Page 102 of Primal Dragon

He nodded. “We all need to gear up. We also need to make sure that all of these women are taken care of should we fail miserably.”

Syrena nodded. “Already being handled.”

They talked for a couple of hours formulating a plan while Nash made pancakes and Warren made coffee until everyone in the house was fed and caffeinated.

Henrik grew more sure of himself as the sleeping powder wore off and his body returned to normal. His dragon slithered along, just below the surface, fury pulsing through him. He wanted Quinn back in his arms. He wanted to tie her to a bed and fuck her until she had no fears or worries about being claimed, about being his mate.

The frigid Chicago air kept Henrik level-headed as he stood outside staring at the grey sky. He was trying to focus his thoughts and keep his dragon under control.

“Hello, little brother,” Levi said as he stepped out onto the deck beside him.

“Thank you for being here.”

“Sounds like it’s the place to be,” Levi replied. “I called Ash. He’s not sure if he should send Malcom and Kashton or not. He’s worried enough with just the two of us being in the line of fire.”

“We’ve got plenty of help. I don’t think it’s prudent to put anyone else in danger.”

Levi nodded. “I agree.” He turned so his backside was resting against the railing of the deck that overlooked the small backyard. “You sure this woman is your mate? Are you sure that you want to be with someone who is so susceptible to a vampire? She has a vampire for a best friend.”

Henrik’s brow furrowed. “You’re damning all vampires now? James has been a good friend to us.”

Levi shrugged. “There are also plenty of them trying to wipe us off the planet. I would prefer to be alive when all of this is over. Wouldn’t you? You just found your mate.”

“Hang on. You can’t question whether she should really be my mate and then use her as an excuse to damn the vampires all at the same time. That’s not how this works. Quinn is loving person. She saved James’s ass. She found a vampire barely alive, and she saved him. She had no reason to do that. Not to mention, it turned her world upside down.”

“If she’s your mate, her world was always going to be upside down,” Levi said quietly.

“You sound so disapproving.”

Levi shook his head. “I don’t like this human mate aspect. It was against the law except there are all sort of dragons finding humans mates now. Gavin heard from a few of his former Garnet Clan, they’ve also found their mates. Humans. What is going on?”

“I don’t know. Why do you assume it’s something bad? Maybe the law has been wrong this whole time. Maybe being with humans strengthens us. It’s not out of the realm of possibility. Finley comes more and more into her own powers every day. Now that she’s pregnant, the dragon line isn’t as threatened as it was.”

His brother nodded solemnly. “Our father was furiously against human mates. I remember him having a conversation about it once with Tristian’s father. You weren’t around yet. It was just me and Ash. We were listening outside the throne room.”

“Did he say why?”

“He had a list of reasons. I don’t remember much. It was a long time ago, but I do remember that he was sure that human mates would be the downfall of the dragon shifters.”

Henrik didn’t like the sound of that. Especially because Quinn’s presence in his life had been the exact opposite of the doom and gloom that Levi was wondering about.

“We trust in fate and the tourmaline. Do you think it’s tainted somehow?”

Levi lifted his chin and met his brother’s gaze. “I honestly don’t know, Rik. I hope this gut feeling I have is wrong and that I’m misinterpreting it. All I know is that a bad moon is rising. We can all feel it.”

“You’re definitely right about that. I think it’s Grey. I think this is all going to get a lot worse before it gets better.”

Levi didn’t reply. He just turned and leaned over, resting his arms on the railing while he looked across the yard, his thoughts even further away. Henrik joined him, lost in thought. Wondering if Quinn was even alive. Wondering if he would be able to trust her again. Wondering if he would ever see her alive again.

Henrik’s phone rang. He dug it out of his pocket and slid his thumb along the bottom of the screen. “Hello?”

“It’s Enzo.”

“What’s up?”

“Stefano and Grey are at the club again. Also, there was a woman with them. Curvy, white hair with pink and blue highlights, and in stiletto fuck me boots,” Enzo said.

“A BDSM mistress who loves unicorns.” Syrena’s voice drew Henrik’s attention around.

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