Chapter 6

Octane

There is a brisk knock at the door. I check my watch, but it isn't dinner time yet.

"What?" I growl, switching off the television. I wasn't really watching, just passing the time. I glance over at Trinity, who doesn't look up from the book she is reading. She's curled up on the wingback chair in the corner, as far away from me as she can get.

Devil puts his head around the jamb. "Sorry to intrude, but Shadow wants to speak to you; she says it can't wait."

What now?

If my leader thinks she's going to dissuade me from my plan, she's mistaken.

I nod once, put the remote control on the table, and stand.

"I'll be back in a few minutes," I tell Trinity, who locks eyes with me for a moment before looking back down at her book. She's gone back to giving me the silent treatment.

"Don't tr—" I start to say to her.

"Yeah, yeah, you can save it. I know the drill. Don't try anything stupid. There are guards posted not only outside the bungalow but all around the camp. I get it." She sounds bored, which is great. I'm hoping she'll talk sooner if she can't shift, or go outside, or any of that stuff. I'll keep her holed up until she spills the beans. It's a day I can't wait for because at least she'll be out of my hair.

"We're on the same page, then." I leave the bungalow, not even giving it a backward glance.

Goliath nods as I pass him.

"Keep a close eye on her," I tell him.

"No problemo!" he says, continuing his patrol.

"And?" Devil asks, falling into step with me. "What is she like?" He grins at me.

"What do you mean?" I frown.

"Is she much different from our females? Has she talked yet?" He seems excited, and I'm not sure why.

"Just because she's a Red doesn't mean that she's different. She's a pregnant female." I shrug. "And no, she's still refusing to talk, but it's still early days."

"I have to say that she's very pretty," Devil says. "Does she have a mate?"

I stop walking and level him with a cold, hard stare. "Come again?"

"Just an observation." He holds his hands up. "I noted that she was quite beautiful, and I was wondering if she was mated. Do you know?"

I narrow my eyes. "Of course she's mated. She's with child."

"Just because she is with child does not mean that she is mated. My mother had me before she and my father mated. I know it's unusual for shifters, but it can happen."

"I never knew that about you."

"Yep." He shrugs. "It isn't a big deal. They did end up mating in the end. I was just wondering… She's just so darned pretty. You must have noticed that about her."

"She's also very much the enemy."

"You were the one who pointed out that she isn't all that much different from our own females. We are all dragon shifters, after all. We all lived in harmony once. Once upon a time, there was no divide among our kind."

"Those days are far behind us, Devil. You would do well to remember that. Trinity is very much mated. You can stop checking her out already."

"You make it sound like you didn't notice how beautiful she is."

"I didn't!" I snarl. "We're going to drop this. I don't want to hear of it again." I bite out each word as I am reminded of how I woke up this morning. I need to stop giving myself a hard time about it. I was asleep. It was a dream. These things happen. Morning wood is normal for any male. It wasn't her. It fucking wasn't!

"You don't have to get so angry. It was merely an observation," Devil says, sounding put out.

"This is not a dating agency. I think it's bad enough that dragons are dating and mating their damned riders. First Dagger, then Fang, and now Blaze. It's wrong! But this, looking at a Red, let alone anything else, would be so much worse. A Draiger with a Red!" I shake my head. "I don't want to hear such talk again. Not from you or anyone else. Am I clear?"

He nods once, looking downtrodden. I don't care if I rained on his parade. I mean every damned word.

"I think I can take it from here," I tell him. "You keep your eyes open for anything unusual and stop gawking at the Red."

"Okay," he mumbles. "I'll walk the perimeter, and I won't look at the female again. I mean, she's mated so…"

"And a Red!"

"Yes…yes, there's that, too. I'll keep my eyes open for any trouble…don't you worry."

"You do that," I say unnecessarily as I push open the door that leads to the offices.

It doesn't take me long to get to Shadow's door, which is open. I knock once, anyway.

"Come in," she says, her eyes on her computer. She looks up almost as soon as I enter. "Take a seat."

I do as she says.

