Chapter 12

CHAPTER TWELVE

KILLIAN

"Who are you?" I ask, my voice gruff. When everything went white, I was terrified for Beau's safety. He's safe, thank God, but I'm still cranky. "Why are you here?" I tower over the man, but he doesn't seem afraid. Of course, I'm still wearing Beau's Fortnite shirt.

"Why do ye think, sweetheart? I'm here to rescue you."

"You?" I give him a pointed look.

"Rude. Extremely rude."

"Just you?" Beau asks, joining our little group and the conversation.

The pirate waves his hand around at all the men on the ground. "I'd say I'm doing a mite better job than you."

The grumpy soldier growls and pulls out a gun. "Not so fast."

"Really? That's what you've got?" the pirate-man says, brandishing a swashbuckling sword. "Lord, save us from manly men and their guns.

"You know we can't let you walk out of here, Walter."

Walter. The name sounds familiar.

"Oh, I know. I'm expecting a fight. In fact, I'm looking forward to it."

A fight? This four-foot man with a sword against a six-foot-five giant with a gun? How does he expect to win?

"Now would be a fine time to do your thing, lad," Walter says to me. And before I can question his meaning, Walter transforms into a dinosaur. He's big, covered in red-and-black scales, and has feathers all over his body. And on his head is five sharp horns. A Pentaceratops.

"Holy shit!" Beau exclaims.

Sallee puts his hands on his hips and glares at the other soldier. "Now see what you've done?"

He growls. "Well, shift then."

"And ruin my nails? I just got this manicure. You do it."

After a moment, he does, shifting into a large dinosaur with a shell covered in pointed spikes and a heavy club at the end of its tail. Ankylosaurus. A herbivore, but that doesn't mean he isn't dangerous.

Beau gasps, and I can't tell if it's from fear or excitement. His geekiness warms my heart, but it might also get him killed. Keeping him safe is my priority. I have no choice. I strip off my clothes, something I notice Walter and the soldier didn't do, and shift.

The joy of being in my natural form is tempered by my awareness of the human. Beau. Protect my mate. Destroy the threat. I roar in warning, but the Ankylosaurus charges, turning at the last minute to bash me with his tail. I move but not fast enough, and pain bursts through me as the blow grazes me. The Pentaceratops gouges him with his horns and the Ankylosaurus roars in response. I rush forward, sinking my teeth into his face, the only part of him not covered in spikes. The taste of his flesh and blood spurs me on. But he surges forward, slamming me into a tree.

Power surges through me. This feels natural. No thoughts on right or wrong. Only on protecting what's mine. We grapple. Teeth, horns, and spikes tangle until the Ankylosaurus is on the ground and beaten, shifting back into human form.

When I shift, it's almost as if I'm in a trance. Barely aware of what I'm doing. Beau. Where is he? Did he get hurt? My knees give out, and I fall to the ground. All that practice. Why am I weak? But the pain in my leg lets me know.

"Killian!" Beau is here. Beside me. He touches my face. My arms. My chest. Until he finds the injury.

"I'm fine."

"Damn right you are. But it's bruised. So no marathons."

Beau wraps his arms around me and kisses me. I feel like weeping. A hole was there before. Had I even realized how lonely I've been?

There's much of my life that I don't remember, but having Beau care about me gives me something that feels like it's been missing. I cling to him, absorbing his affection like the dry earth when it rains. I deepen the kiss.

"Excuse me? I'm still here." We pull apart and stare at Walter. He's glowering at us, his hands on his hips, and he's fully dressed. And suddenly, I'm aware I'm still naked. But that's the least concerning thing. I glance around. The men are all gone. Did I black out?

"Where did they go?"

"How the fuck should I know? They scampered off as quickly as they could once they realized they were no match for us."

"Even the unconscious ones?" I ask, still not trusting this guy.

He chuckles. "Sassy. I like it." He nods toward the road. "They ran off before the fight was even over."

"Why didn't they use their guns?" Beau asks as he hands me my clothes.

I quickly dress. I'd forgotten about the guns. The serum. Why hadn't they used it while they could?

"We had it handled." Walter smirks. "Dontcha be worrying about that.

"We?"

"Did ya really believe I'd be here on me own?"

