Page 14 of Monster

Chapter Three

Testing the ‘metal’ of a man…

Deacon rose from the hospital bed, unwilling to spend one more minute lying down. He was weak, but feeling much better.The treatments Killian and Finn had administered had worked to heal his body.His soul, now that was another thing.

He could still feel the joy wrapped around him when he’d awakened to find Glenn and his other mate, Emmanuel, in his room, surrounding him with their love. And he could still feel the wrath from them both once they’d railed at him for taking as huge of a risk as he had. The thought of not returning to them had haunted him from the moment he’d chosen to turn back and save his men until the moment Bull had found them.

The thought of leaving the unborn child growing in Glenn’s stomach…

His mates and his child… those were the things that propelled him, step after step, to return home.

Deacon crossed to the windows. Outside, the bears of Bear Mountain went on with their lives, unafraid. This was the one place he felt safe… and he thanked the shifter gods for it nearly every day of his life.

Glenn snoozed in the recliner in the corner of the room, and Emmanuel had left to check in on the store, so he had a few minutes to stretch his legs without them worrying over him. His thoughts turned to the two dragons he’d found inside the prison—Drake and Jaeger. He hadn’t seen the pair since he’d collapsed in the helicopter. Deacon wandered to the door of his room. Outside it, he found Gator on duty.

The human lifted a hand, saluting him. “Nice to see ya in one piece.”

Deacon smiled at the colorful tone to Gator’s Creole tongue.“Nice to be in one piece.” His smile widened.“You know you don’t have to salute me.This isn’t a true army.”

Gator shrugged.“Old habits.The military beat it into me.It might take another beatin’ to get it out of me.”

“Then you go right on saluting, then.”Deacon checked down the hallway. He was in no shape to deliver a beating even if he’d wanted to in that case.“The two dragons who were brought in with me? Do you know which rooms they’re in?”

“Right across the hall.” Gator pointed at the door.

“Ah, perfect.”He was tired.More tired than he could ever recall feeling.The prospect of a long trek through the clinic hadn’t excited him.

Not that he’d admit it to his mates.

He nodded to Gator and crossed the hallway before knocking on the semi-closed door.

“Come,” a familiar voice called.

He ducked his head inside and saw one of the clinic’s doctors, Logan, observing Jaeger’s back.

“How’re you doing?” he asked them, curious as to what he was seeing.

Both males turned to him and smiled slightly. “Better than we were a few days ago,” Jaeger murmured.

The ice dragon winced as he sat up straighter in the bed. Logan moved a hand around the edge of something… metal?

“You, Drake?” Deacon asked, unable to look away from Jaeger’s back.

“I’d feel better if your doctors can help us fly again,” Drake commented quietly.

Deacon turned to stare at the smoke dragon. “They’ll do everything in their power. I promise you that.”

Drake nodded. “Do you know what your men did with the package? I want to make sure it’s secure.”

Deacon frowned, unsure of what Drake spoke of—and then it hit him. “I’d almost forgot,” Deacon said, scrubbing a hand through his hair. He eased out into the hallway and looked at Gator. “Call Bull. I need to see him now.”

“Yes, sir,” Gator said, offering another salute.

Deacon re-entered the room, a frown drawing his brows tight. He watched as Logan ran his fingers along a line between what appeared to be skin versus metal.

Jaeger’s head came around to face him again, his nostrils flaring.“What is that smell?”

Deacon inhaled deeply.The only thing he scented was the antiseptic scent of the clinic and the three males inside the room.“You’re gonna have to elaborate more.”

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