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Nikki growled and Aaron laughed as he left. Rafe turned toward his dragonwoman and resisted laughing at the look in her eyes. “I know you’re thinking ‘males’ inside your head. But challenges and joking around is the male equivalent of hugs and warm feelings.”
Nikki shook her head and he chuckled.
Tracing some words in the dirt, Nikki moved her paw aside when she was done. Can we get Christie?
“I hope so. Because if he becomes DDA Director, I have a feeling my future on Stonefire isn’t guaranteed.”
Nikki hissed through her teeth. Stroking the side of her neck, he murmured, “Don’t worry. If there’s one thing I’m good at, it’s reconnaissance and strategizing. There has to be a way to catch Christie. There just has to be.”
As Nikki leaned her head against his body, Rafe was careful to keep any doubts he had to himself.
Chapter Seventeen
Aaron Caruso would’ve preferred flying to County Donegal in Ireland, but Clan Glenlough’s leader, Killian O’Shea, had forbidden it.
So instead of gliding through the night sky at a quick pace, he was stuck driving a hired saloon car along the country roads and tapping his fingers against the steering wheel as he trudged along. “How do humans stand being inside these slow machines so much?”
One of the Protectors accompanying him on the trip, Quinn Summers, chuckled. “Patience was never one of your strengths, which makes your choice of career an odd one.”
Aaron’s dragon spoke up. Why does everyone keep saying that to us?
Beca
use it’s true.
His beast huffed. We are still a good Protector, which is all that matters.
Rather than have the same, pointless argument he’d had with his dragon before, Aaron answered Quinn. “I can be patient if it requires it. But each second we spend at this ridiculous speed gives the hunters that much more time to attack before we can prepare for it. I may know little about O’Shea, but the enemy of my enemy is most assuredly my friend in this case.”
Quinn looked to his smartphone. “We’re nearly there at any rate if the directions are correct. Are you sure about this, Aaron? I don’t like facing a new clan in the dark.”
The phone said to make a right turn, so Aaron complied. “It’s more common in Europe than the UK. I found that out in Italy. Something to do about avoiding human notice. Things aren’t quite so friendly elsewhere as in Northern England and Scotland.”
Aaron had spent nearly two years living with his mother’s clan in Italy and had only recently returned to Stonefire.
Quinn sighed. “It’s only bloody Ireland, not Italy. A few centuries ago, we were allies with the bastards.”
“That was before the partition of Ireland. If the Northern Irish clan knew we were here, they’d report us to the British DDA and cause trouble. I just want to get in, convince Killian to listen to our bloody warning, and leave. Kai can sort out the details. He’s much better at that than I am.”
Quinn snorted. “I won’t argue with that.”
He shot his friend a look, but when Quinn shrugged, Aaron couldn’t help but smile again. “You’re just jealous I won our year six flying competition. It’s been nearly twenty years. I think it’s time to let it go, Quinn.”
“Considering I won it the next two years, I would think you’d be the one needing to let it go,” Quinn pointed out.
“I would challenge you to a rematch, but I know your mate wouldn’t like it.”
“Vivian probably wouldn’t have cared a year ago. But now with the coming baby, I promised to be a bit more careful.”
“Right, careful. I’m surprised she let you come on this mission.”
“I’m a Protector, Aaron. Besides, she still feels guilty over Murray being kidnapped under our watch about a year ago. If I can do anything to help take down the hunters, she would be on board.”
“That’s right, I forgot about that.” Aaron glanced to his friend and back to the road. “But neither of you should be blaming yourselves. Anyone who is given that bloody mixture of periwinkle and mandrake root would be knocked unconscious. Not even the year seven and eight flying champion could prevent it from happening.”
Quinn chuckled. “You’re right, of course.”
“Pardon? I must be hearing things. Could you say that again?”
