The tension seeping through Tobias Ember’s body made his shoulders rise and stiffen.

It was the same reaction he got every time he entered this place. It wasn’t that he didn’t enjoy seeing everyone at the bunker in Old London, but the confined living set his teeth on edge.

How the hell did people live here every day? Why weren’t they going crazy because they didn’t see daylight? If he didn’t feel fresh air on his skin at least once a day, he got grouchy. That was never a good thing.

Tobias had put off this visit for long enough. If he avoided Sophia any more, she would blacklist him. That meant he couldn’t go on any active missions. There was no fucking way he could be stuck behind a desk. That really would do him in.

He’d argued a dozen different ways with Sophia to get out of yet another assessment. But each time she’d shot him down, her gaze growing narrower and her sentences shorter. She wasn’t even a real doctor. Why did she think she had the right to head shrink him?

Danni had insisted on weekly checkups to see how he was managing his post-traumatic stress. Tobias was sure he didn’t have it. Anyone would be jumpy having been buried alive under a building and left to rot.

Still, Sophia and Danni kept prodding at him, trying to get him to confess his head was jumbled with dangerous thoughts. He’d prove them both wrong. He was fine. It was nothing that a few cold beers couldn’t fix.

Sophia was the worst. That woman rattled him. She was super-smart and could pick up any skill she set her mind to. He’d heard people call her arrogant or cocky. He didn’t think she was either. She just didn’t hide the fact she was clever. She didn’t have time for small talk or polite conversation. That suited him just fine. If her bedside manner was on the abrasive side, it didn’t stop her from being incredible at her job. He had to admire her for that, even if her interference in his life wasn’t welcome.

He stopped by the comms room door, which was propped open. His brother Jude was in there with Octavia. Octavia had run Flame radio ever since the State took over and ended public broadcasts. She’d been their eyes and ears at crucial times. Now, she was here, still broadcasting Flame, but working side by side with Jude.

Her blonde hair, which had been shaved off when she’d been captured by the State, had grown into a cute, wispy pixie crop. The scars on her face had also faded thanks to the dragon serum she’d been using—a serum designed by Sophia. You could still see faint silver scars where the shrapnel had shredded Octavia’s skin, but they were much improved from the jagged red marks he’d seen when they’d met.

“How are things?” Tobias walked into the room.

Jude swiveled in his seat and smiled at his brother. “We’re sorting out the latest broadcast for when we go mobile tonight.”

Tobias leaned against the desk and scrubbed a hand through his dark hair. Octavia and Jude had made it their personal missions to recruit more resistance fighters. They would go out in a Cobra, kitted out with all the equipment Octavia needed to spread the word about their fight. The two of them would venture out several times a week, broadcasting messages to other resistance fighters, encouraging them to join the bunkers.

It was working. They’d been doing it for three months. Since then, over a thousand people had joined the bunker. That kept everyone busy, Tobias included. His main role was to find new, secure locations to house everyone safely.

The work suited him. It meant he didn’t get to spend too much time underground, but he was always on the move. It made it hard to form proper relationships. He enjoyed a few one-night stands, but he was bored with them. He wanted more. His thoughts drifted to Sophia. He shut them down straightaway. There was no way Miss Spiky would have any time for him.

“Are you here for your appointment with Sophia?” Octavia smiled at him.

“If I put it off any longer, I’ll be in trouble,” said Tobias.

“You can never beat Sophia,” said Jude. “Don’t waste your breath trying. If she wants you here, you’ll be here.”

Tobias shook his head. “She drives me crazy. She’s always asking about how I’ve been sleeping, if I’m eating regularly, what my mood is like. I half expect her to ask me what I’m thinking about.”

“She’s trying to help,” said Jude. “Anyone would be messed up after what happened to you.”

“It feels like an age ago.” Tobias inspected a scar on his knuckle. “It’s not a problem for me.”

“Maybe Sophia’s asking you here for another reason?” Octavia raised her eyebrows and grinned.

