Destiny of Dragons (12 page)

“Think about it, Dad, what kind of engineers wouldn’t make sure they knew where everything was located before they started drilling. They dragged Bertha, the world’s biggest tunneling machine, underground then hit a well pipe. How believable is that?”

Aden snagged a muffin out of the basket on the table. “About as believable as naming a boring machine Bertha.”

Carey snorted. “But it makes a great cover, especially if they encountered the emperor. If he has magic users working for him he could make them believe this story. It’s the perfect place to hide out.”

Peeling off the wrapper of his pastry, Aden thought over Carey’s theory. “You could be making a good point. I don’t know how we’re going to investigate though.”

“I could go check it out.” Proteus entered the dining room where both men were sitting. The sea dragon walked with a new confidence since Gallen’s spell. Aden hoped he’d make a full recovery at least emotionally. Physically Proteus would always be damaged, and Aden still regretted not saving the small man from becoming injured.

“Do you even know what we’re talking about?” Aden asked.

Proteus shook his head. “No, but I’m restless. If there’s something I can help with, I want to.”

“Are you sure you’re ready for another mission, little sea dragon?” Aden asked. “I don’t think Liang will trust us if we get you injured twice.”

“Muffin?” Carey offered the basket to the sea dragon shifter.

“Thanks.” Proteus grabbed a blueberry one before sitting down at the table with the two of them. “What am I looking for?”

“Carey thinks the emperor is hiding under the city,” Aden said.

Proteus turned wide eyes toward Carey. “Really?”

Carey shrugged. “It’s a theory. I think we should go down an investigate.” He turned the paper so Proteus could see the headline.

Quickly scanning the paper, Proteus nodded. “I could do that. I wouldn’t be in any danger. I could just pop down there and check things out. It’s not like I’m going to fight or anything, and I doubt there are any insane dragons lurking underneath Seattle.”

“We should probably talk to Liang about this,” Aden said. He’d hate to be on the bad side of the dragon shifter, even if he could take him.

Proteus froze and his mouth took on an angry line. “I’m my own person and if I want to do something to help our people that’s my business.”

Before Aden could argue Liang entered the room. “Anything that has to do with you is my business, too,” Liang said. “That doesn’t mean you need my permission, it just means you respect me enough to get my opinion.”

The muffin wrapper became a source of great interest to Proteus as he carefully peeled it away. “I respect you, but I want to do my part. I know you all think I’m broken, but I can still help.”

Liang cupped the back of Proteus’s neck. “I understand, love, but it could be dangerous.”

“I know.” Proteus nodded. “I’m not an idiot. I know things can be difficult, but if the emperor is that close he could harm our kids. I’m not going to let that happen. I’d do anything to keep him away from you and our children.”

“Are you certain you can get in and out without getting injured?” Liang asked. “I don’t want to go through that again.”

“No. I’m not going to make any false promises. You told me you would do what you had to make things safe for us. I’m doing the same.”

Aden’s admiration for the spunky sea dragon rose several notches. He might be the physically weaker of the pair, but Proteus was no one’s door mat. “Why don’t you two go talk? We’ll be here when you make up your mind.”

“That’s a good idea.” Liang bowed to Aden before offering a hand to his mate.

Proteus stood and accepted the gesture, allowing his mate to lead him out of the room.

“Hell, I didn’t mean for him to get involved,” Carey ran his fingers through his hair and sighed.

“He has just as much right to protect his kids as anyone.” Aden wouldn’t argue against a father’s protective instincts. He had no room to talk.

“I didn’t say he couldn’t do it. I just don’t want him hurt again. Those kids need to grow up with a father. They already lost their genetic parents.” Carey scowled.

“True. I’m not saying anything will happen to him, but if Proteus is killed we will all step in and take care of the kids. It’s not the best solution, but we need to support his decision. He needs this to rebuild his confidence and feel like he can contribute to the group. Even little sea dragons have pride.”

“I guess so.” Carey looked like he wanted to argue further.

“Morning, sweets.” Broden sauntered into the dining room with the fluid grace of his inner cat. He kissed Carey good morning and scowled at the muffins. “Where’s the real food?”

