by Olivia Ash
Drew sets his hands on his hips and shakes his head in annoyance, not answering me as he slowly paces the rug near the door.
“You found a loophole, Drew, like you always do,” I say, genuinely impressed with his abilities. “But this exploit you found in the tunnel security system? It puts this entire dojo at risk as long as it exists. If you found it, someone else can, too. You have to admit that.”
“He’s already changed the codes,” Drew says, gesturing toward the door as if that addresses any of my concerns. “He’s already run through the protocols, Rory. You’re safe.”
I rub my face in frustration. “It’s not just about me, Drew. It’s about everyone here—and no, we’re not all safe. Not as long as that loophole exists. Can’t you admit that, at least?”
“It’s too risky,” he snaps. “If we tell Jace about the exploit, then you’re trapped here. You have no way out. Ever. Is that what you want?”
“Of course not.” I set my hands on my waist, determined to make him see the bigger picture in all this. “Drew, I’ve been reviewing the options here and assessing the risk nonstop since your father and brother invaded this place. Do you really, for one moment, think they didn’t pull code from the access panels while they were here? Are you sure they didn’t run some tests to crack through the system, or plant any viruses?”
Drew crosses his arms and leans against a nearby wall, watching me with a grim expression and a squared jaw. His eyes narrow, and I know him well enough by now to understand what that face means—he isn’t sure, and he has no answer.
“What if next time isn’t so peaceful?” I say, pacing the living room as I study the Darrington dragon in front of me. “What if, next time, your father decides to bring a few more reinforcements? Or to use lethal gas? To flat-out declare war?”
I pause, letting that little thought settle between us. He knows his family better than me, and he’s probably debated those options as well. I, however, am not so willing to sweep aside the risk—not after the way his father stared so hungrily at me after he saw the full brunt of my power.
That was the look of a man who will kill to get what he wants… and he’s made it clear he wants me. A man that hungry will compromise his morals, and he knows Drew as well as Drew knows him. They’ll try to play each other, and each man could easily make a mistake as he tries to assume what the other will do next.
I gesture toward the door, same as Drew did just a few moments ago. “I won’t let the people here be slaughtered from access tunnels they think they control just because I want a way out of this place if I get upset with their superior.”
“And how will you leave if Jace traps you here?” Drew says, lifting his chin in challenge.
“The front freaking door,” I snap.
Drew pauses, like he legitimately hadn’t considered that as an option. “What?”
“The front door,” I repeat, pointing in the vague direction of the bridge that I crossed when Tucker, Levi, and I first came here. “Drew, I left today to visit Irena because I might not get the chance again for a while. Maybe ever,” I add after a slight and painful pause. “Jace and I are going to have a little chat tonight, and at the end of it, we’re either going to have a truce or a hostile split. It’s all or nothing.”
“Are you sure that’s a good idea?” Drew tilts his head to the side, a look of genuine concern cracking through his stony exterior.
I take a deep breath, pausing once again to reflect on my choices, but I already know. “Yeah,” I say with a nod. “I’m sure.”
Drew sighs and leans his head back against the wall, his shoulders relaxing somewhat as he thinks over what I said. “So, you didn’t come here to convince me to turn over my intel to him.”
“What? No.” For a minute, I’m confused. That thought never even crossed my mind. “You two can work your own messes out. I just came to give you a fair warning about the tunnels.”
“Thank you,” he says with a somber nod of his head. “I suppose I can’t change your mind, but I’m not a fan of giving up my way out. He might throw me in a cell again, but he can’t keep me long without political repercussion. But he absolutely can lock you in the embassy.”
“No, he can’t.” I chuckle humorlessly. “One video posted publicly about how the master of the Fairfax embassy is holding me against my will, and every dragon Boss will be personally standing outside that gate.”
Drew laughs. “You’re merciless.”
“Only when cornered.” I smirk. “Hopefully, Jace is smart enough not to corner me.”
