Mac swung his pack over his shoulder. He glanced at Lyson’s bag that still laid on the floor. Lyson’s looked double the size of his own. “Are you sure you don’t want me to take some of that?” He nodded his head toward the surveillance equipment that Lyson was stuffing into it.

“Nope. This is all backup anyway.”

“I’m done,” said Ash. He stood up, wiping his hands on the front of his jeans. “I’m going to help Caran finish.”

“Yeah, go,” said Mac. He gave Ash a quick pat on the back before Ash left the room. Caran often stayed in his bedroom, but her belongings were still below in the room she was brought to when she first came here. As close as they were, Mac was glad they were still taking things slowly. Unlike Lyson. He wondered about his younger brother and whether there was something to Juliana’s distrust of Elle, Lyson's girlfriend.

“The only drone I’ve got that’s quiet enough isn’t going to reach the base.” Lyson pushed it further along the table as he touched another. “This one’s noisy, but it can go further.” He looked up. “Which one?”

Mac looked between the two flying drones. They both looked the same to him. “Take the silent one, we can use it to keep the perimeter secure.”

Lyson nodded approval and began to set it up.

“How’s Elle doing?” Mac asked.

Lyson didn’t look up from studying the tablet screen as he entered in codes and coordinates. “Coping pretty well, I’d say.” He looked up. “What was Juliana’s deal this morning?”

Mac shrugged. “You know it takes a lot for her to trust someone. Perhaps she hasn’t forgiven the incident in the cells.” He didn't add that he also thought they had good reason to be wary.

“They’ll work it out,” said Lyson. “Juliana will come around. She’s one of the good guys. She’ll see that deep down, Elle’s really sweet.”

“Ahuh.” Sweet wasn’t a word that he would have used, but he had to admit that he didn’t know her well enough. He had to trust that Lyson knew what he was doing with her. No matter what happened, his brothers came first.

He rubbed his chin thoughtfully as he watched Lyson finish up his packing.

“All done.” Lyson flipped his tablet over and fastened the cover to protect the screen. “I can control it from here, and I’ve got battery packs that will last a week if we need it.”

“Good.”

“Looks like we’re done.” Lyson scanned the room. “Yep. All good.”

“You go ahead, I’ll lock up,” said Mac.

Lyson nodded, but before leaving came over and gave his brother a hug. His arm reached around squeezing his shoulder. “She won’t win.”

“I know,” said Mac, tensing.

“I’m serious. You can’t blame yourself for any of this. And she isn’t going to hurt any of us again. We’re all on the same page. You know?”

Mac let out a sharp breath releasing some of the tension that had settled in his chest. He hadn’t known how much his brother’s support meant to him until he heard the words. “I love you, Ly. You and Ash,” he choked out.

Tyson grinned. “Now, don’t go getting all soppy on me. You know we love you too.” He slapped Mac on the back again before letting go. “I’ll see you downstairs.”

“Yeah, yep. I’ll be there soon. Just got some last minute things to check.”

Mac swallowed away the lump in his throat as he watched Lyson leave the room. Once he was gone he sighed heavily. He was more determined than ever to keep them safe. He had to find a way to stop Tessa from this stupid war. He knew she didn’t really care about destroying dragons. That was just her pitch to new members. Her real reason was to hurt him.

Once he got the rest of the team to safety and away from harm, he knew he’d have to confront her. And he knew he’d have to be alone when he did it.

It was the only way that this was ever going to end, and the only way he could keep everyone safe.

Mac slung his pack over his shoulder and walked out of Ash’s bedroom, locking the doors as he went.

* * *

A crowd had formed at the bottom of the stairs. Mac did a quick head count. Twenty four of the members of Dragonspark were milling together. All had packed well and were waiting for the go ahead to leave.

Ash, Lyson, their girlfriends, and the rest of the crew were waiting for him. But there was one person missing. Mac searched the crowd for Juliana’s face, but she wasn’t among those waiting.

He walked over to where John was manning the front doors. He hadn’t let anyone outside yet. Mac glanced up at the monitor on the side of the wall. It was clear, but he knew why John was waiting. It would be safer if they stayed together. He was a good man.

“Where’s—?"

“She’s doing some last minute training,” said John. John winked at him as if he knew something that Mac didn’t. He was a fool to think that his concern had anything more to do with just wanting to know where she was. She was a valuable member of Dragonspark, it made sense that he’d want to know where all his people were, including Juliana.

“Ash,” Mac called his brother over. “You and Lyson can lead the way. I’ll stay at the back with Juliana. John, can you and Pete hover near the middle of the group, that way we’ll have all angles covered.”

“Sounds good to me,” said Ash. “We’ll head now.”

“I won’t be far behind.”

“Here’s her pack.” John handed over the heavy bag to Mac, before giving a curt nod.

Lyson came over and rechecked all the security cameras before they opened the big wooden doors at the front of the facility. Sunlight and warmth streamed in, and Mac closed his eyes to feel the glow on his face. He missed being outside and couldn’t wait to get out there and out of the building. It had been too long since he’d experienced the joy of being amongst nature again.

Even though Dragonspark was in a mountain and they were surrounded by wooded vegetation, it wasn’t the same. Stepping through the trees on foot, feeling the leaves crunch under his boot, breathing in the wooded moss and crisp pine. It was a good decision to head out, made easier knowing that Tessa wouldn’t come there. She hated the outdoors. She preferred the comfort of a high rise building and city lights.

As Mac stepped in the middle of the entrance, he looked up. The large dragon mural that he’d commissioned was still as intimidating as always. The ruby red eyes piercing down, ready to snatch its prey. It’s leathery gray hide, scaled and rough, the perfect armor. The powerful wings, thin as parchment, yet as impenetrable as the thickest steel wall. The image symbolized everything he wanted from Dragonspark but had not yet achieved. Perhaps one day.

Mac arrived at the doorway to the training room and paused.

Juliana was sitting cross legged on the floor. She was wearing dark pants, a tight fitting top that showed off her slim but strong figure, and heavy boots. Her gold flecked brown hair had been piled onto the top of her head. She rested her arms on her thighs and her eyes were closed as if she was in a deep trance.

She hadn’t noticed him standing there, or if she did, hadn’t given any indication that she cared he was watching.

Her cheeks contained a slight flush, no makeup, she rarely wore it, just a natural healthy glow. Her lips together, full and plump.

He watched her chest rise and fall as she controlled her breathing during her meditative practice. He should interrupt her, tell her that everyone was leaving, but he didn’t want to disturb her. Not when she looked at peace like this. He’d hold onto that image for as long as she needed to be here.

After a few more breaths Juliana opened her eyes. They flicked directly to him and she tipped her head to the side, the beginnings of a smile playing on her lips.

“How long have you been there?”

“Not long.”

“I suppose this is payback for walking in on you after your shower.”

“Not a fair comparison, you aren’t naked like I was.”

Her eyes narrowed slightly. “I don’t train naked.”

There are so many responses he could say to that, but he resisted the urge to do so. Instead, he lifted her pack from his shoulder and placed it on the ground next to him. “Everyone’s leaving. We need to get going as well.”

Juliana stood up and dusted off her clothes, even though there wasn’t a speck of dust on her. Then she walked over until she was standing in front of him. She reefed her pack up with one arm and slung it over her back. She gave him one more smile before nodding her head. “Let’s go then.”

She didn’t wait for him, simply walked past him toward the exit.

Mac had to hurry to catch up to her, pushing away the images he had of her training without anything on. For the first time all day, he smiled too.