“It’s coming.” Carey shoved the basket over. “Have a pastry. The hawks are cooking right now.”

“What are you going to do if all the hawks go to Harris?” Aden asked.

Carey shrugged. “It’s not like I’ve never prepared meals before.”

“Maybe you should look into hiring a full time cook?” Aden mused.

“And what would I put in the ad. Position open for full time cook. Must like animals, gays and be able to ignore the occasional magical attack. Yeah I doubt they’ll print it much less get any answers back.”

Aden laughed. “Why don’t we just ask around? We know enough factions that someone must know a cook.”

“The problem would be if they would be on our side or a plant,” Carey pointed out.

“True. Maybe we can have Gallen devise a test or something. His magic is coming along nicely.”

Gallen had begun to experiment with magic more and some of his inventions were quite clever. Others had Aden wanting to hide in case they exploded, but wasn’t that the usual path to invention?

“I’d be happy to help with anything, love.” Gallen entered the room. His faded jeans cradled his body with drool-inducing devotion.

“Are people just popping out of the woodwork to answer questions?” Carey asked. “It’s like a sitcom in here.”

Aden laughed.

“I have the blueprints drawn up for your room. I thought you two could look them over and let me know about any changes you might like before we start construction,” Carey said.

“Sounds good. Send them to Gallen’s email account.” After years of encrypted messages, Aden didn’t get on a computer unless he had to. In some ways being a dragon leader was easier than being an assassin.

“Will do,” Carey said.

His easy smile unfurled some of the tension Aden had been carrying around. He’d done at least one good thing in his life and it sat across from him at the breakfast table.

“Carey has a theory that the emperor is under the city and he’s the reason Bertha stalled,” Aden shared with the other men.

Gallen snorted. “You mean for once it wasn’t incompetent politicians?”

“Well, we’re not entirely ruling that out, it’s just a theory,” Carey said. “Proteus has offered to go and check it out.”

“Why Proteus?” Gallen snagged a muffin out of the basket, which was now getting low of goodies.

“He can blend into his environment. His camouflage is really something.” Aden said.

“I bet you wish you could’ve done that in your prior life,” Gallen said.

Aden nodded. “Yeah, that would’ve been convenient.”

Broden kissed Carey on the top of his head. “Come on, love, I’ve got two hours before I go to work and I need some mate time. We’ve been working so hard I haven’t seen you in a while.”

Carey stood. “With that, I’m off.”

The wide grin spreading across Broden’s face told Aden the pair wouldn’t be doing anything he needed details about. He shook his head as the couple rushed out of the room as if their pants were on fire.

“Is that strange?” Gallen asked.

“Is what strange?” His mate had obviously gone off on a tangent Aden had failed to follow.

“Seeing your son being an adult.”

“In some ways, but Carey was never a regular kid. Our camping trips were like survivalist school. I’ve always lived in fear of him encountering something he couldn’t handle.”

Gallen patted Aden’s shoulder. “All parents try to give their kids the tools to survive in the world. You just took it to another level.”

Aden kissed Gallen until they broke apart because oxygen became a luxury. “You always say the right thing.”

“Because I love you.”

A tight knot of regret unfurled in Aden’s chest. He’d never realized how much he’d blamed himself for Carey’s childhood. It was time to let that guilt go. After all, he’d done what he could to let his son be himself while teaching him how to live. Skills that have helped him survive in the new world Carey found himself in. “You’re right. I did as good of a job as I could.”

“If anyone could get an award for the best-loved kid it would be yours,” Gallen said with a fierce tone.

Aden kissed his mate again. “What do you say we take this back to our room. I might have gotten up a little early.”

Gallen grinned. “I do believe you have. Maybe I can relax you enough to go back to sleep again?”

“I think you can.”

They began to stand up when two hawk shifters entered the room carrying platters of food.

“Or maybe we can eat first,” Gallen said his stomach growling.

Aden nodded. He knew the hawk shifters had worked hard to prepare breakfast, to leave now would’ve been rude. “After breakfast.”

The glow in Gallen’s eyes told Aden he’d be working up a second appetite after their morning meal.

