. “Given what was done to me and the others under Marcus King, more of the doctors should’ve acted like Protectors.”

Iris studied the dragonwoman. She’d heard a lot of rumors about Skyhunter and its former leader, but hadn’t ever really asked for the truth. As she debated doing so, Scarlett stopped in front of a door and waited for it to scan her eye. The door opened, and she gestured inside. “He’s in there.”

“Before I head in, I just wanted to thank you for helping me.”

“No worries. But in reality, you helped me just as much with my prototype.”

“And you’ll let me know when we can try them out on Lochguard?”

Scarlett smiled. “I hope soon. But I’ll push to make your clan the test one.”

“Not your own?”

“Well, let’s just say that if something shorts out, I’d rather it be for a different clan than my own. It could make my job as a doctor more difficult.”

Iris snorted. “Fair point.”

A familiar male voice came from inside the room. “I thought you wanted answers, Iris? Or would you rather chat longer with Dr. Turner?”

Iris rolled her eyes, waved goodbye to the doctor, and headed into the room.

Antony sat at a small table, his hands steepled in front of him, wearing far more formal attire than normal—a gray suit, light blue shirt, and a dark blue tie.

The jacket highlighted his shoulders, and she resisted frowning. Had they always been that broad?

Her dragon hummed. Yes. Imagine those long arms wrapped around us. His strong hands holding ours above our head as he fucked us.

Stop it, dragon.

I only agreed to stop when wearing the thought translator. But you’re not using it now.

Antony raised his eyebrows. “Just what was your dragon saying, I wonder? I can see your pulse racing in your neck.”

Her beast spoke up. I can make our heart go even faster. Like this.

This time, Iris lay naked on a bed with Antony’s head between her thighs, driving her crazy with his mouth and tongue and fingers.

Stop it.

No.

Needing to focus on anything but her dragon playing naked sex fantasies inside her head, she said, “Don’t try to distract me. Dr. Turner said I can’t go home to protect my clan, and I want to know why.”

“There are many ways to protect your clan, Iris. And right now, working with me is the most helpful.” He gestured toward the chair. “Sit. I have a lot to catch you up on before we leave.”

She wanted to demand answers first and for him to stop being so vague all the time. And yet, he probably wouldn’t like being challenged and it would only delay her learning anything. So Iris sat down, crossed her arms over her chest, and said, “So tell me, aye?”

“Right, well, let me give you the most important details, and we’ll go from there.”

And so he did: A human discovering a mass grave of dragon-shifters in their dragon forms; video footage of the grave online they were trying to get rid of; and lastly, only about half of the rogue dragon-shifters had been identified in the grave. Meaning some were buried elsewhere, or still alive, who knew where.

When he finished, Iris shook her head. “How the bloody hell did all of that happen in only five days?”

“It was already in motion when you first went to investigate. The initial autopsy findings show they were dead for two days before you flew to Cairngorms National Park. They’re still working on a cause of death, but thanks to your blood tests right after your exposure, we suspect the same sort of gas killed them.”

And if someone was willing to use it to mass murder once, what would stop them from using it against every dragon clan in the world?

Against her parents, her fellow Protectors, every dragon-shifter she’d ever met?

Would someone really try to rid the entire world of dragon-shifters?

Antony’s voice was softer as he said, “I see you recognize the dangers. Which is why we need to stop whoever is doing this, as well as find out who is making it, and find a way to protect your kind from harm.”

Right, focus on something you can do. “How? By using your super-secret team?”

“Partially. For the first time ever, my team is going to work with others. The DDA has seen to that.”

She frowned. “Others who? Me?”

“You and the other head Protectors from Stonefire, Snowridge, Skyhunter, Northcastle, and Glenlough. Normally it would be Faye or Grant from Lochguard, but I’m aware of Faye’s condition and her mate will be in no state of mind to focus. Plus, Cooper is busy handling the human protestors and a few other matters.”

“Because of the news about the dragons vanishing.”

She could only imagine the chaos. Poor Cooper.

But as much as she wanted to help him, someone needed to work with Antony’s team.

Antony nodded. “Yes. Conspiracy theories are already springing up on the internet and social media about how the dragons are taking each other out. Oh, and how they’ll try to conquer the humans next. The usual fear and irrational bullshit stirring people into a frenzy.”

She muttered, “Just as we were getting things under control, too.”

“That’s the way of it, my dear. You squash two bugs and one more shows up.”

“You have a pessimistic view of life, aye?”

“I have a reason to.”

“Then why do any of this if it’s pointless?”

He shook his head. “I never said it was pointless. There are individuals and groups that deserve to be squashed, no matter how difficult it might be.”

Iris sensed there was more to his words than some boilerplate answer. However, before she could ask anything personal, Antony spoke again. “Back to the topic at hand. My team has access to resources you can’t even begin to imagine. So this is your lucky day, Iris Mahajan, because you get to work with me and my toys.”

