Page 92 of The Ruby Dragon's Unconventional Mate

Tell me what you found,Logan trumpeted at them in their heads.

There’s a vehicle. He obviously came in in human form and flew toward the wing, he snapped.

Is he there? Can you take him alive?

We haven’t seen him yet. We’re gonna settle, flank the car, and see if we can’t trick him into coming in for a landing.

He felt Logan’s satisfaction.Good. Try to keep him for questioning if you can. But if you can’t, kill him.

They both sent an assent, and he and Jake settled in on either end of the soda dam, both of them hidden by natural features. He could feel Jake vibrating the earth, but thanks to the dam, it was hard to tell. His fire wanted to let loose, his ruby nature heating up.

They waited, both of them trying to be patient, but his wings kept flapping and his claws kept opening and closing. He wanted to rip this fucker’s head off.

You’ll have your chance, Jake told him.Just wait.

All the children are safe, Lars told him.Bea has them, and so does Jason’s wife.I’m going to run home. Arthur says he’s ready for me.

Be careful, just in case this guy wasn’t acting alone.

I will. I promise.

He had to—not cut Lars off—but not let him distract him either, so Bryant tuned out. If Lars needed him, he would call. It was the same way with Lachlan. He had to ignore what was happening there and concentrate on trying to get this guy.

It seemed like they waited forever, and things were getting tense, because he could tell that the other guardians wanted to know what was going on, but they were hesitating to ask so they wouldn’t distract them. And then the sound of wings whomping overhead came to his ears.

Bryant tensed, waiting for his chance to jump.

As soon as the guy shrank down from a dull bronzy sort of dragon into a human, his clothes way too nice to be just a bodyguard or lone foot soldier, they attacked. Jake landed in front of the guy, who tried to shift, but Bryant landed behind him, teeth closing on the man’s neck.

Don’t try it.Jake threatened, eyes like stones.My compatriot, he’ll rip your fucking soul out.

“He’ll try.” There was absolutely no fear in the other dragon’s voice, no tension in the big body. There was only a casual sort of relaxation. It was unnerving and completely unexpected.

Why isn’t he scared? Something’s wrong. Why isn’t he concerned?Bryant would be worried if another dragon had his mouth around his neck, threatening to snap it off.

What is it you want here?

“I just wanted to play in the water.”

You notice the snow here. Does this make any sense to you?The ground rumbled again with Jake’s power, Jake frowning.Try again. Do it quick. I’m tired of playing with you.

“It’s quite simple, to be honest. I’ve been paid to accomplish a task. I’m just here to finish the job. I’m here to restore the balance. Never send an amateur to do a professional’s job, child. I told my employer that.”

Bryant shook his head, the motion making his teeth dig in a little harder.I don’t want to let him live. He can’t come into the wing.

No.Logan landed with a surprisingly soft touch. Then he shifted, standing naked and proud in the snow, gold scales still covering him. “Why are you here?”

“I’ve already explained to your flunkies. I’m here to do a job. One of your wing insulted my employer’s family, impregnated his youngest omega, and then deserted them, instead of marrying him. So now there is not only a tainted omega, but tainted child. At least if they’ve been married off, it could have been dealt with. Now every one of them has to die.”

Bryant, I’m assuming he’s talking about Lachlan.

But you’ve met Lachlan. He never even left the house. Really. I mean, he would have known. I would have known if he’d had a mate. He didn’t, and even if he had, you know howhe feels about children. He would have been overjoyed. Even if it weren’t his mate, you know this.None of it made so much as a lick of sense.

Logan tilted his head. “Let’s see, you’re talking about the platinum dragon?”

“Exactly. Markham.”

“I see.” Logan’s voice was deceptively light. “Someone had already tried to do the job, yes?”

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