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“With Jane’s help, I’m sure I can manage.”
Nikki placed her hands on her hips. “And you made all these grand plans without me? Use your head, Rafe. Humans in the UK might think dragon-shifters are interesting at the moment, but it could all change in a heartbeat. The Head of the DDA will be selected next week, and I can tell you right now that Jonathan Christie won’t bloody well agree to your half-arsed plan.”
Aware of Hector and Delphine watching, Rafe reached out a hand and took a hold of Nikki’s wrist. “We need to discuss this in private.”
He half-expected Hector to yell and stop him, but the dragonman didn’t stop Rafe from leaving with Nikki in tow.
Once they were in the living room, he released her wrist and placed his hands on her hips. Nikki’s eyes flashed with anger. “You are bloody crazy, Rafe. Do you know what happened to humans who tried raising dragon-shifters on their own in the past? The dragons went rogue and ate the humans.”
“Maybe so, but I can petition help from my sister’s bastard mate. Probably your parents, too.”
Growling in frustration, Nikki slammed her hands against his chest. Rafe barely managed to keep his balance. She did it again, and he fell back.
Landing on his arse, Nikki kicked his shin. “Goddamn you, Rafe Hartley. You, out of everyone, I thought knew how important being a Protector is to me. And now you’re betraying me by making choices without me, choices that will shape my future without my input. My father will never allow me to give up the child now.” Her voice cracked. “You’re no better than the elder dragon-shifters, forcing me into a life I’m not ready for.”
She turned to leave. Rafe clutched her ankle and pulled until she was on the floor. Covering her body with his, he said, “I’m not fucking betraying you, woman. I know how important being a Protector is to you. Hell, you work harder than almost anyone I’ve ever met.”
“Then why are you waving a future I can’t have in front of me? It’s hard enough to have you after all these years and have to let you go. But now you’re trying to prolong the pain by sticking around with a naïve idea about us raising a child together. Can’t you just go?”
“It’s not a naïve idea,” he answered in a steely voice. “And what do you mean about having me after all these years and letting me go?”
“Just let me go, Rafe. You obviously don’t remember.”
“If you mean what happened four years ago, then yes, I do.”
Chapter Six
Nikki’s heart thundered in her chest. No bloody way.
Gathering her wits, she tried to push Rafe off her, but he wouldn’t budge. Stupid muscled human male.
Nikki finally mustered a response. “Don’t lie to me, Rafe. We’ve worked together for nearly six months and not once did you mention the past.”
“Excuse me for not wanting to bring back painful memories. Believe me, Nikki, I remembered what I did to you all those years ago. Every time I see you, it comes rushing back.”
She searched his eyes for deceit. Unless Rafe was a good liar, she sensed him telling the truth. Nikki needed to know more. “Why did you do it?”
Rafe sighed. “I was cocky and trying to impress some of my colleagues.”
“That’s not much of an answer. Tell me what you remember, so I know you’re not talking out of your arse.”
Easing off her body, Rafe sat up. Nikki followed suit and scooted back several inches. The distance would prevent her from punching Rafe if he started spouting rubbish.
“You had just arrived after training,” Rafe began. “It was my second assignment with dragon-shifters. The one before had ended badly, with my long-time friend dying when a dragon failed to take out an armored vehicle.
“I was still grieving when I was given a second assignment. I blamed the dragon-shifters in our unit for fucking up the maneuver. The last thing I needed was to be surrounded by dragons, especially one that fancied me.”
Nikki leaned forward and put her elbows on her thighs. “Why didn’t you tell me about your friend? It would’ve been a whole lot nicer than ridiculing me in front of your men.”
She remembered catching Rafe on his way to dinner. Pulling him aside, she’d been under the impression they were alone. After spilling her feelings, Rafe’s reply had stayed with her to the present day: Dragon-shifters are useless creatures who fail when needed most. Why would I want to associate with one, let alone touch one?
Rafe had left then and joined his friends on the other side of the unpacked crates. The approval and disgust in all of their eyes had sent Nikki running away to cry alone in a corner.
The next two years had been hell, but she’d found a way to ignore their looks and whispers and work with the humans. She’d never sought out Rafe Hartley ever again.
Of course, she’d dreamed about him. More than she’d ever ad
mitted to anyone. With Rafe being her true mate, it all made more sense now.
