Page 104 of His Curse

But when I open my mouth to speak, to voice all of that and possibly threaten the males with another cock shot, Zan holds up a hand and tsks.

“Bah, nonsense.” He tilts his head and gives me a devilish grin. “Whatever you were about to say is pure nonsense and I will not have it. You are here now,weare here, and as soon as the eldest dragon lands, we will be taking that sorry excuse of a doctor by surprise while doing as much damage as possible.”

Frankie and Colton both give me reassuring squeezes but I open my mouth and start shaking my head, only to have the demon cut me off again.

“I will not hear it, Lark.” He pats Ronny on the shoulder then turns him toward the hotel room door. “No matter the outcome we will have succeeded in completing your goal. Destroy the lab, kill the doctor, and free those we can.” Zan throws open the heavy wood, swats my nephew on the ass then grins wider as Ronny rolls his eyes. “The young wolf is going to get our dinner, I will ravage the three of you while we wait, and when he returns we shall fuel up so we may charge the tunnel with all the fury you still carry.”

“You’re rather optimistic for a demon,” I say with a small smile. “I thought you’d be moredoom and gloomthansunshine and rainbows.”

Ronny howls out a laugh as he pulls the door shut, Zan spinning to face us completely as he does. “There is much you still need to learn about me, you delicious little wolf, and I think we shall start your lessonsnow.”

“It had to be him?” I look down in my lap at my now smirking mate. “Couldn’t have picked Vok or someone less ridiculous as yourmaite?”

“Believe me when I say, it wasnotmy choice.” Colt smiles as he lifts his hand to my cheek and brings me down for a sinfully sweet kiss. “But neither were you, and I’m fucking thrilled you’re mine.”

I smile into another kiss but can’t help but wonder if my alpha will still feel that way after we kick in the gates of hell and come face to face with the devil himself.

Chapter21

Go Time

LARK

My heart is racing.

I can practically feel my blood rushing through my veins.

The level of adrenaline coursing through my entire body has to be at a dangerous level, and my wolf is beyond restless. My wolf isitchingto get out, ready to shred through my skin and tear down the tunnel on her own.

And the closer we get, the stronger the smell of death and the sterile lab is, the more intense these feelings become, the keener my senses feel.

I’ve been like this ever since the dragon arrived.

Andrej.

Never, in nearly two hundred years of life, did I think I’d get to meet a dragon shifter in the flesh. Even with the various species I have met, I didn’t expect a dragon to come through the halls of Kentworth Labs, and never as an ally to fight in a war he didn’t even know was raging on. Not only did I finally get to meet one of the most elusive, most deadly of shifters, I was privileged to hug him and be welcomed into his clan as one of their own.

Andrej is quiet, more stoic than my mate, but his presence speaks volumes and I imagine that’s why the male says very few words. He doesn’t have to. Between his extremely attractive though terrifying looks, his essence that commands even the mightiest to bow, it was a surprise that he isn’t the king and it makes me curious about his brothers.

What was even more curious about meeting the eldest Dragovihk brother, though?

My wolf immediately bowed down to him—bowedis probably a strong word, but it’s the only one that works—and vowed allegiance before I’d even shaken his hand. And Colton’s wolf encouraged it.

Which just proves this clan is where he—we—belong, and from that moment forward I’ve been buzzing with energy, ready and more confident in our fight than I was before, and with each step we take that brings us closer to the mouth of the tunnel, my heart pounds to the beat of victory.

But at what price?

“Birdie.” Colton squeezes my hand in his. “Shift focus, Luna.”

I nod and squeeze back but I don’t say anything.

On top of being ready to fight, ready to win, I’m also anxious and terrified because I know how this is most likely going to go.

I can smell great death already, and it is only the beginning.

“Again,” Andrej grunts from behind me, making me jump as Zan sighs, his entire body sagging in annoyance.

“We’ve been through this at least a dozen times, dragon. I think we each know our role in this chess game you’ve orchestrated.”

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