“So how do we handle them? Why didn’t you bring more guards?”
Dirk glanced at Caz, who sighed. “Because this has to be done stealthily, Anna. Yarl can’t know it was us.”
“Why not?”
“Because it would draw too much attention. If I walked up to the front door and demanded Ella be handed over to me, questions would be asked. Lots of questions, behind my back. People would begin to wonder just who Ella is. And they would dig. I can’t risk them doing that. They might figure out we’re after Milly as well. Or they might deduce who you are. I won’t put you or your friends in more danger.”
I frowned. That seemed to make sense, but … “There’s something you aren’t telling me about this. Isn’t there? What is it?”
Caz grimaced, the look twisting his normally pleasant face into something discomforting.
“This is as far as you go, Anna,” he said.
To his credit, he looked me right in the eye as he said it and didn’t flinch away, despite knowing I was going to bepissed. Not to mention that I wasn’t going to be left behind like that. Not when it wasmyfriend.
I inhaled, those arguments and more on my tongue.
“No.”
There was a harsh finality to his tone. Spoken with the command force of someone used to being obeyed. He could simply have infused it with alpha command as well to get his point across, but he didn’t.
And maybe that’s a point he’s making as well. Though it wouldn’t work on me, but the message would be the same
I frowned, glancing between him and the cluster of buildings in the distance. But I didn’t push. Yet.
Caz let out a sigh of relief.
“Yarl is a powerful elite, not to mention an influential one,” he explained quietly. “His word holds sway with many of the other elites. All of whom, at best, dislike me being the ice tyrant. If things go badly down there, I do not want them to have even the slightest clue who you are, or that you were there. Not to mention, if things get violent, it’ll be all we can do to protect Ella, let alone you.”
He paused expectantly, waiting for me to try to force my way in once more.
“Okay,” I said.
His face opened in surprise.
“What?” I stuck my tongue out at him. “You made strong, logical arguments. I already forced my way into coming this far. I don’t like it, but I’ll wait here for you to come back. I know my … limitations would make things more difficult for you. By staying here, I give you a better chance of returning with Ella. I’d be a bad friend if I worsened those odds.”
Caz grinned.
“What now?” I asked.
“I love your brain,” he growled, moving to me. “You think fast and smart. It’s appealing. Intoxicating almost. Combined with the rest of you, it’s …”
I shoved a finger against his lips, stopping him dead in his tracks. “Focus. Mission. I’ll be here when you get back.”
“Of course.” He pulled me into his arms, and I melted against him, trying not to let my body respond any further to his unspoken desires.
“Go get my friend,” I whispered into his chest.
Caz’s dragon growled possessively in answer.
Fingers clutched at my jaw, tilting my head back. I arched up into him, feeling the heat of his kiss in every corner of my body as he smothered my mouth with his, taking what he wanted from me with ease.
“I will always come back to what’s mine,” he said in a soft but fierce snarl as we parted, an oath between us.
“Go,” I whispered once more.
“I’ll be back with her,” he growled and then was gone, disappearing over the edge and descending into the valley beyond.