“He is,” Drew admits with a shrug. “If it comes down to you leaving, where will we go?”
I grin. “I love how you just assume you’re coming.”
“Well, of course I am.” Drew closes the gap between us, his hands teasingly grabbing my hips and pulling me closer. “A dragon has to protect his woman, after all.”
“Oh, is that so?” I lift my eyebrows playfully as his fiery touch simmers on my skin. I try to ignore the way his hands ignite the craving within me, but I can barely contain the way my body aches for him. Heat shoots between my thighs, and I’m oh so delightfully tempted to wrap my legs around his waist.
“So?” he prods. “Where to, princess?”
“Princess, huh?” I roll my eyes as I debate how to answer his question. “I don’t know,” I eventually confess. “Any ideas?”
He leans toward me, and my eyes flutter closed impulsively as his lips graze my neck in answer. His warm breath rolls across my jaw seconds before he kisses it, his rough stubble scratching against my skin. “I might have a few mansions my father doesn’t know about. Tropical island, palm trees, the works.”
“Spoiled rich boy.” I laugh.
“You like it.”
“Maybe a little,” I admit.
He peppers kisses along my neck, down to my shoulder. With a rough tug, he pulls aside the fabric of my shirt as his lips press against my skin. He’s already completely comfortable exploring my body, and I don’t want him to stop.
“You should also consider Castle Ashgrave,” he says between kisses.
That momentarily snaps me from my lustful daze. “Isn’t that the castle of the dragon gods?” I ask. “It’s just legend.”
“Apparently not,” Drew says, pressing hard on my hips and guiding me toward the wall. As my back presses against the wallpaper, he leans in, towering over me. “From the moment you fused with the gods’ magic, I’ve had people looking for it. Slow going, so far, but I might have a location pinned down. I’ve been a tad distracted, what with all the rescues,” he adds, lifting an accusatory eyebrow at me.
“Hey, you didn’t have to come,” I pointed out. “Either time.”
“You’re welcome,” he says, his voice deep and growly as he brushes his nose across mine.
“So, this Castle Ashgrave,” I say, curious. “Isn’t it just ruins? How could it possibly still be useful after so many centuries?”
“They say it’s enchanted,” Drew says with a shrug. “I never believed that until I saw what you can do, and now I’m not so sure. The texts we’re finding even make it sound like it has a personality, though I don’t know how much of that I buy into. It’s supposed to be intact. Or, at a minimum, easily repairable.”
“I highly doubt that.”
“I guess we’ll see. The manuscripts I’m finding are all immensely difficult to translate.”
“Can I see them?” I ask, tenderly running my fingertips along his thick and muscled arms. I bite my lip just to play with him, knowing it’ll drive him wild.
“You tease,” he says, leaning his forehead against mine. “You’re going to have to work harder than that to get your way, though.”
I laugh as he sees through me. “You’re no fun.”
Drew studies my face, his broad grin slowly fading as the minutes slowly pass. After what feels like an eternity, he just watches me in silent concern. After several moments, his eyes drift to my lips, like he’s struggling to f
ind words.
“Are you going to tell Jace I have the codes?” Drew eventually asks. “That it was the Darringtons who attacked the dojo?”
I sigh. This was the one question I didn’t quite yet have the answer to, yet. “I won’t tell him about the Darringtons. I know that would force him into a war, per dragon law. If a dragon family is infiltrated like that, they must retaliate.”
Drew told me as much right after it happened, but I looked into it a bit on my own. He was absolutely right, and this is something I have to keep to myself.
“And me?” Drew prods.
“What would happen if I did?” I ask, genuinely curious.
Dragon law is still so foreign to me—most of what I know is just the brutality of all of it. The rigid law and brutal enforcement.
“I would be put on trial for treason,” Drew says calmly, studying my face for a reaction as he speaks. “I would face death for espionage, and should it look like things won’t turn out in my favor, I would be forced to return to Darrington lands to avoid sentencing.”
