Lead walked into the mansion, still unsure what to think about having a sleeping human woman in his arms.

She was soft. So soft, and she smelled amazing. He was trying not to notice her curves, her femininity that called to all of his protective instincts.

After all, she was meant for another type of dragon. She wasn’t his.

Of course he wanted her to be, with an urge so strong it would take everything in him to hide it. The other dragons followed him, equally intrigued, and he wondered if they had the same feelings inside. If they would feel this way about every human female they met.

He set her on a soft couch and went to call the oracle, trusting that the other dragons would give her space. The oracle didn’t answer, so he left a message, knowing she would probably send a projection in a moment.

He heard a gasp from the human’s direction and jogged to the couch, groaning when he saw the dragons all crowded around her in a terrifying circle. Didn’t they understand how that must feel, given how small she was?

He shouldered his way into the group and shoved the others back. “Give her room. Give her space. Just a second.”

She sat up on the couch, rubbing her eyes and looking around her. “Where am I?” She blinked wearily. “I had the weirdest dream. I was captured. Then I was saved… by…” She trailed off as she looked at the faces around her, eyes widening. “By dragons.” Her eyes moved to Lead, and for some reason, he seemed to calm her slightly.

She looked different than humans he’d seen on TV. He was relieved to see she looked healthy and soft, rounded and curvy and tempting to hold. Not gaunt, as so many humans seemed to idolize.

She was wearing a black shirt and pants that were probably given to her as a prisoner, as they didn’t look like regular human clothing. Her hair was tied back in a braid, so he couldn’t see much about it. He did see that there was a natural wave to it, and it was a color somewhere between blond and brown. Her eyes were blue, the color of the sky, gentle and bright.

She wasn’t eyeing him with fear, but something else entirely. Perhaps hope?

She looked around her and shuddered slightly, then looked up at him again, and he understood.

Was she asking him to protect her? She didn’t even need to ask. He knew the men around him were honorable, but if she wanted extra protection, he would be happy to provide.

Whatever made her feel safe after what she’d been through.

And what was her relationship with that wolf? Why had he been touching her? And why did it matter, so much so that it made Lead angry?

He ran a hand through his hair. “The oracle, our leader, wanted to speak with you, but I couldn’t get ahold of her. Would you like us to show you to bed?”

She bit her lip. “Where?”

“Your own room,” he said. “With a lock. Everything has been set up. You’ll be safe.”

“Who… who are you all?” she asked, pulling her knees up into her chest. “You expect me to just accept this and go to sleep here, in a house full of strange men? I don’t even know what’s going on. Right now, it just feels like I’ve been kidnapped for a second time.”

“We’re on the good side,” Cobalt said earnestly. “Like a SWAT team.”

She wrinkled her nose. “So you’re the police?”

“No,” Arsenic said. “More like special forces.”

“Military?” she asked.

Lead shook his head, looking over at Cadmium. This was only getting more confusing.

“No,” Cadmium said. “Shifters don’t really have police or a military. They have dragon enforcers, and they have leaders and an oracle. But we were sent to help you, to rescue you. And we’ll be protecting you from now on.”

She sat up a bit straighter, slight panic in her eyes. “Until when?”

Cadmium cocked his head. “Until you’re safe?”

“When will that be?”

“Who knows?” Arsenic said, blunt as usual. “We’re on the brink of war.” She curled back into the couch, and he sighed in frustration, impatient as ever. “You don’t have to look at us like that. We aren’t going to harm you.” He stood up and strode to the kitchen. “I’ll get you something to eat.”

Zinc looked up in alarm as Arsenic came back with a container. “Did you cook that?”

“Obviously,” Arsenic said. “She needs something nourishing. Look at her. She’s wasting away.”

She laughed at that. “Hardly.”

“Shaking, then,” Arsenic said. “I imagine you haven’t had a good meal in some time.”

“And she won’t if she eats that crap,” Cadmium said, standing up and grabbing the container out of Arsenic’s hands. The two men struggled for a moment, looking utterly stupid, and Lead rolled his eyes.

He turned to Chromium. “Would you go get that food you made the other night?”

Chromium nodded and left. He was a much better cook than Arsenic, and Lead liked how he was always low drama. He followed orders, he paid attention, and even though he didn’t talk much, he still communicated what he needed to say.

Arsenic got his container back, scowling, and strode back into the kitchen. “Fine. She can try it tomorrow.”

Cadmium looked at Brittany and shook his head urgently. “I beg you to not.”

Brittany laughed at that, a short, nervous sound. “Why?”

Cadmium’s look was dark. “Just trust me.”

“I guess you don’t seem like bad people,” she said, looking down at the container of food Chromium handed her once it was heated up.

She ate, flushing slightly, and Lead turned away and gestured for the others to do the same. They shouldn’t just be sitting there staring at her, no matter how much they wanted to.

When she was done, she set aside the container and cleared her throat. “So… I guess introductions are in order?”

“Right,” Lead said. “I’m Lead, as I said. Captain of the guard.”

“You all have weird names?”

