Callan
“And that’s how I killed it,” he said, finishing his verbal report to Colonel Mara. “Now how about you tell me just how the hell this was allowed to happen?”
The woman behind the desk glared at him, her amber eyes hardening like their namesake. “If I knew the answer to that, I would tell you, Callan. This was not my decision, nor was it my facility that it was transferred to. General Knefferson and the other defense heads were all over the idea of having a prisoner to experiment on. There was unfortunately very little I could do to stop it, but I tried.”
He wanted to glare at the woman, but try as he might, he couldn’t. She was devious, he knew that, having finally met the other onyx dragon Thorne and heard his story about her taking their little joke and turning it around on them. Colonel Mara had a job, and it was to defend earth from the Outsiders, no matter the cost. She was near ruthless in her efforts to do that, and even now he saw her fingers and how they’d manipulated him toward Kathryn.
She was sneaky, almost worthy of being a dragon herself, though she was mated to Kallore, one of the most fearsome red dragons there was. But she’d also brought him to Katy, and for that he would always be forever grateful.
“You must have more than that,” he challenged. Grateful yes, but never willing to automatically accept whatever he was first told.
“Not much,” she confessed. “I’d love to tell you I could show you the video of exactly how it happened.”
He sat forward eagerly. “Yes, please.” Whoever it was would pay if the Outsider hadn’t already repaid their stupidity in kind.
“Unfortunately I cannot.”
“Why the hell not?” he snarled. “Stop hiding behind rules and regulations, Colonel. These people need to be punished.
“I’m not hiding, Callan.” Steel overlaid the silk in her voice and caused him to sit back slightly, recognizing the strength of person that Kallore saw in her at last. This was not an enemy he wished to make, no matter how human she might be.
“Then why not show it to me?”
“Because it doesn’t exist.”
“You did not have cameras recording it from every angle? I’m not that ignorant.” He was getting tired of not being trusted enough to see what had happened. If he was to pledge to fight with them, they would need to tell him everything.
“We did.”
He frowned, not understanding.
“Someone erased the video, Callan.”
Beside him Katy reacted with the same stunned disbelief that he himself felt. “No. Nobody would be so dumb.”
“Somebody was. And when I find out who, they’re going to pay. I lost four good soldiers because of that asshole. It wiped out the entire security detail I’d provided before going after you, Callan.”
His surprise was replaced with cold anger. “Who the hell would want to see these things succeed? As far as we know they can’t even communicate.”
“Not true, unfortunately.”
Callan blinked. “What?”
“We know that the Outsider that went after Corde somehow used a gang of street thugs to try and take him and his mate out before they were able to bond. We still have no idea how, but we’re confident that’s what happened.”
Forcing down his anger, he digested the newfound information. There was nothing he could do now, not until Colonel Mara tracked down the traitors, whoever they may be.
“You will inform me if you find out?”
“Perhaps.” There was no compromise in her voice. “Now, is there anything else you needed?”
The question hung in the air for several seconds. It was a clear segue to talk about the one question she’d asked him from the very beginning.
“I’ll fight,” he growled, dispensing with any verbal sparring. “If I get my treasure back. Understood?”
Colonel Mara smiled, reached into her desk, and tossed him a key. “I’ve been wanting to give that to you for a long time now.” She made a shooing motion. “Now get out of my office. We’ll be in touch in a few weeks. In the meantime, think about whether you wish to join the Steel Scythes or not.”
He nodded, got up, and left, glancing at the back of the key as he did.
Secure Room 4-A.
“The Steel Scythes?” Katy asked, holding his hand as they walked deeper into the base.
The signs posted everywhere helpfully directed him toward the secure rooms.
“Yes,” he answered eventually when she got impatient enough to ask it again. “They’re a unit that combines dragons with the battlesuits of the humans, fighting together as a team. They’re desperately searching for new members. Most dragons are too much of solo-fighters, not wanting to have to deal with someone else in the midst of battle, let alone a human.” He shrugged. “I don’t know if it’s for me or not. I’ll think about it.”
Katy nodded, slowing with him as they passed Secure room 3-C. The next door was labelled 4-A. He stopped, and then handed the key to his mate after a brief hesitation. “This is all for you,” he said, gesturing for her to open it up.
“Not only no, but hell no,” she said, throwing the key back to him. “You’ve wanted this, now get in there and enjoy it.”
Smiling at her he took the key, twisted it to unlock the door and then waited.
“How about we do it together?” he asked, one hand on the handle, the other outstretched toward her.
Katy smiled, and without hesitation she took his hand.
“You’re okay with this?” he asked.
“I am. I’ve realized the difference between you and Doug,” she said, stepping closer as his hand turned the handle slightly.
“Just now?” he teased.
She stuck out a tongue. “I was scared of your money, because of how greedy Doug got to get more of it. But you…you’re different, and no, not just because you’re a dragon, smart-ass. You don’t want the money for yourself. You want it for me. All you’ve ever done is spend your money on me. All he ever did was struggle for more. You’re obsessed with sharing it with those you care for.”
He smiled and she stepped closer. The handle turned all the way, but he didn’t push the door open. Not yet. Katy wasn’t quite done.
“It took some thinking, but I’ve come to realize that wealth itself isn’t bad. It’s the way one views it and uses it that can corrupt people, making it a thing of evil. And you are anything but evil,” she said.
Katy’s hand came to rest upon his, and together they pushed the door open.
Skids of gold bars dominated the fore, shining perfectly under the bright lights above. Stacks of old chests filled with gold coins lined the walls, while farther back were packed crates of cups, plates, chalices and more. Smaller boxes filled with diamond- and ruby-encrusted bracelets, rings, and more were stacked atop the larger units.
The display warmed his heart.
“This is all for you,” he told her, basking in the untold amounts of wealth the room contained.
Katy’s response perfectly mirrored exactly why he loved her.
“Holy shit.”