Chapter 18

Octane

"You've said your piece. You gave me until tomorrow. We'll talk again then," I say.

"Dammit, Octane! I can see that I'm not getting through to you. How can I be any clearer? The Red needs to leave. She needs to go back to her own kind. This needs to end right now!"

"Oh, you've made your feelings crystal clear. I assure you."

"Only you're not listening to me. You cannot keep the Red. She can't stay here. You're putting her in grave danger. If you care anything for her, even a little bit, you'll say your goodbyes and let her go. She will die if she stays. Surely you must know that?"

"I will protect her," I snarl. Then I narrow my eyes, fisting my hands. "Unless one of you plans on outing us. Are you going to tell HQ? Will you—" I start to say through gritted teeth.

"It won't be anything I do…or anyone else here at camp, but you will be found out. HQ could send someone. The patrols sometimes come around here. We are not in a vacuum."

"I will hide her—"

"Listen to yourself. You sound deranged. If someone sees her… All it will take is one person, and we are all screwed. Her life will end. It will be on you. Would you be able to live with yourself?"

I feel my whole body tighten. Fuck! Shadow is right.

"Okay…fine…okay…you win," I push out. "I'm going to need money. I have plenty. I will need to go to the city to make a withdrawal. I'm not sending her back without it. She's all alone and desperate. Right now, she is reliant on her ex's brother, who is a colossal prick." I get angry just thinking about Titan.

Shadow laughs and shakes her head. "Holy fuck, but she has you completely wrapped around her little finger. She's not your problem."

"I've made her my problem. She's a pregnant woman who is afraid for her future and for the future of her unborn child. I will do that small thing for her. I don't need the cash."

"You might change your mind about that one day. What if you meet someone? What if you want a family? That money could come in handy."

Children.

A family.

All I can think about is Trinity's face, her eyes, her smile. I can still feel those sweet kicks beneath my hand.

The enemy… Yes, she is…unfortunately.

"No, I don't want those things." The words don't feel right, but they're true. I can't have them.

Shadow sighs heavily. "Okay…fine. I will organize the cash. How much do you need?" then she makes a face. "How do you even know that they have money on Mistveil?"

"They do." I sound frustrated. "They're far more civilized than we give them credit for. I told you this already. They live very much like us."

"I find it hard to believe." She shakes her head. Her eyes cloud in thought.

"Well, believe it. That's why I need cash. Are you going to help me or not?"

"How much?"

"30k," I say quickly. "I have enough in my account."

Her brows shoot up. "That much? Really?" She gives a chuckle. "Holy shit, Octane."

"Yes. She'll need it to start a new life."

"Okay…whatever. It's your money. Then there's the business of filling in a report." She hands me a piece of paper. "You can take a seat over there. I want it all down on paper."

"No. It can wait." I start to hand it back, but she shakes her head.

"No. If you want the money and for all of this to go away, you need to fill in a report. I want you to state that all of this was your idea. All of it needs to be on there. How you captured the Red. Her escape. The things she told you. All of it. You can leave out the sex, but the rest needs to be in there." She flicks at the page in my hand. "If this ends up going belly up, I need a safety net. This report will be my safety net." She flicks the page again. "You can take a seat over there." She points at a desk in the corner. "And start writing."

"It'll take me an hour or more to get this done."

"You have somewhere you need to be?" She lifts her brows.

"Actually, yes, I do. I'll sort it out in the morning."

"Now is as good a time as any. You look healed up. From the racket you were making earlier, I'd say you were fit as a damned fiddle. Fill in the report, Octane. There's a pen on the desk. Make sure your writing is neat and legible." Her eyes widen. "What are you waiting for? It's an order."

"A report like this would implicate you, not clear you of wrongdoing. Why would you want this in writing?" I tap on the paper with the back of my hand in much the same way as she did. "It doesn't make any sense. Unless…unless… Fuck! Unless you are using the excuse of a stupid report to keep me busy long enough to…to… No!" I crumple up the paper and toss it at her feet. "Fuck you!" I yell as I turn away.

"Do the right thing!" she shouts at my retreating back. "Write the report and forget the female."

I don't listen. I run all the way to my bungalow. Goliath looks sheepish, he won't meet my gaze, choosing to look at his feet instead.

"She isn't in there, is she?"

"I'm not supposed to say," Goliath says. "Please don't make me."

"Where is she?" I stalk over to him.

He shakes his head, getting a panicked look.

"You're a nice guy, but I won't hesitate to take your head from your shoulders. Where is the Red? My Red! Where is she?"

"Dagger came to fetch her earlier. They left."

"Dagger?" It's the last thing I expected to hear. I sound shocked because I am…to my core.

"Where did they go? Which direction? Tell me right now." I grab him by the throat and throw him against the wall.

