Chapter 22

TWENTY-TWO

Evander

We each have a metal pipe in our hands. The pipes are the same size and length. Dr. Duncan walks in front of us with his clipboard, jotting down notes, and Granger is doing the same from a corner. He looks absolutely like a man deserving to be Dr. Duncan's number one. Both men's expressions are identical too, like they're absolutely fascinated. Not that I blame them. I've never seen anything like this before.

"Okay," Dr. Duncan says. "Bend them."

I don't hesitate. I bend mine as far as I can, then look across Sam to see that Aydan has done the same. The bastard. We've been neck-and-neck all day, and I'm done with it. I'm ex-military. I've spent my whole life sculpting my body into a weapon. There's no way he's just as strong as me.

"Impressive," Dr. Duncan says, scribbling down our results.

Sam holds her bent metal up. "I know you two are in a dick-measuring contest, but I bent the damn thing too."

I smile and kiss the top of her head. "You're a real killer."

Aydan glares at me over her head. "I know you're strong. There's never been a doubt about that."

Dr. Duncan stops his pacing in front of us. "Now, the concrete wall. We're going to see how hard you can hit it, but don't go crazy. We don't know a lot about dragons and broken bones."

I can't help myself, I think back to my healing process after the green dragon. "We need time to heal, but we heal faster than other people, and shifting seems to help decrease the amount of time we need to heal."

Dr. Duncan nods. "We have notes about your healing process, but we still need more data. Otherwise, we're just being reckless." Then he leads us to a concrete wall in one corner of the gym. "Ready?" We line up. "Set. Go!"

I punch with all my might and pain explodes across my fist. It's not enough to knock me to my knees, but I definitely feel it. It doesn't matter though, all that matters is that Aydan did worse than me.

Looking at the wall, I see we all have a hole surrounded by cracks and marks. Sam's is by far the smallest. And mine? It's the biggest.

Aydan notices it too. His stupid cocky smile falters and then slips into a frown. His gaze meets mine, and I grin back, flashing my teeth. He takes a step toward me, and I tense, ready for another fight.

"How do the three of you feel?" Dr. Duncan asks.

"Fine," Aydan and I say at once, followed by Sam saying, "it hurt a little bit, but I wasn't hurt."

"I think all three of them felt that," Granger says, eyeing me suspiciously. "I just think they don't want to show their soft dicks."

"Soft dick?" I repeat. "I never have a soft dick. Ask Sam."

"Fucking prick!" Aydan says, and Sam is suddenly in the middle of us, keeping him back.

"Tell your friend to watch his mouth," I tell Aydan, gesturing at Granger.

"You leave him alone!" Sam says, with more anger than I would have expected.

She thinks Granger is this soft, squishy baby, but I know better. Since day one, he's been just as possessive of Sam as the both of us, he's just better at hiding it. I hate that she acts like he's completely off-limits, because sometimes I want to punch him just as much as I want to punch Aydan.

Dr. Duncan clears his throat. "Now, a race. From one side of the gym and back again."

Our angry group heads over to one side of the gym. As always, we line up with Sam between us. She shoots me a dirty look, and I know I'm on her shit list, all because of precious, innocent Granger. Like hell.

"On your mark, get set, go!"

We take off. Only, Sam is like a flash of light. She darts past us and has touched the wall long before Aydan touches it, and then I do, just seconds behind him. None of us are out of breath, but Sam looks happy again.

"Interesting. Sam seems to be the fastest, then Aydan, then Evander. But Evander seems to be the strongest," Dr. Duncan says as he jots down notes.

"I'm the fastest," Sam says, bouncing on her toes in a way that's far too darling.

"I'm the strongest," I say, absolutely intending on flexing.

Aydan gives a dark smile. "Based on a couple tests. That doesn't mean you are."

"I still beat you on those tests."

"By barely anything."

I lift a brow. "By enough that it counts."

Aydan gives a little shrug. "I have the kind of strength that allows me to be fast too. You're like a tank."

"Tanks are capable of a lot of damage."

"Until they get one wheel off the road, and then they're useless," he says. "Have you ever seen those stupid tanks on their side? They're not all that impressive then."

Dr. Duncan continues, like he's not listening to us at all. "Now, to test you as dragons."

"As dragons?" Sam sounds nervous.

Dr. Duncan lowers his clipboard. "As an institute that specializes in dragons, we're equipped with military-grade protection, including air protection. The system isn't perfect, as we've already seen. It wasn't even armed when you first got here, but it's armed and at the ready today. If the green dragon gets anywhere near our base, we'll take care of him."

