Chapter 17

Octane

I follow Shadow, who is walking fast. I only realize that I am naked when we are nearly at the main building. Quite frankly, I don't give a shit.

As soon as we are inside her office, she whips around. Her face is bright red, and her eyes are narrowed. I'm pretty sure that there are a few scales on her cheeks, just below the skin.

She's pissed.

"Fucking the enemy, Octane. Really? You went there. I can't believe you went there."

"It's just sex," I say, but saying it doesn't feel right because it wasn't just sex. It was so much more. Shadow doesn't need to know that.

"You had better have a whole lot of information for me after this little stunt. I can't believe you."

"She had only just started to open up to me. I need more time." I'm not telling Shadow just yet, but I'm keeping Trinity, just until she has the baby. Then I'll send her back to Mistveil with enough money to get her through without needing help from anyone else, especially that asshole Titan. I know I can't keep her, keep her, but I can ensure that she and the baby have a good future.

"You're not telling me anything, Octane. Start talking! Tell me what you know. Do not leave out a single thing."

"Fine," I mutter. I tell her about Trinity and Igor. Then I tell her about Titan and all the meetings. I tell her about the king and his relationship with the humans. I tell her that they are far more civilized than we ever thought. That they have cities and a hierarchy. Everything we have been led to believe is false. Most of them are not feral creatures who live more in their dragon form than not. I tell her about the male-to-female ratio on the island and the challenges that it brings.

"Tributes to Mistveil?" Shadow's eyes are huge. "Are you sure?" She starts pacing. "That can't be right. She must be lying."

"Trinity isn't lying. There is a shortage of females on Mistveil. The king – Arctic is his name – is in talks with the Mainland. He is hoping to stave off unrest by bringing in thirty human females a year for the men to take as mates. They're hoping for more females to be born going forward."

"That's strange, Octane. We don't have that problem. We're genetically the same as the Mistveil Dragons. So why them and not us?"

"They are more controlled in their dragon forms than we are."

She nods. "It's a mystery. Then again, you're far more controlled than any of us in your dragon form. Why is that? Maybe there is a correlation." She shrugs.

"Perhaps. All I can tell you is that there is something fishy about the whole thing," I say, my mind working. "The Mistveil Dragons don't need Sky Wardens to keep their dragons in check, like we do."

"We have seen this firsthand," Shadow remarks. "I suspect foul play as well." She shrugs. "But who is to blame? Is it the Reds? Or the humans? Both?"

"Surely the humans want us docile? Feral dragons are dangerous, hence having all of our rules in place. It makes no sense that the Mainland would want us out of control in our dragon forms."

"We'll have to try to get to the bottom of this somehow," Shadow remarks. "What else did she tell you?"

I tell her about Trinity's pregnancy and Igor's death. About how Trinity moved in with Titan and how she started to pay closer attention to all the secrecy, which eventually led to her coming to Draig.

"That's when I caught her and brought her here."

"How did she get onto the island?" Shadow asks, her eyes narrowing.

"I was just about to get that information from her when you called this meeting." It isn't a complete lie. "If you had given me a few more minutes, that would have been helpful."

"Please tell me that you're sleeping with her to get on her good side. That all of this is you being nice to get information from her."

I hesitate too long because she groans, rubbing a hand over her face. "Octane! What the hell! You have feelings for her?"

"I like her…okay? I would never have sex with someone for information. Quite frankly, I'm offended that you would think so little of me."

"You like her? You like… This isn't high school."

"I know that." I roll my eyes. "It happened. It can't unhappen. Trinity is a good person. I like her—"

"So you keep saying." She sounds frustrated, and I guess I can't blame her.

"Let me finish." I sound exasperated. "We know we can't be together. It isn't like that. It—"

"I should hope not. Trinity needs to go back to her island. Back to her own kind."

"You said it, Shadow. The dragons on Mistveil are no different from us."

"And yet they are. They're our enemies, Octane. They—"

"Maybe they don't have to be anymore. It sounds like they want peace in the same way that we want peace. They've also lost a lot of people in this war."

"What are you talking about, Octane? We started out on our mission of finding a Red so that we could find out more about them to better protect our island from them. It was to find a way to contain them better. That was the plan. Not to make peace with them. That's a pipe dream. One you need to get right out of your head."

"Why? Surely that would be the best solution for all of us?" I implore her.

"It's silly. It's never going to happen. You're dreaming."

I disagree, but I can see that Shadow is in no mood to agree with anything I have to say right now.

"Here's what is going to happen. You need to find out how they are getting onto this island, and then you need to say your goodbyes. Trinity can't stay. In fact, the sooner she leaves, the better. It's a huge risk having her here. Those males want her back. You nearly died trying to keep her safe. She cannot possibly stay."

"How long do I have?"

"Until tomorrow."

"That isn't very long."

Fuck! Fuck! Fuck!