Tobias snorted in response. “The only thing she wants to do is make sure I don’t go bat-shit crazy on her watch. She’s covering her own ass.”

“And it’s a fine ass,” said Jude.

Octavia slapped his arm. “Are you checking out other women?”

Jude grinned and planted a kiss on Octavia’s lips. “Absolutely not. Whenever I’m around you, you’re all I see.”

Octavia squirmed as he wrapped his arms around her, laughter drifting from her lips as he continued to kiss her.

Tobias smiled and looked away. Those two were crazy about each other. Ever since Octavia arrived at the bunker, Jude had been lost to her. Maybe even before then. The guy was obsessed, but it was a healthy obsession. They worked well together, combining their expertise and passion to make the perfect couple.

A pang of loneliness hit Tobias. He pushed it away. He had everything he needed. He was busy helping others, and he had his brothers around him. What more could he want?

“Do you fancy company out on the road tonight?” he asked Jude.

Jude grabbed a final kiss from Octavia before turning his attention back to Tobias. “You’re welcome to join us. We’re heading to Alpha zone eight. We heard rumors online that there’s an isolated dragon hybrid community there. We thought they might appreciate knowing what we do.”

“I might just do that.” Tobias pushed away from the desk and headed for the door. “That’s providing Sophia lets me go anywhere.”

“Don’t be too hard on her,” said Octavia. “She’s looking out for you.”

“She should focus on people who need her,” said Tobias. “Sophia’s wasting her time with me.” He raised a hand in farewell before leaving them to their work and making his way slowly toward the medical bay.

If it hadn’t been for his slip in control when they’d blown up the vaccine plant, none of this would be necessary. Sure, he’d panicked when he’d woken up under all that rubble. It brought back hellish memories. That was all it was, though. A few nasty flashbacks taunting him. It was nothing he couldn’t handle. He handled it just fine without some smart-mouthed wannabe doctor telling him how things should be.

Tobias slowed as he reached the double doors that led into the medical bay. It was more than that. Sophia unnerved him. It wasn’t just her bluntness and how direct she was with her questions. She wouldn’t leave things alone. She sensed something was off with him and kept on digging. He wanted to tell her to go to hell and mind her own business. What went on in his head was his concern, no one else’s. What gave her the right to interfere?

Sophia confused him. If she wasn’t so damned hot, maybe this wouldn’t be so difficult. Mix her smarts with her sassy attitude and those big, dark eyes, and Tobias struggled to control his feelings. Something urgent and desperate stirred in him. It made him want to lose control again, but this time with her. And when she gave him a stern look over the top of her glasses, something inside him shifted. He hated to admit it, but she got him going.

His wrist comm signaled an incoming comm. He opened the link, sighing as he did so.

“Tobias, it’s Sophia. You’re late.”

“No, I’m not. I’m right outside.”

“Then get in here,” said Sophia. “I don’t have time to waste hanging around for you.”

“If you’re too busy, we can reschedule. How about in six months’ time?”

He heard footsteps approach the door. He suppressed a smile. He loved to push her buttons.

The door to the medical bay was yanked open. Sophia stood on the other side, her head tilted to one side and anger glinting in her eyes. “What are you doing out here?”

“Trying to think of a good enough excuse to get out of this.”

She gave a slight shake of her head. “I’m not doing this for my health. Tell me why you’re here.”

Tobias’s gaze lowered to the ground. It was a question he’d asked himself a lot. “You told me to be here.”

“Come in.” Sophia stepped to one side.

Tobias walked into the medical bay, the smell of coffee and disinfectant hitting him but not hiding the rose scent of Sophia’s shampoo. There were two patients at the far end, sitting up in bed. There was no sign of Clarissa or Daisy, Sophia’s assistants.

Slowly, he turned to face Sophia. Damn, she was striking. Her face was heart-shaped and her skin pale. She had a full mouth, which was, at that moment, turned down at the corners. She often wore this look of disapproval when they were together.

