His tone was full of dominance and brooked no argument. She was starting to see why Finn was a clan leader.
Evie nodded and watched as Finn ran and jumped into the hole. Before she could even reach the edge of what was left of the floor, a gold dragon’s talon swooped inside and wrapped gently around her. Finn beat his wings and took them into the sky.
It took her a second to catch her breath as the city of Carlisle and then the English countryside sped beneath her. She might not be afraid of heights, but Finlay Stewart was going to receive an earful once they landed and she ensured everyone was safe.
She was also going to ask him how he shifted mid-air. In all her years working with dragons, she had never heard of anyone being able to do that.
As each mile passed below them, Evie hoped she had made the right decision to go with Finn. She had always been a reasonable person and made the most rational choices. In this instant, however, she was doubting herself. Would the other dragons find Murray and the remaining Protector? Would Bram make it out alive? Judging from her experiences with his inner dragon, he probably wasn’t helping matters. If the inner beast was too distracting, Bram could die.
And if anyone else died because of her, she wasn’t sure how she could face the clan again.
Chapter Seven
Bram ducked another fist and swept the hunter bastard’s leg with his foot. Once the man was on his back, Bram crouched down, smacked the human male’s head against the ground, and turned toward the next dragon hunter.
While some of the hunters had escaped, Bram and his team were working their way through the rest. None of these low-level hunters had anything resembling the periwinkle and mandrake root concoction used on Quinn several days ago. That told him the use of the mixture wasn’t widespread.
If nothing else, he’d succeeded in that part of his mission.
As he moved to the side to dodge another blow, he punched the human male in the kidney. It was time to finish them. His effectiveness at being a distraction had worn off. If his people hadn’t rescued Evie and the others already, they probably never would.
He signaled his team to shift and take care of the remaining humans. One by one, the five people in his team shifted into a multitude of dragons colors. A few seconds of knocking hunters against the wall with their forelegs and tails, and it was done.
Looking at the five dragons towering over him, Bram instructed, “Sniff out the exits and ensure everyone in the room is unconscious. I’m going to take care of Charlie.”
Trusting his people to do their jobs, he rushed toward the unmoving bulk in the corner. Since the dragon was no longer a threat, the cage door was open. Bram went inside and put a hand on his fallen clan member’s head. He whispered, “I’m sorry we failed you, Charlie. I will look after your mate and child and protect them to the best of my ability.”
The green dragon didn’t move or respond, and Bram’s inner dragon released a mournful croon.
Patting Charlie’s head one more time, he reached into one of the pockets on the vest he wore and pulled out a syringe. He lifted Charlie’s right eyelid and plunged the syringe through the eye to the brain. Once he inserted all of the contents, he pulled out the needle and stepped back.
Even dead and drained of blood, Charlie was only freshly dead. When put directly into a dragon-shifter’s brain, the chemicals in the mixture Dr. Sid gave him should force one last shift back.
He held his breath, hoping it wasn’t too late. As much as he didn’t want to leave her, there was no way they could carry her body in its dragon form back with them.
Another second ticked by and Charlie’s body flashed. She lay on her stomach in human form, pale and motionless.
His throat choked up at the once strong and loyal dragonwoman. Charlie had been one of the first females ever to become a Protector in Clan Stonefire. She had been one of the handful he trusted enough to guard his mate.
Even now, he didn’t blame Charlie for Evie’s capture. Bram’s own pride and cockiness had cost him. No location would ever be secure as long as Simon Bourne was still free.
Noticing his dragon brethren moving toward the exits, Bram pushed aside his memories and anger. Charlie may be dead, but hundreds of others still depended on him.
Clearing the emotion in his throat, he scooped up his fallen clan member into his arms and headed back toward their escape point. Four members of his team were back in human form, with one remaining in his dragon form to stand guard. They all glanced down at Charlie’s body.
Losing one of the clan was never easy, but losing a female was even worse given how few of them there were. He couldn’t allow his men to be distracted.
