Page 54 of Dragon Unhinged

Brianna, are you all right?

Just worried about you. I don’t like that we don’t know what’s happening tonight, and I don’t like that we haven’t gotten you out yet. But Ellie’s here, and we’re going to see what we can do.

My mate. So full of hope. So fierce. So determined.

So fucking perfect.

I just have to make it back here. Back to her.

“Get up,beast, and get moving. Boss doesn’t want any scorch marks on that suit, so don’t make me use this.” The guard holds up a shock stick.

But if I get to walk out of this cell, without being forced, without being tortured, I’ll take it.

“Don’t think about running. You won’t get far.” He nudges me toward the stairs, prodding me with the shock stick but not sending any jolts through it.

If only he knew, the first place I would want to run to is my mate’s bedroom.

I lead the way upstairs with hardly any direction from my captors, and I can’t help but wonder if this is a trick, if they’re planning on making an example of me. Worrying if my captors have any of the dragon breath women who could turn me to ash, right in front of Brianna’s window.

Instead, a man dressed in a tailored suit, with grey hair at his temples, waits for me in the foyer.

“I don’t think we need to continue with the shock stick, do we, Declan?” He tilts his head toward me, and my stomach drops as I recognize some of the features that my mate must have inherited from this man. The same eyes, but without the warmth, without the love, without soul.

“I’ll take him from here.” He gestures at the front door, and after a second I realize he wants me to leave the house.

This definitely has to be some sort of trap.

He leads me into a waiting town car, and stares at me expectantly until I buckle my seatbelt.

Only once the car starts moving, does he talk to me again. “I don’t believe we’ve officially met. I’m Grey.”

Oh, fuck. There’s only one way this man, Brianna’s father, could be Grey right now, and it must mean he’s been thralled. Or he’s been dosed with Dragon’s Fire, which would be worse. Forced to be a vessel, like Finley was, like Tristian was, like so many have suffered at the bloodsucker’s hands.

“What do you want?”

“All in due time. I’m sure you’re not being fed well, even with your little mate sneaking you treats every chance she gets. Wouldn’t you prefer to discuss this over a proper meal? I do love it when I get to live vicariously through my hosts.” He grins, and the soulless, psychotic monster comes through even more obviously now.

“I’d rather just know where you’re taking me and what you want from me. If you’re going to torture me, kill me, whateverfucked up plans you have, I’d rather just get it over with.” I’m tempted to try to fight my way out of the car, to try to run now, but not when Brianna could still be in danger. Not when she’s a bigger bargaining chip, a bigger threat to my happiness, than just going along with this monster’s plans.

“Now, why would you assume my plans involve torture and murder? Just because I have no love for dragons, or any shifters, really, doesn’t mean we couldn’t be mutually beneficial for each other.” His tone is so calm, almost jovial, that I can’t help but assume he’s got something horrific up his sleeve.

I wait for him to continue, but before he says anything else, we come to a stop at the entrance of a high-end steak house. “Dragons do enjoy a nice, rare piece of meat, do they not?”

I nod once, not wanting to give him any reason to lash out, to hurt me, or to cause my mate harm.

“Excellent. We’ll discuss my proposition over dinner.”

He pushes the door open, and I have no option but to follow him.

Even my dragon, who has only been at the edges of my consciousness for months, is itching for a fight. Itching to do damage to Grey, to his operation, to everything he threatens with my mate. But hurting Brianna’s father would do nothing but ensure my chances at being in her home will be over.

The hostess seats us immediately, in a dark booth away from any other tables. No menus are dropped off, but almost as quickly as we’re seated, a rare vintage of red wine appears, along with two glasses.

Gods, do I not want to drink with my enemy.

“It’s not poisoned, or even spelled. Nothing tonight will be, except for the cuffs that keep you in your human form. You dragons truly are a suspicious lot, if you think it necessary to be wary of every little thing.”

“Only when it comes to the monster who exposed us, who is actively trying to kill off our entire species.” I take the glass and consider smashing the thing before I decide it’s better to just play his game, to let him think I’m playing along. “So, if you’re not trying to kill me, what are you trying to do?”

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