Page 21 of Seducing the Dragon
Evie smiled as she left Bram’s cottage. She’d stirred his jealousy, just as she’d intended. The new, youngish and attractive Scottish clan leader had made it even easier to do, but all that mattered was that she had a lunch date with Bram.
Of course, lunch was hours away, and even though the DDA would toss aside any report she submitted, Evie felt the need to investigate Caitriona Belmont’s death. With the facts under her belt, she could hopefully direct the new DDA inspector sent to replace her to the truth. If Stonefire was to be her new home, she would need to protect them from the bureaucratic loopholes that could weaken the clan.
Finding out the truth might also help her earn Bram’s trust enough for him to accept her as his mate.
Nikola, or as Bram called her, Nikki, stopped and turned around, garnering Evie’s attention. Nikki narrowed her eyes as she said, “I will take you where you wish to go, but not until I say that if you hurt Bram, I will make your life miserable whilst you’re here.”
The fact so many of his clan seemed to love him eased her apprehensions bit by bit. “I have no intentions of hurting himas long as he doesn’t hurt me.” Nikki nodded and Evie decided to give the dragonwoman a bit more of an explanation. “He’s protecting me from the dragon hunters.”
Nikki waved the arm not in a sling. “I don’t care about the reason. Bram is my leader and I respect his decisions. Just don’t hurt him and we’ll get along fine.”
Since Evie would be spending the next few hours with Nikki, she decided to merely bob her head and push on. “Sounds good. With that out of the way, I need to visit Dr. Cassidy Jackson’s surgery and ask her a few questions.”
“What for?”
She could simply tell the dragonwoman to mind her own business, but she wasn’t a DDA inspector anymore. She needed to try fitting in with the clan members or her future could be extremely lonely here. “There are some questions about Caitriona Belmont’s death. I was originally sent here to find out the truth. While the DDA will soon no longer trust me if I’m Bram’s mate, I want to find out the truth before the replacement inspector arrives. I want to make sure they don’t overlook anything.”
“The DDA thinks we killed her?”
Evie eyed the woman a second before she replied. “You act like a soldier, so answer this and I’ll give you more information. Are you one of Stonefire’s Protectors?”
The other woman raised her chin. “In training, but I’m nearly done.”
Each dragon clan in the UK had a group of special ops-like soldiers called Protectors. They each served with the British armed forces for two years before being trained by their respective clans. The fact this dragonwoman was nearly done spoke volumes about her abilities as well as her loyalty. “Right, then I’ll tell you this in confidence: The high levels of dragon-shifter hormones in her blood might have caused her death in childbirth.”
Nikki frowned. “I’m not a doctor, but I think it’s normal for a human who carries a dragon-shifter child to have those hormones.”
“You’re right, but the levels were exceedingly high, as if someone were giving her extra amounts on the side.”
“That’s not good.”
“No. So the sooner you take me to see Dr. Jackson, the better.”
“The clan calls her Dr. Sid, but never in a million years would she try to kill someone.” Nikki turned and motioned with her head. “Still, she might have an idea of who could. Follow me.”
As they turned down a path on the left, they moved away from the main living community with cottages cheek and jowl and headed toward the wide-open space ringed with rugged hills that was the landing and takeoff area. Or, at least, that was her guess since a large, dark purple dragon jumped up and beat its wings before flying into the distance.
Most dragon-shifter doctors placed their surgeries near the landing area to make it easier to access their most critical patients. While accidents and injuries happened every day, the worst ones were caused by the dragon hunters, especially if the rumors about their recent weaponry upgrades were true.
Within ten minutes, Nikki stopped in front of a three-story house with a large covered, yet open-aired, space on the side used to treat dragon-shifters who were too weak to shift back into their human forms. The dragonwoman said, “Dr. Sid might be with a patient, but she should be here. She can, hopefully, answer your questions. Although I hope you’re wrong about someone tinkering with Cait’s hormone levels.”
Evie nodded. “Believe me, I hope so too.”
They entered the house-slash-surgery. Inside was obviously a waiting area with some chairs and a desk staffed by a young dragon-shifter male who couldn’t be more than twenty. He smiled at Nikki, but his smile faded when he eyed Evie. “Why did you bring a human here, Nikki? We aren’t due for another female sacrifice for a few months.”
Rather than let Nikki answer for her, Evie butted in, “I’m Evie Marshall and I’m investigating something for Bram. I’m here to talk with Dr. Cassidy Jackson.”
The male dragon-shifter eyed her with suspicion. “If Bram had a human investigating something for him, he would’ve alerted the clan and he hasn’t. Who are you?”
Nikki stepped in front of her. “Leo, she’s with me and I’ll vouch that she’s here to do as she says.”
While the action was small, Nikki’s defense meant the world to her.
Leo stared at Nikki and finally sighed. “The last time I stood up to you, I ended up with a black eye and a broken nose. Take a seat and I’ll let the doctor know you’re here.”
Nikki nodded and Evie couldn’t help but smile. The dragonwoman was a bit like her in that she didn’t take shit from anyone.
The pair of them moved toward the nearest chairs and sat down to wait.
