Page 10 of Surge of Heat

Okay, this I can handle. “Specter Inc. is a powerful company that mostly funds scientists. One of their main areas of interest is dragons. They actually fund the Phoenix Institute. If I want answers on how to stay safe as a dragon, or even more about what I’ve become, they’re the place to go.”

“And what if they just try to chop you up into little bits?” Aydan asks, one brow raised.

I shrug. “I’ll shift into a dragon and burn them all to death.”

“Can you do that?” Granger asks.

I think so.“Yes.”

“And what if they’re prepared for that?” Aydan asks, frowning.

I pause, my thoughts racing. “You two will take care of them.”

Maybe they won’t be enough to combat whatever the hell will be waiting for us at the base, but we don’t have a better plan. We have to trust that the three of us can get out of any situation.

“We’ll fight with everything we’ve got,” Aydan says.

Granger nods. “Okay then, that’s where we’re heading and that’s our plan. Now, problem number two…”

Aydan and I both glance at him.There’s another problem?

Granger runs his good hand through his hair. “The green dragon can scent Samantha over long distances unless she’s recently had intercourse.”

Oh my god, is my face on fire? It feels like it’s on fire.

He continues when neither of us speak. “It seems pertinent that Sam’s scent be covered before continuing to the base, which requires the use of semen from a specimen. Otherwise, we’ll simply attract a tumescence dragon and be no safer there than on the mountain.”

Okay, tumescence, meaning engorged genitals, semen, and specimen. I can talk about this in a clinical sense. “That seems to be correct. But if we can delay our journey, I can find a specimen in this town who can perform enough intercourse to ensure my scent is properly covered.”

“No!” they both say at the same time.

Granger is beat red. Aydan just stares for a minute. I don’t know what to do. Just go out and find a horny guy to bang anyway?

Then, Aydan’s blue eyes meet mine and intensify. “You’re not going to bang some random horny guy for his cum.”

I throw up my hands, feeling frustrated and embarrassed. “Then what do you want me to do? Go find Evander?”

His “No,” comes out an angry growl. There’s a tense pause, and then, “You and I need to talk.”

“Talk?” A nervous laugh bubbles from my throat. “But I thought this talk was going so well already?”

He slips out of the booth. “Outside. Now.”

Which sounds likeoh somuch fun.

FOUR

Aydan

We finda bench beneath the shade of some trees just off the main road with the diner, a place that any dragon would have trouble spotting us from. From here, we can see the diner parking lot and the main road, but at least it feels a little private. I need privacy if I’m going to talk to her about something so important. Privacy is the least I need if I’m going to somehow make it through a conversation I’ve been terrified of having my entire life, and address the elephant in the room – the asshole gray dragon who might be dead but is still fucking up my life, somehow.

I take a deep breath and wipe my hands on my pants. My head gives a little throb, and I reach up to touch the significant bump, trying to avoid the big scar.

Sam frowns. “Let me see it.”

I lean toward her, and she gently takes my head. A little gasp slips from her lips. “Aydan. You’re an idiot. This needs to be seen by a doctor.”

“It’s fine,” I tell her.

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