Page 17 of Primal Dragon

“I need your help. I’m trying to infiltrate Stefano’s operation. In order to prove myself, I have to kidnap a female. I don’t want to put anyone in danger, but I have to get back, fast, or not only am I going to lose my spot, but he’s going to put a price on my head.”

“We can’t have that,” she teased. “What exactly do you want from me?”

“I’m not sure exactly. I was hoping you would have some sudden brilliant idea of how to kidnap someone and protect them at the same time.”

Syrena sighed. “You know, Rik, sometimes your expectations are a little high. How much time do I have?”

“Five minutes.”

Syrena sighed. “All right, I have a thought…”

Something hit him on the back on his head and he went down. The phone flew out of his hand and landed in the snow. Henrik could hear Syrena talking in the distance. Just as he turned around to fight his attacker, another hit to the head and he went down again from the force of it.

Henrik snarled and whirled around and grabbed his assailant’s wrist just before he came down on his head again with a tire iron.

“Q? What the fuck?!”

Q’s eyes grew wide and he tried to tug his arm away. And then something flashed in his eyes, he stepped forward, and shoved into Henrik hard, using his leg to trip Henrik backward.

Henrik released Q and fell to the ground with a resounding thud.

“Fuck.”

Q took off toward his car.

Henrik jumped up and charged after him. Henrik was trying to figure out what the hell was going on, but all he could think about was getting to him before he took off leaving him stranded.

Before Q was able to get into the car, Henrik grabbed him and slammed him against the car, holding both his hands against the cold metal of the hood. Q let out an unsettling shrill yelp of pain.

Henrik knew any vampire worth their salt would be able to get out of his hold, but this one either wasn’t trying or couldn’t. What was this guy’s deal?

“You wanna tell me what the fuck you’re doing?” Henrik growled menacingly.

The vampire jerked back, nearly clocking his head on the car. “No.”

“No? So, what then?”

“Do whatever it is that you’re going to do to me,” Q snapped.

Henrik could taste the fear on him, which was also unusual for a vampire. “What are you?”

Q didn’t answer.

“Look, I don’t want you to have to ride in the trunk, Q, but that’s where you’re going if you don’t start telling me the truth.”

“What difference does it make? You’ll kill me either way.”

Definitely not a vampire threat. What was going on?

“If that’s the case, wouldn’t you rather just tell me the truth and see if it gets you dead instead of dying because you wouldn’t speak up?”

Q froze like the logic hadn’t occurred to him. He let out a shaky breath. “I’m not a vampire.”

“So I’m starting to gather. You’re human?”

“I am.”

Henrik eased his grip but didn’t let go. He didn’t want to get hit over the head again.

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