Chapter Sixteen – Jay

“Breakfast?” At eight o’clock the next morning, Jay, Kim, and Archie stood in the familiar kitchen of Harlan’s house. The smell of eggs and bacon was in the air, and Jay’s mouth watered. Since he’d been found by Wyatt, his appetite was ravenous. This bear shifter had several lean days to make up for.

“Yes, please,” Jay said. “Is there anything I can help with?”

Jay’s attempts to be more relaxed, more natural, around the dragon family were paying off. Not that he was putting anything on. The more time he spent with them, the more he liked them.

“Hey, you look good in my shirt,” Alex told Jay as he walked into the kitchen, his hair, wet from the shower, slicked back.

“I think he looks better,” Sapphi followed her mate into the kitchen, ignoring the look Alex gave her. “If you can’t take it, don’t dish it out.”

Alex chuckled. “I’m sure when we met, you weren’t this feisty first thing in the morning.

“I wasn’t. But when we first met, I didn’t know what I was getting into.” Sapphi grabbed the orange juice from the fridge and poured herself a glass. “Anyone else, or are you all hitting the coffee pot?”

“Coffee.” Kim held her cup up. “I’m going to need a few more of these before we get going.”

“Are you sure this is what you want to do?” Alex asked Kim. “One of us could take your place. Or Tiberius and Wyatt could go alone.”

“Jay’s already tried to talk me out of it, and I’ll tell you the same as I told him. This is my choice, and I’m doing it for all of you.” Her voice stalled, and she swallowed hard. “I owe you, all of you for helping me and Archie, and now for helping Jay. We’re in this together, and if I can pay you back in some small way, then you have to let me.”

“Anyway,” Sapphi said, going to stand by Kim’s side, “women can kick butts just the same as men.”

“I have no doubt they can kick butts harder,” Harlan said, looking up sheepishly as Fiona entered the room.

“We all need to remember this is an old dragon,” Fiona told them, unusually somber. “Kim, are you sure?”

“Yes. Now, please, stop asking.” Kim drained her coffee and went straight back for a second cup.

“Tiberius.” Jay got his attention as he entered the kitchen. “Do you have any idea where Quentin Harrod was sent into this eternal slumber? And more to the point, why he woke up?”

“I’ve been giving it some thought,” Tiberius said. “I also went on the internet, after Ruby gave me a quick tutorial. We haven’t left the caves for four or five years. Jay used to come home for visits with stories of how technology was transforming lives, but I never imagined there was so much information online.”

“So…?” Jay asked.

“Oh, yes.” Tiberius gathered his thoughts. “I have a few theories, but nothing concrete. So far my research, combined with the stories I was told, leads me to believe Quentin was put into eternal slumber somewhere in the Alps. There were some heavy avalanches over a decade ago, and I think that may have disturbed Quentin.”

“So how do we stop him from waking up again? If we manage to put him to sleep in the first place?” Kim asked.

“Treasure.” Helen swept into the room, her voice commanding their attention.

“Treasure?” Jay asked.

“What if he was put into this eternal sleep without his treasure?” Helen asked.

“That would make a difference?” Kim responded.

Fiona coughed and nearly choked on her coffee. “Make a difference? Goodness. My treasure sings to me. It’s like the sweetest lullaby…” She broke off, as if revealing too much of herself.

“Fiona is right. And the longer a dragon owns their treasure, the more connected they are.” Helen nodded at Fiona. “We elders know what we’re talking about, don’t you agree, Harlan?”

Harlan nodded. “Once upon a time, my treasure was like a child to me. Then I adopted Chrysi and its hold on me lessened.”

“Wait, so it wears off if you have someone or something to love. A child or a mate?” Kim asked.

Helen and Fiona considered it for a moment. “Yes,” Fiona answered. “For me, it was when I chose to work for social services. Finding something outside of myself, outside of my treasure, loosened its grip on my soul.”

“Money, or treasure in this case, does not buy you love.” Helen gazed adoringly at Tiberius and Alex. “I believe Quentin Harrod is corrupted by his treasure.”

“What if we simply stripped him of it?” Alex asked. “Would that work?”

“No, it would drive him to madness. He would be totally unpredictable.” Tiberius looked concerned. “I know none of us likes the idea of eternal sleep, but it’s the only way.”

“Once he’s asleep, is there any way to wake him?” Sapphi asked. “We don’t want him terrorizing humanity again any time soon.”

“The touch of his true mate may wake him,” Tiberius replied.

“You don’t sound too sure,” Jay observed Tiberius, noting his nervousness. Would he be able to send Quentin Harrod into an eternal sleep?

“I’ve never cast eternal sleep. I know the theory behind it, and I have all the ingredients, cleverly hidden away in the cleaning kit we’re taking with us when we moonlight as a professional cleaning crew. Harlan and I spent half the night making sure it will stand inspection.” Tiberius was proud of his work.

