Page 81 of Dragon Unhinged

My fingers release the fork immediately and it clangs against the porcelain plate.

“Go to back to your bedroom and sleep. You’re going to need it.” Grey’s dismissive tone is a relief, but shivers run down my spine, even as I push my chair away from the table and stand.

What I wouldn’t give for one of Syrena’s potions and a big box of Epsom salt right now, to clear out whatever bizarre hold he has on me. I’m guessing one of the things they were trying to avoid was a sleeper agent or something under Grey’s control. I’ll bathe in that stuff daily if I ever get out of here.

I have no idea how, but I need to figure out a way out of this. For me and my baby’s sake. I don’t know what Grey wants with my child, but it can’t be good. I refuse to let him get evil, vile hands on my child. I don’t want to die before I’ve seen her grow up and live her life some. Every parent deserves that chance.

Instead, all I have is Peter, gripping my elbow too tightly as he steers me up the stairs. As if I could go anywhere else, but to the bed that Grey’s assigned me. I take in my surroundings again, seeing the differences of this place compared to my father’s house. The longer I examine everything, the more details I put together.

“You know, this doesn’t have to be a terrible experience for you. We could have fun, you and I, until Grey no longer needs you.” Peter leers at me, staring at my neck like he wants to lick it. “If you behave, I can get Grey to loosen the thrall he has on you. Or at least the locks that keep you in your room.”

“Go to hell, Peter. When my dragon finds me, he’s going to make sure you suffer before you die a painful death. And I’m going to laugh when he kills you.” I can feel myself grinning maniacally, even as I obediently step into my room. “You think you’ve gotten some amazing gift. You think you’re going to be irresistible, like women are just going to line up to throwthemselves at you, at your fangs. But you’re disgusting. You are never going to be a ladies’ man. You are never going to be desired. And now that you’re a fucking monster, in bed with the likes of Grey, you’re going to die, never knowing what it’s like to find love. Never knowing what it’s like to be truly and completely cherished.”

Peter lashes out, slapping me across the face. My left cheek explodes with pain, and somehow I’m sure he held back.

“If it weren’t for that dragon spawn you’re carrying, I’d rip your throat out right now and bathe in your blood. I’d find your dragon and make sure he knows what a little whore you are, before I kill him too.”

My pace never falters as I head back to my cell. I don’t dare rub my cheek to try and ease the pain. I don’t give him the satisfaction. “You really don’t get it, do you? You’re on the wrong side of this. You’re going to end up dying for a losing cause, and you don’t even see it.” I laugh, a crazy sort of sound. I’m losing all of my abilities to care about anything or anyone but my child. Declan’s child. Even if I don’t make it out, he deserves to have his child.

I never would’ve talked to someone like this, least of all a guy my father deemed worthy of my attention, even a couple months ago. I never would’ve even considered insulting someone like this. But Peter, Grey, all these vampires who think they can just take over the world, and no humans would mind, are insane. They might be intent on enslaving people, making them nothing more than cattle to feed on, but it won’t work.

It can’t.

Even if he somehow manages to take down the dragons, even if he does make humans afraid of shifters, I know in my gut that he’s not going to win.

I just want to be there to watch their whole plan, everything they’re dreaming of, fall to pieces just before they’re killed for their atrocities.

I step into the space of my room and turn around. I glare at Peter as I slam the door in his face, enjoying the loud crash as it hits the doorframe.

I know he’s going to lock me in. As I move through my room, changing into a pair of pajamas left out for me, I know I have no choice but to go to bed.

I focus on getting back to Declan, before these fucking pills Grey’s forcing me to take push my pregnancy too far and I have to go through labor alone. Or worse, with Grey. I think about it until my eyes drift close and sleep pulls at me like I’m drugged.

I fight sleep as much as I can, but it doesn’t take long before my fight is over and I’m asleep having endless nightmares of every possible way this is all going to go horribly wrong.

“Come on, Brianna, fly with me!”Declan’s running ahead of me, completely naked, his long hair trailing behind him as he laughs.

The sound is so warm, so genuine, I want to get lost in it. I want to cling to the sound, to the happiness he’s projecting and experiencing.

“I can’t, and you know it, you jerk!” I chase after him, moving a lot slower with a full, round belly protruding from my middle. “Syrena grounded me until this little one comes out. You’re going to have to just fly by yourself, or you’re going to have to carry me.”

“If you’re looking to ride me, princess, I’ll be more than happy to oblige. But only after I’ve made you come at least twiceon my tongue.” He spins around, reaching for me as I catch up to him.

“You know that’s how we ended up in this position in the first place, right? You and your insatiable tongue, your insatiable cock.” I wrap my arms around him as he flops backwards, bringing me along for the ride. “This is how it should always be. You, me, our younglings, and that grin on your face. Forever.” I kiss him, touch him, taste him.

I’m never going to get enough of my mate, and I’m not sorry about it.

“If you want to fly, I’m not going to stop you. Go, stretch your wings. You know I love staring at you in your dragon form.” I roll onto my side, relieving pressure on my belly, and look him over. “Of course, I’m not going to stop staring at you in your human form either.”

He laughs, standing as he stretches his arms up and back, puffing out his chest, giving me a full view of his whole body, naked, muscular, and all mine. “I just want to stretch my wings a minute. I won’t be long, mate. Breathe fire on anyone who tries to get too close.”

Like he’d let that happen. He’s such an overprotective father. An overprotective mate.

Declan licks his lips, like he’s considering whether he really wants to fly, or if he just wants to strip me naked.

Then it happens. He shifts.

No. This isn’t right. I saw the dragon dive into Times Square. I’ve seen his brothers, his sisters-in-law.

---