Page 60 of Red Dragon’s Heart

It also reminded her that they weren’t on earth, and in this place his word was law. He could do anything he wanted to her, and no one would even know what had happened.

And unlike Eric’s lab, even if she blew something up, there was no way to escape. If it weren’t for Zak’s comforting bulk next to her, she would have been totally freaking out.

After he’d wrung every last bit of information out of them both, Emon confiscated her box of files and samples, although she made him promise to store the tissue, blood, and serum samples properly. “I hope you have refrigeration facilities here,” she said. The lights were some kind of glowing orbs attached to the walls, but they must have electricity because there were computers on the desks.

Looking amused, Emon assured her they had plenty of properly regulated refrigerator space. He also informed her that he would need her passwords because his security staff would be going through all her computer files.

Finally he said, “I’ll let you know when I’m going to present your case to the Shifter Council. In the meantime, you’ll stay here.”

“But—”

He didn’t even let her get a sentence out. “The Council has jurisdiction on earth. Nobody but me has jurisdiction here, so the council can’t touch you, and Chisholm can’t get to you. You stay until I decide what to do with you.”

She couldn’t stay here indefinitely. Not so far from Troy. Even though she hadn’t been able to be in contact with him the last few months, at least she was close by in case something happened.

Maddie knew the dragons wouldn’t bring him here, even if it were possible—and it wasn’t. Shifters didn’t get kidney disease, so they wouldn’t have the means to treat it. He had to stay near a hospital.

Grayson mewed at her, from the floor where she’d put his carrier box. Poor little brother kitty, he was scared. Maddie picked him up and began stroking him, looking at Zak. “I can’t stay here,” she said.

Emon sighed, running a hand through his hair. “Does she want to go to prison?” he asked Zak. “Or get killed?”

At that moment the door burst open, and a very large, super-hot dark-haired man bounded in.

“Zak!” He threw himself at Zak and smothered him in a bear hug.

“Caz!” Zak pounded the guy’s back, and Maddie realized it was one of his two best friends, who he called his brothers. She thought the other one, Mikah, had been on the stairs, but she wasn’t sure. There had been so many people.

Cazbek stood back. “You bastard. I can’t believe you were in Seattle all this time.” He turned to the bronze-haired woman who had followed him in, who must be his mate, Lucinda. “Right in our backyard, and he doesn’t call, he doesn’t write…”

Lucinda pushed past Cazbek and hugged Zak too.

Emon gave a martyred sigh. “Don’t mind me. People should just burst into my office whenever they feel like it. It’s not like I’m important or anything.”

Cazbek looked at Lucinda. “He wants us to hug him, too.”

Emon said, “I definitely do not.”

Lucinda said, “Sorry, were you in the middle of something?”

“Yes,” Zak said, at the same time Emon said, “We’re done.”

“No, we’re not,” Zak said. “Lucinda, would you show Maddie to my room?”

She opened her mouth to protest, and he gave her a small shake of his head. He added, “I need to talk to Emon.”

Lucinda looked from him to Emon to Cazbek, and then said, “Sure. No problem. Come on, Maddie. This place is a maze until you get used to it.”

Cazbek said to Maddie, “Don’t worry, Lucinda’s human too. She’ll be nice to you.”

Meaning the others wouldn’t? Great.

Lucinda rolled her eyes and stood on tiptoe to kiss Caz. Then, with a wicked smile, she went over and hugged Emon. “So you won’t feel left out.”

Emon just shook his head and muttered.

Maddie picked up Grayson’s box and put him in it. Diana, still on Zak’s shoulder, let out a plaintive mew.

Zak put her in the box too. “Go with Grayson then, if you want.” She immediately pounced on Grayson and started washing him.