Chapter 50

FIFTY

A fter eating a hearty breakfast, Asher adjusted the quantum frequency on her neural shield, electricity crackling along her fingers as she fine-tuned the calibration. The prototype hummed against her chest, its energy signature perfectly masked. Or it would be, once she got the phase variance stabilized.

“Stop fidgeting with it.” Talon’s arms slid around her waist from behind, his warmth steady and grounding.

“I’m not fidgeting. I’m optimizing.” She leaned back against his chest, still typing calculations into her tablet. “There’s a difference. One is nervous energy, the other is science.”

“Ah yes, my mistake.” His lips brushed her neck, making her powers spark. “Clearly this is extremely professional behavior.”

“I’ll have you know my methodology is impeccable.” But she tilted her head to give him better access, electricity dancing between them. “Even if the timing of certain variables is...” She gasped as he found that sensitive spot behind her ear. “...slightly inappropriate.”

“How inappropriate?” His dragon rumbled through the words, scales shimming briefly along his jaw.

Before she could formulate an appropriately scientific response, pain lanced through her shoulder. The dark veins from the cold iron had started spreading another fraction, making her powers sputter like a failing circuit. Talon’s arms tightened instantly.

“I’m fine,” she said automatically, though she leaned into his strength. “Just a slight fluctuation in the experimental parameters.”

“Asher.” Just her name, but filled with everything he couldn’t say.

She turned in his arms, touching his face. “Hey. We knew this was coming. The cold iron damage is progressing exactly as predicted.” She managed a small smile. “I have charts and everything.”

“Your charts don’t make it easier to watch.”

“No, but they do make it quantifiable. Which is oddly comforting.”

“That’s very odd to say, Mr. Draker.”

“ Doctor Draker,” he reminded her, golden eyes bright with love despite his worry.

“Oh, we’re playing the title game now? Because I have several, and I’m not afraid to use them.”

The banter died as Levi burst through the door, his usual easy smile nowhere in sight. “We have a problem.”

Asher’s scientist brain kicked into analysis mode, cataloging details. Levi’s normally immaculate appearance was disheveled. His hands shook slightly. Most telling - his eyes held a desperate edge she recognized from her own reflection whenever Talon was in danger.

“Lori,” she said, heart dropping. “What happened?”

“Dimitri’s people took her.” The words came out as a growl. “Twenty minutes ago. She was on her way back from a meeting-” He broke off, dragon rage bleeding into his eyes.

Asher moved instantly to her computer, fingers flying across keys. “Pulling up her last location data. Did she have her emergency beacon?”

“Active but stationary. They must have found it.” Levi paced like a caged animal. “I should have been with her. I should have-”

“Stop.” Asher’s tone cracked with authority born from years of managing crisis situations in the lab. “They took her to get to us. Guilt later. Action now. Show me exactly where she was last seen.”

As Levi indicated positions on the display of the city, Talon moved to study Dimitri’s compound layout. His tactical mind worked in parallel with her scientific analysis, both seeking solutions.

“They’ll take her to the secure levels,” Talon said, highlighting sections of the schematic. “Same area we suspect houses the transformation experiments.”

“Of course, they will.” Asher’s smile held zero humor. “Because why make anything simple when you can layer your catastrophes for maximum efficiency?”

Pain spiked through her shoulder again. She gritted her teeth, focusing on the data streams. Talon’s hand found the small of her back, energy flowing between them as he supported her without comment.

“The neural shields will still work,” she said, making rapid adjustments. “But we’ll need to modify our approach. Levi-”

“I’m coming with you.” His tone left no room for argument.

“Obviously. I was going to say you’ll need the backup shield I designed for Lori.” Asher moved to a secured case, removing a device identical to her own. “Since she’s clearly not using it at the moment.”

The attempt at humor fell flat, but Levi managed a ghost of his usual smile as he strapped on the shield. “She’s going to be furious that she missed field testing the prototype.”

“Then we better make sure she gets a chance to complain about it.” Asher turned back to her screens, but her vision blurred briefly. Strong arms steadied her immediately.

“Your powers are getting worse,” Talon said quietly.

“Which changes nothing.” She straightened, electricity crackling along her skin. “Except possibly making me more annoyed. And slightly less combustible.”

His dragon’s protective rage warred with respect for her strength. She sent back waves of determination and love, letting him feel her absolute certainty. We’re doing this. Together.

His response flowed through their connection - pride, worry, and unshakable faith in her. Out loud he simply said, “Then let’s move. Levi?”

“Ready.” His eyes had shifted fully to dragon gold, power radiating off him in waves. “Let’s get her back.”

Asher gathered her equipment - tablet, disruptors, emergency med kit, and enough processing power to give most supercomputers an inferiority complex. Her shifter powers might be failing, but her mind remained sharp as ever.

“Stay close to me,” Talon murmured as they headed for the door. “The dragon’s already fighting every instinct to lock you in a secure room.”

“Funny, my scientific instincts are fighting the urge to remind you how badly that would end for everyone involved.” She bumped his shoulder gently. “Especially the room.”

His laugh was rough but real. Love and fear and absolute trust in each other flowed between them.