Page 44 of Held By a Monster

She held my hand up and pointed to my claws. “I think your answer lies here.” She pressed the tip of her finger to the tip of my claw, and blood welled from the puncture. “These don’t look like shifter or dragon claws. They are too curved and sharp-edged.” She took my index finger and dragged it lightly over the surface of the table, where it left a deep groove. “Were claws are softer—able to cut through flesh but breakable. Dragon claws are a bit stronger, but not enough to penetrate a dragon’s hide. Yours are like hardened steel. I suspect they can cut through dragon scales like butter.”

“She has a point.” Cavi stepped closer from his usual place against the wall. “Our claws only break under extreme duress and they are sharp enough to damage every tested surface.”

I winced as I remembered the lengths the scientists went to get readings on how much every part of us could withstand.

Cavi reached up, brushing the tip of his broken horn and I knew he also remembered.

“Surely a team of six couldn’t wipe out an entire species?” I carefully took my hand back from Bacon, and she smiled up at me.

Zeus sighed. “No. Even before we knew about the council connection, we believed there were plans to create many more wyrfangs when their experiments yielded the results they wanted. The human military wouldn’t want just one squad if they could have multiple.”

“Well, shit.”

That from Quin, who had remarkably remained quiet.

Kendal leaned into my side. “So it’s important we stop these bastards. We need to work faster.”

Bull looked over at Bacon. “I don’t suppose there’s an artifact that could—."

“No. Nope. Not happening.” She slashed her hand through the air. “No way, no how.”

Bull sighed. “Fine.” He turned back to his laptop screen. “I think I have a way to discover Mr. Blue’s real identity, but I don’t think anyone’s going to like it.”

I took a deep breath and looked at my brothers. Roul was glowering more than usual, Cavi had retreated to the side of the cave, and Quin was practically bouncing in excitement. Thurl crossed his arms and stood barely moving. Kragen and I shared a resigned look.

As long as the plan didn’t involve Kendal, or provide an opportunity for her to be hurt, we could work with it.

Kragen nodded. “Let’s hear it.”

“We need to draw them both out—the fae and Mr. Blue.” He looked up at us. “We need to offer them something they can’t refuse.”

I heard Kendal suck in a breath next to me. “No. That’s not happening. We can draw out Mr. Blue using me as bait and figure out how to get the fae later.”

I growled and snapped my teeth, my tail swinging in agitation. “Absolutely not.”

She whirled and poked me in the chest. “Do you know what he’s suggesting?” Her voice was low and furious. “He’s suggesting we use one of you as bait.”

I nodded. “That’s preferable.”

“For who?” She turned and looked at everyone else in the chamber. “They have spent their entire lives in captivity. We are not putting them at risk of ending up right back there.”

“We can mitigate the risk. We’ll take every precaution—”

“It won’t be enough!” She screamed and slapped her hand on the table. “These men hunted me. They abducted me in broad daylight in a public parking lot! They will stop at nothing to get what they want. Do you think this fae council member is going to get squeamish about mowing through your entire team?”

She pointed at Zeus. “Because I don’t think they will. They will do everything in their power to get the ‘fangs back under their control. They know that recapturing one means getting them all, because no way in hell they’ll ever leave a brother behind.”

She faced me again. “Tell me I’m wrong.”

I shook my head, my ears flat against my head. “You aren’t wrong.” I reached for her but she jerked away.

twenty-nine

“This is bullshit!” Iwas screaming like a seagull and I didn’t care. Tears tracked down my face and I angrily brushed them away.

Drym reached for me again and this time I let him pull me into his arms. The underside of his jaw pressed into the back of my head and his warmth seeped through me. My anger gave way to despair.

I loved him.

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