Goliath's eyes fill with fear. He makes a choking noise, and his face starts to turn red. I let the male go.

He coughs a few times, grabbing hold of his throat and breathing deeply. "You didn't have to do that."

"I will kick your ass from here until next week, so help me—"

"Okay, fine! I overheard something about him taking your female…taking the Red to the airstrip. There is a chopper waiting. He left in his SUV."

I start running. I'm in mid-shift when he says, "She went willingly."

No!

I stop dead in my tracks. My blood runs a little cold. I turn. "What was that?" My voice is deep and growly, more animal than human.

"Dagger spoke to her for a few minutes, and then they left. The female went willingly. It was her choice. He is letting her go. Shadow wants her to return to Mistveil, and she agreed to leave."

"It's a mistake," I growl. Trinity wouldn't just up and leave like this.

No! Not like this.

It can't be.

"I'm sorry, Octane," Goliath mutters. "I know you like her. It isn't a mistake. I know what I saw. Your female left on her own steam."

Trinity

The SUV races along a dirt road, kicking up dust behind us. Dagger is at the wheel. He hasn't said so much as a word since we left. There is jungle on either side of us. It slowly opens up the further we go, the trees thinning out and making way for grass.

"We're nearly there," he tells me.

I nod once, feeling apprehension grow inside of me. Am I making a mistake? No! Dagger is right. I don't belong here. I need to return to Mistveil. My presence is harmful to Octane. The longer I stay, the more my life is at risk, too.

I'm doing the right thing.

I must leave.

We drive on for a while longer before arriving at the airstrip. I see a light aircraft and two choppers. One of the helicopter's doors is open. A pilot is standing beside it.

"Not a word," Dagger tells me as we drive up to a gate.

I nod when he glances at me. "Okay. I won't say a thing," I add when he doesn't seem to buy it.

"You will be killed if they find out that you are a Red," he growls.

"I know." I sigh.

We pull up to the gate, and one of the guards approaches us, scanning Dagger's ID before letting us through. Thankfully, he barely even looks at me. We drive into a large parking lot, where three other SUVs are parked.

My heart does a somersault and skips several beats as Dagger pulls up next to one of the vehicles.

I look down. I'm wearing a pair of sweatpants that are a little big for me, one of Octane's shirts, and a pair of yellow flip-flops that fit me just right. Who wears yellow shoes? Especially flip-flops. I'm guessing that Dagger got them from Lost and Found or something.

"Let's go," he tells me. "The pilot is human. It will be better if you don't say anything while we are in his company. No one else can be trusted. You show us where to go, and we'll drop you off there. If we are stopped by anyone for any reason, you let me do the talking. As long as you are covered, they won't know your true identity." He glances at my shirt.

My true identity?

Namely, that I am a Red.

The enemy.

Dagger starts to turn toward the chopper when I grab his arm. "Please tell Octane that I said goodbye. Please explain why I left. I'm doing it to protect him. I…" I shake my head. "Please, will you tell him that? I don't want him to be upset…hurt…you know?"

He nods. "I know, and I will tell him. You have my word. Now, let's go. The sooner we get you off Draig, the better. Do you have a plan? Are you going to be able to get back to Mistveil?"

"I'll be fine," I say.

Dagger looks at me for a few seconds. He looks like he is at war with himself. Then he nods. "Good." He walks to the chopper, and I follow.

"This is Gavin," he says as we approach the helicopter.

The human smiles broadly at the two of us.

"Gavin, meet Trinity. She needs a ride. Thank you for agreeing to help out at the last minute."

"No problem. Shadow has offered to pay me extra for my troubles." He grins. "Truth be told, I can use the money right now." If Gavin suspects anything, he doesn't show it. "Climb aboard." He points into the chopper.

We both do as he says. I've never been inside one of these things before. The seats are sleek leather. It's more spacious than I thought it would be.

"Put on your seatbelts. Those are headsets over there," Gavin says, pointing at where they are hanging. Then he starts flicking switches and pushing buttons.

I buckle up, feeling nervous. The sound of the rotors spinning is loud in my ears.

"Ready?" Gavin asks through the headset.

I nod and then realize he won't see me. "Y-yes," I stammer, hearing myself in my ears, which is weird. I sound tinny and far away, yet loud.

"We're ready," Dagger says.

Gavin starts the engine, and it doesn't take long before we're lifting off the ground.

I can feel the vibrations through my entire body, and I grip the seat tightly.

Dagger looks at me before staring out the window.

"Where to?" Gavin asks as soon as we are airborne.

"Northwest," I tell him. "Go toward the mountain. You can drop me as close to the southern base as possible. It's the side closest to the beach."

"The jungle is thick on that side of the island, but I'll do my best to get you as close as possible to where you want to be. You might need to hike to get to the exact point."

