In any other situation, he might've snorted because Ivy sounded more like a dragon-shifter by the day.
Trahern stood, went to the side of the room, and promptly returned with a needle and small vial. "Then let's start. The sooner Zain receives the shot, the sooner we can monitor how well it works."
Emily sighed. "Leave it to you to think only of the data."
Trahern blinked. "What else would I think of?"
Ivy walked over to Zain and touched his jaw. "Are you sure about this? I don't want you to think I'm forcing you, or guilt-tripping you, or some other such thing."
Placing a hand on her waist, he replied, "Don't be ridiculous. You wouldn't do anything to hurt me. Well, in the present. You might've tried to stab me that first day you woke up, if you'd had the chance."
She snorted. "Not likely, since I couldn't manage to hold a knife then. Maybe a few days later, if I'd had the opportunity and resources."
He loved how his female could joke about almost anything with him. "But truly, it's fine, I want to do this. Besides, if I end up being the first one inoculated against the Knights, then that means I can be on the front lines in taking them down as soon as we have our plan in place."
Ivy caressed his jaw, making both man and beast hum. Soon he could do more than merely touch her skin. He burned to claim her in all ways.
Before anyone could say more, Gregor burst into the room, sans child. He quickly shut the door, glanced at Ivy for a second before zeroing in on his mate. "Cassidy, there's a problem."
Zain stood and faced the Scottish doctor. "What's wrong?"
Gregor glanced at Ivy again before meeting Zain's eyes. "Ivy's picture and whereabouts are all over the human news."
He instinctively pulled Ivy against his side and growled, "Who the bloody hell leaked that?"
Gregor shook his head. "I don't know. But we need to get Ivy to the underground area of the surgery until Bram says otherwise."
Zain was one of the few who knew about the emergency facilities below the building. For Gregor to suggest Ivy had to wait there meant things were a hell of a lot worse than her being mentioned on a news report. "What aren't you telling us?"
Gregor stated, "According to Bram, messages and orders concerning Ivy have already started appearing on the Knights' hidden corners of the internet. It won't be long before they have videos, too, asking for her head. It won't be long before Ivy is going to be target number one."
Ivy leaned against him, and Zain tightened his grip. "Number one target or not, I won't let them take her." He glanced down at his mate. "I won't let them, Ivy. I promise."
He hated the fear in her eyes as well as the fact her voice broke as she said, "I want to be strong, and say it'll all be okay. But it might end up being better to hand me over than risk the entire clan."
He growled. "Don't be ridiculous. You're my mate, which means you're part of Stonefire, too. If you so much as think of running away to sacrifice yourself, I'll hunt you down and tie you to a chair for as long as it takes for sense to return to your head."
Her lips almost smiled. "You would, too."
Sid cleared her throat. "The sooner we get you downstairs, the better. Few know the underground bunker exists, which means you'll be better protected. And
whilst I can't guarantee it, it's less likely that whomever leaked the information will be able to give more information about your whereabouts."
Zain growled, "What if it's someone inside the surgery?"
Sid shook her head. "No, everyone who works here has been vetted several times, ever since humans started living on Stonefire. I trust my staff."
Gregor motioned down the hall. "Now, come on. We need to go."
As he and Ivy followed the doctor to a secret entrance, Zain never let go of Ivy. He'd trained nearly his entire adult life to protect the clan, and now he would use those skills to protect his mate.
After all, anyone who dared mess with a dragon-shifter in love was in for a surprise. Both Zain's human and dragon halves would work harder than ever, fighting for the future they'd long wanted but secretly denied.
Whether anyone realized it or not, this moment, right here, right now, was the beginning of the end of the Dragon Knights. Zain would ensure it.
The next hour flew by in a blur as Zain and the doctors secured Ivy in the secret bunker, brought her clothes and anything she'd need to keep working, and set her up for a long stay underground.
She did her best to push down her fears, not wanting to be a burden to anyone. However, when she and Zain were finally alone, she sighed and crumpled down onto the nearby chair. "Whilst I knew the Knights would eventually find out I'm alive and where I'm hiding, it's hard to believe the day is finally here."