Eve went to her room to find Lana waiting for her with a backpack filled with a change of clothes—two additional pairs of jeans, shirts, a jacket that she shrugged on, socks, and underwear.

Touched by her consideration, Eve hugged the girl. She saw herself even more in the defiant tilt of the younger girl’s chin. She’d refused Eve’s help and insisted on hobbling out on her own.

Tugging the backpack firmly over her shoulders, Eve headed for to the pier. There was only one boat anchored there. A sleek, powerful-looking cruiser.

She had no doubt it was Cain’s.

The craft radiated the same feeling of lethal, suppressed energy that she associated with the man.

Walking across, she then hopped onto it, running her fingers over the smooth lines of the stern as she made her way to the front of the boat.

Cain came out of the cockpit. He’d changed into cargo pants that hung low at the waist. A black T-shirt that had seen better days stretched across his chest, and a cap was pulled low, shadowing his eyes. “The cabin below has some storage space and two berths. We’ll take turns sleeping.” He glanced at her backpack.

She took that as a sign to get herself settled in.

Going to the cabin, she put away her bag. By the time she came up on the deck, the boat’s engine was throbbing.

Returning to the cockpit, she took care to keep as much space between them as possible. She gripped the railing and looked to the horizon to where the sun was just beginning to set.

The wind pulled at her hair, and the rays of the sun bounced off the water and into her eyes. Raising her head, she sniffed. She may not be able to fly, but her dragon senses so in tune with nature prickled. “Storm’s coming.”

“You can sense it?” His voice was conversational. He was giving her the same consideration he would a teammate. As long as they kept their distance, perhaps she might just get through this mission.

She glanced at him out of the corner of her eye.

The muscles of his forearms flexed as he gripped the steering wheel.

“Dragons are covered with scales and have a thick hide, but our skin is sensitive. We sense the changes in the atmosphere and adjust to it as we fly,” she said.

“Can we outrace it?” Accelerating, he let the craft leap forward.

Scooping her hair away from her face, Eve tied it back with a band she’d been carrying around her wrist. She sniffed the air, surveying her surroundings with half-closed eyes.

Hints of moisture, salty sea, the vegetation they had left behind, the scent of the sun on desert sands… Him. She snapped her eyes open. “At the moment, its path is to blow away from us.” Eve squinted through the fast-fading light. “If we’re lucky we might miss it.”

His scent still lingered, teasing her.

She wiped her hand over her face.

“Why don’t you go down, get some rest.” He jerked his head over his shoulder. “Come get me in six hours?”

He was sending her off. Perhaps he sensed the tension that still simmered and wanted her out of the path of temptation.

They may have agreed to keep things strictly business, but the chemistry between them crackled.

Swiveling on her heels, she made her way down. She ate a quick sandwich at the galley, making one for Cain.

Back at the cockpit, she gave it to him along with a cup of coffee.

He nodded his thanks, taking it from her.

She turned to leave.

“Serena was only three when we lost our pride.” His voice stopped her. “I was eleven then. I swore after that I’d always take care of her. I failed.”

She gripped the railing and looked to the horizon where the sky was bleached white by the sun. She put up a hand to shade her eyes. “I was fifteen when the tsunamis of 2014 struck our island. My parents were full grown dragons who carried everyone to safety. My mother was hurt trying to save them. She died soon after.” She swallowed, following the trail of a gull who swooped down to catch a fish from the sea. “My father never recovered from her death. He held on until I turned eighteen. Once I came of age to take on the challenge of the alphas, he died. He didn’t live long enough to see me win.”

Cain continued to steer the ship, but she sensed his gaze on her.

“We lost many in that storm. Including my brothers, Rage and Neo.” Rage had been younger than her by nine months. He was the only male from her clan who she could be herself with, apart from her father. “Many dragons, humans, and wolf shifters died.”

The breeze tugged at his cap. “When nature strikes, it knows no distinction between species.” Taking off his jacket, he stuffed it in his back pocket.

“It’s one of the reasons I want to help your Council.” She tucked her shirttail into her pants. “Leana believes in all species living together. She wants all to benefit from the city’s economic progress.”

The muscles of his jaw flexed. The skin over his knuckles was stretched tight from where he gripped the wheel.

“Our values are the same. We know that only when species collaborate can we evolve together.” She shifted her weight from one leg to the other. “There are not many who would not use the natural mistrust of species against each other for their personal gains.”

The tendons of his neck were taut, and his cheekbones stood out in relief. “It’s also why I accepted when Leana offered me and Serena a home. Besides, I thought it would be safe with the Council in charge.” He slammed his palm on the wheel.

The anger vibrated off him, his frustration so palpable she wanted to reach out and touch him.

“The Elysians are the most lethal threat the Council has faced. How can one defend yourself against an enemy you can’t see? No one could have predicted they would have come for her.” She knew she was trying to pacify him and wasn’t sure why. But he was hurting, and that bothered her. Enough for her to want to soothe him.

She gripped her elbows at her sides. She reminded herself that this trip was going to be strictly professional.

Cain didn’t seem to notice her internal struggle.

“Why Serena of all the shifters?” His jaw hardened. “Why did they come after her?”

“Perhaps they knew she was one of the few lion shifters in the city? Hope mentioned that Tibor had been searching out shifters of different species to break them down and study their shields. They must have known where she lived, who she hung out with.” She leaned forward, shading her eyes from the sun. The heat seemed to radiate off the water around them, and perspiration beaded her upper lip.

“We’ve long suspected there was an infiltrator within the city. This only confirms it.” He rubbed his neck.

“We’ll find Serena.” She didn’t have to reassure him. Their relationship was limited to being professional on this mission. Still, she could give him hope, couldn’t she? That much was allowed, even expected between teammates.

He jerked his head in a short nod. “Get some rest.” His voice was gruff. “We need you fully recovered for when we confront the Elysians.”

She made her way down to the tiny stateroom.

Her strength was returning at an accelerating pace, but there were moments when her muscles still twanged, reminding her she’d been unconscious and drifting in a coma until not long ago. Crawling into the lower berth, she shut her eyes, listening to the throbbing of the engines.

She woke up to darkness.

The boat pitched with enough force for her to hit her head against the upper bunk.