Trent realized he was shaking as they stepped out of the condo, but he hadn’t realized how badly until he took his cell phone out and had trouble swiping to unlock it.

The screen showed a missed call. Apparently a policeman had finally shown up at his house. Well, he would deal with that later.

He couldn’t bring himself to look over at Cole. Couldn’t stand to see what the gentle man must think of him now after Trent had been so violent. He had rarely fought — even as a school boy—but Raul was a man who had brokered dragons to fighting arenas. A punch in the mouth was the least he deserved.

So, with shaking hands Trent called the officer back and briefly reported a tip of a dragon fighting ring operating at the docks.

Out of the corner of his eye, he saw Cole take out his own cell phone. From the sound of it, he was dialing emergency services to report the same.

To Trent’s surprise, the officer on the other end of the line seemed to take him seriously… or maybe breaking up a dragon fighting ring was more interesting than doing a report on a routine burglary.

Time to face the music. Sliding the phone back in his pocket, Trent looked at Cole. “I’m sorry. I know I shouldn’t have—”

Cole stopped his apology in the best way. He stepped right in his space and kissed Trent. The touch of his lips against his own sent a flush of heat through Trent’s body, and all regret flew out of his head as if carried away on dragon wings.

“I haven’t had anyone step up on my behalf in a very long time,” Cole said as he stepped back. “Thank you for doing what I couldn’t and punching that asshat. It was really hot.” Then he kissed Trent again. “Now, let’s go get your dragon.”

Trent’s sister had once told him that she knew her husband was ‘The One’ at their first date. At the time, his unromantic mind put it down to exaggeration on her part… or maybe sheer luck.

Now, he knew exactly what she meant.

Winchester Bay’s docks consisted of one long pier which was encircled by tourist traps and overpriced seafood restaurants. The locals, including commercial fishermen and crabbers, used a shorter more rugged dock a quarter mile down the beach. By evening the local dock was mostly deserted. This was where Trent bet the dragon fights were being held.

As he drove, Trent felt torn by a mix of anxiety and anticipation. He had a good lead where Lady was, but how in the world were he and Cole going to get her back? He wasn’t Batman. He didn’t carry so much as a pocket knife with him, much less a gun.

The people who ran underground dragon fight rings were criminals. They were the type to be armed.

Trent was very, very fond of the steel blue dragon, and he would go to great lengths to make sure she was safe and back in his care… but taking a look at Cole who sat beside him with an expression of determination on his still bruised face, Trent realized that there were things just as important to him.

He nearly cheered aloud when a police cruiser passed him on the highway, lights and sirens blaring. They were headed towards the direction of the docks as well.

“Do you think…” Trent started.

Cole gripped his hand. “I do.” He was grinning.

Sure enough, traffic in front of them slowed to a stop. After a few minutes of stop and go, they spotted a policewoman blocking the way ahead and directing traffic down a detour away from the commercial pier.

Trent craned his head to view past the stopped cars on the ocean side of the road. What looked like the entire police department — all ten officers and a few county sheriffs— were in parked in the lot adjacent to the docks.

In fact, the entire parking lot seemed much fuller than usual. It was obvious something had been going down. In the waning daylight, Trent caught shadows flitting in and out as people ran—probably those who had gathered to watch a dragon fight as if it were a sport. Trent hoped that their cars got towed and impounded.

One woman minced by his car in high heels, looking like she were at a club rather than watching a bloodsport.

Then, high above the noise and the wail of police sirens came the warble of a dragon.

The cop directing traffic was turning people down the next lane, away from the action. Trent rolled down his window.

“My dragon—”

But he stopped as Cole fished something out of his pocket. Leaning across Trent, he handed a business card toward the officer.

“What’s this?” the cop asked with a frown.

“I’m Cole Lambeth. I run a dragon shelter—here’s my license.”

The officer, a young woman who’s last name on her jacket read as officer Douglas, frowned. “So?”

“I got a call you were breaking up a fighting ring,” Cole smoothly lied. “Speak with Officer Richardson in animal control. The shelter can’t handle all the dragon’s you’re confiscating—I’m here to provide relief.” There was a new confidence to Cole that Trent hadn’t seen from him before. It looked good on him.

Officer Douglas frowned. “You got here quick.” But then she stepped away from the car to grab the radio on her shoulder. Turning aside, she spoke into it.

Meanwhile, Trent turned to Cole. “You got the state license? When?”

Cole smiled widely, though his eyes were still on the officer. “I checked the mailbox before I came over.”

“Cole… congratulations.” Trent was going to add more—Just because Cole had been licensed didn’t mean he magically had room for all the dragons which were going to need homes tonight, and it would still take time for any grant money to kick in.

Before he could voice any of his worries the officer had returned back to their door. She pointed them ahead.

“Park at the west side of that lot. Animal control is on their way. Do not interfere or touch anything. Richardson says he knows you, Mr. Lambeth, and he’ll be along shortly.”

“Thank you.” Cole took his newly minted license back and Trent carefully threaded his car past police officers, parked cars, and people who were quickly leaving the scene of the crime without trying to look like they were running.

As Trent got closer, he saw why so many people who had been in attendance were being let go: A whole ring of people—at least twenty men and women in handcuffs—sat sullenly at the end of the pier while a policeman read them their rights.

Trent parked. He had every intention of following Officer Douglas’s instructions and staying out of the way… until he saw a cartload of dragon cages being wheeled off one of the large boats. The dragons inside were very unhappy. Some had stomaches swelled with advanced pregnancy and threw themselves aggressively at the sides of their cages.

Then, above the noise came a familiar clear call.

“Lady,” Trent breathed. Before he knew it he was out of the car and hurrying towards the cages.

Lady called out a greeting warble as she spotted him.

His approach caught the attention of the attending police officers. From the corner of his eye, Trent saw Cole intercept a couple of them and Trent heard him explaining the burglary. Luckily, Trent had evidence in the form of previous calls to the station.

That all flew out of his mind as he saw Lady at last. She warbled again and tried to poke her nose through the grate. Her wings were tied down against her side for transport, but otherwise she seemed free of cuts and scratches.

She hadn’t been made to fight yet. He and Cole had gotten there on time.

“It’s going to be all right,” Trent promised her softly. “You’re safe now.”