“Jace could pardon you,” I point out.
“Not me,” Drew says with a few shakes of his head. “Jace would love to be rid of me. You haven’t even seen the beginning of his hatred for me, Rory.”
“He can be an ass, but he’s still an honorable man, Drew. I don’t think you’re giving him enough credit.”
“Maybe,” Drew admits. “But are you willing to bet my life on that?”
I hesitate, simply watching his face as he intently stares into my eyes.
No. No, I wasn’t.
“Besides,” Drew continues, “Even if he wanted to, Jace can’t pardon this. If my father hadn’t infiltrated the dojo, I would’ve gotten some jail time at most. But he would be forced to seek the harshest penalty after what happened. It would implicate me in the invasion. Worse than that, Jace would follow the breadcrumbs and realize what actually happened. He would still be forced to go to war with the Darringtons. If he knows I’m involved with the tunnels, it’s just a matter of time before he figures everything out.”
With a deep sigh, I lean my head against the wall and shuffle through this new information. I’ve never been fond of politics—it’s just not my thing—but it’s pretty clear I have to compromise my morals on this one.
To keep Jace, Drew, and the dojo’s soldiers safe, I need to omit Drew’s involvement in the tunnels.
“I’ll cover for you,” I say. “This time, and only this time. If you obtain access to the tunnels again, I won’t cover for you like this.” I look him intently in the eye to drive my point home.
“No, you don’t have to do that.” He smiles warmly, with almost a smitten expression on his face. “I’m a grown man and will accept the consequences of my actions. I just wanted you to know what’s coming, Rory, and to be prepared. You never have to cover for me.”
My lips twist into a soft smile, and I run my fingers affectionately along his hard chest. Even as he lights me ablaze with desire, I find myself endeared by this man. He’s honorable, strong, and resilient.
“Don’t be such a noble idiot,” I say with a chuckle.
He laughs. “I confess, that’s not the answer I was expecting, but—”
“I mean it,” I add softly. “I don’t want you, Jace, or the dojo hurt over something as stupid as pride. I’ll take the hit this time, so to speak.”
Drew sighs and wraps me in a tight hug, cradling the back of my head with his powerful hand. “You should never have to take the punishment for my decisions. I can’t allow that, Rory.”
“Tough shit. It’s what families do,” I say with a laugh as I hug him back. “We look out for each other, even when one of us does something stupid.”
He chuckles and kisses the top of my head. Even though I can’t see his expression, he holds me a little tighter. I wrap my arms around his warm body, grateful for the fire dragon in my arms.
These men—they are my family, every bit as much as Irena. They’ve fought for me, protected me, and challenged me to be better. A better fighter. A better person.
Even if I don’t get away with things nearly as much as I’m used to, I still love these men—and I love who I’m becoming because of them.
Chapter Four
In the darkness of Jace’s private suite, I sit on the couch and brace myself. There’s no telling how this conversation will go, and yet it’s arguably one of the most important I’ll ever have in my life.
Stupid feelings.
I try to go over the words in my head, rehearsing all the things I want to say, but the thoughts crumble away like sand through my fingers. No idea stays for more than a moment, and in the end, I’m left grasping at straws.
Truth be told, I don’t know how to do any of this. Communication, healthy relationships, compromise—Zurie never taught me how to approach any of them. She was too busy breaking my bones or throwing daggers at me while I was blindfolded, to teach me to trust my other senses.
You know, a quality curriculum.
The doorknob turns, and I stiffen on impulse. With my arm draped over the back of the sofa, I’m sure I look far calmer than I feel.
The door to the hallway swings open, and Jace walks in wearing only the loose slacks of the dojo uniforms. He rubs the back of his neck, muttering under his breath as the door shuts behind him.
Still as a stone, I barely breathe. When faced with the master of the dojo, I’m just not sure what to say.
