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Sid tossed aside the bucket in her hands and pulled out a syringe from her pocket. “The only good thing about me having a silent dragon is I don’t have to put up with the mating frenzy crap.” Tapping the side of the syringe and pushing the plunger, Sid continued, “We don’t have much time, so let me lay out the options. The drug in my hand will silence your dragon for a few days, but you won’t be able to shift, and it’s only temporary. You’ll have to learn to control your dragon on your own over the next few months.”
Nikki grimaced. “What other option do I have?”
“Your other option is to shack up with Rafe Hartley and let the frenzy take its course.”
Her beast roared from her prison. Ignoring it, Nikki blinked. “What?”
Sid raised an eyebrow. “You’re clever, Nikki, and you don’t need me to repeat myself.”
“I—” Nikki slowly sat up and hugged her knees to her chest. “Rafe agreed to this?”
“Bram seems to think he will.”
Stunned, Nikki could barely manage an answer. “Not only is it illegal, but we irritate the hell out of each other. Why would he even think about it?”
Sid crouched down to meet her gaze. “You’re the one who kissed him. You tell me.”
At the mention of the kiss, Nikki’s dragon snarled and started clawing again. The barrier would last a minute, if that.
“Nothing like making a life-changing decision at the drop of a hat,” Nikki murmured.
/> “Life isn’t always fair, Nikola. You can only do the best with what you’ve been given.”
Nikki felt about two inches tall. After all, Sid had lost her dragon. That was a million times worse.
What to do, what to do. Then an idea formed. She could always give her child up for adoption. More than enough dragon families yearned for more children. They would be able to give her child a better future than she could manage as a single mother working as a Protector.
Not only that, once she was knocked up, Nikki’s beast would calm the fuck down and she could continue her work. Hell, she might even be able to help capture Simon Bourne after all.
Sure, she should ask Rafe’s input. Considering what she knew of the human, he didn't exactly appear to be father material. He probably wouldn’t have any objections to her plan.
Decision made, Nikki nodded to herself. “I’ll let the frenzy take its course and I'll give the child up for adoption later.”
Sid searched her eyes. “I’m only going to ask once more to confirm this is what you want. Is it?”
As her dragon ripped another hole in her invisible prison, Nikki bobbed her head. “Yes. As long as Rafe isn’t forced into it.”
Standing up, Sid moved toward the door. “Right, then I’ll let Bram know. Until everything is in place, I’m sorry, but you’re going to have to suffer. Drugging you will only delay the inevitable, and I believe you want this whole mess sorted as quickly as possible.”
Sid locked the door behind her, and Nikki closed her eyes. Mate-claim frenzies rarely happened more than once. If she could just survive the current situation, then she could continue her work as a Stonefire Protector for as long as she liked. The elder dragon-shifters might also finally stop nagging her, too.
Her beast broke free and snarled. Clapping her hands over her ears, Nikki willed for the entire mess to be over soon enough.
~~~
Rafe tapped his fingers against the table. It had been nearly a bloody hour. Did Bram not care about Nikki’s welfare at all?
Not to mention he’d been going in circles for his answer. At this rate, Rafe might just have to flip a damn coin.
At least, he’d been able to make a few calls. The mission would be halted until further notice. Six months of bloody research wasted, not to mention the leave he’d been granted for the next two weeks. Rafe only hoped he could act on the next opportunity to take down Simon Bourne.
Just as he debated standing up again, the door opened. Kai walked into the room, followed by the tall, dark-haired woman who was both Kai’s mate and Rafe’s sister, Jane.
Jane spoke up first. “I should’ve known this would happen. You two have been arguing rather passionately for months.”
Standing up, Rafe narrowed his eyes. “I don’t need you to meddle in this, Jane.”
Kai growled. “Don’t snap at your sister.”