Proteus shivered at the mouth of the tunnel. Why had he volunteered for this plan? He clenched his thighs to stop his knees from banging together like a kettledrum. This might have been his stupidest idea ever. Searching his mind, yep, this was it. After the Alaska fiasco that is.

The stench of magic filled his nose and he struggled not to sneeze. He didn’t have an enhanced sense of smell like other shifters. If the stink bothered him it probably at least made the humans uneasy. He skirted past the drilling machine and deeper into the tunnel. There was a crack where the machine stopped. Proteus could see it wasn’t the pipe that had stopped the boring drill, but the wall of magic. Ancient hieroglyphics glowed with power as if their protections were activated from the machine’s presence.

“Idiots. They should’ve had sorcerers on the council. Of course to do that they’d have to realize there were magic users, but that’s bound to come out sooner or later,” Proteus muttered to himself.

Proteus should probably turn back and call it good. Aden would be happy with the report of finding the sigils, but curiosity had been Proteus’s downfall more than once, and nothing had changed. Maybe one of his ancestors had mated with a cat shifter.

“Just a little peek.” He’d just pop his head in and see what he could spot. More information could only be a good thing. He ignored the little voice that told him that’s what got him into trouble last time.

Water dripped from the wall, making a soggy rhythm to the backdrop of Proteus’s investigation. A cold wind whipped through the tunnel in a section that should’ve been still. Where was the breeze coming from?

Keeping his steps as quiet as possible Proteus kept his camouflage active. He didn’t wish to get caught at this stage, especially not by the emperor’s people. Biting his lip he took one step and then another, careful not to step on shiny, wet rocks. To break an ankle or worse, injure his prosthetic right now would only prove to Liang what a bad idea it was to let Proteus help. He sent a silent thanks to Gallen for stabilizing his foot.

“Who has entered my home?” A deep voice resonated through the tunnel.

Proteus froze. The hair on his arms stood up straight, a salute to the fear trembling through his body. Sulfur soaked the air with its pungent scent. Proteus took shallow breaths, too afraid to allow enough air into his lungs in case he coughed.

A rolling wave of evil surrounded him and the dark tunnel took on an even darker haze as if whatever approached sucked out the light along with the air.

“You can’t hide. I felt you enter.”

Stupid!

Proteus should’ve realized those were wards. They probably went on alert once he crossed the threshold. Damn, Liang had been right, Proteus wasn’t cut out to be a spy. He bet none of the others would’ve made such a basic mistake.

He still didn’t talk. Proteus stepped back. Only a few steps would take him past the magical markings. Sure the occupant would know Proteus had left, but maybe he’d let it go at that. Once Proteus left the tunnel whatever spoke might not follow. It seemed to enjoy the darkness. The bright Pacific Northwest sun might keep it back.

Happy with his plan, Proteus took another step backward. A rock broke from the pile under his feet and tumbled away.

“There you are!” Giant gold eyes popped open in the dark, three feet away from Proteus.

Proteus swallowed his scream.

The beast opened its mouth, revealing sharp white teeth as long as Proteus’s forearm. The biggest dragon he’d ever seen lay only a short distance away. Its scales were midnight black as if he’d absorbed the darkness and made it part of him. The dragon narrowed its brilliant eyes.

“Don’t be afraid. I’ll kill you quickly.”

Proteus took a step sideways, his heart pounded, his hands shook and if he didn’t throw up his lunch in the next two seconds he’d consider it an amazing act of valor.

“I haven’t had a visitor in quite a while. Why don’t you stick around? You smell like my kin.” The dragon purred, his voice rich and sinful.

Proteus almost decloaked right then. He caught himself just in time. Sneaky bastard. He must be wearing Liang’s scent. They had cuddled for several hours before he went out on the mission.

He took another step.

“Oh, a strong one. I like it when my prey fights.” Satisfaction oozed from the beast. “Too bad they never win. If you check by the door you can find your predecessors.”

Proteus didn’t need to check. He had no doubt bones littered the entire place. Only the dark kept him from the grizzly sight.

“Let me light the way for you. I do like to be a good host.”

A plume of flame burst from the dragon and singed Proteus’s right half.