A man steps forward. Tall. Mean. Named Petroni. Him, I remember. His methods of persuasion were memorable. Painful. "Isn't he one of them?"

"No." His voice is hard. "I am not part of some underground government agency trying to control dinosaurs. We protect our own."

"Protect? You tasered me."

His eyes gleam. "I was trying to jog your memory."

"You enjoyed it."

"Sometimes I enjoy my work." His smile drops and his eyes darken.

I can see the dino within him. A memory jogs loose. Petroni with a broken nose and blood everywhere. The pain in my knuckles.

"I love a good family reunion and all, but they will be back. With more men. More guns. We should flee."

Beau holds out his hands. "Hold on. I have questions."

"It'll wait, sweetheart."

"Don't call me that. What knocked them out? And why only some of them?"

"I set off a high-frequency charge that bothers humans but not dinosaurs." Petroni spits. The man is disgusting. "Now can we go?"

I'd figured as much, but hearing Petroni confirm my suspicions—I suck in a breath, my eyes meeting Beau's startled gaze.

"That can't be right. I…I'm not a dinosaur."

"Sure about that, sweetheart?"

Beau growls at him. "Stop calling me that."

Walter chuckles and shakes his head. "Why when it's fun to get ye all riled up. You're not a dino shifter, Beau. But there's something about you. Maybe you've got a little dino in you." He glances at me and waggles his eyebrows. "Or maybe one not so little?" He cackles, and my hands clench in anticipation of punching that smirk off his face.

"Don't be ridiculous," Petroni says. "The answer is obvious—" He stops and shares a look with Walter. Jerking his head toward the road, he says, "Time to go."

"You go on. I'll take care of our friends."

I narrow my eyes at his use of the terms "take care of" and "friends."

But Petroni nods, gets in his vehicle, and drives off.

"So you don't know anything? Or do they keep you in the dark?"

"I like this A9. Feisty."

"That isn't my name."

Walter cackles again, and the way Beau glares, he might punch him before I get the chance. "According to your leg, it is. And it wasn't like you were talking when we got ya."

That confirms another piece of the puzzle. I lost my memories before they found me. I have so many questions, but I'm not sure I trust Walter's answers.

"We don't have a lot of time, lads, so let's talk about what's next."

"What about the tattoo?"

"Tattoo?" Walter asks, squinting at Beau. "What are you on about?"

Beau's mouth is open, and he shuts it, looking unsure. "The one on Killian's ass."

Beau's cheeks turn red, but he lifts his chin as he looks at me for help. I sigh. No way out of telling him now.

I turn and pull my pants down far enough to show the tattoo.

"Nice arse," Walter says with a whistle while glancing at Beau to see his reaction. Beau pulls his hands into fists and glares. "But that isn't a tattoo."

"Then what is it?"

"It's a mark from when your dinosaur wakes up. All the cool kids have them." He pulls his shirt open, revealing a similar design on his shoulder.

"I don't remember anything from before. Is that normal?"

Walter shakes his head. "My guess? Those guys don't want you to remember. And as much as I love this walk down memory lane, you boys need to disappear. I'm sending you to Austyn."

"Texas?" Beau relaxes some. At least he no longer looks ready to fight Walter. Which seems to be a positive.

"Burkes."

"What?"

"Austyn Burkes is a person, not a place. He lives in Hope, Idaho, and he'll get you everything you need to successfully coexist with your dino side. Plus, his clothes are a lifesaver. I suggest you leave right away."

I nod. But how can I convince Beau to stay here? I want him with me, but it's dangerous, and putting Beau in danger?—

"Forget it, Killian. I'm going with you."

How does he do that? "I don't want you to get hurt. Maybe when it's safe…"

"It'll never be safe."

"Listen to him, A9. He's right."

"Fine," I say, unable to let it go. "What about your life? Your jobs?"

"You're right. How will Taco Bell ever make it without me?"

I pull Beau in my arms. "Are you sure?" I whisper, even though Walter can definitely still hear me.

"Do you not get it?" Walter asks loudly, throwing his hands around. "They'll be back. You need to leave. Now. Both of you."

"I can't leave without talking to Mom."

I hear a siren in the background. "Now's your chance."