He swore softly and thrust a hand through his hair. “Damn it, you had no right to do that.”
“I had every right to protect what is mine. That ring was left to me by Egan”—a lie, but he wasn’t to know that—“and I have no intention of giving it to anyone until I’m good and ready.”
He made a hissing sound and spun around, his hands on his hips and his head raised. As if he’d rather look at the brightening skies than me.
My gaze traveled down his leather-coated back. He had good shoulders, good shape, and a butt that filled jeans the way the Gods meant them to be filled. But from the back, he looked more like Egan than ever, and though sorrow stirred through me, it was mixed with guilt.
I owed his brother more than just half truths.
“How about we do a deal?”
He turned back around. The wild, dangerous remoteness had left his eyes, leaving them icy and yet human. If you could ever call a dragon “human,” that is.
“What sort of deal?”
“You help me get the security codes—”
“What security codes?” he asked, frowning.
“The codes are for the Loch Ness Research Foundation, where we were held captive for so long.”
His frown deepened. “Why would you want those?”
“Because my mom’s still there, as are the kids, and because I promised I’d go back and free them. And I intend to keep that promise, no matter what it takes.”
He considered me for a moment, then said, “That’s pretty brave.”
“Or pretty stupid,” I muttered, and knew which one would win my vote. “Once we get the codes, if you can then get me to Maine, enough time will have passed for me to be able to recall the ring and give it to you. That way, you can have the ring within days, and I get the protection and help Egan wanted me to have.”
“What’s in Maine that’s so important?”
“My dad. He’s dying.”
“Oh. Sorry.”
“So am I.” But I was also angry—at the scientists for keeping me away for so long, and at myself for so stupidly leaving him in the first place. “Do we have a deal?”
“I think I could live with a deal like that.” His gaze rested on mine and played havoc with my heart rate. And I wasn’t entirely sure if the cause was the heat that surged between us or the dragon spark that seemed to glow deep in his eyes. “But be warned—if you’re playing me for a fool, or if you betray me in any way, you will regret it.”
“I’ve got too many regrets in my life already, Trae. I don’t intend to add any more.”
“Good. Where do you want to go first, then?”
“Florence,” I said, and walked around to the passenger side of the car. The car beeped as I approached the door and lights flashed. I wondered where he’d gotten the keys from, decided I didn’t want to know, then opened the door and climbed in.
“So who are we going to steal the codes from?”
“From a Louise Marsten, mother of Doctor James Marsten, who is the founder of the Loch Ness Research Foundation and chief tormentor of all things dragon.”
He started the car and drove out of the turnaround, then asked, “How many of you were there in this place?”
“Three adults and six kids, the youngest of which is only seven.”
“Seven? Bastards. What the hell were they doing to you all?”
I snorted. “What do scientists the world over do with the new species of animals they’ve discovered?”
“We can hardly be classed as animals—”