28. Twenty-eight

twenty-eight

"I don't understand." I felt like I spoke for all of us, given the confused looks on my brother's faces.

It was Zeus who explained. "A hierarchy of sorts exists in the council. Dragons have always held the tie-breaking vote on any matter and act as the ultimate peacekeepers. The longest lived among us, their experience borne of longevity is seen as the best for ruling over the entirety of Society. They often defer to the wider council on small matters, but in the end, their word is law.

"And the fae don't appreciate it. They have always felt like they should be in charge—or at least hold equal power."

Bacon continued, "So imagine you wanted to stage a coup against the most powerful supernaturals. You are no match for them, so you need something that is."

"So you create a creature that is a blend of weres and dragons." My mind whirled, stunned at the implication that we were created for a political takeover.

"Exactly," Zeus said.

"Why weres? Why not a more powerful supernatural?" I quickly added, "No offense."

Zeus chuckled. "None taken. Bull, you want to weigh in on this?"

The shifter paused his typing to look up. "I suspect they wanted our healing ability. Dragons are tough, but if you pierce their scales, they are vulnerable. We can rapidly heal from just about any injury. Dragons heal at the same rate as humans. Plus, the fae are smart enough not to give humans a weapon so powerful it could overthrow all of us, but egotistical enough to think they could retain control over any creature created. They needed something to threaten the dragons, and appease the human's need for weapons, but not something that could take over Society as a whole."

Kragen was shaking his head. "I still don't understand how we would be a viable weapon against dragons. From the information Bacon provided, their scales are almost impenetrable."

Bacon was nodding as she crawled back on top of the table to sit cross-legged. She reached out and grabbed my wrist, pulling it and me forward until I was against the table.

She held my hand up and pointed to my claws. "I think your answer lies here." She pressed the tip of her finger to the tip of my claw, and blood welled from the puncture. "These don't look like shifter or dragon claws. They are too curved and sharp-edged." She took my index finger and dragged it lightly over the surface of the table, where it left a deep groove. "Were claws are softer—able to cut through flesh but breakable. Dragon claws are a bit stronger, but not enough to penetrate a dragon's hide. Yours are like hardened steel. I suspect they can cut through dragon scales like butter."

"She has a point." Cavi stepped closer from his usual place against the wall. "Our claws only break under extreme duress and they are sharp enough to damage every tested surface."

I winced as I remembered the lengths the scientists went to get readings on how much every part of us could withstand.

Cavi reached up, brushing the tip of his broken horn and I knew he also remembered.

"Surely a team of six couldn't wipe out an entire species?" I carefully took my hand back from Bacon, and she smiled up at me.

Zeus sighed. "No. Even before we knew about the council connection, we believed there were plans to create many more wyrfangs when their experiments yielded the results they wanted. The human military wouldn't want just one squad if they could have multiple."

"Well, shit."

That from Quin, who had remarkably remained quiet.

Kendal leaned into my side. "So it's important we stop these bastards. We need to work faster."

Bull looked over at Bacon. "I don't suppose there's an artifact that could—."

"No. Nope. Not happening." She slashed her hand through the air. "No way, no how."

Bull sighed. "Fine." He turned back to his laptop screen. "I think I have a way to discover Mr. Blue's real identity, but I don't think anyone's going to like it."

I took a deep breath and looked at my brothers. Roul was glowering more than usual, Cavi had retreated to the side of the cave, and Quin was practically bouncing in excitement. Thurl crossed his arms and stood barely moving. Kragen and I shared a resigned look.

As long as the plan didn't involve Kendal, or provide an opportunity for her to be hurt, we could work with it.

Kragen nodded. "Let's hear it."

"We need to draw them both out—the fae and Mr. Blue." He looked up at us. "We need to offer them something they can't refuse."

I heard Kendal suck in a breath next to me. "No. That's not happening. We can draw out Mr. Blue using me as bait and figure out how to get the fae later."

I growled and snapped my teeth, my tail swinging in agitation. "Absolutely not."

She whirled and poked me in the chest. "Do you know what he's suggesting?" Her voice was low and furious. "He's suggesting we use one of you as bait."

I nodded. "That's preferable."

"For who?" She turned and looked at everyone else in the chamber. "They have spent their entire lives in captivity. We are not putting them at risk of ending up right back there."

"We can mitigate the risk. We'll take every precaution—"

"It won't be enough!" She screamed and slapped her hand on the table. "These men hunted me. They abducted me in broad daylight in a public parking lot! They will stop at nothing to get what they want. Do you think this fae council member is going to get squeamish about mowing through your entire team?"

She pointed at Zeus. "Because I don't think they will. They will do everything in their power to get the ‘fangs back under their control. They know that recapturing one means getting them all, because no way in hell they'll ever leave a brother behind."

She faced me again. "Tell me I'm wrong."

I shook my head, my ears flat against my head. "You aren't wrong." I reached for her but she jerked away.