Chapter 19

Octane

I turn, keeping Trinity behind me. I'm an idiot. A total fucking prick. I was so wrapped up in Trinity that I wasn't paying attention to our surroundings. I was so grateful she hadn't left yet. So desperate for her that I couldn't think straight. At least, not with the head on my shoulders. Now, I've put her in harm's way. It's all my fault.

"Caught with your pants down, Draiger," the male says. "I mean, if you'd been wearing pants, that is." He is smiling from ear to ear, but there is no humor in it. In fact, I would say the opposite is true. I see death in that smile. A hint of crazy, too.

I'm not sure who this is but I dislike him immediately.

"This is him." I recognize Titan's voice. The other two must be Rocky and Ranger, although I can't be sure since I never actually saw them in their human forms. "The male who was with Trinity."

"So, you didn't end up dying?" the crazy male growls, his gaze moving to Titan for a moment.

Titan shrugs. "Yep, looks like he made it, after all. We'll finish the job today."

"I thought you were dead," Trinity says from behind me.

"Let me guess, you would never have moved on if you knew I was alive," the crazy asshole says. His eyes are a bright green. They're hard and cold and mean.

Fuck!

Fuck!

Fuck!

This is him. It's Igor, Trinity's ex and the father of her baby.

No! It can't be. How?

I feel everything in me bristle. Adrenaline courses through my body. My dragon wants me to fight. He jostles inside me, trying to get me to shift.

"Let me remind you that we were no longer together. I'm not interested in you, Igor," Trinity says in a hard, clipped tone.

"That's a pity, Trin," he says. "Is it because you're fucking the Draiger?" His gaze moves back to me, hardening. Those muscles on either side of his neck pop out. I'm sure I see a vein appear on his forehead.

Trinity moves to stand in front of me.

What the fuck!

"The Draiger has nothing to do with it," she says in a placating voice.

"Are you in love with him?" Igor's eyes narrow on me. His jaw tightens.

"No! We were just saying goodbye," Trinity says.

"Is that how you say goodbye?" He snort-laughs. "Perhaps you and I need to talk about appropriate goodbyes. Come to think of it, you have a lot of explaining to do, Trin. What are you doing on Draig?"

"I could ask the same of you," she says. "Followed by how is it that you are still alive?"

"Did you miss me?" he smirks.

Trinity doesn't say anything. I think she has just realized the predicament we are in. One wrong move, and we're dead. Hopefully, he'll stop at me. I'm praying he will stop short of killing his own unborn baby. I'm praying that he will let Trinity live. I will do anything to save her.

"Do you love him?" Igor asks again.

"What?" Trinity huffs.

"You heard me. Do you love the Draiger? Or is it just lust?"

"It's self-preservation. That's all. I needed a lifeline after I was captured. This male is that lifeline. It's nothing more and nothing less."

Good!

This is good.

"So, you won't mind if we tear him limb from limb?" He laughs. It's evil and sounds a little deranged. I'm not sure what Trinity saw in his male.

"I would mind. He has helped me. He was about to let me go when you arrived."

"He was about to fuck you. That didn't look much like letting you go. Sorry, Trin! Try again. I thought you said that you don't care about him. That he was a means to an end. Perhaps he means something to you, after all. Why can't I kill him?"

"B-because I like him. He's helped me. He saved me. He's my friend and I wouldn't want to see anything happen to him."

"How fucking sweet. You hear that, Draiger? My female. She is mine, by the way. You might have touched her, but make no fucking mistake, she's mine. Mine!" he growls like the animal he is. "Turns out that the mother of my unborn child likes you. She doesn't want to see you hurt. I don't like that one bit, Draiger. It makes me hate you more. Makes me want to see your blood. To taste your still-beating heart. What do you think about that?"

I don't say anything. What would be the point?

"Don't talk like that." Trinity takes a step toward Igor. I want to yank her back, but I don't. "I'll tell you what, I'll come with you if you leave him alone."

"You'll come with us?" Igor laughs with abandon. "That's so sweet, my angel. So seriously fucking sweet that it makes my heart ache just a little hearing you say it, but, you see, you are coming with us whether you like it or not. I pandered to your bullshit for far too damned long. No more!" he bellows. "No fucking more," he adds, quieter this time. "You're coming with me. You are mating me, and we are going to be together, whether you like it or not. One big, happy family."

"Or you could let the Draiger go, and I'll come willingly. I will mate you willingly and be yours. I'll spend every day being grateful that you let my friend live." She puts emphasis on the word "friend." "Or it can go the opposite way, where I never forget that you killed him. Where I hold a grudge. We could have a good life together, Igor. It could be great, or it could be miserable. You can't make someone be happy no matter how hard you try. It won't work."

"Of course I can."

"You can't." She shakes her head. "Not even I can make myself feel happiness. You'd see right through it if I tried to fake it. We can't ever be a real family if you hurt my friend. That's all he is to me. Leave him and let's go." She walks over to him, staring him in the eye. "Please."

"We'll be a family?" Igor asks, taking her hand.

She starts to nod.

"No! Don't do it," I rasp.

"Be quiet, Draiger, or I will cut out your tongue," he snarls.

Trinity turns and implores me with her stare. I have been silenced. I know she is trying to help me, but not like this.

No!

Fuck!

"Yes, we'll be a family. I will be a good mate to you. I will strive every day to make you happy. I swear it."

"You'll let me fuck you whenever I want?" Igor turns hard eyes on me. His jaw tightens.

"Yes, of course."

"You'll give me a blowjob when we get back home later?" He smirks at me, daring me to say something so he can kill me.

It's almost impossible, but I don't rise to the bait.

"Yes, sure." She swallows thickly. "Anything you want."

"Anal. You'll let me into your ass…finally?" He sounds excited.

The prick!

I have to bite my cheek until it bleeds to keep from going at him. Trinity is standing right there. There are three more strong males. I can't rescue Trinity if I am dead. I stand my ground, feeling my scales rub, feeling everything bristle.

"Yes." She chokes on the word. "I can't wait."

Fuck him!

Fuck this.

I pull in a breath, intent on arguing, but she steps forward. "Let him go free. Do not harm him, and I am yours. We can be together like you always wanted. Hurt so much as a hair on his head, and I will hate you forever. You'll have to keep me prisoner. I will fight you every step of the way, so help me."

Igor rolls his eyes. "Fine. I'll allow him to live."

"What?" Titan says. "This fucker injured me. You said that I could kill him. You fucking promised." He looks down at the scar across his chest.

"Plans have changed, baby brother," Igor says.

"You've always had a thing for her. I'm not sure what's so damned special about her. I don't understand it." Titan gives Trinity a dirty look.

"You don't have to understand it," Igor says. "This is my bride, right here. She's the mother of my child. She's mine. You will respect that, and you will respect her."

"Of course," Titan grumbles.

Igor gestures to Rocky and Ranger, and the two males surge forward, grabbing my arms. I dare not retaliate for fear of Trinity's life. Igor is a loose cannon. That much is clear to me.

The male bends down, grabbing a hefty rock.

"What are you doing?" Trinity yells, but Titan grabs her.

"Trinity!" I shout.

Igor steps forward and hits me so hard on the side of my head that I am out before I hit the ground. The last thing I see is Trinity screaming as she tries to get to me. She can't; Titan is holding her too firmly. Her eyes are filled with fear and anguish.