Page 33 of The Dragon Recruit
She frowned. “I’d rather not talk about it.”
He quirked an eyebrow. “I just shared the worst day of my life. Why won’t you share a little with me, too, Iris? I think it’ll help me understand you better. For working together on the mission, of course.”
“But I thought we were on a schedule?”
“We are. But we’ll just have to skip a stop at the service station for food and pick something up along the way. Which means we have time for this.”
Part of her wanted to finally share the burden. One she’d never shared with anyone, not even Cooper and Brodie.
But another part of her knew that doing so would widen the crack in the wall around her heart, the wall she needed to protect herself.
Her dragon spoke up.Just do it. He knows how to keep secrets and would never share it with the world.
You have a lot of trust in him.
He’s revealed some weak moments, things we could use against him, if we really wanted to. And yet, he trusts us. I like him.
Don’t go getting ideas, dragon.
Her beast sniffed.I’m done arguing. Eventually, you’ll see it my way.
I won’t.
For now, just tell him. That way, we’ll be even, and he won’t have to worry about us using his past against him since he’ll have something just as painful from us, aye?
Antony wouldn’t cause us pain.
Aye, I know. I’m just glad you realize it, too.
Not wanting to think too hard on that, she searched Antony’s brown eyes. Eyes that were both curious and yet almost…warm. As if begging her to trust him with this.
She finally said, “I will, as long as you don’t interrupt me with constant demands for his name, or voicing threats. Whilst I appreciate the sentiment, it’ll only make this take longer. And the less I have to talk about the bastard, the better.”
“I promise. For now. But even if you don’t tell me, I’ll know his name soon enough. His punishment will depend on how much he hurt you.”
She frowned. “There you go, sounding like a protective male dragon-shifter again.”
“Don’t try to distract me. Tell me what happened, Iris. Please.”
It was the please that did it. After taking a deep breath, Iris reached back to memories she’d long ago buried. “It was during my time with the army. There was a human I met early on, one who trained me and I often sparred with. He was unlike any other human I’d met before—strong, intelligent, just as stubborn as me, and more accepting of dragon-shifters than I was used to. As soon as I finished my training and was no longer his student, we started spending a lot of time together.
“In the beginning, it was nice. He teased me, flirted, and made me feel special. I’ve always had trouble with males,especially dragon-shifter ones, because they never thought I could protect myself. And this male, well, he knew I could. However, once I started to perform better than him—with commendations and getting assigned more and more responsibilities—things began to change.”
“And not for the better, I take it?” Antony asked.
Iris shook her head. “It started with little comments about there being easier standards for females. He said that if I was held to the same ones as males, I never would’ve advanced so far. And yet Iwasheld to higher standards than the humans since I’m a dragon-shifter. And to even be admitted to the British Army for training, I had to pass the same tests as the male dragons from my clan. I worked hard, so bloody hard, and yet not having a dick meant I would never be good enough.”
She clenched her fingers into a fist, remembering her ex’s words:If you were a man, you’d never have been given that last assignment. They just wanted good PR, showing off the most promising female dragon-shifter. Eventually, they’ll move on and you’ll be stuck, same as me.
Antony’s voice snapped her back to the present. “So it seems we both have things to prove. Even though your record shows how fucking brilliant you are, I can make sure you’re credited in the press releases once we catch these bastards.”
“No, I don’t want fame and glory. That human male means nothing to me now.”
After raising his hand, Antony lightly caressed her cheek. Iris leaned into the warm, soft touch as he said, “Well, he was a fool. And one day soon, him and everyone who belittled you will realize it.”
“Antony, don’t do anything stupid.”
“Oh, I’m far too experienced for that. I know how to make someone’s life miserable with a single phone call.”