She nods and wraps her arms around herself.

I'm about to reach for her when Aydan pulls her against him. She melds into his body, sighing, and every muscle in my body tenses. Even though she smells like me, I don't want her anywhere near him. If she's upset, or worried, she should be in my arms, not his.

Dr. Duncan heads for the elevator and holds it open so we can all go in. Aydan keeps his arm around Sam, and I have to grit my teeth to stop myself from losing it on his cocky ass. Granger is standing beside them, giving me a look, one that says he's enjoying watching me suffer.

Outside, the air is fresh and cool, instantly soothing something inside of me. I've begun to realize that I miss being in my dragon body when I'm human. Sometimes I just start to feel like I'm crammed in this body and can't breathe.

Near the cliff, there are several research assistants and a ton of gear. They're obviously here to get all our numbers. I just hope they can do something useful with the information.

Dr. Duncan leads us out to the research assistants, and then rounds on us. "Once you shift, we're going to clip a couple of monitors on you and see what happens."

"To see who's fastest," Sam says with a grin.

"And strongest," I tell her right back.

Aydan just folds his arms over his chest, glaring. I enjoy his anger. It means I'm getting to him. Maybe with enough time he'll decide it's not worth it and walk away. One can hope. Although, he has held out for her for twenty-some years…

Dr. Duncan continues. "Since you can communicate with each other in dragon form, we're going to have you all pick one spot to start from, to race, to see how fast you are. And see those boulders on the edge of the cliff over there?" We all look where he's pointing, and then he explains. "We're going to have you try to roll some of them into the ocean. One at a time."

"Got it," I say. "Anything else?"

"For now, that's all," he says.

"Spread out and shift," Granger says, his gaze clinging to my woman. "And stay close to Sam the whole time, just in case."

The asshole didn't need to tell us that. His words basically mean he doesn't trust us to protect her on our own, which is annoying as fuck. He's sly, that one. Really sly.

We shift one after another, and I stretch my wings out, feeling good. Feeling free. I let my gaze run over Sam and Aydan. Sam is definitely smaller than us, easily half our size. Everything about her is delicate, including her bones and wings. Aydan, beside her, is nearly my size. The difference between us is smaller than I like, but I do think I'm marginally bigger.

And, hell, even an inch or two difference makes me happy. As long as I'm bigger.

Dr. Duncan and his assistants carefully clip a couple of monitors on our wings. When they're done, and standing far enough back, I shoot into the sky, feeling the others following me. The air around me is a rush of life, and I feel amazing. Free.

My wings spread out around me, and I dart through the clouds. Once there, I stop and breathe in the world. Sam is already there, spinning around, her scent intoxicating. Her beautiful dragon body calls to me.

And then there's Aydan. To my surprise, his scent isn't bad, and I realize it's never been bad. Not like the green dragon's, which I detest. In our dragon forms, it's harder to ignore the fact that his scent is almost… pleasant. Almost, but not quite.

How do we want to do this ? Aydan says into our minds.

Sam's voice comes next. Let's go far out over the ocean and then race back to shore. The shoreline can be the finish line.

Sounds good to me. But just there and back. No further. We don't know how far the base defenses can reach, I say, consciously sending the words to both of them before realizing what I've been doing.

It's interesting. We seem to be able to send our thoughts so just one person hears them, or so everyone hears them. I'm not sure I was aware of that until right now. Being a dragon certainly takes practice.

Together we fly out over the ocean, sometimes swooping low, sometimes soaring above the clouds. We move together like a pack, a pack who has done this a million times before, and I hate that it feels right. With Aydan, I'm less terrified of something terrible happening to Sam. I feel like I can enjoy this a little more.

I like this . Sam's thought is pleased in our minds.

Like what? I ask, amused.

I like flying when I'm not constantly afraid of the green dragon.

Aydan's voice is reassuring. We'll never let anything happen to you.

I'm surprised by the we'll . It's strange to have Aydan include me in anything, but I'm not kidding myself into thinking this comradery will last long. He and I are enemies, through and through.

Sam spins around Aydan, and then me. It's playful. I smile. I spin with her too, and Aydan does the same. I get the strangest feeling that we're dancing in the sky.

When Sam's laughter comes in my mind, my heart soars. I love to hear her happy. I'd do anything to hear her laugh.

Do you think we're far enough? she asks.

Probably , I say.

We fly until we're in the closest thing to a straight line that we can do in the sky. Sam is in the middle. Aydan and I are at her sides. There's anticipation in the air. And, to my surprise, a lightness that I hadn't expected.

