Arsenic was perched on the armrest of the couch, nervously waiting in the living room with the other dragons as the oracle spoke with their new guest.

He wanted to go up there, sneak up beside the door, and eavesdrop or read thoughts, so he could know what was going on.

What the human’s name was and what she’d gone through. He wanted to know everything about her, which was odd for a man who usually kept to himself and only learned things about others on a need-to-know basis.

“Calm down, Arsenic,” Mercury said, glaring at him. “You aren’t going to help anything by having a heart attack.”

Arsenic glared back. “I am not even close to having a heart attack, and I resent the implication. I am simply worried about our hostage.”

“The hostage we rescued,” Cadmium said, chucking a toothpick he’d been chewing on into the fire. “Not a hostage any longer.”

But Arsenic wasn’t so sure about that, looking up at the bedroom where she was being held. She wouldn’t be allowed to leave, most likely, and he doubted she wanted to stay.

He’d seen the way she looked at him. Terrified, as if she would always hate and fear everyone like him. He was a little used to that disgust from others on his planet, at least when he’d been growing up, but seeing it from a human was novel.

Not in a good way.

“What’s on your mind?” Zinc said, walking over to sit on the couch next to where Arsenic was perched.

Arsenic lifted an eyebrow, unable to resist answering their future king. “I do not know, your highness.”

“Don’t call me that,” Zinc said. “I’m just your friend. One of your teammates. Besides, we don’t know if I’ll ever make it back to Drakkaris.”

Arsenic nodded. “Zinc, then. I do not know, Zinc.”

“Yes, you do.” Zinc encouraged. “It will help if you talk about it.”

Arsenic didn’t think so, but just as he was trying to figure out what to say, the door to the bedroom upstairs opened and Marina came walking downstairs, hand on the bannister as if to steady herself.

The two mates, who had come down earlier and were sitting with Cadmium and Lead, looked up at her worriedly.

Marina gave them a weak smile that didn’t reach her eyes and then headed down the stairs and into the living room, her movements almost as one who was walking in her sleep.

When she reached them, Mercury jumped forward and caught her in his arms, letting her collapse against him.

For a moment, the entire room was silent as Mercury held his mate, stroking his hand over her hair and murmuring sweet nothings.

Then Marina raised her head, smiled at him, took his hand, and walked with him into the center of the room. She took a seat there on a recliner, Mercury standing nearby.

“What is the news?” Cadmium asked. “Is she all right?”

Marina shook her head. “I mean, technically, Farrah—that’s her name—is safe now, but it will be a long time before she is all right.”

Farrah. Arsenic even liked the sound of it.

“I still don’t understand,” Arsenic muttered. “We saved her. She should be fine.”

“She wants to go home,” Marina said, flicking her gaze up at them.

“Impossible,” Lead said dully. “The remaining shifters who know about her may come after her. Depending on how she was captured, they may know where to find her.”

“In my dream, I saw her taken while she was away on a work trip,” Marina said. “She was not at home. Still, that doesn’t mean the bad shifters can’t find her. You’re right, of course. She’s not safe out there.” She leaned her cheek on her hand with a sigh. “Which is too bad because it’s all she wants, and after what she’s been through, she deserves at least something.”

Arsenic steeled himself, straightening his spine. “Send her home. I can go with her.”

Marina raised an eyebrow. “Really? But it could be cold and difficult. I’m not sure she can even let you in the house.”

Arsenic shrugged, aware that all the other dragons were staring. “I am the best option,” he said. “I can take on anything that comes her way.”

“She wants her memory erased,” Marina said warily, as if she were trying to warn Arsenic. “You must not get too close to her.”

“No closer than she wants me,” Arsenic said. “I can treat it like any mission.” That last part felt somewhat like a lie, but he didn’t care. Like hell he would let anyone else protect her when he was the best option.

He had his own code of honor, and while it was less rigid than Lead’s, in this case, it demanded he see her home safe, no matter what it took.

“Farrah is… damaged,” Marina said.

“No,” Arsenic said, folding his arms and shaking his head. “Things get damaged. Farrah is…” What was the word for it? “In need of help. Protection. None can provide it better than me, head assassin of Drakkaris and second-in-command of the dragon guard.” He looked around the room in haughty challenge.