"No problem, and thank you," I say, once again hearing my own voice through the headset. It sounds robotic and cold. Pretty much how I feel inside.

I look out the window, trying to make sense of this whole situation. I know that leaving Octane is the right thing to do, but my heart aches at the thought of never seeing him again. Of leaving like this. I wish I could have seen him one last time. I pray that Dagger will give him my message. I glance across at the male and decide that he will. He seems like the honorable type. I think he cares about Octane.

I look out of the window. Below us, the jungle terrain is lush and green. I'm pretty sure that the jungle on Mistveil would look much the same. That from up here, the people on both islands would look the same, too. Sometimes, it takes moving away from something to bring it into perspective.

We are more alike than either side cares to admit. I know that now.

We fly in silence for half an hour. I watch the mountain grow nearer and nearer. Not long now and I'll be on my own.

There is a loud screech from behind us.

"Fuck!" Dagger says under his breath, looking out the window.

"There is a dragon behind us," Gavin says. "It is fast approaching."

I can't help the smile that grows on my face.

Octane! It has to be.

It doesn't take long before a huge black and gold dragon is flying next to us. He screeches, moving into our line of flight, his talons outstretched like he's going to pluck us from the sky.

Gavin screams, veering to the side. "What the hell! Who is that? A riderless dragon! I need to call it in. This is bad…real bad!" he shouts, making me wince.

"No!" Dagger and I call in unison.

"Don't do that. We know him," Dagger says. "It isn't what you think. He's in full control, I swear it."

"He can't be!"

"He is!" Dagger insists. "This particular dragon does not turn feral. You don't need to call it in. Stay calm, please."

"Whoa," Gavin says when Octane flies back into our path. We hover on the spot in a kind of standoff. "He's going to kill us."

"He won't!" I say.

"What should I do?" Gavin's voice is a little high-pitched. "I don't like this one bit."

"Let's not panic," Dagger says. "I should have known he wouldn't fall for it," he mutters to himself.

"We need to land," I gasp, my eyes on the magnificent dragon before us. My heart goes nuts in my chest. I'm feeling every kind of emotion.

Relief, happiness, frustration, fear, and apprehension. I'm feeling all of them, and all at once. I can't stop smiling, though, so perhaps happiness is right up there, even though I know that Octane is going to be all kinds of mad.

I look over at Dagger and see warring emotions on his face, too. Anger, frustration, determination, and then resignation. He sighs. "Gavin, take the chopper down to that clearing over there." He points to the spot in question.

Gavin nods, immediately reacting to Dagger's urgency. He turns the chopper and lands it half a minute later.

Octane lands next to us. He has shifted by the time the engines wind down.

Gavin is pale, his hands tremble. He doesn't take his eyes off Octane.

"Stay here," Dagger tells the human.

"Oh…I intend to," he says. "Please don't take too long."

We jump out. I want to run and throw myself into Octane's arms, but I'm not sure how he will react. His eyes are bright. His jaw is set. His muscles are bunched. He's never looked more beautiful or more dangerous.

"Let me explain," Dagger says as he walks over.

Octane pulls back, and his powerful fist connects with Dagger's face, causing his head to snap back. A look of shock spreads across the male's features as Octane's arm recoils for another blow.

"Wait!" I yell, but it doesn't help the situation.

Octane pummels Dagger a second time. This time, the male staggers back, blood gushing from his nose, which looks broken.

"What the fuck were you thinking?" Octane yells.

"At least one of us is thinking because you sure as shit aren't," Dagger says, wiping blood from his face.

"You took her," Octane rasps. Then he looks at me. "You left. You just up and left with not so much as a goodbye." His hands fall to his sides, and the fight leaves him.

"I'm sorry," I tell Octane.

He turns away from me, facing Dagger. "Go. Leave us."

"No!" Dagger folds his arms. "I was tasked with seeing her…" He glances at the chopper. The human Gavin is still inside and watching us with huge eyes. "I was tasked with seeing the Red home," Dagger says under his breath. "I refuse to stand by while you ruin your life over a female who isn't yours. A female who can never be yours. Don't be an idiot."

"You can leave. I will take over your duty. I will see that Trinity leaves Draig."

Dagger narrows his eyes, scrutinizing Octane. "I don't trust you to do the right thing."

"I will do the right thing, Dagger. It is clear to me what Trinity wants. I will make sure that she gets home."

The male puts his hands up. "Fine. You win. Have it your way, Octane, but I hope you know what you're doing and that the female is gone sooner rather than later." He looks at me. "Don't try to stay on Draig, female. It will end up being your funeral. Don't drag Octane down with you. If you care, you'll leave right now…or as soon as you are able. Do not wait even a second longer than is necessary."

I nod. "You've already convinced me. Leaving is the best thing for both of us." I look over at Octane.

