I was seriously pissed. Not only had Brandt played me, but he’d assaulted Jetta. And now he might have ruined my relationship with the only woman I’d likely ever love. My mate. My new reason to exist.

I couldn’t bring myself to look at her. I deserved her hatred and scorn. Yes, I’d been fooled, but I should have followed my gut. I should have told her everything. Especially after I’d realized that Jetta wasn’t the hardened criminal he’d made her out to be. But the truth was, I didn’t care what she was, because I loved her and would have excused anything in her past.

“Jetta, I think he has us by the short and curlies,” I said, giving her a look I hoped she’d recognize as a signal to play along.

“Don’t talk to me,” she growled.

“We need to tell him everything.” We need to get them out of town. Come on, Jetta. Get with the program.

Brandt’s eyes narrowed. “What are you leaving out, Jetta?”

She shook her head.

“She has a shitload of diamonds.”

Jetta stared daggers at me. “Shut up, Benedict Arnold.”

“Brandt, if we give you the diamonds, will you let Jetta go?” I prayed he’d take the bait.

“I’ll consider it.” I knew he was lying, but I’d take whatever we could get.

She continued to glare at me. “Fine. Whatever.”

Brandt walked over to her and put his arm around her. He kissed her temple, and I wanted to rip his lips and hands off for even daring to touch her.

“Good girl,” Brandt murmured in her ear. “Now, Conrad, you need to get dressed. You look like an idiot.”

I grabbed a change of clothes and dressed quickly, not caring that there were three other people in the room.

Chance picked up the box and waited for me to finish putting on my shoes. I followed Jetta and Brandt out the door, with Chance taking up the rear. I knew how this would play out in Brandt’s mind. We’d show him the diamonds, and Brandt would take what he could from the cave. Then he and Chance would leave with Jetta, the evidence, and the gems. My body would never be found again, and Brandt would take back what was left of the twenty-five thousand he’d already paid me.

We stepped outside, and Brandt led us to a black Humvee.

“Well, that’s not obnoxious or conspicuous,” I remarked.

Chance gave me a hard shove.

I turned and stared into his eyes. “If you value your hands, you’ll keep them to yourself.”

I sat in the front with the big fella, while Brandt sat in back with Jetta. I gave them directions to the trail, then we spent the rest of the drive listening to Brandt’s incessant jabbering about how smart and powerful he was. Every now and then, I glanced back at Jetta and saw her staring out the window. She refused to acknowledge me. I hoped that someday I could make her understand that my intentions were pure, even if my results were less than desirable.

We reached the trail and resumed the same formation as before: Jetta next to Brandt, me in the middle, and Chance bringing up the rear.

Chance pulled out a gun and pointed it at my side. “If either of you try to run, Conrad dies.”

I wasn’t sure Jetta would care at that point, but I hoped she did. She nodded but didn’t say a word. When we reached the waterfall, I addressed Brandt. “The cave is behind the waterfall, but it’s a little hard to reach. The entrance is that opening just to the right.”

Brandt motioned to Chance. “Give me the gun and go check it out.”

Chance handed over the weapon and cautiously made his way down the steps. I glanced at Jetta, but her expression gave nothing away. Brandt thought he had the upper hand, but he was about to learn that the only thing more dangerous than one dragon was two.

I took a step back and kicked off my shoes. Brandt’s eyebrows drew together. “What the hell are you doing?”

I shrugged as I pulled my shirt over my head. “I know you plan to kill me.” I unbuttoned my jeans.

Jetta’s eyes flashed with understanding. She’d finally caught on to what I was doing. She pulled off her shirt as well, and Brandt’s eyes went wide.

“What is wrong with you two? Are you hoping to freeze to death?”

Jetta stopped short of pulling down her jeans. “Do you want me to stop stripping?”

There was an alluring hint of wickedness to her voice, and I knew Brandt would be distracted by it.

He shook his head. “I will never complain about you getting naked in front of me.”

“Then shut up.” She continued taking off her clothes until she was in nothing but her underwear.

“Boss,” yelled Chance. “There’s nothing in here. Just a small, dark cave.”

Brandt chuckled. “Nice distraction, but you’ve wasted your time.”

“Not really,” replied Jetta. “We got you out here, so I’d say we hit our objective.”

She stepped back and began to shift. Brandt panicked and grabbed my arm, shoving the gun in my back.

“Now you listen to me, Jetta. Conrad dies if you don’t change back.” His voice was loud and authoritative, but fear laced his words.

Chance hurried up the steps, almost slipping a time or two. He reached our side and looked up at Jetta’s dragon in awe.

“You overestimate her feelings for me.” I shook my head. “She doesn’t give a shit what you do to me.”

Brandt responded by pushing the gun to my head. Jetta bent her head low, her focus on the gun. She snorted, and Chase jumped.

“Calm down, Brandt. I know how we can resolve this.” I braced myself for impact.

Brandt’s gaze turned on me, and that’s when Jetta’s tail came down hard behind us. It knocked us all off balance, but it gave me just enough space to jump away. I didn’t waste a moment, shifting into a version of myself I’d long suppressed.