Just as Cadmium let out a snort, the upstairs door opened again, and they all turned to face it.

This time the oracle came out, and Farrah was with her. She was wearing a fluffy black robe that covered her from neck to toes and clutching it tightly against her as she looked down at the others.

Her eyes wandered the room unsteadily and then landed on Arsenic. Her jaw dropped, her lip quivered slightly, and then she ran back into the room, slamming the door behind her. The oracle was left out in the hall, looking vaguely exasperated.

She shrugged at the dragons and teleported down the stairs in a blink of light, taking a seat in the center of the couch. She appeared to be deep in thought, heavily distracted.

“Oracle, Arsenic has volunteered,” Marina said, getting out of her chair and stepping forward.

The oracle snapped her head up, as if trying to focus on the new topic and not whatever had been swirling in her head. “Oh, yes. Really?” She looked at Arsenic with those piercing, misty eyes.

“I do,” Arsenic said. “I’m the strongest fighter here and the most capable of ending life if needed. Anyone here will verify it.”

The oracle put her head in her hands, massaging her scalp. “Well, I hate when any life has to be ended, but if anyone deserves it, it’s any creature that tries to come after Farrah.”

Farrah. The more Arsenic heard the name, the more he liked it.

“But don’t get ideas about trying to mate her,” the oracle said, jabbing a finger toward him. “Every female I send to you dragons ends up mated. Farrah, she… She needs space, protection. Nothing more. She isn’t for you. For any shifter. She is determined to forget all of this, and I want to respect that if it’s possible.”

Arsenic nodded as a slight, sharp pain somewhat like lightning rocketed through his chest. “I will do only my duty. Nothing more,” he said.

“Good,” the oracle said. She cocked her head, then raised a hand and waved it in Arsenic’s direction.

He reached a hand up to his hair, feeling almost as if someone had ruffled it.

“I simply got rid of your streaks,” the oracle said softly. “Fetching as they may be, white streaks in black hair would only constantly remind Farrah that a shifter is in her home.”

Arsenic just shrugged, not really caring about his looks if it meant someone could be more comfortable. Besides, his hair had always been mostly black. Now it was just a little more so.

The oracle stood. “Now, if Marina and the girls could help her get packed and ready, she can head out tonight. If possible, the sooner she’s in a familiar environment, the sooner her mind can rest.”

Arsenic nodded. “I will ready myself as well.”

The oracle stood, creating a portal in front of her. “When you are ready to leave, Marina can create the portal. I will send her the coordinates.” She gave the dragons one last purple-white look. “Good luck.”

Then she was gone, and the portal flashed closed behind her.

“I so want to be able to make those,” Cadmium said, drawing nervous laughter as the tension broke in the room.

The other dragons came up to Arsenic, asking if there was anything he needed, volunteering supplies. He accepted a backpack and warm clothes from Cadmium, a phone that Cobalt showed him how to “activate” that he could use to communicate, and a book of recipes from Chromium.

“She’s skinny,” Chromium had said in explanation, thrusting the book into Arsenic’s arms.

Arsenic had been oddly touched by the gesture.

The last person who came to talk to him was Marina, who’d stayed downstairs after the mates went up to help Farrah.

“What is it?” Arsenic said, packing the last of his supplies into his backpack.

“I just… Be careful,” she said.

“I am always careful,” Arsenic said. “That’s what makes me an effective soldier.”

“I thought you were an assassin,” Marina said, a teasing lilt to her voice.

“I am, in service of my people. So I am also a soldier,” he said frankly. “What did you need?”

Marina fidgeted, looking at the ground nervously. “I just… wanted to remind you that not all wounds are visible.”

Arsenic knew that. He’d been hurt his entire life, and he knew people could cut you in a million different ways without ever raising a sword. “Of course.”

“She has been hurt a lot.” Marina’s blue gaze held deep worry, and Arsenic sighed.

“I already inferred as much. I do not see why you are taking the time to tell me.”

“Because… Dammit, Arsenic, you know I like you, but sometimes you can be really harsh. With this girl, with Farrah, we need you to be gentle. We need you to at least try.”

“I will treat her fairly,” Arsenic said. “You are the one who thinks she is damaged.”

