Just go for it.
You know deep down inside.
Paige stopped walking. Stopped just shy of the balcony. She put a hand up on the door jamb, suddenly feeling unsteady on her legs.
Don’t let fear hold you back.
That’s what he would tell her. Without a doubt! She looked over at where Bay was standing. He was talking with a group of shifters. Her mind worked furiously. She’d always been a risk-taker. Why now, when it counted the most, had she chosen the easy road? The safe road. If she walked out onto that balcony now, she was going to be taken away from the man she loved. Oh shit! Paige put a hand over her mouth. She did love Flood. It hadn’t seemed possible after such a short amount of time, so she hadn’t allowed herself to believe it. She did though. She needed to find him and right then. She needed to fix this.
Paige turned and began to run. She had no idea where she was going. She only hoped that the maze of corridors would lead her to Flood somehow.
Crazy.
Stupid.
Irrational.
All of the above. Not to mention in love. In love and desperate. She had to try. She passed shifters who looked at her like she’d lost her mind. Paige couldn’t blame them. She kept running. Maybe she could hide. And then what?
Someone grabbed her around her waist. “Where are you going?”
It was Beck. He was grinning down at her.
“And at such a speed.” He raised his brows.
“Let me go.” She was completely out of breath.
He cocked his head, looking at her strangely. “You’re trying to find Grumpy, aren’t you? I heard what happened. Bummer.” He was still smiling, which pissed her off.
“Let me go and get out of my way.”
“No can do.” Beck lifted his brows. “I have to take you back or I’ll be in deep shit. You’re not allowed anywhere near Flood. I have my orders. I was on my way to lead the team that is going to take you home.” He winked at her.
Asshole! “I don’t want to go back. Let go of me. Pretend you never saw me and while we’re at it, tell me where I can find Flood.”
Beck laughed. “I know where he is.”
“Please, take me to him.” Paige hated begging, especially since Beck was acting like such an asshole, but what choice did she have? “You have to help me.”
There was a commotion from somewhere down the hall.
Beck shook his head. “You should forget all about Flood. Head home. If the two of you do what I think you’re planning, you’ll ruin Flood’s life. Then again,” he shrugged, “I’ve never seen someone look so damned miserable. It’s a pitiful sight to see.”
“Take me to him. Do it now.” She tried to break free, but he held on tight.
Beck shook his head. “I have something else in mind.”
The big shifter picked her up and slung her over his shoulder. He started to run. Not towards where she had just come from, but away.
Paige screamed for a few seconds. Shock and disbelief coursed through her. “Put me down,” she finally managed to get out. All of the blood had rushed to her head. She was being jostled so badly that she felt physically sick.
He ran for about half a minute. When Beck put her down. She staggered, almost falling on her face. Paige sat down on her ass with a heavy bump.
When she looked up, Beck was in mid-change. Why was he shifting? Scales, wings, a tail…
Then his wings were flapping and he was taking to the sky. Instead of flying off, he swooped back down and grabbed her around her waist. His talons holding tight, but not so tight as to do damage. Beck shot up into the sky, her stomach lurched. She couldn’t breathe, couldn’t think. Then she blacked out.
Chapter 23
Flood paced from one end of his cell to the other. Up and down and back again. Paige should be gone already. Then again, maybe they were running late. His heart beat faster at the thought of her gone and faster still at the thought that she might still be on dragon soil. His hands felt clammy. Probably because he kept clenching them.
“Let me out,” he growled for the hundredth time, his throat felt raw but he didn’t give a damn.
Fuck it! He was leaving. As soon as they unlocked this door, he was out of there. He didn’t care how long it took him to find Paige, he would find her. There might be a hundred vet assistants named Paige. Hell, there might even be a thousand, he was going to hunt them all down, one by one until he found her. If that made him a stalker, then so be it. He didn’t give a shit. He would spend as long as it took convincing Paige that she was the one for him, that they could make it work.