“We’re named for the metal of our dragons. I am Arsenic,” he said.

“Isn’t that a metalloid?” she asked but then stopped as Cadmium sent her a warning look.

Arsenic was pretty sensitive about the whole metalloid thing.

“Um. Nice to meet you Arsenic.”

He answered with a haughty nod.

“I’m Cadmium,” Cadmium said, reaching out a hand. “I believe this is how humans greet one another.”

She gave him a questioning smile but shook his hand. Chromium immediately rushed to put his hand forward, obviously eager to touch a human.

She shook his hand and looked into his pale, jade-green eyes as he nodded.

“This is Chromium,” Cobalt said. “He doesn’t talk much.” When Chromium reluctantly released her hand, Cobalt extended his for a brief shake. “And I am Cobalt.”

“That makes sense,” she said. “With your eyes.”

Lead thought he saw Cobalt blush for a second, and he pushed aside a pang of jealousy.

These men were his friends. His comrades through countless battles and trials. He would not be jealous of them.

“And I’m Zinc,” Zinc said, extending a hand. When she put hers in his, he raised it to his lips and gently kissed it. Lead heard the other dragons’ sharp intake of breath and realized he’d done the same.

“Sorry,” Zinc said, releasing the blushing human and looking around at the other dragons. “It is customary in our royal court when greeting. If I made you uncomfortable, I apologize.”

Oh, Lead was so jealous. And he didn’t think that was going to change.

Control, Lead. Control.

She went back to eating her food as Lead’s phone dinged. He looked down.

“That would be her,” he said. “Let’s go into the office.”

“Her who?” Brittany asked.

“The oracle,” Lead said. “She’ll want to talk to you.”

They all headed into the office, Brittany herded along by six overprotective dragons, and they ushered her to a chair while they all stood in a semicircle behind her, just as the oracle’s projection appeared.

She was wearing what looked like a nightgown with a purple silk robe over the top. Her eyes were wearier than usual, though it didn’t appear she’d been sleeping. Still, the moment she saw Brittany, her gaze softened.

“How are you, dear?”

Brittany gaped at her. “Uh. Well.”

“I’m so sorry I can’t appear in person, but with everything going on, I sort of have to be three places at once at the moment, and alas, my body can only occupy one physical space at a time.”

“Errr…” Brittany looked even more confused.

“I am the oracle, watcher of this realm, protector of the humans and shifters within it. I’m sorry your introduction into our world had to be so rude, but as you now know there are some bad people around. But as you also probably know, now that you’ve been rescued by my dragons, there are some good ones.”

Brittany looked around her at the dragons, flushing slightly. “But why am I here?”

“You know about the shifter world, my dear.” The oracle’s eyes were shrewd. “You can’t just go back into the world. First, we have to protect you in case they make another attempt to kidnap you. Second, if you decide you really want to go back home, then we’ll need to erase your memories to send you back. We can’t have regular humans being aware of our existence.”

“But why would I stay here?”

The oracle looked around the room. “I can think of a few reasons.”

Lead felt a blush creep up his face, wondering if that could possibly be what the oracle meant. Surely not. To pursue a woman one was supposed to be protecting was the height of dishonorable.

“Why did they say they were using me as bait for dragons? What do the dragons want with me?” She looked around her. “And not to be rude, but if these are dragons, how do I know I’m safe with them?”

The oracle put a finger on her temple, rubbing slightly. “I’m not sure how to explain this, dear. But I can say this. These dragons are the most honorable I know. They are here to protect you, and they also need you to help them learn about the human world and human women. If you would do that, I would most appreciate it.”

“Uh, sure,” she said. “If that’s all I’m teaching them.”

Lead wondered what that meant, too.

“Make yourself at home,” the oracle said. “I’ve readied a lock on your door that is impenetrable. If you want to just be alone, you’ll be safe there. Even though I have no doubt about the honor of the Dragon Guard of Drakkaris, I understand that you don’t know them at all.”

Brittany nodded. “Wait, Drakkaris?”

“Oh, yes. Well, you already know there are shifters. You might as well know these are also aliens. From another planet.”

Brittany rubbed her hands over her face, and Lead felt an overwhelming urge to comfort her. To take her into his warrior arms and keep the whole world away, give her a safe place to process things.

But that wasn’t his place. He was captain of the dragon guard, not head comforter.

Maybe Cadmium would be more right for that job, but even the thought of it made scales begin to emerge from his forearms.

What was happening to him?

“I understand,” Brittany said. “I mean, as much as I can. I only really know the stuff about the shifter world that the wolves told me, which wasn’t much.”

“I know, and we’ll need to talk about that at some point. But I wanted to let you get settled in first, and we are still focused on tracking down the next woman who needs rescue.”

“And we’ll be ready to go when you do,” Arsenic said.

The oracle nodded. Then she looked at something to her right and frowned. “All right. I have to go now.” She looked at Brittany. “Good luck, my dear. I assure you you’ll be safe.”

Then she was gone, and the room felt empty and oddly stagnant.