Looking at each of his men in turn, Bram said, “Charlie’s mate deserves the chance to give her a proper goodbye, but he won’t be able to do it if we don’t return. Save your grief until we reach home.” His men straightened their shoulders and gave slight nods. “Right, then two of you go in front of me and two behind me.” Bram moved his gaze to the purple dragon standing above him. “Once we’re clear, you know what to do.”
The dragon bobbed his head. Bram adjusted his grip on Charlie’s body and said, “Right, then let’s go.”
Two of his men entered the tunnel and Bram followed, careful to keep Charlie’s body close. He wasn’t about to damage her any further by accidentally banging her head against a sharp rock.
As soon as they reached the tunnel’s exit point, he was greeted by the sight of two dragons with large baskets, waiting to carry any wounded back to the clan.
Even though his dragon’s impatience had eased at the sight of their fallen clan member and Bram could probably shift to fly home, it felt wrong to leave the dragonwoman alone for her last flight in the sky.
His dragon said, Stay with her. It is best for when we land.
Rather than think about facing Charlie’s mate, Bram crawled into one of the waiting baskets and hugged the dragonwoman’s body in his arms.
Soon they were all in the air. Bram barely paid attention to the purple dragon bursting free of the building below him, nor the ensuing collapse of the building. The death of one of his own was always hard, especially when she had been on an assignment given by him. There was also the chance more blood was on his hands if Evie, Nikki, or even wee Murray were also dead.
The thought of never seeing Evie again made his stomach drop. She’d wheedled her way into his heart in a short time. Not only would his clan be worse off without her, he would be, too. Life would be lonely without his human.
His inner dragon said, Our mate must be alive. I would know otherwise.
Dragons aren’t telepathic. You have no way of knowing if she’s alive or not.
She is alive. I won’t think otherwise.
His beast was right. Charlie’s death was hard enough; constantly thinking of Evie being dead as well would distract him from protecting his clan. As with most of his adult life, his needs would have to come second.
Still, Evie had bloody well be alive. If the hunters had killed her too, he would unleash his dragon on any hunters he could find until Simon Bourne was dead. Bram was done playing nice and by the rules; the next time the hunters messed with his clan, they would regret it. No one else was going to die on his watch if he could help it.
~~~
Evie had no idea how long she and Finn had been flying before she recognized some of the surrounding peaks and valleys. They were approaching Stonefire’s land.
She was nearly home.
Evie blinked back tears. The adrenaline had mostly worn off during the long flight. After two days of little sleep or food, she was on the verge of crashing.
Yet if she gave in and crashed, she would have to wait even longer to find out who was still alive. Finn mentioned Bram serving as a distraction. Had her dragonman survived? Sure, she believed in him, but after what had happened with Nikki and Charlie, it would only take one canister of periwinkle and mandrake root to bring down the leader of Clan Stonefire.
&
nbsp; It wasn’t just Bram she was worried about. Murray could still be in the hands of the hunters; it also killed her not knowing which female Protector was still alive.
Her throat closed up and Evie closed her eyes. Tears wouldn’t help anyone. If anything, it would sap what little strength she had left. No, she should focus on what needed to be done once she landed. Even if everyone was whole and hearty, there was a lot of shit still to tackle. Stonefire was her clan and she wasn’t about to see them fall because of her or the stupidity of the dragon hunters. Her main concern, apart from everyone being alive, was that it was past her deadline to check in with the DDA. While she rather doubted it given the DDA’s track record, they could be lying in wait at Stonefire’s gates. Handling them wouldn’t be easy, but she could do it.
No, she was more afraid of the media circus that could also be waiting. Given everything that had just happened with the dragon hunters, she didn’t want the media to make any connection between the incident in Carlisle and Clan Stonefire. Any act of violence, even in most cases of self-defense, ended in a suspension of the sacrifice program, sometimes indefinitely. While Bram would be strong for the clan if that happened, she knew it would devastate him.
