Page 88 of Bad Blood Alpha

Chapter 34

The battle was over. Ashley and Rachelle began opening gateways at the top of the ridge, ready to lead the army of shifters back to the Silverlake territory.

The hellhounds had been turned to ash, and the red dragons had fled.

Miraculously, there were no casualties on the shifter side. Healers were tending to those who had been badly wounded, but everyone was expected to be okay.

Kira stood and watched her brother and sister fly back toward the castle. She hated seeing them stay in this cursed place, but it was the only home they’d ever known, and they’d refused to leave.

They’d been through so much. She didn’t know if they would ever completely recover. At least it was relatively safe for them here, in this bubble between worlds. Other dragon clans didn’t know about it, and if Mayah and Emon sealed up the interior gateways Gen-X had been using to come there from Earth, they would be safe from them too.

Or maybe they would leave the gates open, and eat any Gen-X operatives who came through. As far as Kira was concerned, that was a viable option too. Anybody who’d do this to shifters—to anyone—deserved what they got.

Mayah and Emon had flat-out refused to give the shifters any of Ragnor’s notes or formulas, a decision which Kira supported wholeheartedly.

Nobody needed to know the secret to that dragon poison. And if Ragnor had information on the origin of the House of Al-Maddeiri’s special powers, it was best that it stayed with the last of the House.

At least they’d agreed to let her come and visit. Maybe, eventually, they could make up for the lost years.

Kira walked back to where the Bad Blood Crew was waiting for her. They surrounded her, hugging, cat-kissing, or just touching her, as if to reassure themselves that she was okay. It was strange, being the recipient of that much affection, but she was starting to like it.

She had two families now.

Flynn wrapped one arm around her, cradling her neck in the crook of his elbow. “Hey, Princess,” he said, pulling her in for a long kiss.

The crew cheered and catcalled. Flynn gave them the finger, not breaking the kiss.

She felt the tingle of power going through her. They were bonded now, and she was Unbound. Her power had gone back to the draken of the House of Al-Maddeiri, the way it was supposed to.

And some of it had gone into Flynn. She wondered how much it had changed him.

“Everyone’s headed to Silverlake,” Xander said. “They’re hosting a big-ass victory barbecue, with lots of beer and sentimental speeches. It’s going to be awesome.”

“Fuck,” Flynn said. “Do you think they’ll notice if we don’t go?”

Kira grinned. So far, no changes.

“Yes,” she said, poking him. “Seeing as every shifter you ever met risked their lives so they could ride in like the cavalry and save our asses, the least we can do is go drink beer with them. And since they’re your friends, you’re going to have to make a thank-you speech.”

“They’re not my friends,” Flynn muttered. “I don’t have friends.”

Nope. No changes at all.

“At least he has pants on,” Brody said. “Even if they don’t fit.”

“I borrowed them from a dead guard.”

“Which means you lost all your stuff,” Xander said. “I bet you lost my favorite knife, too.”

“Because saving your knife would have been more important than saving my ass?”

“No, wait,” Kira said. “I have it.” It was the one she’d grabbed off the floor in the lab, when she was fighting Ragnor. She pulled it from the sheath. “Here.” She tossed it to Xander.

He huffed as he caught the knife. “At least some people respect other people’s property.” He pried open the end of the pommel, revealing a cavity inside. He shook something out of it, about the size of a nickel.

“What’s that?” Kira asked.

“Magical tracker,” Xander said. “How did you think we found you?”