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Her dragon grunted. Not all change is bad.
Finding her voice again, Nikki said, “If Bram says yes, then I’m going to help Rafe, too. Together, we might find things out quicker than if he worked solo. I know who I can trust on Stonefire to help with the hunt, too. Pooling our resources should make everything work faster.”
Kai raised his brows. “Are you well enough to take this on?”
“Of course I am,” Nikki stated. “My wing may still be tender, but there’s a lot I can do without flying. I’m sure Dr. Sid would agree with that.”
Rafe rubbed circles on her lower back. The circular motion eased some of her tension. Without him saying a word, she knew Rafe would back her up.
Kai assessed her for a second before nodding. “All right, then I need to make my proposal to Bram. I want you two to rest up until Aaron arrives back from Ireland this afternoon. I want you both at that briefing. Unless you have any other pressing questions, you can leave.”
“When will you find out Bram’s answer, Kai?” Nikki asked.
“Soon,” Kai answered. “I’ll talk to you after Aaron’s briefing.” He paused a second before adding, “But feel free to brainstorm ideas in the meantime. You two are like me in that once you have a possible mission, you just want to get started.”
Nikki eyed Kai. “I’m grateful for the understanding, but I’m surprised you aren’t protesting or barking orders.”
“You warning the clan of the attack instead of taking them on yourself, even with your history related to the dragon hunters, proved to me you are ready for more responsibility. Don’t disappoint my judgment, Nikki,” Kai answered.
Her dragon spoke up. It looks as if you’re finally getting the recognition you so desperately wanted.
You seem a bit underwhelmed.
I am. I don’t need the clan’s approval to know I’m brilliant, and so are you.
Aware everyone was waiting for her to answer, she stopped talking to her beast. “I won’t disappoint you, Kai. The fact you’re willing to help me keep a male you don’t much care for means a lot to me.”
Kai grumbled. “Hartley isn’t too bad.”
Rafe snorted. “Don’t sound too happy about it.”
Jane frowned. “Rafe, don’t make the situation worse. Your actions this week changed Kai’s mind about you quite a bit.”
Kai grunted, and Nikki bit her lip to keep from laughing at the look on his face. Apparently, Jane had shared too much.
Looking up at Rafe’s profile, Nikki would fight to have the same comfort and trust with her human as Kai did with his.
Her beast snarled. No one will take him away from us. He is ours.
Needing the comfort of Rafe’s touch, she leaned against his side, and he lightly patted her hip. Rafe nodded at Kai. “We’ll be at the meeting. In the meantime, I’m going to take care of Nikki.”
“Good. We’ll see you this afternoon.”
After Jane waved farewell, Rafe guided Nikki out of Kai and Jane’s cottage. When they were far enough away from any cottage, she whispered, “Do you really think we can find evidence linking Christie to the hunters?”
“If anything exists, no matter how small, I will find it.”
Nikki hated to doubt, but she couldn’t resist replying, “How do you know?”
Rafe stopped and cupped her cheek. “Because I’m fighting for the greatest prize of my life. And I’ll be damned if I ever give you up.”
She placed a hand over her lower belly. “For our child.”
“Not just our daughter, but also for you. I intend to make you my family, Nikki. And I will do whatever it takes to win that right.”
The honesty in his eyes made her eyes prickle. She could try to blame it on pregnancy hormones, but she wouldn’t. “You should try asking me if you’ve won that right. Because if you had, then you’d already know that I want you as my family, too, Rafe Hartley.”
Running the backs of his fingers down her cheek, he murmured, “Tell me again.”