Bram. Her dragonman had bloody well better be alive. Life without him would be lonely. She’d miss his humor, his cleverness, and, she wasn’t afraid to say, his cock. Stonefire’s leader was the whole package and had ruined her for all other men. Since she had no plans of living as a nun, her will alone would ensure his safety. She knew that was impossible, but her willing him alive with every cell of her body couldn’t hurt, especially since she was falling in love with him.
Already she dreamed of adopting Murray and starting a family with Bram. If they could ever spend some time together without another threat to the clan or her life, she would fall hard and fast for her dragonman.
Finn made his final descent. Opening her eyes, she clung to the hope that Bram would be there to greet her. Bram, please be alive. I don’t know if I can help pick up the pieces of your clan and mobilize them without you.
The Scottish leader slowed his wings and much like Bram had surprised her with his agile movements, Finn was the same way as he rotated his grip on Evie until she was no longer horizontal with her stomach facing down but vertical.
She had just enough time to notice a large tent off to the side of the secondary landing area before the windy backlash forced her eyes shut.
Her feet touched the ground. Before she could open her eyes, Finn released his grip. As the sound of him flying away filled her ears, she wobbled and opened her eyes.
Despite the spinning sensation in her head, Evie scanned the area. When she looked toward the tent, a familiar face raced toward her.
It was Nikki.
She could barely string together the fact Charlie must be dead before the young dragonwoman embraced her in a one-armed hug and said, “Evie! You’re alive.” Nikki hugged her more tightly. “I’m so sorry we failed to protect you. Bram’s words about the place being secure had put me off my guard.” The woman leaned back and her brown eyes searched Evie’s. “But even so, the fault is mine. I’m done being naive and stupid. If you give me another chance, I will protect you with my life next time.”
Tears prickled Evie’s eyes. “Don’t be daft. You have nothing to prove to me. I’m just glad you’re alive.” She squeezed the dragonwoman’s good shoulder. “Charlie didn’t make it, did she?”
Nikki’s face shuttered. “No, they killed her.”
Sensing the young dragonwoman’s guilt, Evie gave her friend a little shake and said, “Blaming yourself won’t accomplish anything. Channel your anger and sadness toward defeating the dragon hunters. Understand?”
Nikki searched her eyes. Her voice was quiet when she said, “You sound like Bram.”
“Well, I like to think he sounds like me.” Nikki gave a small smile and Evie was glad. She continued, “What about Murray? And speaking of Bram, where is he?”
Nikki motioned with her head toward the tent. “Bram hasn’t returned yet, but Murray’s over there. Kai’s wing of dragons rescued him from the fleeing scientists. He’s fine, but Dr. Sid is checking him over one last time inside the medical tent just to be sure.”
Rather than think on why Bram hadn’t returned yet, the desire to see Murray to verify he was okay rushed through her body. The little boy was alone, both of his biological parents dead. He needed a family, and Evie wanted to be his new family.
Giving her friend one last squeeze, Evie ran across the field and into the open-air tent. Scanning the interior, she saw Dr. Sid’s trademark ponytail and rushed over to her side. Murray was lying in a makeshift cradle and drooling in his sleep. The sight of him alive eased the tightness around her heart a fraction.
Her voice cracked. “Murray.” She looked to Dr. Sid. “Can I hold him? Please?”
Dr. Sid studied her a second before she replied, “I can’t find anything wrong with him, apart from needing some sleep. Just be careful not to wake him up.”
Nodding, Evie gently lifted Murray’s little body and laid him against her shoulder. She breathed in his warm baby scent and closed her eyes to keep herself from crying. The baby might be sleeping and oblivious, but holding his warm weight in her arms brought on a fierce protectiveness she couldn’t describe. Maybe the feeling was what mothers felt when holding their children.
