Page 10 of Bryce

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“It was nice while it lasted.” Logan cast a regretful look at the cave entrance. “I do so enjoy a hot shower on demand.”

“You’re turning soft,” Jorge jeered.

Logan leaned in before taking a deep breath. “Hmm. It seems your clothing is smelling rather flowery and fresh.”

I laughed. “All right, at least we were able to enjoy it for a day or two. If all goes smoothly, we’ll return in no time at all.”

I shook Jorge’s hand. “Take care of them.”

“That’s what we do.” He hoisted his pack onto his back and joined his team. Miles, Dallas, and Owen. I had to wonder how I’d ended up with two women on my team, though when it came to strength and ability, a female dragon was far superior to a mortal woman.

I had already seen what they were capable of when the resort came under attack.

If only the pair of women I’d been given charge of were any other women.

I had no trouble with Leslie. She seemed a pleasant enough person, if a bit flighty. I’d never been one to enjoy the company of giggly women, but we weren’t on this mission to become friendly. If luck held out, we would all be far too worn out at the end of a day’s hike to make idle conversation.

Gate exited the cave with Martina by his side. It seemed the two of them were deep in conversation, Martina’s eyes welling up by the time they reached us.

“Don’t tell me you’re doubting us now,” I chided. She would never be anything more than a child to me, as I’d known her since she’d only just learned to walk.

Her wide, watery blue eyes searched my face. “Take care of him, please.”

This was no joking matter. I set my pack down, looking from one of them to the other. “What’s this about? You know better than anyone here—aside from Logan, Jorge and myself—how particular your mother is when it comes to who she works with. And how she leaves nothing to chance. She would never put any of us in harm’s way unless she had every piece in place.”

“Easy for you to say,” she snickered. “You aren’t sending off someone you love. Someone who…”

She glanced up at him. He looked down at her, then, his gaze traveled further south. To her belly. Yes, she was pregnant. I thought there was a change in her scent.

“You are?” I asked without waiting to be told. “Truly?”

She sighed. “I should’ve known you would be able to tell.”

“We haven’t shared the news,” Gate admitted.

“And not my mother, especially.” Martina glared at me. “You know what that means.”

“It means we never had this conversation.” He held my hands up, palms out. “You have nothing to worry about. Not a thing.”

“But I do.” She wrapped her arms about Gate’s waist, resting the side of her face against his chest. It seemed I had more than one troublesome partner on my team. How was I supposed to watch my own back when I was busy watching his?

Not to mention Isla’s?

Isla emerged, squinting once she was in the sun. Her hair turned flame-red, all but begging me to bury my hands in it. To raise it to my nose and inhale. I could still recall her sweetness, no matter how I’d tried to forget, there was no freeing myself of her.

“Come on, then,” she called out, looking us over. “No time like the present.”

No time, indeed.

“Last time I checked, I’m team leader.” Gate managed to sound lighthearted, even as he extricated himself from his mate’s embrace. “And I decide when we head out.”

“When will that be, then?” she demanded, hands on her hips.

While I disliked imagining this had anything to do with me, the attitude was so unlike anything I’d ever seen from her that I couldn’t imagine it coming from anywhere else.

“Now, in fact. If that works for you.”

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