Remy watched Casimiro, bloody and battered, nearly commit suicide by Reed when he launched himself at the black dragon. Reed swatted him away as if he were a fly. Both dragons were outside in full form.

“You said she would be secure here.” Casimiro peeled himself off a tree, dropping into a crouch.

“It’s under investigation,” Reed said, flaring up to his full height.

“Well, your prime witness is dead,” Casimiro said. “There was dragon magic in that bomb. It nearly killed all of us.”

“Who sent Seriah?” Margery asked. She was the only one in human form among the chaos. Remy had forced her to sit down on him, and he snaked around her like an enormous python. Any other assassin would have to go through him to get to her.

“I did,” Reed said.

“You bastard.” Casimiro prepared for another attack.

Remy scanned the area looking for threats. He’d feel a lot more comfortable if he could get Margery inside. He was making damned sure they were heading back to Vermont tomorrow morning and letting Reed’s crew handle the investigation. It wasn’t worth losing a Queen over this drug nonsense. He wasn’t a cop or a fed. He was a fisherman and a trapper. This was over his head, and Margery was underestimating the dangers. Staying here didn’t seem like such a great idea, especially since he’d taken damage from the bomb, too. He’d be fine as soon as he was back in Lake Champlain. Until then, he was vulnerable. And if he was vulnerable, so was Margery.

It burned his ass, but he was going to need some help. It was going to kill him to do it, but Casimiro was the only one who was as ballistic about the situation as he was.

“Wait,” Carolyn called, running out of the building and shifting as soon as she was free of the door.

“I told you to stay away until we cleared the debris,” Reed said.

“So you did,” she said, flapping up to meet him face-to-face. “But Reed’s lying about who sent Seriah.”

“Carolyn,” he growled.

“It was me. I set you up with Rathin and Seriah. Rathin I knew from my human days. Seriah was a friend of Niall’s. I never thought he would try to harm you.”

“I don’t think he did it intentionally,” Rathin said. “I had a few moments to speak with him this afternoon, and he seemed rather dim.”

“It could have been an act,” Remy said. It took serious mojo to put dragon magic into a bomb guaranteed to do destructive damage to everything it hit. Seriah had taken the brunt of it, which decimated him into pieces and sent his essence into the weave. It smacked of Queen magic, which meant Margery was finished with her investigation whether she liked it or not.

Rathin shrugged. “Seriah was from Hawaii. All he talked about was the waves and curls. He called me ‘brah.’ He was looking forward to taking Margery to Maui for a surfing convention and then to flying over the volcanoes, because that would be ‘totes rad.’”

“It still could have been an act,” Remy said, racking his brain to remember which Queen ruled over Hawaii. He thought it was Esmeralda—Reed’s mother.

“Then Seriah was a damn fine actor,” Rathin said. “And that’s the other thing. His tribute wasn’t that stupid doll.”

“What was it?” Reed growled.

“He was going to give her a lei of flowers and a shark tooth anklet, but when he saw my gift, he was ‘bummed out.’ I lost track of him for a few hours, and he came back in better spirits and smelling of marijuana.”

Margery shook her head. “He didn’t smell like marijuana. It always makes me sick to my stomach. I would’ve ralphed on his Tevas if he’d been smoking.”

Rathin sniffed around. “Maybe it wore off, my Queen.”

“Maybe.” Margery didn’t sound convinced.

“Sergei and Viola have flown out to confront Smythe to see what he has to say for himself,” Reed said.

“This is my investigation,” Margery said.

The hell it is. His coils tightened protectively around her.

“Someone just tried to kill a Queen in my territory. It’s now my investigation.” Reed turned his baleful glare on her. Margery cuddled deeper into Remy’s coils, and he was torn between snapping at the black dragon to back off and applauding his stance.

“Do you need to go back in the water or change back to human?” Margery muttered to Remy. “Your scales feel dry and scratchy.”

“I’m fine, my Queen,” he said in a voice that brooked no argument.

“What did the prisoners say?” she asked Reed.

“They did not inject you with any drugs or poisons while you were in their possession.”

“Did they say who they worked for?”

“They worked with a French Canadian customs agent calling himself Inspector Javert.”

Remy snorted.

“Wait? Like in Les Mis?” Margery slumped. “That’s an alias. What was his real name?”

“Your pirates aren’t schooled in Victor Hugo,” Reed drawled. “They took him for his word.”

“So we’re looking for an Inspector Javert in Quebec by the Rue du Rivoli?” Margery cried.

Despite the situation, Remy had to stifle a chuckle.

“We’re not looking anywhere, my Queen. My agents are following that lead. You are quarantined until you can fly, and then we finish the strengthening of Champ’s defenses in Vermont.”

He was glad Reed was drawing the line. It would take some of the heat from him when he pretty much echoed the sentiment. The only thing he’d have a problem with was if they tried to stop him from leaving with her tomorrow.

