I really hate this, but I don’t have a choice. I take a deep breath and reluctantly hand two to Jet—who immediately rushes out—and turn to my brother. ‘Are you still mad at me?’
He takes two paces forward and grips me in a crushing hug before letting go just as fast. ‘Maybe a little, but mostly I’m just really fucking glad you’re okay. Now, hand those over before we’re out of time.’
I pass two basses to him and take the last two myself before we hurry back down, leap over the flames at the base of the staircase, and run outside just as it starts raining. We’re covered head to toe in ash and soot and the car park is in chaos, but we bypass the firefighters scrambling to get their hoses out, the rescued shifters where Harley and Kit are looking after them inside Ayo’s dome ward, and the group of unconscious, handcuffed fae—and Nyoka—now being guarded by Skye and Cal. Ethan is talking to one of the firefighters and I smell a human amongst them, but they must be in the know because Ayo has restarted his water jet spell and none of the firefighters bat an eye at him or at the winged fae on the ground.
Between the four of us we get every bass carefully loaded into the boot of one of the Soldati Security SUVs. It’s less than ideal, especially with no cases to protect them, but it’s the safest place for them right now. Jet heads over to join Kit and Harley with helping the rescued shifters, and Milo shifts back to his winged form before joining Zara and Ayo in battling the fire.
I expect Raj to rush off again—there’s certainlymore than enough for us both to do—but instead he ignores everyone and everything as he unclips his helmet and drops it to the ground. Then he grips my hip with one hand and scents my neck with the other, touching his forehead to mine. It’s only a brief respite before we get back to dealing with the chaos around us, but it’s a welcome moment of stillness to reassure both of us that I’m still in one piece.
‘How badly are you injured?’ he signs when he pulls away, his gaze tracking each visible wound on my arms, chest, and stomach. ‘Doc P is on his way.’
‘I’m fine,’ I sign gently. ‘Other people need medical attention far more than me.’
My dragon and I finally understand that Raj trying to look after us isn’t because he thinks we’re incapable in any way. It’s because our treasure loves us.
My dragon preens at that.
‘What did they do to you?’ he asks, obvious worry in his brown eyes. ‘That room looked like some sort of lab, based on what was left of it.’
‘They’ve been developing a weaponised version of the ward that blocks a supernatural’s abilities, but they’ve been trying to make the effects permanent by ripping a shifter’s animal side from them. Obviously I broke free before they could take my dragon.’
His eyes widen and his mouth falls open. ‘What? That’s…Fuck.’
He launches himself at me, gripping me as a tremor runs through him. I hold him just as tightly with one hand and cup the back of his head with the other, lightly petting his damp, bristly hair and inhaling his familiar scent now mixed with ash. I really am fine, but now that it’s over the reality of what could have happened is starting to sink in, and he’s not the only one who’s shaking slightly.
By the time he pulls away his expression is composed again, his professionalism shining through, although his handmovements are unsteady. ‘This could have gone so much worse. If they’d succeeded in tearing your dragon from you…’
‘But they didn’t. They don’t seem to have succeeded on the shifters they captured either; Jay said they repeated the experiments day after day. They had me hooked up for long enough that I’m healing slower and feeling drained, but I’ll be fine, I promise.’
He tugs me in for a kiss, one with a desperate edge, before releasing me. ‘You’d better be. In fact, here, put this on.’ He unclasps his shield charm and reaches for me.
I want to point out that it’s not really necessary; that the bad guys are all knocked out, Ayo took down the basement ward, and I’m impervious to fire. But there’s real fear in his eyes and I don’t have the heart to refuse. Woe betide anyone who tries to hurt him while he’s not wearing this, though.
Once he’s done, I try to ignore the shimmering shield covering me. ‘There’s something else you should know. Lance said I was the final phase, and that this wouldn’t stop with his arrest.’
Raj swears rather creatively. ‘We’ll make sure everything that doesn’t get destroyed in the fire is secured, and we’ll contact the Counter-Terrorism Unit who’ll likely take over from us. They have access to a wider network of information than we do. I promise you this investigation won’t end here.’
‘That’s good enough for me.’ I’m ready to be done with Lance and his cronies, and I’m beyond ready to see the back of this warehouse as well.
‘Between us and the CTU we’ll make sure everyone involved receives a proper trial. None of this buying off the jury bollocks that happened last time,’ he signs, scowling.
I snort, a puff of smoke escaping my nostrils. ‘I doubt even Lance could find a legal way out of this mess.’
‘Let’s hope you’re right.’ His attention drifts to the rescued shifters. ‘We’re going to have to find those people some sort of ongoing support. I know Doc P will help them heal physically,but does Birchester even have a supernatural therapist? I can’t believe they were down there the whole time. Shit, that could have been you.’
I grip his hands before he can spiral, pulling him into me and kissing him softly until some of the tension finally bleeds from his frame. I eventually release him just far enough to sign. ‘I knew you’d find us, and I have no doubt their loved ones and your pack will find ways to help them heal.’
He glances past me again before giving me a decisive nod. ‘You’re right. We will. Make sure Doc P checks you over at some point, okay? We need to know if there are likely to be any lasting effects.’
‘I will.’
My dragon and I are convinced we’re fine though, and a few measly wounds feel like a small inconvenience considering what could have happened. I’m honestly more concerned about the fact that I could have died today without ever getting the chance to tell my tiger how I feel about him, and although I’m fairly sure he already knows, it feels vital to sign the words.
‘I love you, treasure.’
A stunning smile lights up his face, and he takes hold of my hips and kisses me. This time it’s tender, full of love and promise. His signs when he pulls back are small and intimate. ‘Will you bond with me? I don’t want to wait any longer.’
Everything inside me—my dragon, my heart, my soul—lights up. There’s nothing I want more than a permanent mate bond with my treasure, and if I’m honest with myself, the fact that he’s choosing me after so many people from my life before prison have rejected me means more than knowing for certain if we’re fated mates or not.
