Braden

The sight that greeted them as they returned to the embassy was stunning. The entire street in front of it was completely destroyed. Shopfronts, sidewalks, light posts, it was all a complete write-off.

“This is going to be an expensive fix,” he remarked as they neared a group of shifters awaiting them.

“Don’t worry about that,” a tall nondescript man with brown hair cropped close to his head replied. “I’ll be handling that.”

Braden nodded. “Okay. Sure. And you are?”

Andrew stepped forward with uncharacteristic grace and propriety. “Your Majesty, may I introduce Braden Fields, one of my finest guards.” The ambassador swept an arm toward him.

He froze. “Your Majesty?” he said tightly. His voice didn’t quite squeak.

Elle’s elbow hit one of his bruised ribs. “I think that means you’re supposed to bow,” she hissed from where she was curtsying next to him.

Braden coughed and doubled over at the waist. “Ah, Your Majesty. It’s a pleasure to meet you.”

The tall man chuckled. “Stand up already. Dammit, Andrew, you know I hate that whole routine.”

“Yeah, but tell me it wasn’t funny,” the ambassador said, laughing heartily.

Braden glared at his boss, but the look just slid off.

“Daxxton Ryker,” the man said, sticking out his hand.

He took it, not bothering to go for a strength of grip contest, instead just making sure it was firm and respectful. After all, this was the King of Cadia he was shaking hands with. He deserved Braden’s respect.

After making introductions of his party, the king introduced someone else. He swore he’d seen the tall platinum-blonde before, perhaps in his training days at the Green Bearets Base Camp back in Cadia itself. He wasn’t sure, but she was familiar.

“May I introduce you to Ava Holmgren, late a colonel of the RAF.”

Braden had to force himself not to whistle. The Ragin’ Air Fillies were the warrior arm of the Pegasus race. Composed entirely of females—males were allowed to try out, but in centuries none of them had ever made it—they were known as the most badass of the badass. Nobody messed with the RAF. Not even the dragons if they could avoid it. To have been a colonel, one of the highest ranks, meant that the woman was one serious person. Not someone to mess with lightly.

Or at all. But I wonder why he said “late” of the RAF? Did she get kicked out? And why is she here?

“Ah, Armen,” Daxxton said as Gray set the body down on the front steps of the embassy. “What a waste of a mind. Brilliant, but unfortunately possessed of less-than-stellar scruples, as I’m sure you are all well aware.” The king nodded once. “Well, I now have the proof I needed to do this.”

“Do what?” Ava asked.

Braden wanted to say the same thing, but he sensed this conversation was happening several levels above his paygrade, so he wisely remained silent and let the others do the talking.

“Ava Holmgren, as your king I hereby nominate you to the position of Director of Cadian Intelligence, effective immediately.”

Everyone’s jaw dropped open, including Ava’s.

“WHAT?” she bellowed, turning to confront the king. “This is what you got me discharged from the RAF for?”

Braden tried not to laugh at the weak smile on the king’s face. He clearly hadn’t expected such a reaction from her.

“I need someone I can trust in the position,” he said. “Besides, one of your first tasks will be to investigate this new territory that your mate claims to be from. So, quit bitching, and realize that you’ve just been given quite the honor. You’re the first woman and Pegasus to hold this position.”

Braden was really glad he wasn’t on the former-colonel’s bad side right now. Daxxton was lucky he was a dragon, and therefore unthreatened by the woman. There was a very good reason after all, why they were called the Ragin’ Air Fillies. All of them were getting a taste of that right this very second.

“You and I are going to have words,” she hissed.

“Speak all you want,” he said dryly. “You know you’re going to accept, both because you want to, and because I need you to.”

The Pegasus shifter seemed to deflate as Daxxton spoke those words, conceding his point through body language alone.

“Let’s go inside, shall we?” Andrew said. “The others are waiting.

“Sir,” Braden said, speaking up as they walked. “Nobody has told us. How…how did we do?”

Andrew turned and bestowed him with a smile. “We won. About thirty seconds after you decided to do some remodeling across the street, these two showed up. It wasn’t much of a fight after that. I think the two of you had it worse.”

Braden nodded, but next to him Elle turned to see what Andrew was referring to. “Wait. There’s a huge hole in the building.”

“Yes there is,” he replied noncommittally.

“Are you telling me that you made that hole?”

“Uh, depends, how angry are you going to be about it?”

“You went through an entire building to come get me?” she asked incredulously.

He shrugged. “It was faster.”

“But you went through it. Like, right through the wall. Simply to get to me faster?”

Braden nodded.

“Oh, you are so hot right now.”

“It was three buildings actually,” Gray chimed in from off to the side. “I know, I went through them too.”

“Three?” she asked in a subdued voice, her eyes never leaving him.

He nodded again, feeling sheepish. Elle grinned, and he watched as she spoke with her lips, but no sound.

I am going to fuck you so hard tonight.

“Do you need us for anything else, boss? Or can we go get cleaned up?” he asked, looking past her at Andrew.

Beside him Gray coughed loudly and echoed the question by pointing at himself and Kelly too.

Braden frowned, until he leaned back slightly and saw Kelly’s hand was no longer around Gray’s waist, but was grabbing his butt. Hard.

He grinned.

“Yes, of course. Go wash yourselves off. You look like a bunch of ghosts.”

The quartet dashed for the stairs. Braden picked Elle up into his arms, not wanting to wait any longer.

“I love you,” he rumbled as he took the stairs four at a time, not bothering to slow.

“I love you as well, Braden Fields.” She looked him straight in the eye.

“My mate.”