Bay burst in. He had a stricken look on his face.
“What is it?” Flood shouted. “It’s Paige isn’t it? What happened? The hunters! It was them wasn’t it?” He realized that he was gripping the bars in his hands. The silver made him feel nauseous so he let go. He needed to keep his wits about him if he was going to save her. “Tell me!” he yelled when Bay didn’t answer him
“It’s Beck.”
“What about Beck? Was he injured trying to save her?”
"Beck took her." Bay shook his head, the confusion he felt was evident in his eyes.
“Took her where? Why would he take her? Were you attacked?” He was yelling but couldn’t help it.
“No!” Bay shook his head. “I brought her to the team responsible for taking her home. I was just going through the particulars when Paige disappeared. We were waiting for Beck, who was late. Several males saw her running. We’re not sure why. I would assume it was to find you, although that would be irrational behavior since she had no idea where she was going or where you were.”
“You think she was trying to get back to me?” There was shock laced into every word.
“Yes.” Bay nodded. “I do. She was having major second thoughts about leaving. She looked tortured and greatly upset. I wasn’t surprised when I saw that she was gone.”
“You’re not normally so careless.” Flood folded his arms. “You gave her the opportunity.”
Bay nodded. “Maybe I did on a subconscious level. Now I wish I had been more careful. Beck took her. He shifted and took off.”
“He was interested in her. You don’t think…?” Worry and frustration ate at him. “Surely he wouldn’t…” Flood shook his head.
“I wouldn’t have thought so, but he has taken her. Some males gave chase but he had a big head start and lost them.”
Flood cursed. He ground his teeth, trying hard to remain calm. “Let me out of here,” he snarled, grabbing the bars again.
Bay shook his head. “The orders are clear. You are to remain in lockdown until Paige is safely home or until—” The male didn’t finish the sentence.
“Let me out!” Flood growled. “I need to find her.
“We have several teams scouring the surroundings.”
“You and I both know that Beck won’t be found unless he wants to be.” He pushed out a heavy breath. “I have to try!”
“Not happening, I’m sorry. Sit tight. I am heading a team up myself. I know the male but this doesn’t make any sense. It is so unlike him. He wouldn’t harm her in any way. Beck can be a dick but he’s ultimately a good male.”
Flood concentrated on breathing deeply, on trying to calm down. “You are right. I don’t think he would harm her. What the fuck was he thinking though?” he growled. “It is not safe with those hunters out there somewhere.” Worry ate at him.
“I’ll have someone contact you the moment we hear anything.”
Flood nodded.
Bay turned and strode from the holding area. It was a section at the back of the lair. It housed three silver cages that rarely got used. Dragons mostly stayed in line. There was one guard stationed outside. He wasn’t sure why, since breaking through silver was an impossibility despite his immunotherapy.
“Hey,” he called. “Let me out!” he shouted, cupping his hands around his mouth. “My female needs me.”
Flood waited half a minute and then tried again
.
There was a thudding noise and then it sounded like…like someone fell. What? He moved to the front of the cage.
Beck rounded the corner, a big ass smile on his smug face. The male was naked. Flood growled low when he saw his hand on Paige’s back.
Paige.
Flood gripped the bars. “You’re okay. What the fuck?” he growled, locking eyes with Beck.
“Hi!” Paige said, her eyes lighting up. “Don’t be angry with him,” she quickly went on, which made him even angrier that she was standing up for a prick like Beck.
“Calm down!” Beck’s smile widened. “I know how much the two of you care for one another.” He rolled his eyes. “You’ve been nothing but miserable since they split you two up ‒ which is saying something since you’re a grumpy fuck on the best of days anyway.”
Flood growled again. “Don’t,” he warned. “I’ll find a way to take down these bars and—”
“I get it,” Beck said. “First listen to what I have to say. When I saw your female running, probably searching for your ugly mug, I realized something had to be done. Torrent is being a dick about this whole thing. Don’t tell him I said that. I’m already going to be up shit street for doing this.”
