Page 16 of Red Captive

I wait it out. I’m eager to hear more, but I don’t bite.

“It’s your chance to fix things. To right wrongs. To helpyourpeople…yourking.”

It feels like a punch to the heart. I clench my jaw, feeling all the guilt rise up in me all over again. It’s always just below the surface. Always there, ready to grab me by the throat. I hate it. I own it. I fucking deserve it.

“How?” I say before I can stop myself.

His mouth twitches with another smile that doesn’t come to fruition. “I want you back in uniform, but as a guard. I can’t haveyou in any kind of leadership position until you prove yourself to me, to the people…to him.”

Him.

Holy fuck!

I nod once, feeling excitement start to grow in me. I was born to wear the uniform, to lead, to protect, to— No! I lost that right.

I shake my head. “I’m not sure if—”

“Didn’t you hear me? It’s your chance to right wrongs. You have to take it, Steel.”

I don’t have to do anything, but I don’t say anything. I nod, urging him to go on. I should at least hear him out.

“There is a human female staying on the island. We’re unsure how she got here. She says she can’t remember, but we suspect that she came here from Draig to spy on us.”

“What does a human have to do with me?” I ask. “Send her back. Lock her up.” I shrug.

“How can I do that when we have a shortage of females on the island? Besides, we offered her a great sum of money to stay and to mate with one of our males. To bear young, and she accepted.”

“Again, what does this have to do with me?” I ask. “I’m assuming you’re not asking me to mate with her.”

The general laughs like it’s the biggest joke he’s heard all day. He shakes his head. “Of course not…no. It’ll have to be someone with power and influence. Someone deserving of a female and young. Back to you proving yourself and restoring the people’s faith in you.”

I want to roll my eyes, but I don’t.

“The female tried to escape the island this morning as a stowaway on one of the airplanes headed for the Mainland. Thankfully, we caught her and stopped her, or it could have ended in disaster for all of us. For both islands. She went back on our agreement.” His jaw tightens, and his eyes narrow in anger.

I frown. “Why would she do that? What would she have to gain? I thought she accepted your proposition to mate a rich, important asshole in power. What about her payday?”

“I thought that would be clear.” He lifts his brows, expecting me to come up with the answer from nothing. “The human has inside information on us. She plans on going back to her people and exploiting it. She knows that shifters live on the islands. The humans think that we are dumb dragons. They don’t realize how wrong they are. The female wants to take that information to the press. She plans on exposing us to the humans and causing trouble for us. If the humans find out who and what we are, they will see us as a threat and potentially exterminate us. No! Theywillcome for us. It’s how the humans are wired. Kill first and ask questions later. She believes that her people have a right to know all about us. But that’s not the reason she plans on doing this. She’ll out us in order to make money, thus not needing the money she accepted from us. Thing is, she accepted our offer. She can’t go back on her word. We can’t possibly let her go back to the Mainland. She either needs to stay here and work, like everyone else. Or she needs to agree to mate for a lavish lifestyle and for money.”

“Have her sign an NDA,” I tell him.

The general barks out a laugh. “She isn’t to be trusted. She’ll sign the document. Go back to the Mainland and out us. If the humans find out about our existence, they will drop their bombs and take us out. It’s guaranteed. Or worse, they will round us up and conduct experiments on us. They’ll lock us up. She can’t be allowed to leave this island.”

The general looks genuinely concerned. Maybe this human is a real threat. I was hoping this would be a bunch of bullshit.

Ice shakes his head. “At the end of the day, she knows too much about us. I gave her the options, and she insists that she wants to mate with one of our males. That means that the humanneeds to live up to her side of the bargain. She needs to stay here and mate with a suitable male. Once it happens, we’d put her in the care of her new mate. Until that day, it will be your duty to watch her day and night. She doesn’t leave your sight. She can’t escape or lie her way to potential escape like she tried earlier today. You are the only person I trust, Steel.”

“Why me?” I ask. There are so many males who could take on this role quite easily. It is a mere human, after all. She will be weak.

“The female, Jennifer Harris, is very beautiful. She used her feminine wiles to escape this morning. She had her guard completely fooled. Now, the male will have to suffer the consequences ofheractions. He didn’t see it coming. She fooled him completely. It would happen with most males, even mated ones. Jennifer is very good. She’s devious and an excellent liar. You, of all people, know the type. You would not be fooled a second time. You’re too smart for that, Steel. You are theonlymale for the job. Your people need you. You will have to watch her closely until she is mated. If you carry out your assignment, you will be promoted. If you fail, I will not be able to save you this time.”

“I didn’t ask to be saved in the first place,” I growl from between clenched teeth.

“You didn’t deserve death. You made a careless mistake.”

“With dire consequences. I deserved death; I still do.”

“You deserve another chance. You have it now. Right wrongs. Take my offer.” His eyes are narrowed on me. He grips my wrist. “You will receive a decent wage, as well as board and lodgings. I know you will be stronger than to fall for the female’s trickery. You have to help your people. You owe me. More importantly, you owe your king.” His eyes narrow, and his voice takes on a hard edge.

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