Page 19 of Red Dragon’s Heart

But… he did eat. He had food in the fridge, and he’d eaten in the café too. So he must need nourishment. Even if he wouldn’t die without it, that didn’t mean he wouldn’t suffer.

And he was already suffering.

He’s a shapeshifter, she reminded herself. The infection that makes them that way, takes away their humanity. He’s basically a sociopath.

But… was he? He’d let her go, rather than risk her dying without food or water. Even in monster form, he hadn’t hurt her.

Eric had lied about so many things. She’d unconsciously assumed what he’d said about all shapeshifters being sociopaths was true because hey, Eric certainly was one. But what if that was just part of the lie?

That was Zak in there—the man who liked his coffee black with lots of sugar and ate too many jelly doughnuts, who teased her with tidbits from his imaginary harem novel.

A real person. And even if he wasn’t, the thought of that poor monster dying alone, exhausted and in pain, was too much for her.

She found an empty plastic jug and filled it with water. Then she grabbed a couple of the containers of meat and a loaf of bread from the fridge, and headed back down the stairs.

He was in the same place she’d left him, the only difference being he was sitting up now. His knees were bent, arms folded on top, with his forehead resting on them.

His legs were still scaled and monstery where they bulged out of his ripped jeans, and so were his hands. His arms and head were human, his hair matted with sweat.

There was a low, constant growl emanating from him, that said the monster was still fighting to come back.

As quietly as possible, she shoved the food and water through the bars, and turned to go.

His voice reached her, a raspy whisper muffled by his arms. “You didn’t go.”

“Not yet.”

“You’re an idiot.”

Rude as always. “Maybe,” she said. Probably. “I brought you some food. And water.”

He raised his head like it was a huge effort, and turned it toward her. His eyes were still glowing, golden and slit-pupilled. “Why?” he asked.

She didn’t really know what to say. He wouldn’t want her to feel sorry for him—she knew that much about him. “I don’t know.” Her voice sounded very small. “I thought you might die.”

“And you decided that would be bad because…” He left the question open.

She shook her head. Eric had told her the monsters needed to be eradicated, that they were a danger to everyone, but that was just another lie. He didn’t want them eradicated—he was one himself, after all. “No creature should have to die like that,” she said.

Zak gave one of his little huffs of sardonic almost-laughter. Then he said, “There’s a potion I take. It usually can stave off a monster attack.”

Immediately her scientific mind clicked into gear. He had a drug that would prevent the changes? Just for this monster, or also the dragon-like form he’d used to fly her back here? That one had seemed to be controlled; why wasn’t this one? How did the drug work? Would it work on any shapeshifter? Was it based on a similar approach to hers, or completely different?

With an effort, she brought her mind back to the most important thing. “Can it make all this stop, once it’s started?” she asked.

“Probably not. But it might shorten it.” There was a long pause, as if he were working up to something. Finally he asked, “Can you get it for me?”

If the drug really worked, it might make him into a regular human again. What if he came after her?

But… it would stop his pain, too. And it would take him a while to recover, probably. She could still get away.

He said, “It’s in the locked cabinet in the kitchen. The keycard will open it.” His body shuddered, and red scales rippled up his arms.

He spoke again, his voice barely a whisper. “Please.”

That one word broke her heart. He was a proud man—or he had been once. Strong. Powerful. Now he was reduced to begging a prisoner for help. She could see the shame and despair in him.

Without a word, she turned and went back upstairs. She found the cabinet, and opened it with the key card.