Squeezing him tighter, she vowed to make sure Murray, and all of the other dragon-shifter children, would have a much safer future. Whatever Melanie Hall-MacLeod needed to help launch her book and make it successful, she would do it. There was no bloody way she’d allow them to be used as blood slaves.
Evie had no idea how long she stood there with her eyes closed, holding Murray’s warm little body, but the sudden shouting behind her snapped Evie out of her bubble of baby bliss. Opening her eyes, she looked toward the commotion and saw a wing of dragons approaching. One of them even carried a basket.
She wanted to hold Murray and never let go, but Evie forced herself to lay the little boy down. He would be safe enough with all the medical staff and other dragon clan members watching over him inside the tent. With one last brush of his soft, chubby cheek, Evie moved toward the crowd in front of the medical tent.
Scanning the dragons in the sky, she saw one blue beast, but the size and shape was off. It wasn’t her dragonman.
Her heart hammered in her chest. Where was he? If Kai and Finn had both returned, then the dragons in the sky should be the final wave. Bram should be with them. Unless he was hurt and being carried in the basket.
Or, worse, he could be dead.
No. With a deep inhale, she pushed aside her fears and mustered up her DDA inspector persona. She needed to be strong not only for herself, but also for the others. If she showed worry, the rest of the clan would no doubt echo it.
Raising her chin and straightening her shoulders, Evie barked, “Clear the area. If someone’s hurt, we don’t want Dr. Sid wasting time to push you lot out of the way.”
The various clan members glanced at her. For a split second, she hesitated, but then remembered no one in the crowd would hurt her. Unlike with Clan Skyhunter, Evie had special protections. The clan members would never hurt their leader’s mate.
Right, Evie. Be the hardass inspector. You can do it. On the next exhalation, she raised an eyebrow and made a shooing motion with her hands. When the dragon-shifters created a pathway, she let out her breath.
Dr. Sid squeezed her arm as she rushed past. As soon as the black dragon laid the basket on the ground, Bram stood up with a naked woman in his arms.
“Bram,” Evie whispered. Her dragonman met her eyes and the world stilled around her.
Even at a distance, his pale blue eyes were filled with sadness. Glancing toward the woman in his arms, she saw it was Charlie.
Aware of the clan’s eyes on her, Evie made her way quickly but efficiently toward the basket. By the time she reached it, a male dragon-shifter had also approac
hed the basket. Bram’s gaze moved to the dragonman. She heard him say, “I’m sorry, Hudson. It was too late. The hunters were cruel, but your mate died fighting to the end. The entire clan will remember her sacrifice and forever honor her service. She will not be forgotten.”
The dragonman took Charlie’s limp body from Bram and hugged her close. His eyes were wet and voice scratchy when he said, “Thank you for bringing her back to us. Now we can give her a proper goodbye.”
Evie’s throat closed at the sight of the dragonman holding his dead mate. Evie would also look after Charlie’s family. After all, the dragonwoman had been captured protecting her.
Bram nodded and the dragonman walked away with Charlie in his arms.
Then Bram looked at her and she stopped breathing. She was torn between scolding him for taking so long to return and pulling him close to kiss him until they both lost their breaths.
Before she could so much as blink, let alone make a decision, Bram leaned over, picked her up, and placed her in the basket with him. He pulled her flush against his hard body and whispered, “Evie, love. You’re alive.”
And then he kissed her.
Chapter Eight
Bram had given in to his dragon’s need, hauled Evie’s soft body up against his, and not caring who saw, he kissed her.
As he seamed her lips with his tongue, she opened and he devoured her mouth with hard, strong strokes. He’d seen the anger in her eyes and he was determined to make her forgive him. An argument would fire his blood and as much as he wanted to take his mate hard and fast, he didn’t have the time.
No, he’d merely have to placate her with his tongue.
As he continued to explore her mouth and squeeze her soft curves against his body, her arms finally wrapped around his chest and hugged him tightly, never surrendering her mouth to him.
Seducing the Dragon (Stonefire Dragons #2) Page 21