Chapter Nineteen
Aric
“Give her some space.”
Aric fumed at the other shifter. He’d made it a mission to get to know as many of them as possible when he arrived. Corde was one of the few that he didn’t know very well, having only run across him once. Another crimson dragon had come across a fuming Aric and asked him what was wrong.
The issue of his mate had come up, and he’d detailed how she’d just stormed away from him after he told her they had to stay in the US for longer than originally planned, giving him no reason for her sudden outburst.
“No,” he growled. “She is my mate, and I need to know what I did to bother her. Is there something awaiting us back in Europe that I’m unaware of? Something urgent? I could send her home I guess if it’s really that big of an issue. Yet she never mentioned anything like that. There was no rational comment from her at all. Just anger.”
Corde shrugged. “Women, especially human women, can be unpredictable at times. I thought my mate despised me when she first met me. Turns out she did, but she still came around because I gave her time and space.”
Aric gave him a dry look that said he didn’t believe a word of it.
“All I’m saying is don’t crowd her.”
“Thank you, but I’m not. I just need an answer so I can figure out how to fix everything. I wasn’t trying to piss her off. I don’t get it.”
Why was she so upset about spending more time here? Once the reinforcements arrived later that day, assuming they left shortly after getting his message, then they could even explore the nearby town. Barton City, he thought he remembered it was called. Then when the other dragons returned they could go sightseeing elsewhere.
She was his mate and he wanted to spoil her like that. But in order for that to happen, she needed to not be mad at him for some unknown reason.
He clapped Corde on the shoulder in thanks, and then stepped around him, intent on resuming his pursuit of Kaitlyn. He’d almost caught up to her outside the Steel Scales barracks, but she was just ahead of him. Then Corde had appeared and that had delayed him yet again.
Now he just needed to…Aric came to a halt. She was gone. His eyes darted left and right. Just a minute ago she’d been right there. His eyes drifted toward the spot, and suddenly he realized where she’d gone.
Down the tunnel.
How had they let her do that, he wondered. She didn’t know about dragons or Outsiders or any of the real reasons behind the base’s existence. If she made it to the bottom before someone stopped her, then he would be forced to reveal to her the truth of it all before she was ready.
Aric’s steps lengthened. He sniffed the air near the entrance, confirming his fears that she had entered the tunnel. Lilac and wild daisies combined with a hint of fruity fragrance was all the indicator he needed to know she was down there. The only question left was whether or not she had too big of a lead for him to stop her before she reached the bottom.
He didn’t sprint, not wishing to cause alarm, but instead jogged at a quick pace, using gravity to help propel him down the slope faster than normal.
Why couldn’t she have just told him what was bothering her? No more secrets—just lay it on the line. Then he wouldn’t have to deal with explaining to her the realities of dragons and alien creatures and more.
Aric was well aware of the irony of his statement about no secrets, while still concealing the fact he could shapeshift into a sixty-foot-long dragon that could fly and breathe lightning. It was a completely different situation in his eyes however, and one that he wanted to rectify sooner rather than later.
He still hadn’t caught up to her by the time the slope began to level out. His fears were confirmed when he spied a diminutive form sandwiched between two tall men in military garb. They weren’t touching her, but it was obvious from the stance of all parties involved that she was being detained.
“What is going on here?” he asked, stepping closer.
Kaitlyn spun at hearing his voice. “Aric!” She sounded impatient, but her eyes, normally vibrant and active, were subdued.
She was scared.
The one soldier recognized Aric and let down his guard as the dragon shifter approached. “This woman has falsified her security clearance.”
Aric frowned. “What are you talking about? She has D1 clearance just like me.”
The soldier shook his head. “That’s impossible, sir.”
“Aric, what is that?” Kaitlyn interrupted, lifting a finger toward the portal.
“I’ll explain later,” he said.
“You will do no such thing,” the soldier said, reverting to a neutral stance toward him. “This woman could be a spy. Anyone with D1 clearance would not have reacted like she did upon arrival in the cavern area,” the guard stated. “Someone is lying here.”
He spoke into a communicator pinned to his shoulder that Aric hadn’t noticed at first. “Until that can be resolved I’m going to have to ask both of you two accompany me.” He gave Aric a knowing look. “I would appreciate it if you would do so without violence, but if you don’t…”
The threat was fulfilled as four battlesuits detached themselves from posts inside the cavern and marched over toward the little group, ready to back up the guard’s orders with force if necessary.
“You don’t need to do this,” he insisted, eyeing the mountains of metal, recalling his initial introduction to them. With his dragon under control it would be a different fight entirely, but these soldiers trained against dragons. They were ready for them, he knew that, with the suits constructed in a way that made them just as much a threat when he was in human form. “I can handle it from here. You have my word.”
“Aric, what the hell is going on here?” Kaitlyn asked, interrupting everything. “What are Outsiders? And what is that thing over there?”
He frowned. She must have overheard someone in the cavern talking. That was the only way he could imagine she’d heard the term Outsiders.
“Let her go at least, will you?” he asked, gesturing to where the unarmored guards were holding on to Kaitlyn’s upper arm, preventing her from running.
After a moment of thought the lead guard seemed to agree that wouldn’t be a problem. They let go. Kaitlyn wrenched herself away from them at the same time, rubbing her arms lightly while glaring at the guards.
“Now—” he said, attempting to get them away from the guards.
Kaitlyn interrupted him, however, leveling an accusatory finger in his direction and speaking without hesitation.
“Are there such things as dragons?”