He stiffens, his eyes scanning the dark as his eyes adjust. His hand balls into a fist, and electricity instantly crackles across his skin. I marvel at the ease with which he summons his magic, the effortless power he exudes, and I have to confess that I’m rather envious.
Jace’s eyes land on mine, and he instantly relaxes. With a few shakes of his hand, his magic dissolves into the air. “Jesus, woman. Why is it so hard for you to simply knock on my door?”
I chuckle. I can’t help it. “Well, that’s just not any fun, is it?”
He smirks and walks closer, taking confident strides as he examines me. I can see that he has a lot to say, too—see it in the way he hesitantly opens his mouth and shuts it just as quickly, in the way he pauses, just a foot or two away, with his hands in his pockets.
His gorgeous rock-hard body teases me, so close and yet forbidden. If I indulge in my physical desire for him, the mate-bond could take us over. It could drive us to finalize the connection we share, the one neither of us fully understands, and one moment of indulgence and passion could lead to a lifetime of being connected to each other in an even more permanent way.
In the silence, we each wait for the other to speak. He studies my face, occasionally looking off toward the windows to rub his neck, and I wonder where he’s been. He’s shirtless, so I suspect he was shifted, off hunting for something.
Probably me.
I clear my throat, deciding to bite the bullet. “I left the embassy.”
He laughs. “I’m well aware of that.”
“The hospital alert went off?”
“It did,” he said with a nod. “My codes, used at every door.” He crosses his arms, shaking his head in mild disappointment. “Do you have to pick up on every little detail?”
I grin. “Of course.”
“So, you swiped my codes by looking over my shoulder the last time I took you in,” he says, piecing it together. “In order to go back later. Alone,” he adds with an annoyed sidelong glare.
“I did,” I admit.
“Do you like toying with me?” he asks with a shrug, looking legitimately confused. “Is it just—I don’t know, fun?”
“No,” I say softly. Genuinely.
“Then why do you like putting yourself in danger, Rory?” he asks, frowning, his expression intense and accusatory.
“I don’t enjoy it,” I snap. “And today was a calculated risk. If you didn’t like it, you could’ve locked me out of Irena’s room,” I pointed out, tilting my head in curiosity. “Why didn’t you?”
“And have you hate me?” He snorts derisively. “No, thank you. I’ll pass.”
He’s a bit upset, but I can’t resist a little smile at that. Beneath the asshole exterior, he truly does care. Even if just a little.
Jace lifts one eyebrow. “You think this is funny?”
“Endearing,” I correct.
That disarms him. His anger briefly melts away, and for a moment, he’s left speechless.
I sit a little straighter in my seat, preparing myself for what I need to say. “Not too long ago, before we saved Irena, you said you were my mentor now—and that I need to do what you say.”
His jaw tenses, as if he’s fully aware of what’s coming next. “Knowing what I know now, I admit that was a very poor choice of words.”
I watch him hesitantly, not entirely sure I like where this is headed. “What do you mean?”
He sighs and grabs a remote from the nearby coffee table. Aiming it toward the television, he presses his thumb on the buttons. The screen pops to life, revealing security footage of me sitting at Irena’s bedside, my hands on my knees.
“How did you get this?” I ask incredulously, standing. “I disabled the camera. I—”
“I hid multiple,” he says. “The one you found was a cleverly placed decoy. The others are the real cameras, meant to protect her from Spectres. I have two dozen of my most elite soldiers in there, ready to take on a Spectre at a moment’s notice. Nurses, patients, even visitors—those are the real soldiers. The armed guards are just the decoys.” He pauses, glancing me over. “I didn’t take any risks, Rory. Not with someone you care this much about.”
I should be angry that he caught my private conversation on camera, but I’m mostly just fascinated at his ingenuity. Hands on my hips, I give him a brief once-over. “Well aren’t you clever.”
“A little.” He smirks.
Though I’m gob-smacked and speechless, I’m suddenly deeply grateful I never told Irena about Drew or the Darrington invasion.