"What is this I hear about you taking Trinity's baby as soon as it's born?" She links her fingers under her chin, giving me a death stare.

I shrug. "It's fairly simple. Either the Red talks and tells me everything she knows about what the hell is going on at Mistveil Island, or I will send her back and keep her child."

"You can't keep her child. That's absurd, Octane."

"I can and I will."

"Have you lost your ever-loving mind?"

"I'm getting sick of people calling me insane. No, I have not lost my mind. The female needs to talk. I can't torture her, but this I can do," I say simply.

"What do you want with a baby?" Her eyes go wide.

"I don't actually want her baby. I want her knowledge. I would prefer the latter."

Shadow sighs. "Thank God! For a second there, I thought you were serious. Kim was convinced you actually wanted to keep the baby. It took me a full minute to calm her down enough to understand what she was even saying. The human was beside herself with worry. It was impossible to convince her that you didn't mean it. That it was only something you were saying to get your prisoner to toe the line."

"It isn't just something I was just saying. I do mean it. I fully plan on keeping her child if she doesn't conform."

"You just said you didn't want to keep her baby." She sounds exasperated, but quite frankly, I don't care.

"I don't want to keep it! I mean, I wouldn't mind a child of my own, but…" I sigh, "the kid would be better off with its mother. Hopefully, Trinity talks. It's up to her." I give a one-shouldered shrug.

Shadow's mouth drops open. "You are serious."

"Of course I am. Playing chicken only actually works if you mean it. I mean it wholeheartedly. I am sure that she will talk. In the meantime, our new riders need to work hard at becoming proficient in the saddle. We need a backup plan…namely, another Red. One I can break with force."

Shadow scrubs a hand over her face. "I don't like this, Octane."

"I don't like it, either, but the Reds are getting into our territory somehow and working together with those in power on the Mainland. Chances are good we have a couple of moles at HQ. Or worse, they may even be among us here on the training grounds." I gesture with my hands.

She cocks her head and narrows her eyes. "You can't be serious. Not one of ours." She shakes her head.

"Why do people keep saying that to me? I'm deadly fucking serious. It's possible. You have to admit that. We need to be extra vigilant. We need answers more than anything else."

Shadow pinches the bridge of her nose for a few beats, and then she takes in a couple of deep breaths. "You're right. I wish to God it was different, but you are right. You need to tread carefully, though. You need to try to get her to talk." She shrugs. "Get her to trust you, to open up. It wouldn't hurt you to befriend her."

I snort. "That's not going to fucking happen."

"You said you would do whatever it took. I'm telling you as a woman that you need to win her over. You get more bees with honey than with vinegar."

"I don't give a shit about bees."

She widens her eyes. "It's a saying, Octane."

"I know that. I don't like stupid sayings."

"It means that you might get the answers you want if you ask nicely. If you try to get on her good side instead of threatening to take her child from her."

"I know what the saying means and…" I swipe a hand over my face and suck in a deep breath. "You might be right," I mutter.

"Might be right? I am right. Hear me and do as I say," she tells me, her eyes blazing.

"Okay, fine." I nod a few times. "I will try to be nice."

Shadow laughs.

"What's so funny?"

"I'm not sure you have it in you."

"I can be nice!" I growl.

She rolls her eyes. "If you say so."

"I can!" I snarl.

"It's something I would give money to see. You being nice." She laughs harder, like it's the biggest damned joke she's heard all year.

"You're on," I tell her as I stand. "Watch this space." I smile. "I will be so fucking nice you won't recognize me."

She clutches her chest and gasps like she's dying. Her eyes are glinting with humor.

"What's wrong?" I narrow my eyes.

She chuckles. "It's the first time I have ever seen you smile, and it's awful." She laughs, leaning forward. "Truly terrible. You suck at smiling."

"I do not."

"You do, too. Win her over, but whatever you do, don't smile." She belly-laughs, clutching her middle.

"Ha-ha…you're so damned funny. I will get answers. You'll see."

Then she sobers. "Oh…one other thing: Kim is convinced that you are being inappropriate to our prisoner." She licks her lips, looking at me weirdly.

