Brittany sat on the padded cushions of the bench in her cell, trying to focus on the oddness of her prison rather than the harassment of the men in front of her.

Well… wolves in front of her.

After a few weeks’ imprisonment, she’d gotten used to the fact that there were wolves in this world, walking around dressed as people. Other creatures as well.

It wasn’t the weirdest thing she’d realized since she’d been here. She’d also realized these creatures targeted women who had done good deeds, thinking they were “dragon-hearts” or something like that, and imprisoning them as leverage for dragons.

What did they even mean dragon? How was it possible something that big could exist and no one would know about it?

She ran a hand around the swirling pink floral pattern of the cushions and tried to keep her mind busy so she didn’t hear the crude words directed at her.

“Bitch,” Tay, a dark-haired wolf who liked to come down and taunt her from behind the bars, spat. “Think a lowly human is too good to even look at us?”

“Yeah,” Roy, a fat, tall, stupid-looking wolf said, walking forward to push his face into the bars. “Thinks she’s better than us when she’s just a stinky human.”

“Nice tits, though,” Tay said.

Brittany patently ignored them.

“What the hell is going on here?” A light, cultured voice broke in, and Brittany looked up to see Fifi had entered the dungeon.

She’d seen him a couple of times. He seemed to represent the upper ups of the organization holding her, and all the wolves instantly deferred to him.

Roy and Tay let out little growls but quickly skulked out of the room. If they’d been in wolf form, they’d have had their tails between their legs.

She looked up at Fifi curiously. Why had he done that for her?

“Not sure why they insist on bothering you,” he said. “You’re such a plain little thing.”

Why did he always seem to show up just at the right moment yet act like a total douchebag?

He cocked his head and studied her with those intense, violet eyes. He had long, whitish hair that fell over one shoulder in a queue. His face had a sharp beauty that could almost be called feminine, if not for his very masculine bearing. He was one of the oddest people she’d ever met, and just looking at him gave her a shiver.

“Why did you stop them, then?” she asked.

“I don’t know,” Fifi said. “I don’t particularly like coarse words and actions.” He plopped in a flowery chair outside her cell. “How are you liking it here?”

“Um, I’m imprisoned in a one-room cell that’s decorated like a Martha Stewart magazine. It’s hell,” she said, only slightly joking.

“Martha who?”

“Never mind,” she said with a laugh.

He wasn’t the most pleasant person, but he was company, and he wasn’t a creep like the other wolves who came down to harass her.

“This is the last time I’ll be able to visit you,” he said.

“No,” she said, standing up and coming over to the bars, gripping them in hands that were suddenly cold. “You can’t.” She’d been less afraid since he was here. She didn’t even know what they planned to do with her, and who knew how long it would be before one of the wolves opened her cell if he wasn’t around?

“Yes,” he said, walking over to the cell and putting his hands over hers. His touch was warm, relaxing, but she stepped back in shock. “I didn’t mean anything bad by it. I was just trying to comfort you.”

“Well, don’t,” she said. He hadn’t been as bad as the others, but he was still one of her captors. “When are they going to let me out of here?”

“I’m afraid that’s not going to happen,” he said, flicking a lock of silky hair over his back.

“Why not?” she asked. “It’s been weeks. No dragons are coming, if they even exist.”

“Oh, they exist, and you should be wary of them,” Fifi said. “No more dangerous creature exists when it comes to brute strength. Though, there are some exceptionally powerful alpha wolves who could take them on, yours truly included.”

She frowned. “But they don’t know I’m here. Or don’t care.”

“I doubt they’re the smartest creatures. Lizards, after all. But it’s only a matter of time before they’re tipped off somehow. They have contacts everywhere.” His tone was odd as he said that, and he looked off to the side in a way that confused her.

“Um. Why won’t I be seeing you again?”

“Never mind that,” Fifi said sharply, sitting in his chair once again. He turned it to the door, watching it with sharp eyes as he talked to her. “I wanted to warn you about dragons. If they should rescue you, be on guard with them. Don’t be alone with them, if possible. And if you can, find one you feel you can trust and let him protect you.”