She raised an eyebrow. “I wouldn’t call working with you lucky.”

He snorted. “Cheeky dragonwoman. But I like that about you, so don’t ever change.”

For a second, Antony’s eyes searched hers, and she forgot about everything but the human male. How his brown eyes had flecks of gold in them. How his nose was slightly crooked, as if it’d been broken. The scar that peeked out from just under the cuff of his shirt.

Just how many scars and telltale signs did he have from his years with this secret team?

Her dragon spoke up. Ask him to show us.

Instead, Iris focused back on what she did best—her job. “I’ll find a way to endure your company. For now, you need to tell me everything you know, what resources we have, and when we can start investigating.”

He nodded. “Focused. I like that.”

Ignoring the rush of warmth at his praise, she growled, “Antony.”

“Yes, yes, back to your assignment. You’ll receive a packet with everything we know and be given time to study it after you finish recording your goodbye videos.”

She blinked. “My what?”

He shrugged one shoulder. “All of my team members record goodbye messages before a mission, just in case. It’s a bit morbid, but it helps give anyone you care about closure, if the worst happens.”

Iris studied the human for a beat. “I would almost say you’re sentimental.”

He smiled wryly. “I can be. But it will also give you a clearer mind, knowing your parents will have something of you in case you die. Because I won’t sugarcoat it—it’s possible you will. Any dragon-shifter working on this assignment risks being exposed to the deadly gas. And whilst Dr. Turner is working on something to counteract it, she’s not there yet. So I need you to answer me clearly: Do you understand the risks?”

“Aye, of course.”

“Good.” He took a file folder from his desk and handed it to her. “This has everything you need to know. I’ll take you to the video recording room, and once you’ve finished, eaten, and had time to study your homework, we’ll meet up with the others also working on this assignment.”

Iris took the folder. “Good. I need to talk to the other Protectors and warn them about my experiences with the gas—the smell, the side effects, how quickly it works. The more information they have, the better.”

“Yes, you’ll meet with them, and everyone, later. Because even the human team members need as much information about the gas as you can give, in case they need to save their dragon-shifter partner. However, for the assignment itself, we’re dividing up into teams of two. It’s easier to stay in the shadows that way.”

As he smiled at her, dread pooled in her belly. “I’m your partner, aren’t I?”

“Yes, my dear. Each member of my secret team will pair with a dragon-shifter Protector, so it’ll be just the two of us. And whilst Kai Sutherland has certainly proven himself over the years, you’re the one I trust the most to watch my back.” He winked. “Besides, I have the best gadgets to help us.”

She was torn between snorting and rolling her eyes. “Boys and their toys. You’re how old again?”

“All that matters is that I can be young at heart. Besides, I find humor works better than shouting and ordering people about.”

“Are you saying I shout at people?”

“Do you?”

“Sometimes. But young Protectors need it, especially their inner dragons.”

“Hmm, maybe in the future, you can help train them in the British Army. There’s a major general who owes me a favor.”

“Wait, I didn’t ask for?—”

He stood and waved a hand in dismissal. “That’s the future. For now, we need to focus on finding out who created this bioweapon and determine if they sold it to one of your enemies or released it themselves. And fast. Because if not, there will be a lot of dead dragon-shifters.”

Iris thought of her clan, of everyone laying lifeless, and she blurted, “Do you really think they’ll try to commit genocide on my people?”

“I don’t know. When people are angry or struggling, it’s easier to blame someone else than to accept any responsibility themselves. And for far too many, they blame their troubles on the existence of dragon-shifters. It’s preposterous, of course—there are many more humans in the world than dragons. And yet, I’ve been doing this long enough to know some people truly believe dragons are hoarding gold and jewels, laughing at the humans barely surviving, and are merely waiting to take over the world.”

She studied Antony, looking for signs of weariness or cynicism or any other emotion to highlight his grim words. And yet, his expression was neutral. “How long have you been doing this, exactly?”

He waved a hand in dismissal. “That’s for another time, my dear. You and I need to leave by nightfall. That’s only a few hours away, and we have far too much to do. So, follow me.”

Even though she wanted to push, there were too many people relying on her to help Antony and the others, so she kept quiet.

However, Iris’s mind buzzed as she followed Antony out of the room and down the hall. She itched to open the folder she carried, read everything, and get to work.

And yet, if this assignment really was as dangerous as Antony thought, she needed to leave something behind for her parents. Just in case.

Her dragon yawned and spoke up. We’ll make it through.

Aye, I think so, too. But just in case, we’ll take a few minutes to record a message. Mum will never get a son-in-law or any grandchildren, but I can at least give her a proper goodbye.

Her dragon fell silent, too silent. And she didn’t like it.

But as they arrived at the room with the recording equipment, Iris focused on the message to her parents. And for good measure, she did one for her sort-of friends, Cooper and Brodie.

By the time she finished, she was more determined than ever to succeed. To date, this would be the most important mission of her life. And she wouldn’t fuck it up, no matter what.