"I slept with her, as in, eyes closed, actual sleeping. I did it so that she wouldn't escape, not to be cozy."

"You were naked, according to Kim," she says.

"So what? Since when is that an issue? I sleep naked every damned night. I'm not changing my habits because of a Red. Fuck that! The human is far too sensitive," I growl.

"That's all it is? You're not…?"

"Of course that's all it is!" I rasp, starting to get pissed off. "She's a Red."

"Yes, and—"

"And she's mated. She's pregnant. Why is this so hard for all of you to get? I'm not fucking her, and neither do I plan on fucking her. Even if she were single, I wouldn't touch her. I will sleep naked, and I will keep her as fucking close as I can to keep her from escaping. We're shifters, so it isn't that big of a deal. Surely you get that much?"

"Yes, yes," she says as I stand. "It all sounds fine. I want a report back from you in a couple of days," she shouts after me as I leave.

"You got it," I say without turning.

It doesn't take me long to get back to the bungalow. I was gone longer than intended. I burst through the door, stopping dead in my tracks when I realize the bungalow is empty. I look around, a scowl forming on my face.

The bathroom! The door is slightly ajar, so I enter. Nope! I have to stop myself from tearing open closets because I know she isn't in any of them.

She isn't here.

Where the fuck is she?

"Goliath!" I bellow, stalking outside. Every muscle is bunched. Adrenaline courses through me. My heart is pounding.

He looks my way and frowns. "Ummmm…yes, Octane?"

"Where's Trinity?"

He frowns harder. "I thought you knew. I was told you knew." He swallows hard.

"Knew what?" I demand.

"Kim came to fetch the Red and took her for a walk," he stammers, going pale.

My blood runs cold. "A walk?" I roar. "When?"

He swallows thickly. "Soon after you left. I swear, I thought she had cleared it with you. She came from the offices. Said that she had spoken to Shadow about it. To you both. I didn't want to believe them, but they were convincing. They—"

"You shouldn't have believed it. It's a bunch of bullshit!" I yell. "Which way?"

Goliath points, and I start sprinting. "Inform Shadow of this development. Do it now!" I bellow.

I shift into my dragon form, my clothes ripping from my body as my scales burst through my skin. Technically, I am not permitted to shift without a rider, but, unlike the others of my kind on Draig, I am in control of my beast. Without hesitation, I crash through the trees as I take flight, my great wings flapping. I roar as I soar over the canopy, scanning the horizon for a small, red-flecked dragon. My heart pounds in my chest, the air whipping past my scaled face as I push myself harder. She's not going to escape me. I refuse to allow it!

Trinity

"I'm sure you couldn't stand being cramped up in there," Kim says.

"It was getting a little frustrating," I say, trying to keep the tremor from my voice.

"It sure is a great day for a walk." Kim looks up at the clear, blue sky.

"Come straight back, ladies," Goliath says, sounding unsure.

We both turn. Kim is smiling broadly. I'm far too nervous to force my lips to curve upward. I do my best to look normal. To look calm.

"Of course we will." Kim laughs, sounding completely relaxed.

"And you won't go too far?" Goliath lifts his brows. He doesn't quite buy our story. That much is apparent.

Kim giggles. "Of course not."

"No way," I manage to push out, giggling too. It actually sounds like I mean it, shocking me a little.

"Would you like me to come along?" Goliath asks, scratching his chin. "I can—"

"I think we'll be fine. We really won't go far. After my ordeal, I'm still a little on edge," Kim says. "Besides, we're going to talk girls' stuff you would hate to hear."

"Don't attempt an escape, Trinity. It won't work," Goliath says.

"I wouldn't dare," I tell him. "You guys would catch me in a second."

"We would, and Octane would be fuming," he says. "I'm not so sure about this."

"Well, I'm sure enough for the both of us," Kim says. "We have permission. We won't be long, and neither will we stray too far. I will yell for help if Trinity tries anything, but I know she won't." She looks my way.

I shake my head. "Absolutely not. I won't try anything, I swear."

