Page 30 of Surge of Storms

“They’re ruining our reputation,” Granger says angrily. “Making us seem like thoughtless beasts. And all for what? What the hell do they want now that they’ve awoken Malikay?”

“Speaking of which, why was Malikay killing them so brutally? I mean, the other dragons have been sleeping for nearly two hundred years, they might not understand the world the way it is now, but Malikay is basically human. He went to school with humans. He got a job with humans. How the hell can he suddenly be doing that?”

Zane speaks up. “Malikay has always had something rotten inside of him during each lifetime. He likes blood, death, and violence. I even suspect he wants a mate more to control her, to win, than he does because he actually wants a mate. This is different from most dragons. Most dragons will have the natural urge to shred their mate’s wings, especially betas who are unlikely to get a mate, but they will not, because they want her happiness over her submission. Malikay is not like this.”

“He’s a fucking psychopath,” Evander says.

I shiver and wrap my arms around myself. “He’s the kind of man I wouldn’t want around me in human form or dragon form.”

“Not to worry,” Zane tells me, wrapping his arms around me. “We will eventually catch Malikay and his men. We will shred their wings, and we will dump them somewhere they can never hurt another person. It will be brutal. But necessary.”

“Why not just kill them?” Evander asks.

Zane looks troubled. “With Malikay, you risk him being reborn and us having to kill him again during our lifetime, since dragons live so long. As for the others, shredding their wings will make them helpless. We need not anger the goddess by taking their lives to be rid of them.”

Okay, fair enough.

I frown, thinking back to the video. “Where was the brown dragon?”

That somber thought falls between all of us, and nobody answers. Why is it so concerning to not be seeing one of them causing issues? Probably because we’re all wondering if they might be planning something.

Right? Or have they given up on me now that the storm dragon has been found?

Dr. Abigail gives a smile that seems a little forced. “The good news is that we’re making progress with our experiments. Sam, we were wondering if you might be willing to try out the pheromone blockers we’ve been developing.”

“Of course!” I leap out of Zane’s lap. “I’d love to find a way to hide from the other male dragons that doesn’t involve…” I clamp my mouth shut as Dr. Abigail goes to another corner of the lab, likely to get her pheromone blocker, and then glance over at my men innocently.

The guys are all staring at me, but Aydan is the one to answer. “Sorry if being with us issuchan inconvenience.”

I roll my eyes. “You know what I mean. I love you guys, but it’d be nice to know I won’t be swarmed by male dragons if you guys aren’t able to boink me one day.”

“Boink?” Evander asks, lifting a brow.

“You heard me,” I say, staring him down.

Granger clears his throat awkwardly. “They’re just teasing, Sam. Trust us, we want you to be as safe as possible, no matter what.”

Dr. Abigail returns, holding a kit that seems to contain three perfume bottles.

“I do not understand what is happening,” Zane says, frowning at the bottles.

I give him a smile. “They’re trying to find a way to make me smell less appealing to the male dragons without needing to have constant sex.”

Zane looks at me like I’m stupid. “I already explained the solution. You have to get pregnant. Then, your scent will be changed for the rest of your lifetime to one the males do not enjoy, and you will be safe.”

“What have we done the lifetimes I haven’t gotten pregnant?” I ask.

He gives a sad look. “We stood guard, never faltering in our devotion to you.”

That sounds… exhausting.

I sigh. “Well, they’re trying to come up with a solution that’s easier than that.”

Zane shakes his head. “Silly humans. So many ideas.”

I smile. “You don’t think it’ll work?”

He shrugs. “No, but I hope it does.”

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