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But more than that, it was good to be a part of the team again. Ever since he’d lost part of his leg, he’d been forced to sit and let everyone else take charge. And to a male who’d been leading wings of dragons for more than a decade, he bloody well hated giving up control, let alone feeling useless.
His inner dragon, the second personality inside his head, grunted.Why are you pacing and making our leg ache? She’ll get here when Kai and his team get here. Unless you think Kai will fail the clan?
Don’t be ridiculous, dragon.
Kai Sutherland was the head Protector of Stonefire, in charge of clan security and related operations. Bronx, like everyone on Stonefire, trusted him implicitly.
His dragon replied,Then sit the fuck down and save your strength. It’s going to be a delicate situation, given what we know, and being in a temper or all worked up will probably scare her.
Bronx knew his beast was correct. This Percy female was only one of a number of prisoners that Kai and his Protectors had rescued from a facility that conducted illegal experiments on dragon-shifters. As best he knew, it was loosely tied to the dragon hunters, who were Stonefire’s nemesis and more and more recently, a pain in their arses.
And dragon hunters weren’t known for treating dragon-shifters well. Hudson, one of Bronx’s younger brothers, had lost his first mate to the bloody hunters a number of years ago.
Their reputation for harshness was why Bronx was here at all. He wasn’t involved with security but had previously been head of the fire and rescue team. After losing his leg, he’d had to find something to occupy his time, and researching how to work with trauma victims had become his focus.
Between working with the clan psychologist and the recommended texts, he would have to suffice until Dr. Rossi returned. Since she was currently away in Ireland—dragon psychologists were few and far between—he was the next best thing. His job was to ensure Zain, the clan’s best interrogator, didn’t push the rescued female too hard too soon while trying to figure out if she was a threat to Stonefire.
Bronx finally sat down, crossed his arms over his chest, and jostled his good leg up and down. He was just about to check in with his teenaged daughter when a knock sounded on the door.
In the next second, Kai Sutherland’s tall, blond-haired, pale-skinned form strode in. He said without preamble, “She’s unconscious, so I had to put her in the bedroom. Come with me.”
“Unconscious?”
Kai nodded. “One of the prison guard fuckers shot her with a dart. I told Zain the interrogation would have to wait. Although I’m still trying to figure out what to do with her now. Resources are tight, and even if it’d probably be better to have a female watch over Percy, I’m reluctant to do so until we know more about her. The only two I’d trust to do so—and handle themselves—are both watching over the bastards at the facility until the Department of Dragon Affairs shows up to sort the mess.”
He was talking about Nikki and Diana, two female Protectors who were part of Kai’s team.
Hefting himself up, which took a little skill with his prosthetic, Bronx said, “I can watch over her for a little while, provided she remains unconscious. But I shouldn’t be alone in a room with her until we know more about what happened during her imprisonment.”
Kai nodded. “Ava and Joey’s jumbled story said she not only handled the guards without blinking but did her best to protect them whilst they were there. I want to believe them, but children can be manipulated. We need to determine whose side she’s on as soon as possible.”
“I know, but you can’t just shout at her or threaten to hurt her. She’s not a fucking dragon hunter.”
Kai grunted. “That we know of. Ivy was brainwashed by a similar group, and this dragonwoman is fucking young. It’s possible they got to her too, especially since Ava said she never saw Percy’s pupils flash the whole time she was there. And all of the inmates were dragon-shifters, so she has to be one too. Otherwise, it wouldn’t make sense.”
Bronx shrugged one shoulder. “Her dragon could have been silenced. Dr. Sid will know more after she examines her.”
Kai nodded. “She’s coming, but I wanted you to be in the room, just in case Dr. Sid needs help restraining her. And who knows? If she wakes up soon, maybe you can get her to chat a bit and open up.”
He raised his brows. “Don’t expect bloody miracles, Kai. I heard a little about the other prisoners, and it sounds like they were all abused, or worse.”
Kai’s face turned grim. “It wasn’t for the faint of heart.” He shook his head. “Regardless, I want to know more about her before we allow her inside Stonefire. And since Dr. Rossi isn’t here, you’d better be able to do what you said you could.”
The head Protector’s words prickled at his ego. And even if he knew Kai was merely doing his job, he stood taller and stated, “I’ll be able to handle her better than Zain, that’s for bloody sure.”
Kai merely raised an eyebrow. “Nice to see some of your confidence is back, Bronx.”
Before Bronx could say a word, Kai opened the door and motioned for him to follow.
His dragon said,He’s not trying to provoke you. Kai is Kai; it’s just his way.
That meant the dragonman probably had some master plan Bronx had no clue about.I know. Still, this is our chance to prove we’re back to full fighting force and that we can do more than sit behind a desk. Maybe we can’t fly into an inferno or locate someone trapped on a mountainside, but at least this way, I can help people again.
That was something he needed to do, as if it would one day make up for what he’d done to his late mate, Edith.
Bronx’s beast growled, but Kai motioned his chin toward a chair and whispered, “Sit there. I don’t want any of us looming over her, except for Sid. If she wakes and starts to freak out, then you’ll have to give her this.” Kai handed over a capped syringe filled with a sedative.
Bronx wanted to toss it across the room. “I hope I don’t have to use it. I probably won’t ever be able to earn her trust then.”