“Well, I’m waiting for a good answer from you.”

“I’ve already said. I’m here because I’ve been ordered to.” Anger prickled through him. Tobias sometimes felt defective. He wondered what his brothers really thought of him. He’d been half-mad when they’d dug him out of that building. He remembered little about that day, or the days after. He could recall flashes of their faces, full of concern as they’d taken turns to sit by his bedside and make sure he didn’t tip over the edge.

“You’re here because people care about you,” said Sophia. “They want to make sure you’re fit and healthy.”

“Do you want to give me a physical?” Tobias flashed her a grin.

She didn’t return it. “You’ve had your physical. I’ve seen everything you have.”

He took a step closer. “Not everything.”

“Trust me, if I haven’t seen everything you’ve got, I’ve seen enough naked men to know what to expect.” Sophia’s cheeks grew pink, and she looked away.

“Maybe I’m different.”

“Everyone says that. They always disappoint me.” Sophia took a step back and grabbed a port screen. “From your last session, which was almost two months ago, you reported feelings of isolation. Is that still the case?” She turned and walked into the tiny office in the corner of the medical bay.

Tobias’s hands clenched, but he dragged himself in after her and shut the door. “Who doesn’t get lonely?”

“That’s different.” Sophia gestured to an empty chair as she sat behind her desk. The desk was heaving with papers and files, and a computer screen sat on one corner. Although it was cluttered, everything seemed to have an order. On the walls were paintings of trees and fields. He wasn’t the only one who craved being outside.

Tobias shrugged as he sat in the chair and forced himself to appear relaxed. “It can be lonely on the road. It’s hard to find the right sort of company.”

“What kind of company do you like?”

He flashed her another grin. “Someone to keep me stimulated. I get bored easily.”

“As is apparent from your frequent moves,” said Sophia. “You put yourself at risk every time you’re above ground.”

“I’ll take that risk,” said Tobias. “It’s a greater risk if I stay penned down here like an animal, breathing recycled air and forgetting what the sky looks like.” Despite himself, he shuddered. Was it his imagination, or were the walls moving?

Sophia tilted her head again. “You deliberately isolate yourself?”

Tobias sighed. This would be a long and difficult session, he could sense it. It wasn’t that he hated the offer of help. If only he could be sure this would help. There had to be a way to remove that hollow ache in his guts. He should let Sophia in and answer her questions truthfully. Maybe he’d finally get to feel human again.

“Tobias?” Sophia raised her eyebrows. “You haven’t answered my question.”

He loved the sound of his name when she spoke it. It was almost musical. He placed his hands on his knees and leaned toward her. “I’ll answer your questions, but you need to do the same for me.”

Those beautiful dark eyes narrowed. “You want to analyze me?”

“Why not? You’re trying to get into my head and figure me out. Let me do the same with you.”

Sophia placed the port screen down slowly. “I’ve nothing to hide. I don’t see how this will help your recovery. Learning about me will not assist you.”

He didn’t believe that for a second. “You never know, we might have things in common. Maybe you can help me feel less lonely?”

Sophia shook her head. “I’ll answer your questions, but only if you don’t use it as an excuse. Don’t deflect your issues onto me. You’ve been sent here for a reason.”

Tobias knew that. He had to stop fighting Sophia and get his head back in the game. But that didn’t mean he needed to make it easy on her. This woman intrigued him. He needed to know more about her. She kept up a professional facade, but there was more to her than that. There had to be fire beneath the icy veneer she kept in place. He wanted to see what it would take to light that fire and feel how hot it burned.

He wasn’t going to get out of here without answering Sophia’s questions today, though. Everyone thought he was broken, but maybe Sophia could fix him. Even if she couldn’t, he intended to have fun along the way and figure out what Sophia was all about.

“Tobias. Answer my question.”

Tobias smiled at Sophia. “Where shall I begin?”