"It's all you have. Make it happen, and for the love of God, don't sleep with her again. Once is enough." She looks at me through narrowed eyes. "I'm worried about you. Really worried."

"Well, don't be. I'm a grown male in my prime. I can take care of myself."

"I think she's using you. She's certainly messing with your head. You've always had a clear vision. You've always known what you wanted and how you wanted it. One thing is for sure: Trinity is not your future. She's not your responsibility or your problem. You need to get that right out of your head. The sooner she leaves this place, the better for all of us. The better it will be for her!"

I nod once.

I disagree, though. While Trinity is on Draig soil, she is very much my responsibility. I'm not sure that her leaving right now is the right thing for her. Not with that bastard Titan hanging around.

As to her not being my future…that is very true. It doesn't mean that my goodbye will be any easier. I won't think about it right now. I'll cross that bridge when I get to it.

Trinity

I grab a shirt out of Octane's closet and get myself a bottle of water, which I half-finish in one go. I'm trying really hard not to think about the exchange between Octane and Shadow. About the things that Shadow said.

Get friendly.

Do whatever it takes.

So, Octane had his orders, and he took them very seriously. Probably too damned seriously. I'm pacing. I can't stop. Octane didn't deny it when Shadow said those things. Is it true? Did he sleep with me just to get into my good books? Did he sleep with me for information? If he did, it worked. I'm feeling played and even more betrayed.

No!

It doesn't feel right.

I stop pacing for a moment. Octane also said that I was his, and that I wasn't to be touched, but I don't know how to take that.

His,but in what capacity?

Prisoner?

Lover? Friend?

Enemy?

I don't know what to believe anymore. I don't know which way is up or who to trust. There is a knock at the door, and a big male opens it, standing in the doorway. I recognize him. I've seen him before.

"Hi! Mind if I come in?" Before I can agree, he walks in, closing the door behind him. "I'm Dagger; we met the other day." He half-smiles, but it doesn't hold much humor. "Shadow sent me to talk with you. We don't have much time, so I am going to make it quick."

"Where is Octane?"

"In a meeting with Shadow. He's in huge trouble. Deep, deeeeep shit." The male is in a full leather uniform. I've seen the guys in them before. The guards wear them as well.

"What did you want to talk about?" I fold my arms across my chest. "Why the urgency?" I don't like it.

Divide and conquer. They're doing it to us now. I'm not stupid.

"Shadow sent me to offer you a one-time deal."

"I'm all ears," I deadpan.

"There is a helicopter being fueled as we speak. Come with me now, and I'll escort you anywhere on the island, essentially assisting you wherever possible in an escape. I will drop you off. It will be up to you to make your way off the island. There are two caveats to this offer. It has to be right now. You have five minutes to decide if you are in or out. And then, you need to leave Draig and return to Mistveil. If we find you on our soil, we will turn you in to HQ, which would surely spell your death. If you are taken down by our frontline, we will deny having any knowledge of your existence." He presses a button on his watch, which beeps. "Your five minutes start now."

"Why would I agree to this? Where is Octane? He doesn't know about this offer, does he?"

"No, he doesn't. As I said, Octane is in huge shit. He has enough to deal with right now without having to worry about you."

"Huge shit…" I nod a few times. "So, you said." I narrow my eyes. "Back to my first question. Why on earth would I agree to this?"

"I thought you'd jump at the chance to escape. Octane doesn't know about the offer because I don't think he would agree to it at all. In fact, I think he plans on keeping you or trying to, at any rate. You realize that it isn't possible. The two of you can't possibly be together."

"You're wrong. He doesn't plan on keeping me at all. That would be crazy." I snort, but my heart races at Dagger's words. I like the idea of Octane wanting me…wanting us. I have to stop myself from putting a hand to my belly. "Besides, you heard Shadow; she instructed him to get friendly with me so that he could milk me for information. That's all it was to Octane." Even as I say the words, I struggle to believe them to be true. It isn't him at all. Octane wouldn't do that. At least, I don't think he would.

Dagger snorts. "You're wrong. I've known Octane for a long time…he's sweet on you, Red. You need to do what's right for the both of you and leave now while you are being offered an out. And while you can still leave. It's going to get tougher…not just to leave, but to stay. You don't belong here. Just like he doesn't belong on Mistveil soil. I'm sorry, but this is for the best. You need to think of your baby. Know that if you stay, it will end in disaster. You will end up dead. Octane would end up in trouble he won't be able to get out of. He could be jailed for this. They will throw away the key. If you care anything for him, then get up right now and follow me." His icy blue gaze bores into me. His frown is deep, with his brows drawing together. "Please…it would be the right thing to do." His watch alarm goes off, and he silences it. "My friend is a good judge of character, so I'm hoping you'll make the right decision. Do the right thing, if not for him, then for yourself…for your unborn child. Go back to where you belong before it's too late."

I look at him. My mind is going about a mile a minute.

"What will it be, Red? Yes or no?" Dagger asks, his eyes narrowing.