Page 62 of Dragon Blood

Bayn leaned in to inspect the crystal dongle Aaron plugged into the side of the device. “Witch tech?”

Aaron shot him a glance. “I know your place is well warded, but we can never be too careful.”

Bayn nodded. “I’d like to get me a couple of those.”

“Joey’s department—she has great sources that she won’t share with the rest of us, but I suspect this one is dwarf tech,” Aaron grinned as he finished setting up the station to receive the encrypted call.

“Dwarf tech? Well now, I am impressed.”

A moment later, Jolena Kane’s face filled the screen.

“Boss.” Aaron adjusted the equipment to accommodate all of their faces for Joey’s view, then the audio.

“Aaron. Bayn, Your Highness, Kai,” she acknowledged each, expression tense. “Good to see you all again, though I wish the news was of a lighter matter.” To Astred she said, “I’m sorry I couldn’t respond to your message sooner, we’ve been swamped here trying to pull all the pieces together. Your First Mate, Tundi Okonedo, caught me up on what happened since we parted from Carson’s island.”

“You saw the marks my mother left in her room?”

Joey nodded. “While you were at Black River, Carson’s team resumed pursuit of the escaped males after the last attack on the island, and we’ve finally gained Sam Egan’s cooperation. Aaron, your flight is booked to join your team for the raid on the Consortium’s menagerie.”

“Holy fuck, you’re kidding! You got Egan to talk?” Aaron’s hand slid through his hair as he stepped back from the counter.

“It was a group effort. Lirikai and Raya wore her down to see sense, but in the end, it was Marli Fleetwing’s offer to help her sister escape from the menagerie that did the trick. We leaned into that.”

“You trust her information?” Bayn pinched his lip between forefinger and thumb, his arms across his torso.

“Egan’s ambitions crashed the second we picked her up. There’s no way the Consortium will accept her back or integrate her into their commanding elite.” Joey shrugged. “She wants her sister’s freedom and security.”

“You think you can get more out of her?” Aaron paced.

Joey nodded. “I think so. But not until we secure her sister.”

Astred leaned in, heart pounding with this critical news. But there was still more she needed. “Were you able to get the identity of Egan’s contact on Aeleftheria?”

“It was the second part of the deal. The location of the menagerie and the identity of her Aeleftherian contact in exchange for her sister and protection from the Consortium’s reach now that she’s vulnerable.”

Heat flared through Astred as her dragon pushed at her skin, wanting to be unleashed. This knowledge would allow them to act.

“And?”

“You’re not going to like this.” Joey’s voice softened as she turned toward another screen beside her, the sounds of keys being tapped. A file overlay Joey’s feed, the details extensive, followed by a photograph.

Astred’s breath stalled.

Impossible.

Impossible because digital technology didn’t work in Aeleftherian territory. To have a picture ofthatface…and wearing a modern t-shirt.

“When the contact clawed Egan’s torso, she not only caused nearly fatal damage, but the ferocity of the fighting left some of her genetic matter embedded in Egan’s. She topically absorbed enough of it that she could use it to morph.”

“Morph?” Kai’s voice broke through Astred’s haze.

“Egan has the ability to shapeshift into anyone, so long as she has some of their genetic material to consume or absorb in some way. That’s how she was able to live undetected among the mountain males for so long.” Astred explained, gaze still glued to the screen, though the distraction of Kai’s presence reduced her instinct to fly off with teeth and claws ready to tear the traitor apart.

“I thought this kind of shapeshifter was a myth.”

“Everyone did.” Aaron stopped pacing, peering at the photograph on the screen.

“If I hadn’t met one centuries ago, I’d have thought so too,” Bayn said. He nodded toward the image. “You’re sure about that one?”

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