“You sound as if you miss this kind of thing, Dad,” Alex said.

“In a way I do. But I was never one of those fancy dragon slayers. I was just a young man from a small village with aspirations.” Tiberius sat down at the table, smiling at the two boys as they ate their breakfast. “Of course, once I have a grandchild or two to keep me busy, I’ll be content.”

“We aren’t planning kids just yet,” Alex told his father.

“I can wait.” Tiberius looked up as Harlan placed a plate of food in front of him. “Thanks, Harlan.”

“Eat up, Jay. Kim, here’s yours.” Harlan dished eggs and bacon on to their plates.

“A good hearty breakfast for the condemned man? Yes, please.” Wyatt entered the kitchen, his face flushed from his early morning trek down the mountain.

“Sit down, there’s plenty to go around,” Harlan told him.

“Thanks.” Wyatt sat down and then looked around the room. “Is the plan still the same?”

“It is,” Jay replied. “We’ve heard nothing more from Guy, so we’re assuming he’ll meet us, then Kim, Tiberius, and Wyatt will transfer into the cleaners’ van. He’ll have the required ID for you all.”

“Is this how it works?” Kim asked. “When you go undercover?”

“Yes, and Guy is one of the best,” Jay reassured her. Or was he trying to convince himself?

“If we can trust him.” Tiberius voiced Jay’s own fears.

“I’ve looked at it from all ways and I can’t see what’s in it for Guy if he betrays us.” Jay had lain awake most of last night thinking it over. “What does he have to gain? I can understand if he thought I’d be the one going in and he wants to feed me to the dragon.”

“But you’re going to stay with him, while we’re inside to make sure he doesn’t do anything?” Tiberius asked.

“I am.” Jay glanced up, his eyes settling on Alex. “I figured I might need backup.”

“I’m there,” Alex said right away.

“Can I come, too?” Sapphi asked.

“There’s only room for the five of us in the car,” Alex told her gently.

“We could take two cars,” Sapphi suggested.

“No,” Fiona said firmly, which earned her the full attention of everyone in the room.

“Why?” Sapphi asked. “I can take care of myself.”

“I don’t doubt it. Which is why you have to stay here.” Fiona glanced across at the two boys who were passing toys to each other. Harlan Jr. was telling Archie what they were in his own language, that half made sense and half was totally made up. “We don’t know if this is a trap in more ways than one.”

“You mean someone might be targeting us?” Sapphi asked, her face pale as her mom’s words sunk in.

“It makes sense. Empty the dragon’s nest. Divide and conquer.” Fiona’s tone spoke of experience. “I lived for so many years while dragons were persecuted. We have to stay together, that’s how we’re stronger.”

“I’ll stay with you, too,” Helen told Fiona. “Tiberius can handle this Quentin Harrod if he’s at his mansion waiting for this virus. If he’s not…if he comes here…I can fight. Without shifting. We can maintain a cover.”

“So we’re all playing undercover cops.” Wyatt finished his food. “Let’s get on the road. I have some preparations of my own to make. Let’s call it leverage for if anything goes down with your Guy.” Wyatt smiled at his own joke.

Kim, Jay, Alex, and Wyatt said their goodbyes in the kitchen and headed out to the car, where Tiberius joined them a couple of minutes later, carrying a large box filled with cleaning paraphernalia, which he put in the trunk.

As they waited for Tiberius to get in the car, Jay reached across from the driver’s seat and took hold of Kim’s hand. “He’ll be safe here.”

Kim stared out of the window at the trees. “I hope so.” Her voice cracked, and she didn’t turn to face him. She was fighting with her emotions, not wanting to cry in front of everyone.

“Ready.” Tiberius shut the car door, and the three men in the back adjusted themselves so they all fit in.

“Do you want me to swap to the back seat?” Kim asked, wiping her eyes with the back of her hand before she turned around.

“Nope, we’re good.” Alex didn’t sound convincing, but Jay took him at his word and started the engine.

He drove away from the house, keeping his speed slow as they turned onto the road. Taking corners at speed was going to send the three passengers in the back sliding into each other. It might look amusing, but he needed them in one piece and still talking to each other when they rendezvoused with Guy.

The early morning sun broke through the clouds as they drove, the car steadily eating up the miles once they were on the highway. Their early start meant they avoided most of the rush hour, only hitting traffic when they neared the place Guy was due to meet them.

“I’m going to drive past a couple of times,” Jay explained. “Let’s keep our eyes peeled for anything unusual.”

On the second drive past, Jay noted a van emblazoned with the Clean Start logo parked down a side street. Guy was here. Jay didn’t stop, but circled around again, checking for any suspicious cars or people hanging around. There were none.

“All clear,” Wyatt confirmed as Jay came to a stop fifty feet away from Guy.

“Are we ready?” Jay asked.

