Still, her curiosity about Aaron would have to wait. Jane spoke up. “How much longer are we going to watch Kai?”
Sid answered, “I need to test his stamina. So probably another twenty minutes.”
Jane resisted a sigh. She had a million things to do for both her and Kai’s plan for the Dragon Knights as well as for her podcast pitch scheduled next week with Bram, Evie, and Melanie.
Yet as she watched Kai’s golden dragon move through the sky, she knew her place was here, supporting him. Her tasks could wait twenty minutes. She would never be able to concentrate if she walked away anyway.
She was about to ask another question when Nikki jogged up to where they were standing. The dragonwoman wasn’t even breathing hard as she said, “Sorry I’m late. The human male was being a pain in my arse again.”
Bram glanced to Nikki. “Regardless of his arsehole status, how is Rafe’s monitoring going?”
Nikki shrugged. “Same as before. The former Carlisle-based hunters have settled near Birmingham. Rafe still thinks it’s partly so the hunters can focus on both our clan and Skyhunter’s without stretching their resources too thin.”
Bram shook his head. “I would try to warn the southern clan, but Skyhunter is unstable right now. Until there’s a new clan leader, I don’t think they’ll listen to anything I have to say, let alone work with us against a common enemy.”
Nikki nodded. “I know. But at least we’re aware of their general location. Rafe’s working on a more precise set of coordinates. His gut says they’ve split into two or three camps.”
Kai dove down toward them and only pulled up when he was fifteen feet from the ground. The whoosh of the wind sent Jane’s hair every which way. Once Kai was back in the air, Bram stated, “We still have time to find out more information. Rafe, Finn, and I have expanded our reach via our contacts. If there is even a whisper of trouble, I’ll know about it.”
Aaron answered, “Add in the extra security—both in terms of dragonman- and woman-power and security alarms and cameras—and it’s going to be bloody difficult for anyone to slip through like when they took Evie and little Murray.”
Bram met Aaron’s gaze. “Let’s hope so. I’m not about to be too cocky. There’s always someone worming their way into one clan or another. Lochguard has the additional threat of clan deserters. If Finn needs our help, he has it.”
Aaron grunted. “I still need to meet the Scottish bastard.”
“He has a pregnant mate and is trying to heal the divide in his clan. He has better things to do than challenge you to who can out-alpha and out-charm each other.” Bram looked up to Kai in the air. “For now, I want to take care of the easier threat—the Dragon Knights.”
Sid spoke up. “I’m not going to rush this, Bram. I need to test Kai’s limits or it could cost Kai his life.”
“No one’s rushing you, Sid. I just hope he’s ready,” Bram murmured.
Every one fell silent as they watched the huge golden dragon in the sky test out his wings.
~~~
Kai stretched his wings and beat them faster until he nearly reached the clouds. Then he dove back down and twirled off to the side.
Normally, he loved flying more than anything. But he had yet to take Jane up into the air. If he was cleared, he would find a time as soon as possible to bring her.
His dragon spoke up. We’re fine. Not tired, our muscles don’t hurt. I don’t know why Sid makes such a fuss.
It’s her job to make a fuss. How many times have we had to pester younger Protectors until they admit the full truth of their injuries?
Maybe. But we’re different. If we lie, then we could put the whole clan in danger.
Just a little longer. Think of Jane. She’s watching us and I know you want to impress her.
Jane. Yes, she must see how skilled we are.
As his beast concentrated on impressing their female, it gave Kai time to remember the way she looked when she woke up with her hair mussed and her eyes heavy with sleep. Or, how her lips parted when she came before screaming his name.
But his favorite was when fire flashed in her eyes as she argued with him.
The past week and a half had been a blur of planning, talking, and fucking. He’d told his female more about his mother and little sister, Delia, than anyone else alive. He knew she wanted to meet them, but Jane hadn’t pressed the issue yet.
She would eventually. Family was important to Jane and she thought he should visit his mum and Delia more often.
His dragon pulled them up from another roll maneuver just before they would hit one of the mountains. Kai grunted. That was close. You’re acting like a reckless teenager.