Drake gets an arm under his shoulder. “On three. One, two—”
The sound of engines makes us all freeze. It sounds like there are multiple vehicles incoming.
Drake’s head snaps up, his eyes going wide. “No. No, that’s not possible.”
At least a dozen vehicles surround our position; tires screech and dust blows up as they halt.
“How did they find us?” I ask.
“I don’t know.” Drake’s face has gone pale. “I wasn’t followed. I swear to you, I made sure. I don’t understand.”
Doors open, and armed Security Force operatives pour out, their weapons already raised.
We’re surrounded, and Grim can barely stand.
Grim
My blood runs cold as I stare at the armed men pouring out of those vehicles. My dragon tries to wake. He tries hard but fails. I’m too weak, too injured. He goes back to sleeping, deep inside me, unavailable for the time being. It might be a day before I can shift again.
Which means I can’t protect Wren. He stirs again as I think her name, but that’s all I get.
I force myself to stand anyway, gritting my teeth against the pain that screams through my body. Every muscle protests. The burns on my back and shoulder feel like they’re being pulled apart. My thigh throbs where the bullet tore through.
But I don’t give a fuck about any of that.
I plant myself in front of Wren, putting my body between her and the weapons pointing in our direction. The guns that are about to go off.
Drake stands too, positioning himself in front of both of us. His jaw is set, his shoulders squared. He looks ready to take on the entire Security Force single-handed.
The idiot doesn’t seem to realize they’ll gun him down, too. That they’ll paint him as just another corrupt Council member. Another conspirator in whatever bullshit narrative they’ve concocted about me.
They’ll destroy him and his reputation. He’ll be dead like us. Another statistic.
I don’t say anything because it doesn’t matter.
The security operatives advance, dressed in full combat gear and armed with automatic weapons. Their faces are hidden behind helmets and visors. Anonymous. Just following orders.
My mind races, trying to find a way out of this. But there isn’t one. Not that I can think of anyway.
A screech splits the air from above.
No. No. No!
My heart sinks. More dragons with riders. They’re making sure we can’t escape by air. Making absolutely certain we’re caught.
There was a part of me that was hoping Drake would shift and get himself to safety, but that isn’t going to happen now.
Then again, Drake is a stickler for rules. He won’t shift without his rider.
Several Security Force males break formation and advance toward us, weapons raised. Their fingers are on the triggers.
They’re going to kill us. Right here and right now.
Bastards.
“We’re unarmed,” Drake says. “Grim and Wren surrender.”
Wren clutches my arm, her fingers digging into my bicep.