“Why did you take my female?”
“I took her. Pretended to get the hell out of here and then circled back. The good news is, she’s here. The bad news is, I was spotted. It’s only a matter of time before they figure out I’ve come here.”
Flood frowned. “You’re helping me?”
Beck nodded. "Love is a wonderful, amazing thing. I hope to god I find it one day. Maybe if I help you guys, Karma will be kind to me." He shrugged. "I doubt it, but who knows, right?”
Flood smiled. “Thank you.”
“You will need this.” He handed Flood the key, passing it through the bars. “You won’t have long to…do what you need to do. I suggest you mate her, that way they will be forced to allow her to stay.”
Flood wasn’t sure if Paige would go for that. She was here but that didn’t mean that she was willing to take such a big step. Fuck but he hoped so.
“I will defend the entrance. I’m not sure how long it will be before they find us or how long I will be able to stand up to an onslaught though. I suggest you don’t waste any time.” Beck winked at Paige. Flood watched his retreating back as he walked out, there was the sound of a door closing.
Flood fumbled with the key in the lock. His hands shook. “I can’t believe you’re here.”
“I can’t believe it either.” She was smiling. Looking radiant and beautiful.
The cage finally opened and he stepped out, taking her hands in his. “I didn’t think I’d see you again.” A tear tracked down her cheek. “I made the wrong decision. I don’t want to leave. I’m scared…so scared, but I want to take a chance on us. I’m in love with you, Flood. I can’t believe it happened so quickly but it did.”
“You are?” Flood was grinning. He cupped her face in both his hands.
“Yes, no doubt about it. I am!”
He leaned down and kissed her. Soft and gentle. Tears continued to flow down her cheeks. He used his thumb to wipe them away. “Why are you crying?”
“I’m happy.” She sniffed. “I’m afraid, but I’m very happy.”
“You don’t have to be afraid. I will always put you first. I will spend forever showing you that you made the right decision taking a chance on me.”
“I know you will.” Her eyes brightened. She pulled away, taking a step back. Paige began to unbutton her blouse.
“Stop!” Flood folded his hand over hers to stop her.
Her eyes widened. “What is it? We have to hurry,” she spoke quickly, urgency in her voice. “We’ve got to—”
“No!” Flood shook his head. “I was afraid too. I didn’t fight hard enough for us. I didn’t do everything in my power to stop what was happening. I allowed Torrent to steamroll me. I backed down too easily.”
Paige frowned. “You did fight for us. You tried to mate me. It was me who put a stop to it.”
“I should have fought harder. I refuse—” There was shouting outside that drew their attention. Flood took both her hands in his. “They’re here already.”
“Let’s hurry then. Mate me. I don’t want to leave.”
“No. When we mate ‒ and it is going to happen ‒ it will be magical and wonderful. I refuse to rush something so special. When I make love to you in that way, it will be because we are both committed and ready. It will not be hurried and,” he looked around them, “not like this. Not ever again.”
“For the record, I am ready now, but I agree with you, we shouldn’t be forced or rushed, even though I know you can make me come in under half a minute.” Her voice had grown husky. “It would be amazing if it could all happen on our terms though.”
“If we do this, there is a good chance I could be excommunicated.”
She sucked in a breath. “Then you can’t—”
“I don’t want to stay if you are not with me. I had already made the decision to leave here and to find you. My life is with you now. I might need to move in with you though. Learn how to live amongst humans. Would that be okay?”
Paige smiled. “You would do that for me?”
“I would do anything for you. I love you.”
She smiled. “I love you too.”
Flood brushed his lips against hers. He looked back over his shoulder. “Beck is getting badly beaten. I should go and help him. You stay here.”
“Oh no!” She nodded. “Yes, go. He helped us.”
Paige listened to the meaty thuds and loud growls. Those were followed by more thuds and a couple of snarls. Within a minute, Flood came back inside. The knuckles on both hands were scraped and bleeding. His right eye was puffy and red.