“You can’t quarantine me, I’m a Queen,” Margery said, looking to Carolyn for confirmation.

“I would never consider refusing a Queen’s wishes, but I have a doctor’s report that you are contagious, and until we find a cure, we risk having all dragons lose their power of flight and ability to shift.”

Aside from him, the only dragons that didn’t flinch away from her were Reed and Carolyn.

Idiots.

“Corazoncito, I am going to find you a penthouse apartment. I’ll be back to take you there once the deal is complete. You can be in the sun and sky all you wish. I will return.” Casimiro flew out of there like his tail was on fire.

Well, there went his backup. Remy shook his head. Casimiro would be back, and they could fight about where Margery was going later.

“I, too, would like to assist you,” Rathin said, backing away from her.

Margery fake sneezed, and Rathin jumped like a frightened cat. Remy didn’t like the punk, but that could have just been the foul mood he was in.

“I am going to see if I can get you a sponsor. I know Mercedes is looking for a dragon representative. Perhaps L’Oréal? You do have great skin. I’ll be in touch.” Rathin slithered away before Remy could tell him not to bother.

With all the other studs gone, Remy shifted back into human form. He secured Margery to his side when she stumbled from the loss of his bulk. “Where are we staying tonight?” he asked Reed, emphasizing the last word.

“We’re securing a rooftop and putting up a no-fly zone.”

“This is bullshit,” Margery said.

“I know,” Reed admitted. “But if it buys us some time to find who is trying to kill you, I’m willing to take the risk.”

“It must have been a drake. One of the ones that got away,” Remy said.

Reed’s face showed what he thought of the idea that a mere drake could undermine his security.

One that was backed by a Queen could probably do it. It all pointed to Esmeralda. Sanctioned or not, she still had power.

“Someone gave Seriah the Smooshie. That means someone knew I was here and what I was after,” Margery said. “Who had that knowledge?”

Carolyn flew back. “I hate to say this, Reed, but Arianna knew.”

Esmeralda’s daughter.

Reed swiveled his big head to glare down at her. “You aren’t suggesting Arianna tried to assassinate Margery? Even you wouldn’t be so spiteful over a hall of moldy books.”

“Oh, no, you didn’t,” Carolyn said, buzzing her wings. “I’m trying to figure out what’s more offensive in that statement. The ‘even you’ or the ‘moldy books’ or maybe the assumption that I’m accusing Arianna of trying to kill a fellow Queen. I’ll spell it out for you, ace, since thinking doesn’t seem to be your strong point. We had to get Arianna’s permission for Margery to be here. Arianna and I had an argument. Anyone could have listened in.”

“It was just her and Jack in the room.” Reed said between his impressive teeth. “You spoke on a secured line.”

“We were yelling at each other,” Carolyn cried. “I’m so sorry, Margery. I think this is all my fault.”

“Maybe in the future you will be more careful,” Reed said.

Remy hated the way Carolyn wilted. She drifted back down to earth and changed back to human. “I’m sorry,” she whispered to Margery and walked inside with her chin up. Remy could see that it was shaking with the effort.

Prick.

Reed glared at him as if he heard the thought.

On second thought, there was no way they were spending any night under Reed’s care. Remy just had to play it cool so the big dragon didn’t suspect anything. They were on Reed’s turf and completely outnumbered.

“I’d like to get Margery inside until the roof is secure,” Reed interrupted his thoughts. “The doctors have assured me that she is strong enough to be away from the sun, as long as she doesn’t strain her powers.”

“What powers?” she grumbled.

Remy nodded, guiding her toward the main building.

“I’d actually like to get the hell out of here.” Margery dug in her feet to stop the forward motion. “Reed has a leak. They know where I am. They have to know I’m still alive. They’re going to try again—or is that what you’re hoping for?”

“I don’t use Queens as bait,” Reed said.

“Then let me go.”

“Where are you going? Back to Vermont? It’s a long drive, and your protector needs to rest.”

Margery bit her lip and looked at Remy.

“I’m fine,” he lied. “Let’s go.”

“You don’t look fine.” She touched his temple and mouth. “I can see the strain in your face.”

“I’m fine,” he repeated. “My truck is out back.”

Reed said, “Your truck is compromised. Assume the enemy knows it. You don’t want to be ambushed in the middle of your journey.”

Damn the bastard, but he has a point.

Margery stepped between them. “Actually, I’d like to talk to the pirates that captured me. That’s what we came here for.”

“They aren’t in any condition to talk to you.”

“Take me to the prisoners.” Margery glared at him.

“One moment.” Reed bowed his head and took off into the sky.

Remy tensed and darted his gaze all over the compound. It was just the two of them. If Reed was going to pull something, he’d do it now.

“Think he’s going to refuse to let me see them?” Margery asked.