Brandt and Chase stepped away from me, their eyes widening in horror. While Jetta was beautiful, almost magical looking, I looked like something straight out of hell. I widened my stance and lowered my head, a rumble building in the back of my throat. When I opened my mouth, fire shot out like a flamethrower, and the two men threw themselves to the ground. They covered their heads in a futile attempt to protect themselves.

Brandt located some of his backbone and looked up at me, sheer terror still in his features. He held up his hands in a gesture of surrender as he cautiously stood.

“Let’s talk about this.” He tried to keep his tough guy persona, but he was visibly trembling, and his voice cracked as he spoke. Chase was frozen by fear, not moving an inch. Brandt kicked him, prodding him to move.

Jetta moved to stand beside me, and our telepathic communication took over. “We could drown them. The water in the falls is poisonous to humans.”

“That might work,” I said.

“But . . . I really don’t want to get my hands dirty, so I have a better idea.”

“I’m up for whatever you have planned.” I shot another stream of fire above the men, just in case they had any ideas about running. “Jetta, I’m sorry about everything.”

“Not now, Conrad. We’ll talk later.” She stood to her full height. “For now, follow my lead.”

At that moment, Chase and Brandt made a beeline for the trees, almost stumbling as they leapt over small branches and rocks.

“Slight change of plans,” Jetta said. “Catch them.”

Jetta turned on her camouflage and instinct helped me follow suit. We took off in opposite directions, intending to cut them off before they ran very far.

Jetta lumbered alongside Chase as he ran. His terrified gaze darted around him. He could barely hear her, and he couldn’t see her at all, but he had to know she was there. He pushed himself against a tree and looked as if he was trying to calm his breathing.

I was a few yards in the opposite direction. Once Chase was cornered, I gave my full attention to capturing Brandt as he ran directly in front of me. I focused on him and lowered my head, snorting out a stream of fire. Brandt screamed, then turned and shot at me. The first bullet missed by a mile, but the second grazed my cheek, leaving a trail of blood running down my jaw.

“Conrad!” screamed Jetta. She sounded terrified. I shot another stream of fire toward Brandt, and he hit the dirt, his hands attempting to protect his head as he curled into a fetal position.

“I’m okay. It’s just a scratch,” I said. “Get Chase.”

She reached out her front claws and grabbed a screaming Chase. She tucked him in close to her body, effectively hiding them both in her camouflage. I did the same with Brandt, both men screaming like little girls at a horror movie.

I laughed as we rose into the air. Jetta was graceful, where my flying skills were in need of some practice.

“What’s so funny?” she asked as we soared over the tops of trees and outcroppings.

“Listen to them. They sound like one of my foster moms when she saw a mouse.”

Jetta laughed, too. “They really do.” She paused and pointed one of her back claws toward the large falls not far from Fallview Tavern & Grille. “These two are gonna love the Alverson sisters.”

“Who are they?” I asked.

“Sirens,” Jetta replied.

“Damn, those exist?” I was in awe of this revelation.

“You have a lot to learn about Havenwood Falls.” She paused. “All those monsters you were told about during your childhood? They’re all real.”

“Holy shit,” I muttered.

“Exactly.”

We slowed our descent and landed at the top of the falls. The men were silent now, and I wondered if they’d died of heart attacks during our short trip. Jetta placed her front paws on the ground and opened them slowly. Chase was white as a sheet, but still alive. He carefully stood up, then tried to run. He’d only made it a few steps when Jetta’s large claw hooked the back of his shirt and pinned him to the ground.

I opened my paws as well but made sure not to let Brandt escape.

“What are we waiting for?” I asked.

“Simon,” she said. “He can’t hear us, but he knows we’re here. He can sense it.”

That was news to me.

Brandt mustered the courage to speak up. “Please, let us go. We’ll never bother you again. Just let us go.”

Jetta snorted in disbelief, frost escaping her nostrils as she made herself visible once more. I followed her lead, waiting to see what would happen next.

As she’d predicted, in less than five minutes a large, dark brown dragon landed behind us. Simon’s voice boomed in my head. “What kind of trouble have you brought me now, woman?”

Astonishment banged around in my skull like a pinball machine. That explained why Simon thought he knew me. He was a dragon, too. I really needed a stiff drink.

“Looking good, Conrad. I knew you’d be an impressive specimen.”

“Thanks. You’re rather intimidating yourself.”

Simon nodded his head in thanks. “Now, why are you here with two crying men under your paws?”

“A gift for the Alverson family.”

Simon nodded. “They will be most appreciative.” He paused. “No one will miss them?”

Jetta chuckled. “Not anyone that matters. In fact, you’ll be doing the world a favor.”

Simon nodded and stepped forward. We released Brandt and Chance as Simon scooped them both up into his grip. The men screamed loudly once again.

Before flying to the bottom of the falls, Simon chuckled. “These two should have never come to Havenwood Falls.”