Page 24 of The Dragon Recruit
She went through the smell, the dizziness, the lack of strength, and anything else she could remember. After the others asked a few clarifying questions, Antony stood and saidwithout preamble, “Time to go over assignments. Kai and Trina, you’re first. Come with me.”
Once they’d left, Iris glanced at Joseph, who seemed the most chatty of Antony’s team, and asked, “Is this standard procedure, to keep the assignments secret?”
“Aye. That way, no amount of torture can get it out of you.”
The male spoke as if he knew from experience.
The female dragon-shifter from Antony’s team, Kerry Penrose, spoke up in her English accent, one Iris couldn’t place. “You’re the lucky one, though, Iris. Antony has the best of everything. Not because he doesn’t want to share, but over the years, the gear and gadgets have been designed specifically for him.”
Iris noticed her opening. “Just how long has Antony been doing this job?”
Kerry shook her head. “I honestly have no idea. Decades, I think? But I do wonder how Antony’s done this job for so long. I’ve been here for two years, and I’m already wondering when I can see less action.”
The human male, Gavin Edwards, snorted. “Says the dragon-shifter who’d be bored off her arse if she had a desk job.”
Kerry gave him a double-finger salute. “You’re only saying that because you’re jealous. You’ve never beaten me in the qualifying trials to steal my job and be promoted.”
“I’ve come close. And since I’m human, that means you’re losing your touch, Kerry.”
She narrowed her eyes, and as they bickered—in a sort of code that Iris couldn’t decipher—the human male named Christopher spoke to her in an accent she couldn’t identify. “Ignore them. They’ve wanted to fuck since the first day but are too afraid, in case he’s her true mate.”
Gavin and Kerry both stalled their conversations to state, “Not true.”
Joseph leaned back in his chair. “I’ve bet on the pair of you, but I won’t tell you which way.”
Before Gavin or Kerry could say anything else, Antony returned without Kai or Trina. “Killian and Kerry, you’re next.”
Joseph pumped his fist. “Huzzah. Now we’ll get some peace and quiet.”
Kerry glared. “Fuck you, Joseph.”
The male merely chuckled. Iris kept trying to find an opening to ask Joseph some questions, but the others grew chatty and she never had a chance. And as the numbers dwindled in the room, Iris realized she’d be last, meaning she could only ask Antony for answers and hope he didn’t hold back.
Her dragon spoke up.You’re impatient. You knew he was our partner for this, so why are you surprised that we’re last?
Not surprised, but he could’ve given me some materials to study whilst we waited. Something instead of sitting here, listening to gossip and me trying to figure out if I can jump in to ask some relevant questions.
We don’t even know what our assignment is yet, aye? Just enjoy the downtime because soon we probably won’t have any.
Iris begrudgingly did her best to listen to the others and learn what she could. Eventually, she was the last person in the room. By the time Antony came for her, she itched to jump up and demand where they were going and what they would be doing.
However, determined not to let the human get to her again, she calmly asked, “Where are we going?”
“The Peak District. I’ll explain when we arrive. For now, we need to change and get our gear.” He gestured toward the door. “Come on.”
As they exited the room and walked down yet another corridor, Iris clenched and unclenched her fingers. Antony had bloody well better tell her about their assignment soon. Shehated being kept in the dark. He was probably doing it on purpose.
Her dragon spoke up.Where’s your legendary patience?
Before she could reply, Antony finally guided her into a room full of tactical gear and weapons. Her jaw dropped as she looked from the walls covered with weapons to the various mannequins wearing protective gear.
Many of the items she couldn’t even identify, let alone know what they did.
Antony said, “Go on, my dear. Take a look around whilst I get a few things you’ll need.”
She barely noticed him leave as she went to inspect the trove of treasures.
And for the first time in her life, Iris wanted to horde it all and be like one of those dragons in the human fairytales.