“Why are you telling me this?”

Fifi let out a sigh. He was wearing soft, white silk clothing, as he usually did, and he gingerly adjusted his delicate cuffs.

He was odd and harsh, but there was something about him that was good, that drew her in, at least as a friend.

Sort of a friend.

“All shifters can be beasts when it comes to mating. And you were kidnapped because you are the type of female dragons want to mate.”

“Mate?”

He raised an eyebrow. “You know, I’m going to let the oracle explain that one.”

“The who?”

He sighed. “Never mind. Just don’t get yourself assaulted.”

“Assaulted? But I thought you said I was a plain little thing,” she said.

He gave her a long, appraising look. “Well, my taste is a little different than anyone else’s. But if a dragon was… coarse enough, you might be perfect.”

What?

“Anyway, just remember what I said. Find a protector.”

“What if he wants to mate me?”

“I’m not sure these dragons are even that kind,” Fifi said.

“Why are you even warning me about this when I’m trapped in a cell for the foreseeable future? Because you’re abandoning me and you feel bad?”

Fifi shook his head. “No, my dear. I’m afraid it is you who will be abandoning me.”

She heard a crashing noise from upstairs, and then shouting broke out. Unfamiliar voices were yelling, barking orders, and if she wasn’t incorrect, war cries?

What in the…?

Fifi raised his gaze to the ceiling and smiled. “Ah, that would be them now.” He stood and pulled keys from his pocket. He rummaged through them until he came to a small silver one, and then he put it in the lock. He turned it, and the cell opened. He reached out a hand for her to come out.

She took his hand, in shock. Was she really leaving this cage? And if so, where was she going to go? By the sounds going on upstairs, the huge crashes and thuds, whatever had come for her wasn’t human.

She heard footsteps on the stairs and looked up at Fifi, still astonished he had freed her.

“Why are you doing this?” she asked.

“You remind me of someone,” he said. “Someone I wish I could free in this way.” He looked back at the door. “If everything goes well, someday I might.” He leaned forward quickly and surprised her by pressing a kiss to her forehead. The action was almost… brotherly.

But just then, the door broke open and hit the adjacent wall with a slam, practically off its hinges.

A crowd of men piled through it, the one at the front stumbling forward slightly before regaining his balance.

He was huge, much bigger than the wolves she’d seen. Taller even than Fifi, but much broader.

He had glowing yellow eyes that reminded her of a hawk and thick, brown hair held back by a headband. He wore jeans and a tee shirt that looked oddly wrong on him. Like Tarzan in modern clothes.

He pointed his sword, a huge, blunt, oversized piece of metal, at Fifi, who stepped back with his hands up.

“Get away from her, wolf,” he growled in a harsh, commanding voice that sent shivers down to her toes.

Whoever he was, this man was dangerous. She could sense it in every cell of her body. But she didn’t want anything to happen to Fifi.

“No, he helped me,” she said, looking up at the huge man with a pleading expression.

“Who are you?” he asked brusquely. Then he seemed to realize he should soften the request and let out a breath. “I am Lead. This is my team. We are here to rescue you. What is your name?”

She swallowed. “Brittany.”

“Well, Brittany,” a blond man said, stepping out from behind Lead. He was huge and muscled like the man in front but had kinder, softer eyes. “We’re getting you out of here. You’re safe now.”

She stared at the blond man, wondering what they fed these guys to make them grow like this.

“She’s not a big talker, is she?” the blond man asked.

“Shut up, Cadmium,” a man with black hair streaked with white said, stepping forward. “Miss, you need to come with us.”

She took a wary step backward, looking up at Fifi. He gave her a reassuring nod.

“They’re here to help you, sweetheart.” His voice was surprisingly tender. She felt she was seeing the real him, the one he kept hidden behind a mask of insults and sarcasm. Then his expression hardened as he turned to face the huge men in the room. “You all better take good care of her. If I hear any of you have hurt her, and I will, from the oracle, then you’ll answer to one of the most powerful wolves in the Tribunal.”