Lead looked at Brittany and saw her glancing at him nervously. Of anyone, the human looked most inclined to look at him, and the thought made him oddly proud.

“So can you show me to my room, then?”

He nodded and walked behind her out of the room, only to find that all the other dragons were thundering along behind them. He whirled to send them a quick glare. “We don’t all need to go.”

Chromium folded his arms, looking stubborn, and Cobalt stepped forward, putting a hand on his cousin’s shoulder.

“Come on,” Cobalt said. “Let’s not overwhelm her.”

Lead could see hunger in Chromium’s eyes and wondered for the first time if they were going to have problems.

There had never really been much arguing in the dragon guard. They acted like one unit, for the most part, and always got along. They took each new challenge as a team. But if anything could tear them apart, it would probably be one little human female living alone with six mate-desperate dragons.

“I’m just walking her upstairs,” Lead said. “I’ll be back soon.”

Zinc nodded and put a hand out, keeping the others back. “Brittany, we hope you sleep well. Please don’t worry.”

Brittany looked down at them and gave a nod, then continued toward her room with Lead following. He noticed she relaxed slightly as they reached the door to her room, just the two of them.

Could it be this human already trusted him? He was somewhat touched that she could already sense his honor to such an extent.

He opened the door for her and followed her in, showing her around the bathroom and to the closet with clothing in all sizes, just in case.

“Is there anything else you might need?”

She shook her head, arms tightly folded around her. She paced in front of the bed and then sat on the edge of it, looking pensive.

“Is something wrong?”

She looked up at him almost as if she’d forgotten he was still there. “Oh, no. I just… It feels like a long time since I’ve been in a real bed. Or not in a cell. At the same time…” She trailed off, seeming hesitant to go on. Despite her curvy figure, she looked so small there on the edge of the bed. So vulnerable.

He didn’t like it. He wanted her to feel safe and strong.

“Yes?”

“I know I have no reason not to trust the dragon guard, but I also just… This whole world is still confusing, and different people have told me different things, and I just don’t know if I can sleep here knowing there are dragons everywhere outside. My brain should know I’m safe, but it’s like my fight-or-flight instincts are still nervous. Probably will be until I’m home.”

“So you think you’ll go back to your world?” he asked.

She nodded. “What else is there? Not that there’s much to go back to.” She smiled at the door. “And the men here are definitely better looking.” Then she wrinkled her nose, recalling something unpleasant. “Then again, even good-looking men can be very dangerous.”

“Were you hurt in captivity?” Lead asked, looking down at her, anger burning in him just at the thought of it.

“No,” she said. “But I had to put up with a lot of lewd behavior. Insults, that kind of thing. No one touched me.”

“No one but that wolf,” Lead said.

She raised an eyebrow as if surprised he remembered. Then she tucked a stray lock of blond-brown hair behind one ear. “I suppose. But he was never one of the lewd ones. In fact, his advice is what’s making me nervous.”

“What did he say?”

“He said find one of you I can trust to protect me from the rest.”

Lead snorted, trying not to be as flattered as he felt that she was telling him this. “I can assure you none of my team would do something dishonorable.”

“I know I should believe you. The oracle seems trustworthy as well. It’s just that’s what Fifi said, and he did save me, so—”

Jealousy shot up inside Lead. “I see.”

“Anyway, it’s fine if you don’t want to…”

“Don’t want to what?” Now Lead was confused.

“Protect me,” Brittany said, looking up at him.

“What? When did I say I didn’t want to?” Lead asked. “That’s my job. I just said that I didn’t think you would need it. My team is honorable.”

Her elfish, pointed little nose crinkled again, and he loved when she did that. “I know. I’m getting the idea. Still, I think I’d feel better if you… um… slept in here and kept watch.”

His brows shot up. “You would trust me to do that?”

She nodded slowly. “I think so.”

“Wouldn’t you prefer I sleep outside the door?”

Her hands wound into the covers on the edge of the bed, and she seemed suddenly tense. “I just don’t want to feel alone. And how would I know if you were out there? I know it sounds crazy, but I just…” Her eyes met his, clear and honest and blue. “I trust you.”

Lead gave a quick nod. “Fine then. I will stay here tonight. Let me get some of my things.”

Her eyes flashed. “Don’t leave me.”

She stood and gestured for him to take the chair. “I promise I won’t be this demanding in the future. Just this first night. By tomorrow, I’m sure I’ll know the others better and feel a little safer. But right now, I just feel like following Fifi’s instructions.”

Lead nodded, taking the chair, a sense of wonder at this woman taking root in his chest. “But why me?”

She gave him a thoughtful look. “Just a feeling.”

“Okay,” he said. “At least for tonight. Just until you’re more comfortable.” He couldn’t really make a habit of this, because as honorable as he was, he was still a male dragon, and it wasn’t right for him to be in her room like this.

But oh well, whatever made her safe. He settled into his chair and propped his feet on the edge of the wood frame of the bed, getting comfortable.

Hopefully, she would be in bed soon, and then he could fall asleep, and his dragon would stop thinking possessive thoughts about this sexy little human who definitely couldn’t be his.