Two men wore matching smug expressions as Conrad came closer, his animal’s rage gathering momentum. The gun they’d used on Kylo sat in the hands of a larger man with a barrel chest. The smugness disappeared once Conrad opened his mouth, and fire consumed the guy.
His screams filled the air as he dropped the melting gun, his arms alight as he plunged to the ground, rolling as if to put the fire out. That was not happening.
More fire rained down on him until the dragon was finally satisfied. Only then did the powerful creature recede, letting Conrad shift into his human form. However the dragon was just first in a long line of animals looking for revenge. Conrad was barely firm on two feet again before he let his python take control of his arm, and it snaked around the other man. The idiot hadn’t had the wherewithal to run as he’d watched his friend burn with wide-eyed horror.
Conrad squeezed his snake around the guy’s upper torso, trapping his arms to his chest, holding him hostage easily and ignoring the man whose screams were becoming less as the fire consumed him, on the ground.
Naked and angrier than he could ever recall being, Conrad checked where he’d left Kylo. Seeing the large cat still with eyes shut, Conrad returned his attention to the red-faced guy he was squeezing. “So, how are we doing this? Hard?” Conrad gave a squeeze that crushed a couple of ribs. “Or easy?” He eased off, giving the guy some breathing room, not that it helped the man much—the whole crushing aspect. That couldn’t be helped.
“Fuck you,” the guy gasped. Only he failed to deliver quite the right level of disregard as his eyes wheeled and repeatedly went to the house behind them.
“Is that the best you got?” Conrad’s free arm came up, and he considered which animal would like to come and play. “Did you know that a brown recluse spider can cause skin necrosis, a fever that makes you feel like you’re burning alive?” Conrad nodded to the now pile of blackened bones and ash. “Like your friend over there. Oh, yes, and let’s not forget kidney failure. I’m told none of those sensations feel good.”
Eyes the size of plates moved from the ashes to Conrad, then to the house behind them.
Conrad moved to bring the dude with him as he faced the house. “What is it that has you so interested in the house?” Conrad took a stab in the dark. “Are you expecting whoever is inside hiding behind magic to come and save you?” His chuckle was full of malice. “They can’t, unfortunately. Though I’ll do a deal with you, if you spill your guts, I’ll consider letting you go in one piece.”
Conrad was a man of his word. That didn’t mean he wouldn’t make the fucker suffer first, so the guy didn’t consider coming after them again.
“You don’t know who you are dealing with.” The voice that came out of the guy’s mouth was female and, for a second, threw Conrad, while it also confirmed his suspicions about who was hiding inside the house.
“I know I’m dealing with a crazy bitch who has daddy issues. Didn’t he want you?” His mind working through all the information he had, Conrad went with his gut. “You poor baby. Were you left alone because you were mute and a girl instead of a boy? Did daddy ignore you ‘cause you didn’t have a dick?”
The scream was unholy before the guy wrapped in his snake burst like a balloon, popping with such force, that blood, body parts, and guts rained all over Conrad’s naked body. “Gross,” he muttered, swiping at his face after shifting his arm back and shaking off the remnants still clinging to his skin.
“You will pay,” the same female voice said inside his mind with an insane wickedness that caused all the hairs on Conrad’s body to lift.
He spun around, searching for Kylo, for any threat to his healing mate. The sun low in the sky cast shadows over where Kylo lay in the tree line where he’d left him. Conrad breathed a little easier, but his dragon did not. The shift was fast and a moment later, knocking two trees down to get to Kylo, they were in the air, soaring over the house and towards the direction of Kylo’s home.
Folks will see us!Conrad complained, though it was all for show. He wanted away from that house, away from the madness, he felt coming from Selina, at least until Kylo had healed fully and they could decide what to do next.
Claim him.
That all the voices said it together made Conrad chuff, smoke puffing out his snout.You guys do not get to decide. Remember, I’m in charge.
Their laughter made him roll his eyes. It was always the same.I’m the boss of you guys, not the other way around. So behave!
Would they listen?
A guy could always hope, right?
Chapter Eight
Kylo
Kylo came to with an ache in his chest, the smell of smoke in his nostrils, and… he was naked. Memories hit him like a bomb—sitting with Conrad, the shot, and the pain.I must’ve shifted to heal.It wasn’t easy to see, but he got the impression of his brothers, and realized Conrad must’ve taken him back to the house. What was more annoying than his eyes was Felix, who was yelling something about a damn dragon.
“Hush, damn it. A man can’t hear themselves think.” Kylo waved his hand in what he hoped was his brother’s direction. His eyesight was still blurry.
“You’d be yelling too if I was the one who turned up in the arms of a huge assed dragon, naked, and smelling of blood,” Felix yelled.
There’s an actual dragon?Tilting his head carefully to one side, Kylo could see the arch of a long, thick neck and scales. Now he was more aware, he realized he was being held in a powerful arm that wasn’t human, his feet dangling clear of the ground. Definitely scales involved. “Hmm. Nice form.” He patted Conrad’s neck. “Very sturdy. Is there a reason you haven’t shifted back? Only, you know, they might be loud, fortunately I’m related to these guys. You’re safe here.”
“They have weapons trained on us.” The voice was deeper than Conrad’s, a lot deeper, and it sounded raspy, as if barely used. “Eight guns between four men. Twelve knives in various pockets of three of the men who believe they are being clever in keeping them hidden. One of them has shooting stars in his cargo pants pocket, while the silent one has a machete strapped to his back.”
You’re protecting me.The idea awed Kylo. Admittedly, Conrad shouldn’t feel the need to protect him from his own brothers, yet there was a secret part of Kylo who was thrilled.
“There’s been a misunderstanding,” he said, making sure his brothers could hear him, too. “You should shift. We need to find clothes. What happened to the people who shot at us…? How the hell did I heal so quickly?” he added, touching his chest. It was grubby, with streaks of drying blood trailing over his torso, thankfully there was no sign of any wound or scar. “Did the bullet go right through? I only felt it on my back.”
