Jaxen shot the man to Olivia’s right a murderous glare and lurched from his chair when his soon-to-be-mate slid bonelessly to the floor.

“Trust me son.” The old man smirked and placed the tranquilizer gun on the table before him in plain sight. “It’s for the best. That woman is one hellcat even I wouldn’t tangle with.”

“I appreciate your concern Admiral,” Jaxen said through gritted teeth. “But I assure you, your actions were entirely unnecessary.” A sudden urge to strangle the man until his eyeballs popped from his square head bombarded Jax but he stomped it down and set his attention on the one thing he came for.

He knelt beside the woman’s prone body and then scooped her into his arms. Although large for a human female, he found her absolutely ravishing. He wished he could reach up and free her auburn locks from the severe military bun but was content to merely cradle her gently to his chest.

The moment the President had ordered her to throw herself on the sacrificial alter, her clear blue eyes widened so much, they looked like a turbulent sea midst a storm. Blues and greens of all shades collided, fighting for domination. Thick, black eyelashes fanned her high cheekbones and even slackened in oblivion, her lips were simply plump slivers of kissable skin.

That was just a few seconds before the old war-monger had popped her with the tranq dart.

He tilted his head this way and that, studying her in detail for the first time. He liked that she was healthy, some would even have called her fat, but not him. No, he liked his women strong and healthy. Her size was a testament to her strength and in that one moment, as he stared down at her unconscious form, he knew he just found his mate. His forever.

“Are you absolutely sure she’s the one?” a rumbling male voice called from the other end of the table.

Jaxen looked up and stared down at the man. An elderly man, probably late sixties with a white buzz cut and severe iron-starched Army uniform scowled back at him.

“Yes General Adkins,” the President answered. “Her DNA was flagged when she enlisted. She’s not full human, her DNA shows a forty-percent match to Mr. Monroe’s sample. She’s a hybrid; almost one-half dragon.”

Jaxen looked back down at Olivia. This time he noticed the light smattering of freckles brushing across her upper cheeks and nose. She had fair skin, but if he looked deeply enough, he saw the glow no one else could. The aura of ‘other.’ Relief hit him like a tidal wave and it took all his strength to keep himself still instead of crashing to the floor with her.

He’d found her.

He’d found his mate and the savior of his tribe.

But could he subject her to a life she neither knew existed nor wanted for herself?

Once he’d taken some time and thought about the High Council’s orders, he’d realized they had a point. Including all four factions, only twenty or so dragons still survived. If they wanted a continued existence, the time for drastic measures had come.

Which was why when Samuel suggested Jax contact an old war buddy his, Jax had reluctantly done so. Samuel’s friend had then initiated Project Fallout, a centuries old organization formed shortly after the birth of man. Their primary function was to ensure the prolonged survival of all races of creatures. Within minutes of Jax’s conversation with the anonymous man, he’d gotten a call from the President of the United States.

Apparently the President did indeed have a Book of Secrets and Project Fallout was an entry he’d been apprised of as the military had a secret database that cataloged all foreign DNA when a soldier enlisted. As he’d listened to the President’s explanation of their procedures, Jax’s head had spun. He didn’t care how they did it, all that mattered was that he found a mate.

As an added incentive, the High Council had ordered that any leader who refused or failed to take a mate would be usurped and killed. Jax rather preferred to keep his head and his life, hence his current situation.

“Maybe you should take her to your estate before she regains consciousness?” General Adkins suggested, interrupting Jax’s frantic mind.

“Yes,” Jaxen agreed. “Perhaps it is for the best that she be home when she awakens.” His chest seized at the word “home” and the thought of her being there with him.