“Who?” Cadmium asked, looking around.

“Me,” Fifi said, glaring. “Anyway, let’s get this over with.” He stepped forward, rolling up his sleeves.

“What?” Cadmium asked, looking over at the brown-haired man in front of him. “Do you know what he’s talking about, Lead?”

“This must be our informant,” the brown-haired man who appeared to be their leader, apparently called Lead, replied. Why did they all have such weird names? More importantly, was it really safe to go with them?

She looked at the cell behind her. Did she really have a choice?

Oh well, she’d been brave before. She’d just have to be brave again.

“That a girl,” Fifi said. “Don’t look for this next part, okay?”

“What do you mean?” she asked as Fifi walked forward to stand in front of Lead.

“I’m ready,” Fifi said. “Go ahead.”

“Fine,” Lead said. “But this is going to hurt.”

Fifi grinned. “Oh goody.” He raked a gaze over Lead, and Brittany flushed at the same time Lead did. Fifi creeped on women and men with equal opportunity it seemed. “But make it quick.” His voice lowered sultrily. “Don’t tease me.”

That seemed to undo any of Lead’s hesitance about the moment, and Brittany gasped as he planted his fist squarely into Fifi’s face with a loud, cracking sound.

Fifi fell to the ground in a heap, and Brittany had to stifle a scream as Lead stepped forward, shaking off a hand that was clearly smarting.

She backed up from him. “You hurt him, you—”

“We had to make it look like he wasn’t involved,” Lead said. “We have no choice if we want to use his intel again to save others like you.” Then he bent forward, caught her behind the knees, and hoisted her over his shoulder like a bag of potatoes.

She shrieked and fought him, out of reflex more than anything else, but his grip was like solid rock, his body warm and reassuring, and she slowly calmed down.

What choice did she have?

Besides, Fifi trusted these men. Had let himself be hurt by them. They were her only hope.

“Arsenic? The wall,” Lead instructed.

The black-haired man stepped forward, eyed the wall, and then rammed it with his shoulder, somehow going straight through the solid brick, leaving a cloud of dust in his wake.

And a perfectly shaped hole that Lead could carry her through.

She tried not to look at Lead’s butt as he walked with her over the grass to the woods at the edge of the property, but in her current position, it was kind of her only option.

And a very nice butt it was. Silver linings and all.

Then he stopped walking and set her down abruptly, catching her by the arms to steady her when she nearly stumbled on shaky legs.

His team came over, and they talked for a moment in hushed whispers, then decided he would be the one to do something and walked off to the woods.

His arms were still on her, steadying her as she stood in front of him, looking out at the woods where the men disappeared.

A moment later, she saw shimmery shapes shoot up out of the trees, causing leaves to fly everywhere. She squinted, but the shapes were transparent, hard to make out.

“Don’t panic,” Lead said, releasing her arms and making sure she was steady before taking a few steps back.

Her skin felt hot where he’d touched her, and she couldn’t believe herself, but she wanted him to come back.

Instead, he began jogging away, and when she tried to join him, he shook his head and put up a hand. “One second. I’ll pick you up again.”

She nodded numbly, then watched as his form changed, smoke going up around him as he seemed to stretch in all directions, encompassed by a black, shining shape covered in scales.

She gasped as huge wings unfurled in a shimmering metallic rainbow like you’d see on an oil slick. Terrifying. Beautiful. Definitely a dragon.

As he took a thundering step toward her, she was surprised she didn’t faint. Then one clawed hand reached out and wrapped around her waist with a firm but gentle hold. Holy shit, he was huge!

But she only had a second to think about it before he pushed off the ground and shot into the sky, carrying her with him as his giant wings beat the air around them.

She looked down as the ground disappeared, trying to calm her trying-to-explode-itself heart.

He was a dragon. She’d been rescued by dragons. Captured by dragons?

She didn’t have long to think about it because her fear of heights finally tipped her over the limits of what she could handle, and she passed out, her last thoughts about the strange smoothness of a dragon’s claws.