“She is,” Marina said, shaking her head. “Dammit, Arsenic—”

“Do not worry, sea dragon,” Arsenic said flatly, putting up a hand in gentle protest. “I will take good care of her. I will not let anyone hurt her.”

“I’m more worried about you hurting her,” Marina spat out. Then she took a step back, biting her lip.

“What does that mean?” Arsenic said, drawing himself back with icy cool.

“You’re sharp and mean at times. You offend people, and—”

“Shh,” Mercury said gently, stepping up to draw his mate in against him. His eyes met Arsenic’s. “Arsenic gets what you’re trying to say, right?” His eyes held Arsenic’s with a metallic glare.

Arsenic gave a sharp nod. “I would never dishonor the guard of Drakkaris.”

“That’s not—” Marina was still trying to protest, but Mercury tilted her chin up for a kiss, and she sank against him, visibly calming, which relieved Arsenic.

Apparently, there was one thing that could calm the dragon that usually calmed everyone else.

When they broke apart, Marina gave him an abashed look. “Good luck.”

He felt a frisson of excitement. He would be the first dragon of Drakkaris to live outside the mansion and would be able to put all of the knowledge he’d gained about the human world to the test.

“Keep looking into the bastards that did this,” he said, cracking his neck side to side. “The sooner she’s safe, the better.”

“We could come check in, if you want,” Marina said.

“I think it would be better if no one did,” Arsenic said. “It will be hard enough for her to adjust to my presence. It would be best if she didn’t see any other reminders of her ordeal.”

Marina nodded. “That actually makes sense.”

“I can be sensible as needed,” Arsenic said. “It’s one of my best qualities. The other is that I am honorable.”

“I can vouch for that,” Lead said. “We all can.” He walked forward and put a hand on Arsenic’s shoulder. “We will miss you, brother. Keep in touch with your phone.”

Arsenic slipped his hand in his pocket and touched the odd little object. “I will.”

He looked up at the creak of the stairs to see Casey coming down it, and Cadmium got up to join her. She came over to Arsenic with worried eyes.

“She’s packed now. She’s agreed to this, but she’s not happy about it,” Casey said nervously.

“Does she know it’s me?” Arsenic asked.

“She just knows one of the dragons is going to guard her. She didn’t want to know any more because she said she doesn’t want to get closer than she has to with any shifter.” Casey let out a sigh and leaned into Cadmium.

“It is fine,” Arsenic said. “Whatever makes her more comfortable. I don’t have to be known to do my job. I can stay in the shadows. That’s what makes me an effective assassin.”

Casey stared at him in shock, then giggled. “I like you, Arsenic.” When Cadmium let out a growl, she stroked her mate’s chest. “Yes, I love you most, you big beast, but Arsenic is doing a good thing right now. Let’s give him credit.”

Cadmium sighed. “I do. You are a good man, my friend.”

Arsenic raised an eyebrow, unable to believe his usual nemesis was complimenting him. “Thank you.”

“Should we perhaps consider changing his name?” Cobalt asked. “They will have to be introduced at some point, and being named after a well-known Earth poison will probably not engender trust.”

“True,” Lead said. “That is a good idea. How do we do that?”

“There should be some way to shorten it,” Zinc said.

“Arse,” Cadmium said, smirking, and Arsenic gave him cold look. There was the Cadmium he remembered.

“Sharp words from someone whose name could be shortened to Cad,” Arsenic shot back.

“Hey,” Cadmium said, stepping forward.

“Aren’t we getting distracted?” Cobalt asked, shaking his head.

“Right,” Casey said. “What about Nic?”

Chromium, who’d been quiet up until then, nodded. “Nic is common.” He looked at Arsenic. “Do you like it?”

Arsenic shrugged. As with his hair, whatever made Farrah more comfortable was fine with him. She could call him “noodle” for all he cared.

“Well, that’s settled, then,” Casey said. “Oops, I’m going to go make sure she’s ready. Marina, are you prepared to make the portal?”

“I am,” Marina said, touching the collar on her neck, a thin chain that Arsenic suspected she used to communicate with the oracle sometimes. “When I get upstairs, the oracle will send me the coordinates. Shall we go?”

“We shall.”

“And me?” Arsenic asked.

“You as well,” Marina said. “Come on up when you’re ready.”

Arsenic nodded, gathering up all his things. When it came to protecting others, he was always ready.