Page 72 of The Dragon Recruit
Then the smaller door finally burst inward, and some humans rushed inside. Before she could try leaving through the bigger door to get help for the others, the humans coughed and soon dropped like flies.
However, she didn’t spot the human female among them.
Just as she debated securing the humans or going for help, Killian O’Shea rushed inside, followed soon after by Iris, Max Holbrook, and a female dragon-shifter she didn’t know.
They had been looking for her. She’d just known it.
She should be thrilled. And yet, her dragon was still silent.
Focus on getting everyone to safety. Dr. McFarland and the other doctors can help you then.
So Zoe went to meet Iris, and the scent of blood hit her nose. “Iris, are you okay?”
“I’m well enough for now. Is…”
That’s when Iris’s gaze fell on Antony Holbrook. Zoe said, “Aye, he’s here. But I don’t know much about his condition, except that he’s alive.”
Iris nodded as worry flashed across her gaze. Then she rushed over to the human.
Something had happened in the time since Iris had left Lochguard. And as she watched Iris gently touching Antony’s face, she smiled. It was about time Iris let someone in.
But thinking about someone letting her in again, she thought about her cousin. Despite their problems, she didn’t want to leave Rebecca in the hands of dragon hunters, or whoever held them. Especially since there was a chance, a wee one, that she could help her cousin accept humans and come back to Lochguard.
And so Zoe went to Killian and the others to share everything she knew and see if they could help find and free the remaining dragon-shifter prisoners.
Chapter Twenty-Three
Antony’s head pounded as he slowly woke up to beeping. It was rhythmic, just like a heart rate monitor in a hospital.
His body also throbbed, especially around the middle. Then he remembered—a dragon had carted him off, as if he’d been a piece of meat.
But at least the pain meant he was still alive. Next was trying to determine where he was and form a plan.
So even though his eyelids felt like concrete blocks, little by little he opened them, until he blinked against the dim lighting in the room.
Decades of habit meant scanning the space. However, once he saw Iris slumped over on his bed, her head cradled in her arms, he mustered the strength to lift his hand and touch her cheek.
She jerked awake, standing and looking around the room as she blinked the weariness away. The sight of her disheveled and sleepy made him smile. His voice was scratchy as he said, “This wasn’t how I wanted to wake up next to you for the first time, but I’ll take it.”
Her gaze shot to his, and she sat down and placed her hand over his. “Antony, you’re awake! And strong enough to make pithy comments, so I’ll take that as a good sign.”
For a few seconds, he stared into Iris’s lovely brown eyes. The flashes of relief and happiness did something to his heart. “I thought I would never see you again.”
“Aye, and if you weren’t still healing, I’d punch your arm. What were you thinking, distracting an unstable, mad dragon? He could’ve killed you, Antony. When I saw all that blood…”
Her voice cracked, and he brought her hand to his mouth to kiss the back of it. “I’m sorry, love. I couldn’t stand by and watch him kill the woman I love.”
For a second, he mentally cursed. Iris required patience, and he’d just gone and blurted out his feelings.
But instead of stiffening and making some dismissive comment, she cupped his cheek. As she stroked her thumb, he nearly purred. She said softly, “I’ve been trying to deny things, too afraid you’d betray me like my ex. But you were willing to die for me, Antony Holbrook. And when I thought I might never see you again? It made me realize how far you’ve burrowed through my walls, and I don’t want to patch them up again. I love you, too. But just remember, I can shift into a dragon. So make sure not to charm too many females whilst doing a job.”
At her words, his heart soared, and he wished he could kiss her.
But even putting aside how he probably couldn’t quite sit upright by himself yet, there was the whole possibility of a mate-claim frenzy.
The thought of him and Iris having a child together someday made his earlier decision all the easier to share. “That won’t be a problem, love. I’ve been too stubborn for years, and nearly being eaten by a dragon only made it all the more clearer that I need to retire from leading in the field.”
Her brows came together. “Are you sure? It’s been your life for over twenty years.”
