Page 106 of Primal Dragon

Henrik didn’t feel the tears streaming down his face. He looked up and saw all the faces masked with sadness, just staring at him.

Levi stood before him. “Brother, get up.”

Henrik’s grip on Quinn tightened. He wouldn’t release her; he wouldn’t leave her alone. He’d already failed her.

Grey.

The singular thought thumped into his skull and curled around like a viper ready to strike.

Henrik eased Quinn down to the ground and stepped back.

“Henrik, don’t do it.”

Henrik leapt into the air and shifted. He flapped his wings trying to get as much height as he could manage into the grey night sky.

Grey has to pay.

25

The Fire Stone and the Vampire

Two hours before…

Quinn ended up back under the club. Her brother was following behind her while they were escorted by two other vampires. One in front to lead the way, the other to make sure they didn’t try any funny business.

Funny business. What a stupid phrase, Quinn thought.

The weight of the stone seemed heavier by the moment as they headed toward whatever darkness Grey and Stefano had planned for them.

The leading vampire opened a door and stepped aside, allowing Drake and Quinn to enter. Quinn knew that whatever was about to happen was going to be life changing and she knew more than anything, she wasn’t ready for it.

“Quinn, love, I’m so glad you’re here for the finale.” Grey stepped forward and reached out his hand.

Quinn watched in horror as her own hand with the stone lifted and plopped it right into his palm. Her arm went limp and fell back to her side.

“I really do love being a vampire,” Grey said, smirking. “All these big productions and it makes everyone forget why vampires are dangerous in the first place.”

Quinn shivered as he moved over to a table covered in ingredients that by themselves looked innocuous. For the most part.

Tabitha was standing in front of a small black caldron over a Bunsen burner. She dropped in a dash of this, a sprinkle of that, and a few drops of something else. She was bent over an old book that looked like it was about to fall apart.

Grey set the stone down on the table next to the witch while she worked.

Quinn glanced around the rest of the room. There were five women chained to the wall.

“Okay, I’m here. Clearly, you’ve won. What is with the endless stream of women? You’re not shipping them out. What are you doing with them?”

Grey smiled. “If circumstances were different, I think I’d like you, Quinn. Too bad you’re filth like your dragon mate.” He moved back into the center of the room. There was a circle with all sorts of symbols drawn in it, around it and through it.

He pointed at her. “Women are underestimated all the time. They’re victims when they’re not being the villain for everything else. If there’s a problem with the child, it has to be the mother’s fault for working or for just being a terrible mother. If a woman was raped, clearly, she was asking for it. Women are overlooked, underestimated, and over-vilified. It amazes me the work the human race does on itself. Women are more evil to other women then the men who treat them terribly, keep them in their place, and constantly degrade them. If only they were to see strength in unifying rather than tearing each other apart, they could take over the world. Women who can put on a slinky dress and get a married man to betray his poor wife at home with the kids. Women who can sense when something is wrong, just from their gut and intuition. Women who have the power of creation. All this power, and you don’t use it.”

Grey turned to face Quinn. “So, I will.”

Quinn’s brow furrowed. “Use it how?”

“Who would suspect a beautiful woman coming up to them? In a club, a restaurant, a bar, a baseball game. They will be the best assassins. And they’ll have not only their feminine wiles, but they’ll also have the ability to tear their victims apart.”

“Grey, they’re innocent women. Don’t hurt them.”

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