Page 12 of Consumed By Fire

I need to get out of here, and as soon as I can.

6

Octane

There is a brisk knock at the door. I check my watch, but it isn’t dinner time yet.

“What?” I growl, switching off the television. I wasn’t really watching, just passing the time. I glance over at Trinity, who doesn’t look up from the book she is reading. She’s curled up on the wingback chair in the corner, as far away from me as she can get.

Devil puts his head around the jamb. “Sorry to intrude, but Shadow wants to speak to you; she says it can’t wait.”

What now?

If my leader thinks she’s going to dissuade me from my plan, she’s mistaken.

I nod once, put the remote control on the table, and stand.

“I’ll be back in a few minutes,” I tell Trinity, who locks eyes with me for a moment before looking back down at her book. She’s gone back to giving me the silent treatment.

“Don’t tr—” I start to say to her.

“Yeah, yeah, you can save it. I know the drill. Don’t try anything stupid. There are guards posted not only outside the bungalow but all around the camp. I get it.” She sounds bored, which is great. I’m hoping she’ll talk sooner if she can’t shift, or go outside, or any of that stuff. I’ll keep her holed up until she spills the beans. It’s a day I can’t wait for because at least she’ll be out of my hair.

“We’re on the same page, then.” I leave the bungalow, not even giving it a backward glance.

Goliath nods as I pass him.

“Keep a close eye on her,” I tell him.

“No problemo!” he says, continuing his patrol.

“And?” Devil asks, falling into step with me. “What is she like?” He grins at me.

“What do you mean?” I frown.

“Is she much different from our females? Has she talked yet?” He seems excited, and I’m not sure why.

“Just because she’s a Red doesn’t mean that she’s different. She’s a pregnant female.” I shrug. “And no, she’s still refusing to talk, but it’s still early days.”

“I have to say that she’s very pretty,” Devil says. “Does she have a mate?”

I stop walking and level him with a cold, hard stare. “Come again?”

“Just an observation.” He holds his hands up. “I noted that she was quite beautiful, and I was wondering if she was mated. Do you know?”

I narrow my eyes. “Of course she’s mated. She’s with child.”

“Just because she is with child does not mean that she is mated. My mother had me before she and my father mated. I know it’s unusual for shifters, but it can happen.”

“I never knew that about you.”

“Yep.” He shrugs. “It isn’t a big deal. They did end up mating in the end. I was just wondering… She’s just so darned pretty. You must have noticed that about her.”

“She’s also very much the enemy.”

“You were the one who pointed out that she isn’t all that much different from our own females. We are all dragon shifters, after all. We all lived in harmony once. Once upon a time, there was no divide among our kind.”

“Those days are far behind us, Devil. You would do well to remember that. Trinity is very much mated. You can stop checking her out already.”