“Are you okay?” She could see that he was breathing heavily.
Flood nodded. “Yes, I’m fine.” He gave her a tight smile. “Let’s go.”
“Where to?” She could guess.
His eyes narrowed. “We need to pay Torrent a visit.”
She nodded, feeling sick to her stomach. What if this didn’t work? What if he threw Flood back in jail and made her leave anyway?
Flood took her hand and squeezed.
“I’m fine. I’m fine,” Beck croaked as they walked out. He must have caught her look of horror. He was bloodied up. His lip was split. One eye was completely closed, the other not far behind. His nose was a bloody mess and looked like it might be broken. There were nine or ten guys littering the ground. Most were still unconscious. The others were half out of it and pretty messed up. “I got six of them and Flood got four.” Beck smirked as best he could.
“Yeah, but look at you.” Flood shook his head, a smile playing on the corner of his lips.
There was the sound of footfalls and Torrent rounded the corner. He had four guards to his rear and one on either side of him. He was scowling.
“My lord,” Flood sounded shocked.
Paige gave a little curtsy even though there was a big part of her that wanted to kick the asshole king in the shins.
“Glad you could make it, sire,” Beck piped up. “I would get up and greet you properly, but I’m waiting on a couple of ribs to heal up a little first.”
His eyes narrowed as Beck spoke. It looked like a storm cloud descended. “What the fuck is going on here?”
“Well, we—” Beck began.
“I will explain.” Flood’s voice was a low rasp.
“No need. I think I can guess.” Torrent widened his eyes. “You disobeyed me.”
“Yes and I would do it again,” Flood said, squeezing her hand. “I love Paige. She is the female for me.”
“The two of you are not mated.” Torrent shook his head. “You haven’t formed any kind of bond.”
“That’s not true,” Paige objected.
“My female is correct. It isn’t true.” He squared his shoulders and took a step towards the king. He didn’t let go o
f her hand, so she stepped forward as well. “We have bonded and we wish to mate one another when the time is right for us.”
“Well, it’s quite a situation we are in then.” Torrent looked pissed off and disgusted in equal measure.
“No situation, my lord. I’m afraid I can’t take no for an answer. I don’t care if it means leaving right now to make that happen.” Flood’s jaw tightened.
“You would live amongst the humans?” Torrent looked like it was the craziest thing he had ever heard. Like it was absurd.
“Yes.” Flood nodded.
“You wouldn’t last. You would struggle to fit in.”
“I would be with Paige. I would make it work.”
“You can stop right there. I’m not going to force you to leave. This whole thing has blown up in my face. I had hoped to set an example but it turns out I’ve done the opposite. There’s Beck,” the king looked down at the fallen shifter, "I'll get to you shortly." He shook his head and pushed out a breath. "Beck disobeyed every order and then some. I've got Bay and three other shifters in my office pleading your case. It's only a matter of time before more join in. You're a martyr, not an example. If I keep you apart or make you leave, I'll just be adding fuel to the fire. I did what I did to stop potential insubordination and it looks like it’s had the opposite effect.” Torrent rubbed his eyes. “I may have been a bit harsh. I wanted to see the four females mated to Water dragons. I may have messed up,” he spoke softly.
Paige could hardly believe what she was hearing.
“Does this mean…?” When she turned to Flood she saw he was smiling.
Torrent’s eyes hardened back up. “It means I’m granting your leave but am suspending you at the same time. We are in tough, dangerous times. I cannot have you, my leader, disobeying orders. Acting out and punching superiors. What the hell!” He shook his head in disgust.
“It won’t happen again.” Flood lowered his gaze to the floor.
“You will have to prove yourself to me. To all the royals, but especially to me.”
“I will,” Flood said, keeping his head bowed.
“You,” Torrent spoke to Beck, “I have no idea what to do with you. Forget taking Flood’s place.” He shook his head. “For the time being, you will report to Bay.”
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