"Okay, then. Safe travels," he tells me, but it comes out sounding like more of a threat.

Octane growls.

"Yeah, yeah. I'll leave now." Dagger turns and walks away. We stand there and watch as the rotors start up again with a whine. In less than two minutes, the chopper ascends and starts to fly away.

"I can explain," I say because the silence is deafening.

"So, you couldn't even say goodbye. After everything, you just left at the first chance you got?" His voice is soft. He sounds…hurt.

"It wasn't like that. Dagger came to see me and—"

"You couldn't trust me enough to stay. To do things the right way. You ran when the first opportunity presented itself." His eyes are blazing. "I thought you were different. I thought you…cared."

"I do care, but I have no right to care. You shouldn't care, either. The fact that we care is a big problem. You should never have come after me like this. It shows…it… It's wrong, okay! This is a mess, Octane. This," I gesture between us, "will never work. There is no ‘we' or ‘us' or anything, for that matter. Your friends are right; I am a danger to you, and I need to leave right now."

"I get that, but there was a better way of doing things," he throws back at me. "One where we look each other in the eye before you leave."

"I don't want to say goodbye to you. When I look you in the eye, I…I… Never mind!"

"You what? Tell me, please." His voice softens, as does his demeanor.

"I shouldn't! You should just turn around right now and leave me. We're fairly close to the tunnel. It's maybe an hour's walk…possibly less. It's there on the south side of the mountain. I'll be fine. Let's not make this more difficult than it has to be."

"That isn't going to happen. We're going to finish this conversation. I want to know why you couldn't say goodbye. Why you had to run off like that?" His eyes are clouded with hurt.

"I just told you why. Besides, you know the answer to that question already. We're enemies, Octane. That's why. We can't be together in any kind of capacity. When I look into your eyes, I start to see the future, and it's one big fairy tale. It's one big lie that can never be." I shake my head. "I like you too damned much, and if I stay, I will start to fall for you. I'll start to care too much, and then I won't be able to go. It has to be now while I still can leave. Now, while you'll still let me go. Dagger was right. We're bad for each other. I'm bad for you. I don't want anything to happen to you on account of me."

Octane closes the distance between us and kisses me. His lips are soft, full, and gentle as they graze against mine. His eyes fall closed as he leans in; his features are relaxed and vulnerable.

What starts as tentative turns passionate. His hands frame my face, his fingers caressing my skin as he pulls me closer. I can feel his heart pounding against my chest. I can taste the longing in his kiss. It matches mine.

The need.

The drive.

There is sadness, too.

I dig my fingers into his hair. Octane moans. My breath is coming in ragged pants.

"I want you," I whisper against his lips.

"Yes," he says, tugging at my shirt, which he pulls over my head with a soft snarl. His kiss turns frantic, just a touch desperate, which is okay because it matches mine. My heart races as he kisses down my neck, leaving a trail of fire on my skin.

Then he starts to yank down my sweats. "Yellow flip-flops?"

When I look up at him, he has a lopsided grin on his handsome face. It makes my stomach do a backflip.

I kick them off. "Less talking…more putting your mouth to good use." I smile back.

"Naughty Little Red." He gets on his knees. His dark eyes stay on mine. I can't believe that this will be our last moment together, and I don"t want it to end.

He takes off my sweats. Then Octane runs his fingers down my thighs, sending shivers up my spine. His touch is gentle, but his eyes are filled with hunger. He leans in and suckles on my clit. It's a "take no prisoners" move that has my back bowing, and a hard groan is pulled from me.

I grab his hair, pulling him closer. He licks and suckles on me, making my eyes widen and my body turn to mush.

"Oh…Octane," I choke out. "Yes!" He pulls one of my legs over his shoulder. I hold on tight while he hums softly against my sensitive flesh, making me cry out.

He continues his sweet torment, causing my body to tremble and my heart to race. I groan when his finger breaches me. His tongue, his hands… Holy moly, but I'm done for. I'm tightening. My skin, my belly, every nerve ending…everything inside me is drawing tighter and tighter. There is a moment of suspension when everything stops apart from what Octane is doing. Then everything lets go as I release.

I groan his name so deeply that my throat hurts. My fingers dig into him. My eyes widen.

"You taste so good," he says against my flesh as he laps me all up. His golden eyes are on me while he finishes me off, drawing out my pleasure.

Then he stands. "You ready for me, Little Red?"

"I'm always ready," I murmur as he puts my back to the wide trunk of a tree. It feels a touch rough, but nothing I can't handle.

Octane lifts my leg, putting the tip of his cock to my opening.

"Do it! Take me!" I whimper as he lifts my thigh a little higher, his tip starting to breach me.

"What have we here?" a voice breaks the silence like a sharp knife. It's a voice I would recognize anywhere. One that has my gut twisting inside me.