Ready ? Sam asks.

Ready , we both say.

She begins counting down. Three, two, one…

We take off. Except, it's more like Sam bolts away, disappearing from view. Aydan's panic flows to me through a connection I didn't even know existed, and we're both chasing after her. Some part of me knows she'll be fine, but another part of me would be happier close to her.

That big body doesn't seem to go very fast , Aydan says, just ahead of me.

Well, it's got to be big to haul around my big dick.

Please , he mutters, I've seen what you're packing, and it's nothing compared to the third leg I'm dragging.

I snort. Third leg? Please. Hairy balls don't count for length.

He makes a little sound of disbelief. Not only am I thicker and longer, I can go all night.

I don't remember you being there last night. There. What are you going to say to that, loser?

Silver is worse than gold. You're second place, buddy.

Right, I get it, I'm silver and you're gold. I hate this guy.

I'm pushing myself as hard as I possibly can. I'm out of breath as I slice through the air like an arrow, and he's still faster. Always just ahead of me, no matter how hard I try.

Need to take a break? he asks.

I roar and flames explode.

Feeling a little hot, then? He's laughing, and I hate it.

Up ahead, we see Sam. She's just hanging out just beyond the finish line. I manage to push myself just a little faster, hoping to impress her. But still, Aydan crosses the finish line before I can.

A string of curses moves through my mind.

I beat you both. How does that burn feel? she shouts into our minds.

You're enjoying this too much.

Way too much , she says with glee.

We have to do the boulders , I say, knowing that this should be my area to shine.

Spoil sport , she mutters, and I wish I could kiss her. That'd shut her up.

I soar down to the cliff. This one is further from the base and the scientists, but close enough for them to watch.

Want to get out of the way and let a real man handle it? Aydan asks.

A man doesn't get realer than me , I say.

I swear I can sense Sam rolling her eyes at me, and it's a weird sensation. We're aware of so much in these forms, but it's like we don't know what we're experiencing until it happens. This is all new to us, but not, at the same time.

Looking over the boulders, I choose the largest one. Aydan lands beside me and tries to get in my way, but I roar at him, staying close to the boulder. I don't exactly like turning my back on him, but I start to push the damn thing with my head and body, slowly rolling the boulder off the cliff until it falls into the water down below.

I snort, smoke coming from my nostrils, and turn to Sam, to make sure she was watching. She was, but I can't tell if she's impressed. She should be impressed. I haven't seen a lot of other dragons, but I'm certain I'm a fine specimen.

Aydan is next. He picks a smaller boulder than me, because he doesn't have a choice. With effort, he rolls the thing over the cliff and drops the rock into the water below. He's breathing hard when he rounds on us, quite obviously checking that Sam is watching.

She says nothing, but picks a boulder and starts to roll it over the cliff. It's a smaller boulder, but she struggles with it more than we do. We watch her, and it's painful to see her having a hard time. Aydan and I go on each of her sides and shove the boulder the rest of the way to the water.

I could do it myself , she says, sounding out of breath.

I know you could have , I tell her, pressing my head to hers.

For a minute, we stay that way until I draw back. Staring. Some part of me knows Sam's a beautiful dragon. She has brilliant green eyes, crimson scales, and a sleek body. She's delicate too, far more delicate than Aydan and I.

My dragon side likes her. That's for sure.

We head back to Dr. Duncan, have the monitors taken off of us, and shift back into our human forms. Luckily for us, all our clothes remains on. I don't know how it works, but it does. So none of us are left standing naked in front of an audience. The scientists all seem excited about our new data, but I don't really care right now. I just want to eat.

"Lunch?" I say to Sam.

She smiles. "Lunch sounds amazing."

"Well, we thought you'd want to eat with us," Aydan says, gesturing to him and Granger.

"Too late," I say, flashing a smile.

She groans. "Come on. Can we please just get along? For a little while."

"I can if you can," I say to Aydan.

"I can." He glares.

"So, we're getting along…?" she asks.

"Right," I say.

"Of course," Aydan tells her casually.

Our eyes lock, and pure hatred flows between us. We might be claiming to have a truce, but there's no world where that will happen. Aydan and I… we're enemies for life.

Although, it's strange. We almost felt like something different in our dragon forms. Not quite friends, but not like this either. I wonder why it's so different.

Not that Sam needs to know either way.

We both smile pleasantly and follow her to lunch. I reach out a hand to touch her back, and Aydan slaps it away. I slap his hand back. He slaps mine. Sam turns, and we keep our hands to ourselves, smiling.

If she wants peace, she'll get it.