I'm starting to feel antsy. We need to leave. The more distance I can put between Octane and me, the better. At this rate, he will be back before we can even leave.

"You're sure you don't need me?" he tries again.

"No!" we say in unison. I say it a little too harshly, which makes Kim giggle, this time sounding nervous.

Goliath is going to see right through this.

Arghhh!

Act normal! Act. Normal.

"We'll be fine." She flaps her hand. "We'll see you in about twenty minutes." She hooks her arm in mine and starts walking.

I follow.

"As I was saying, lovely day for a walk."

"It certainly is," I say.

She smiles at me. "How far along are you?" I know she's making small talk to put Goliath off the scent. "Do you still have morning sickness? Do dragon shifters even get morning sickness?"

I laugh, sounding like I mean it, because I do. I feel myself relax, at least a little. "Yes, we do. I was quite sick for the first few months, but I'm doing great now."

"And? How far along are you? Do dragon shifters have the same length of pregnancy as humans?"

"We do, yes. I'm five and a half months along. When we hit the six-month mark…" I shrug. "We can no longer shift. Our bodies start preparing for delivery. Or maybe it's because a lot of our energy starts to go to the developing child."

"That's interesting." We pick up the pace. "I didn't know that," Kim says.

"Yep, I can already feel my beast weakening."

I look around the jungle, seeing a maze of towering trees, thick vines, and colorful flowers casting shadows in every direction. Sunlight filters through the canopy, creating pockets of golden light and highlighting the rich green of the leaves. I want to relax and enjoy the moment. It feels amazing having a breeze through my hair and the sun kissing my skin, but I can't.

There is too much at stake.

"Good thing we're going on this walk then," she says absently.

"It's a very good thing."

We need to get away from here, and then I need to shift and escape. My freedom is right there. So close I can almost taste it. My window of opportunity is closing. Desperation is starting to creep in, which is never good.

We hurry through the dense foliage, Kim leading the way with a confident stride. My heart pounds in my chest, a mix of fear and exhilaration coursing through me as I steal a glance over my shoulder to see if anyone is following us. All I see are the green leaves and tree trunks.

I push out a sigh. This might just work. No! It will work. It has to.

Kim leads me through the dense underbrush, her easy stride in sharp contrast to my nervous fidgeting. Each rustle of leaves or distant animal call sends my heart racing, my mind consumed with thoughts of escape. Kim meets my gaze with a reassuring smile, as if she knows exactly what she's doing. We shifters have great senses, which include hearing. We want to be far enough away so that Goliath or one of the others doesn't hear me.

"Thank you," I mouth for the third or fourth time since she came to fetch me for our "walk."

Kim nods and gives me another smile.

Please let this work!

Please let Octane be held up in his meeting with Shadow.

Please!

I was shocked when Kim came to the door announcing a walk. She winked at me, and I knew that she was going to help me escape. I pray she doesn't get into any trouble for this. I fear she will.

"Just a little further," Kim whispers.

I nod. We keep up the grueling pace. I can take it, but it doesn't take long before Kim is puffing, her hair sticking to her face. It's humid under the trees. She doesn't complain; she just keeps going. I really like her.

After a few minutes, I grab her arm. "This is fine. We are far enough." I glance back but don't see or hear anything out of the ordinary. "Thank you so much for helping me."

"No." Her eyes are full of anguish. "I'm so sorry this happened to you. I failed you."

"You didn't. You did your best. I'm sure you will get into trouble for helping me today. You stuck your neck out, and for that, I am truly grateful. You need to tell them that it was all me. Blame me. I overpowered you."

"It's my fault you are in this mess. I don't care what happens to me. There isn't much they can do. You should go. Octane isn't one for long chats." She glances back.

"I noticed." Despite my nervous edge, I smile and then quickly pull off the shirt. "See that he gets this back."

Kim grins. "He's going to be mad."

I laugh. "So mad. I don't envy you."

"He deserves it; he's such a dick." She widens her eyes.

