Jane put up a hand. “Wait, first tell us if Delia remembers everything.”
Delia opened her mouth, but Dr. Perry beat her to it. “For the most part. Her dragon is a bit groggy but responsive. We won’t be able to fully assess the damage until she shifts into a dragon.”
Rhydian grunted. “Yes, yes, now tell us what you know, Delia Owens. I’m done being patient.”
At the steel in his voice, Delia didn’t hesitate to answer. “Using my investigative skills, I located a splinter dragon hunter group on that farm. There’s no gang in this part of Wales, so they came from somewhere down south. However, that’s not the important bit.”
She paused and Lily spoke up. “Now is not the time for your dramatics, Delia. Just tell us everything, and quickly.”
Delia nodded. “Right, well, once I found the farm and poked around, I knew I wouldn’t be able to truly understand what was happening unless I got caught. So, I staged a dramatic scene, complete with screaming and acting scared.”
“Bloody fool,” Kai muttered under his breath.
Jane ignored him to focus on Delia’s story. The teenager continued, “It worked, brother. At any rate, they put me in a cage with all the other children. In addition to the farmers’ kids, there was the Irish boy.”
“Rian’s safe,” Rhydian stated.
Delia nodded. “As I suspected would be the case, the humans didn’t take care of what they said in front of me or the children. They talked about purchase orders streaming in for their silent dragon drug, as well as a successful test done in Ireland recently. They didn’t say who, but just that it was a male.”
Jane shared a glance with Kai. She had to be talking about Killian.
The young dragon-shifter continued, “Their plan was to test the same drug on me, the only one with an active dragon. I was an unplanned trial, I think. The children were the main focus and were to be long-term tests, to see if preventing their dragons from ever speaking to their human halves made their prisoners more malleable.”
Even Jane knew that inner dragons usually didn’t speak up until a child reached six or seven years old. After mating and living with Kai, she also knew how important an inner dragon was to their human half. To think the poor children might never know their constant inner companion and integral part of their personality caused Jane’s heart to drop.
Delia shuddered and Lily placed a hand on her daughter’s shoulder. The touch gave Delia the strength to carry on. “Watching them give the little ones shot after shot was hard to stand. I wanted to shift and free them, but the humans must’ve given me something to temporarily prevent me from shifting because I couldn’t do it. The restraints were also strong enough to keep me from kicking their arses.”
Kai and Lily both opened their mouths to most likely scold Delia, but Dr. Perry spoke first. “The children are all alive, Delia, and most likely thanks to you going after them. I think that’s all that matters.”
Lily muttered, “Don’t encourage her.”
Delia met the doctor’s eyes. “You have to say it’ll be okay since you’re my doctor. But the children might not have their dragons when they’re older. That’s an unfair punishment for any dragon-shifter, but more so for an innocent child.”
Kai growled. “We’ll stop these bastards, no matter what. Seizing their farm and their chemicals was a good first step, and all thanks to you. I still think you’re a fool for going on your own, but you helped the children we rescued, Delia. That kept them from a long-term imprisonment that would eventually lead to them being blood slaves. Remember that.”
Jane wanted to reassure the girl, but Rhydian grunted and placed his hand on Delia’s shoulder. “I concur about the stupidity of going out alone, but you did a good job, Delia. Next time, come to me first. Then we can try to rescue or help who needs it without giving your mother and father extra gray hairs from worry.”
Delia looked to her parents. Despite the girl’s actions, she was still just a teenager who wanted to hug her mum and dad.
Jane jumped in. “I think all of this is a bit overwhelming. Let’s give Lily and Gareth some time alone with their daughter.” She met Rhydian’s eyes and didn’t flinch at his stare. “She can give a more coherent report after some more rest, don’t you think?”
After holding Jane’s gaze another beat, Rhydian looked to Lily and Gareth. “Let me know when Delia’s rested enough to give her official report.” As soon as Lily bobbed her head, he moved his gaze to Kai and Jane. “You two and I need to talk. Let’s take Jane back to her room and do it there.”
She was tempted to argue, but while she was healing, Jane was still exhausted from her rec
ent ordeal and would love nothing more than to sit down again. “Then what are we waiting for?”
Kai glanced down at her. “That was easy.”
She gave an imperceptible shake of her head, signaling not now.
Kai must’ve caught her meaning because he leaned down to kiss his sister’s cheek. Once upright again, he said, “Let me know if you need anything, Mum.”
Lily made a shooing motion with her hands. “Yes, yes, now go before your mate falls over.”
Jane turned toward the door and Kai took the hint. As they exited the room and made their way down the hall again, Jane wondered what Rhydian wanted to discuss with them.
~~~