Remy shook his head. “You gave him an order. Only Carolyn could stop him from obeying.”

“What if I’m not powerful enough of a Queen to command a freaking black dragon? This is his turf. Reed’s ancient and a predator.”

“Then it’s good we find out now.” Remy had one last fight in him, and he’d make sure it counted. But he had to make sure she had a replacement. “You need to name Casimiro your protector.”

“Cas? I don’t think he wants that job. He wants consort. And he’s not getting it,” she assured him, by patting his arm.

Remy fought down the pleasure and surge of possessiveness her words gave him. Now was not the time to get distracted.

“I think Queen Esmeralda might be behind this,” Remy said in a low voice and told her his theory.

“This just makes my news story even more important,” Margery said.

Remy’s eyes almost crossed in vexation. “Just the opposite. Drop it. Reed will handle it through the proper channels.”

“Screw the proper channels, and screw him. The elder Queens can’t do shit like this anymore.”

“Who’s going to stop her? You and me?”

“And Casimiro.” She leaned forward.

Remy gritted his teeth. “You’re a naive idiot.”

“Don’t you call me an idiot, you jerk. You’re so used to kissing these bitches’ asses you can’t see past your nose.”

“I don’t kiss Queens’ asses,” he snarled. “Certainly not yours.”

“Good,” Margery fired back. “She thinks she can scare me off? That means I’m close. Don’t you get it?”

“Close to being dead. Look, you want to do this? Fine. You need a court of protectors and a base that we can fortify and protect.”

“How many women will have to die before that happens?” She grabbed his arm and shook it.

They stared at each other. Remy controlled his temper by taking deep breaths through his nose. Margery’s eyes were blue lightning, and they were inches from each other. He wasn’t sure if she was going to belt him one or kiss him.

“Less than will die if you get assassinated,” he said when he could speak without shouting at her.

“I’m a New York journalist with my teeth in a story. Esmeralda doesn’t stand a chance.” She smiled at him.

Remy just shook his head at her cluelessness.

The door to the compound opened, and Reed, who had shifted back into his human guise, held the door open for them. “Follow me.”

Margery shuddered as they walked down the stone staircase to the basement levels. Remy put a hand on her shoulder. “Steady,” he whispered.

“I refuse to be claustrophobic. I just hope my brain is listening,” she whispered back.

A fierce tug at his heart was the only warning he got that he not only would he slay dragons for her, he was starting to fall for her stubborn ass.

The camera-laden hallway tracked their progress as Reed activated a retinal scan to open up the first door. Margery jumped as the door slammed behind them.

“Easy, chérie,” Remy murmured, stroking his hand down her arm.

Pressing his palm against the panel at the far end of the hallway opened up another door, and Reed strode through. Remy was feeling a little Mission: Impossible when they finally entered the cell block. Most of the jail cells were empty. Reed walked to the middle of the section and waited for her. The first that was occupied held two unconscious, badly wounded men. He could see the acid corrosion on their lower limbs. If they survived, they would be forever marked.

Margery choked on a gasp. She had a soft heart. Yet they would have done worse to her if she hadn’t been a Queen. In the next cell, the men were dead or appeared so. Their faces had a greenish tinge.

“Are they...?” Margery couldn’t even say the word “dead.” How was she going to compete on a global stage with Queens who killed dragons for serving their breakfast with the wrong plate?

These pirates had shot at her. Kicked and abused her. Starved her and would have sold her into prostitution. Remy didn’t want her to feel sorry for them.

“Too soon to tell. Sergei tried to modify his poisoned jab.” Reed sounded bored. “I don’t give them good odds.”

In the final cell, two men were huddled in the corner.

“That’s the captain and his first mate,” Margery said out of the corner of her mouth to him.

They shrieked when they saw her and Remy. “No, don’t hurt us anymore. We told you everything.”

She tried to get closer to the bar, but Remy held her back. “Who hired you to take the Smooshie dolls down the river?”

“Inspector Javert. He knew that there wasn’t any industrial traffic on the lake so no one would be looking for the shipments. My yacht has been used for smuggling once or twice. It was either carry his shipment or get busted.”

“You were well paid?” Remy sneered. He was nearly blind with rage that this shit happened on his lake.

“Of course. I have my standards.”

“Who paid you?” Margery asked.

“Javert. He wired us ten thousand dollars in cash at the beginning of the trip and another ten when we came back.”

“Where would you off-load the dolls?”

“We were met on the water. We rafted up together, had a barbecue, and switched the cargo in broad daylight.”

“What was the name of the boat?”

The captain looked down.

“Tell her.” Reed crossed his arms.

“I’ll tell her,” the first mate piped up, speaking for the first time. He pointed a finger at Remy. “It was Champ’s boat. Nessie.”

“I was in Scotland,” Remy said, pushing Margery behind him as he faced off against Reed.