"I hear you, but I also think that Octane is trying to help his people. I don't think he's such a bad guy underneath that gruff exterior."

Kim makes a face. "You're defending him after everything?" She shakes her head, widening her eyes even more. "You're such a great person."

"No, it's true; he has decent motives, even if his methods are flawed. I need to go before he finishes that meeting." I pull Kim into a quick hug.

"Good luck," she murmurs. "You can do it!"

We pull apart, and I run a few steps away from her before shifting. It takes effort. More effort than a few days ago.

Crap!

As I close my eyes and focus hard, I feel the familiar tingling sensation spread throughout my body; my hands and feet elongate and transform into sharp claws. My skin begins to shimmer, and scales burst forth. Slowly at first and then faster. The cracking of bones and stretching of muscles echo in my ears as my body contorts and grows. My wings unfurl from my back, powerful and majestic. As my body transforms, I feel the air around me shifting and swirling, the muscles in my arms and legs stretching and reshaping, and the weight of my new form settles onto my shoulders.

Finally, I'm in my dragon form.

"Goodbye." Kim waves. "Thank you. I hope you make it."

I do, too.

I rumble my thanks and then take to the sky. The vibrant colors of the jungle blur beneath me as I soar higher and higher, my scaled body glistening in the sunlight just a tad too brightly for my liking. The sky is a beautiful clear blue. I wish there were a few clouds for me to hide in. The world becomes smaller beneath me as I spread my wings and flee…flee…flee.

I force myself to fly faster…and then faster still. It won't be long now, and I can descend and make my escape.

Please!

Please!

I have to get away.

I have to!

Then I hear it. An angry roar. I don't have to look back to know who is behind me. It's him! It's Octane. He's caught up with me faster than I anticipated. At first, I fly in a frantic panic, and then, I finally risk a glance, and it is him. My heart plummets. He's just as majestic and powerful as I remembered him, his black and gold scales glinting in the sunlight. I push my wings harder, determined to stay ahead, but Octane's larger size gives him the advantage. His roars of rage echo through the jungle, causing birds to scatter from the trees in fear.

No!

He's gaining on me. Of course he is. Not for the first time, I curse my small size.

It isn't long before I can feel his hot breath on my tail as he closes in; his determination is almost palpable. Despite my fear, I refuse to give up. I dip and weave through the thick canopy, trying to lose him in the maze of trees below. I know it's futile, but I have to try.

As expected, Octane is relentless in his pursuit. His claws swipe dangerously close to me, and his furious growls grow louder with each passing moment. Panic sets in as I realize there's no way I can outfly him.

Dammit!

With a burst of speed, Octane surges forward and blocks my path, forcing me to come to a screeching halt by flapping backward lest I crash into him.

No!

Noooooooo!

My heart sinks faster than a rock into the depths of the dark, cold ocean.

He growls, baring his teeth. I'm outweighed by a mile. It's no use. He forces me to fly lower. He wants me to land and uses his huge body to make that happen.

I descend, huffing out a breath of utter frustration. Kim will get into trouble for nothing. All I needed was two or three more minutes, and I would have been home free.

Dammit all to hell!

I should've shifted sooner. Should've foregone goodbyes. Should've. Could've. Would've. Why did I come here?

We land, and he growls right in my face, his chest knocking gently against mine. I don't feel afraid. I don't think that he will hurt me, but it is clear that he wants me to shift. With reluctance, I do it, feeling the familiar sensation of my body transforming back into human form, the weight of my dragon form lifting off me easily. Far more easily than the other way around. Octane watches me intently, his golden eyes ablaze with anger. His look of disapproval doesn't change as he shifts. If anything, it intensifies as scales become skin. I look down before meeting his eyes once again. I refuse to apologize. My only regret is that I didn't get away.

"What were you thinking?" His voice is gruff. I didn't expect any different.

I don't answer because it isn't really a question.

"I told you not to run." Octane's voice is low and rough. "I told you I would catch you."

"You might not have." I lift my brows.

He grabs my upper arms, pulling me toward him.

I suck in a breath.

"I told you there would be consequences," he growls.