Kai answered in the same language. “One of the newer Protectors-in-training has a nasty gash, but she’ll survive.”
Satisfied his clan members were alive, he barked, “Then tell me the rest.”
“We only managed to capture one, a mid-rank dragon hunter with a Carlisle branch tattoo. He’s not saying much, but what he’s said so far worries me.”
He didn’t like the sound of that. “Spit it out, Kai.”
“Well, he says he knows Evie Marshall.”
Chapter Three
When Stonefire’s leader started talking on his mobile phone in the dragon language, Evie took the opportunity to count to twenty and back down again. Trying to follow Melanie’s advice of being strong without letting her temper loose was harder than she’d imagined. She’d have to work on that, especially since Evie couldn’t be completely honest with the dragonman. At least, not yet.
His eyes on her body at the door had boosted her confidence. Despite their argument and her temper slipping l
oose, there might still be a chance.
Or, so she thought until the dragonman turned around with a fierceness in his eyes that made her heart skip a beat.
The dragons didn’t teach humans their language, so she had no idea what he was barking into the phone, but his tense body and the tone of his voice told her it wasn’t good.
When Bram shut off his phone, she steeled herself for what was to come. Most humans would cower under the dragonman’s current stare, but she’d worked with dragon-shifters for seven years now. She could take any dominance bullshit they threw her way.
Still, as the seconds ticked by in silence, she started to get a bad feeling in the pit of her stomach. Rather than wait for Bram to speak, she blurted out, “Why are you glaring at me like that? If it’s about my so-called prejudices, you never gave me a chance to respond. If you would just listen—”
“Enough.”
Despite her resolve, Evie fell silent at his tone.
He motioned for her to stand up and then crossed his arms over his chest. At first, she merely raised her chin in defiance. But as one minute ticked by, and then another, she finally gave in and stood up.
Bram moved closer, until he was less than a foot away from her. Ignoring the heat radiating off his body, she looked up into his eyes and raised an eyebrow. “Well? How long are we going to stand here in silence? I’m hungry.”
Searching her eyes, he moved a hand to grab her chin. The feel of his rough, warm skin against hers sent a rush of heat through her body, and it took every ounce of resolve she had not to draw in a breath. Yes, she needed to get him naked and over her, but not until she knew why he was staring at her with such contempt.
She tried to break free of his grip, but his fingers tightened as he said, “Tell me now, Evie Marshall, why are you here?”
Shit. She needed to be careful here. “I told you already. I’m here to check in with Melanie and investigate Caitriona’s death.”
“And what else?”
“What makes you think there is anything else?”
He leaned down until she could feel his hot breath against her cheek. “We both know there is something else. If you cooperate, it will make things a whole hell of a lot easier for you.”
Evie’s heart thumped inside her chest. Did Bram truly know her other motive for being here or was he merely bluffing?
She was starting to think her plan to seduce Bram Moore-Llewellyn was a bad idea.
Thankfully, due to her years of drama in school, she was able to not show any outward sign of her doubts as she said, “Innocent until proven guilty, Mr. Moore-Llewellyn. Tell me why you think I have an ulterior motive.”
“Three words: Carlisle dragon hunters.”
Evie’s stomach dropped. How the hell did he know about them?
Raising an eyebrow, Bram said, “I thought so. You’re pretty good at hiding your true thoughts, but right now, I can see the fear in your eyes. Tell me why.”
Out of nowhere, Melanie’s words from earlier sprung into her mind, “Be strong, be honest, and be open-minded. That’s what it takes to soften a dragonman’s heart.”