“Do you want me to stay with the car?” Alex asked. “I’ll follow you to the mansion and wait along the street.”

“Good idea. We can also keep you in reserve for if things go wrong.”

“A bullet in the barrel,” Wyatt told Alex with a slap on the back as he got out the car. “See you later.”

“Take care of yourselves. All of you. And Dad, Mom will kill me if anything happens to you, so please be careful.” Alex’s concern showed in his voice. Jay took a moment to compose himself. This was hitting close to home. What if it went wrong and Alex lost his dad, in the same way Jay had lost his? This dragon shifter was not a good guy. He was the worst.

Jay balled his fists, his nails digging into his palms as he attempted to control his bear who wanted to come out and play. Which meant ripping heads off shoulders.

“You’ve got this,” Kim told him as they waited for Tiberius to get his cleaning kit out of the trunk.

“We’ve got this. We’re a team, right?” Jay wasn’t used to being a team player. He’d spent so many months on his own. Relying on other people was a new experience. But as they walked across to the van, where he could see Guy in the driver’s seat, he realized that he did trust the four people he’d come here with. He also trusted those left behind. If not he wouldn’t have left his son with them.

“You’re here.” Guy rolled down the driver’s window and spoke to them, while looking around as if expecting an ambush. “Get in.”

Jay pulled the handle to slide the side van door open. He took a moment to check inside the van, just in case Guy had an unexpected surprise waiting for them. “All clear,” he told the others and they climbed in.

“Still don’t trust me?” Guy asked Jay as he climbed in the passenger side of the van.

“I have trust issues, so sue me,” Jay answered smoothly.

Guy chuckled. “You and me both. It’s been a crazy few months, and once this Quentin Harrod business is over, I want to put it all behind us. You know people have been asking where you are?”

“And what did you tell them?” Jay asked.

“That for all I knew you were dead.” Guy cocked an eyebrow at Jay. “You know this has destroyed my reputation.” He didn’t sound too upset. “It’s a good thing I’m moving into private security when this is finished. I’m done with all this undercover business.”

“Sooner we get on with it, the better all round,” Jay replied. “And I’m going to say it one more time, but I am sorry.”

“I know. And you can make it up to me by helping me take this dragon shifter down. I want this virus destroyed before it gets out. Before word of it gets out.” Guy’s expression conveyed his fears, and although Jay might not have always trusted Guy, he did now. This was bigger than any of them. If there was a virus that could turn off the shifter gene, this was going to hurt Guy, too.

“I’ll even let you take all the credit,” Jay replied.

“You know that never bothered me, I like being the voice in the background.” Guy started the engine. “Let’s move location and then we can go through the IDs and procedure.” He drove out into the traffic and headed down the street.

In the side mirror, Jay saw Alex following them. He was three cars back, and keeping his distance, but Jay was sure Guy would notice him. Or perhaps Guy was rusty and wouldn’t notice they were being tailed.

“Tell me about the virus. Everything you know. Particularly any information on the scientist who is manufacturing it.” Jay sunk down in his seat, making himself comfortable, as if this was just like old times. He and Guy went way back, and were friends as well as colleagues before all this crap with Davelchi kicked off.

“His name is Petrov Kinesin. He was a virology genius by all accounts until his reputation was ruined. That’s when he started working for Quentin Harrod. If you ask me, he was compromised and Quentin offered him a way out.” Guy gave Jay a sidelong glance.

“Quentin engineered whatever happened?” Jay asked. It made total sense. The dragon shifter was a cold-blooded, calculating piece of crap. If he could kill two people and make it look like a murder-suicide, then framing a scientist was well within his limits.

“That would be my guess.” Guy stopped the van. “This is where we get out and your guys take over.”

“You know if this is a trap, I will destroy you.” Jay kept his voice low, but the threat was real.

“I would expect nothing less,” Guy grinned and dipped his head in salute. “I want Quentin Harrod off the streets just as much as you do, Jay. And then I plan on paying Petrov Kinesin a visit. Unless he makes an appearance today and we can wrap the whole thing up with a neat bow.”

“We want the same thing.” Jay moved to open the door, but Guy put his hand on his arm and stopped him. “I want to prove to you that I’m the good guy.”

“So I can sing your praises to the police department?” Jay asked.

“I told you, I’m thinking of a career change.” Guy got his attention. “I was thinking of going into the private protection business.”

“Private protection? You weren’t joking?” Jay frowned.

“No, shifter bodyguards.” Guy got out and slammed the door. “Think about it.”

“I need some downtime first,” Jay replied. “But hell, Bear Creek has its own beer, so why not Bear Creek Bodyguards.”

“Okay, it’s game time.” Guy pulled open the door of the van.

Jay’s reservations over Guy were gone, he trusted him. He only hoped by the end of the day they were all alive to tell the story of how they took down a powerful dragon shifter.