Page 65 of Dark Dragon’s Mate

“Your highness, do you really think—”

“Do it.”

Trish stayed with Emon as the search team went through the castle. He had a screen in his office that collected the feeds from all the searchers’ recording devices—sort of a magical security system.

They were only an hour into the search when Grange unearthed a golden box hidden in a supply crate in one of the researchers’ rooms. It was a spell cage—specially created to mask and contain the magic of anything placed inside.

It held half a dozen atherias spell artifacts from Emon’s hoard, as well as research notes from Ragnor’s study. And a silicone finger with a replica of Emon’s fingerprint, along with a vial of his blood—one that he’d trusted Trish to collect from him.

The man had used the fingerprint and blood to mimic Emon’s DNA signature and open the vault.

The researcher was marched down to the portal immediately and sent back to Earth in the custody of one of Noah’s security guards, protesting his innocence the whole way. Emon insisted that the rest of the research team also be sent back.

“At least let them pack,” Mina said.

“No.” Emon was adamant. “Their things can be sent back later, after they’ve been thoroughly searched. But I want them gone. For all you know, they’re all working for Gen-X.”

He looked around the room. Brock was sitting huddled up on one sofa, his knees to his chest, and Mina had her arm around him. Mayah was sitting on another sofa, and Tristan and Noah were pacing. Emon said, “Hell, for all I know, you all are working for them.”

“Now just a damn fucking minute,” Noah said, getting up in Emon’s face.

Bad idea; Emon’s eyes went dragony and he hissed.

Trish put a hand on Emon’s arm, trying to calm him. He was so tense it was like touching a steel bar.

Noah ignored the hiss and the dragon eyes. “Listen to me, you motherfucker. Two years ago, Gen-X almost wiped out the Bad Blood Crew, trying to capture Brock and Tristan and Terin. They nearly killed Mina—I had to Turn her to save her life. If you think for one fucking nanosecond that any of us would collude with them—for any reason—then you’re a bigger idiot than I already thought you were.”

Emon growled, and smoke began to come out of his nostrils.

Oh, shit.

“He’s right, Emon,” Mayah said softly. “I’m not saying that a traitor—or more than one—couldn’t have been inserted into the research team, no matter how carefully they were vetted. Obviously one was. But no one in this room had anything to do with it. I think we should let them stay. I want them to keep treating me.”

“Fine.” Emon spat out the words. “But everyone else goes. I should have known better than to let strangers into our domain. They always betray us.” And he stomped out of the room.

Chapter 32

Two nights later, Grange slipped down the stairs to the lowest dungeon. He used his magical cloaking device so no one would see him, as he’d been doing for all these months as he searched the castle, watching its inhabitants.

Learning the things he needed to fulfill his mission.

The only one who could possibly see through the spell was the Darkwing Draken, and there was no worry about running into him. He was out flying in the darkness, brooding over his betrayals and misfortunes. And if he came back, he’d head for Trish’s bed.

The one who was so into those gothic romance stories.

Too bad it had to be her the dragon had chosen. Grange had kind of liked her. But no one could be allowed to stand in the way of him bringing down the last of the House of Al-Maddeiri—and making sure Ragnor’s research was safe from them.

In his hand he clutched the King’s Key—a flat round disk of atherias, infused with the blood of Al-Maddeiri. Among other things, it gave the user the ability to open or close any portal within the bounds of the domain.

He’d been hunting for it for so long, and had finally managed to locate it in the seldom-used safe in the prince’s rooms. Stealing the atherias pieces as well had been an inspired move—the prince’s dragon had been so obsessed with his hoard, he hadn’t even thought to check the safe.

And now Grange could finally finish his mission. He’d planned, and schemed, drugging the princess to make her crazy—crazier—and carefully nudging the prince until he’d not only invited Tristan Barnes and Brock Reilly here, within Grange’s reach, but also unlocked Ragnor’s research for them.

And then Grange had managed to get the research team out of the way, planting the atherias artifacts, the blood and the fake fingerprint he’d used to get into the safe and the hoard room on one of them.

He hadn’t even had to convince Emon to allow the Reillys and Tristan Barnes to stay, though. Mayah had done that for him.

Now all he had to do was get rid of Trish, and Noah Reilly. But first he had to get the Darkwing Draken out of the way for a day or two.