Page 36 of The Dragon Recruit
Pushing the biscuits toward her, he answered, “This is going to take a while, so have some sugar.”
Only once she sipped her tea and nibbled on a biscuit did Antony lean forward and prop his elbows on the table. He took a few more seconds to prepare himself because Iris might want to punch him or cry off or who knew what once she learned about the past and what they’d done from this place.
Iris was this close to growling and telling Antony to hurry the hell up. She could be patient most of the time, but this male had a flair for the dramatic.
However, since he’d probably just argue and get even more off track, she ate part of a biscuit and drank some tea. Antony nodded and finally spoke again. “About five years before the sacrifice program began with the dragon-shifters, both the Department of Dragon Affairs and MI5 decided they needed to monitor the dragons in this country closely. Since distrust of dragon-shifters was still high back then, some were afraid thehuman sacrifices would be bullied into saying one thing whilst in reality experiencing another.”
Iris frowned. “And yet, they still allowed the females to live with the dragon clans to try to conceive a child.”
“Yes, I know—in retrospect, it’s a bit callous. But the National Health Service and the government were desperate to get some dragon’s blood to help with the HIV and AIDS epidemic in the 1980s, so they thought it was worth the risk.”
She was about to interject again when Antony beat her to it. “I don’t agree with most of what they did back then, or with their way of thinking. I’m just trying to let you know where you are and how it came to be. If you keep interrupting, this will take all night. And I rather need a nap after driving for so long.”
For a split second, guilt rushed through her. Iris had slept most of the drive, and Antony had been awake for who knew how long. “Aye, I understand. You may continue.”
His lips twitched. “As you wish, my dear. So back to the 1980s—they wanted to keep tabs on everyone. Stonefire was the most open to taking sacrifices, and so they built this facility inside some of the rocky hills in the Peak District because it was close enough without being too close. They also created smaller, equally camouflaged, watch posts closer to Stonefire itself. And before you ask, the smaller ones were shut down over a decade ago.”
“But before they were, the people working for this place were essentially spying on dragon-shifters, aye?”
“Yes. Eventually, a Stonefire Protector discovered one of the observation stations. Knowing what to look for, they easily found another, and another. Soon the clan leader at the time demanded a meeting, and a formal agreement was signed, ending most of the spying.”
“Most, but not all?”
“We still monitor flight patterns, both in case we have to investigate accidents and to see if a human complaint is valid. Most of that is done via CCTV these days, though. Video evidence is more powerful than someone’s word or log in a book.”
“And Lochguard?”
“There are cameras and a few staff monitoring the air there, too. Usually, an injured person from my team gets relocated to the Highlands since there’s less air traffic, making it less stressful. However, posts up there have become more important in recent years since they’ve monitored the rogue dragon-shifters living in the Cairngorms. And before you ask, we’ve reviewed the footage we have from the day of the mass murders. However, someone knew what they were doing and avoided the cameras. Because of that, I think there may be a leak inside the greater Wicked Security team.”
“Hence the dragon clan and security team pairings, as well as the reason for keeping individual assignments secret.”
“Yes, my dear. I saved the best lead we have to finding the culprit for us.” He tilted his head. “But I need to know—are you okay working in a former dragon spying facility?”
“It’s strange to think about how humans were so worried back then. Aye, I know there are plenty of humans who still hate us. But creating a secret hideout to spy on us is a wee bit extreme.”
“To be fair, a dragon-shifter in their dragon form can be pretty bloody scary when you’re merely a human. All of those pointy teeth and claws, you know. Not to mention the fact you could just step on a human and that’s it, they’re dead.”
She raised an eyebrow. “And yet, I’ve never seen you afraid of us.”
“Ah, but I’ve been working with dragon-shifters for over twenty years now, and they’ve saved my life more than once.I know better than to fall for rumors or propaganda. But not everyone has my experience or perspective.”
“And that is something we need to fix later, aye? Once the dragon hunters are finally defeated.”
Antony nodded. “The DDA Director is determined to make things more equal for dragon-shifters, no matter what. And she’s a powerful ally to have.” He tilted his head. “So you have no problem working with me and my team, even though our origins began as mistrustful, bigoted humans who wanted to know your every secret?”
Iris shrugged. “I don’t have to like what was done here, especially considering all the restrictions humans put on us for so long. However, defeating the dragon hunters and stopping a genocidal bio-weapon attack on my kind is more important. I’m more worried about the potential leak and traitor from your department working with one of my fellow Protectors.”
“I know for certain that Trina and Joseph are loyal and would never betray me. I’m mostly confident the other three I sent with the Protectors are as well. The intel I’ve gathered points more to a formerly injured recruit who is probably resentful of being assigned desk work.”
She raised her brows. “Like Eddie, your assistant?”
“As much as I wouldn’t like it, it’s possible. I try to keep some of the suspects close. And most of them work here, not in London. The last thing I need is Dr. Turner’s research and discoveries getting out.”
“So that means you still can’t share everything with me?”
He sighed. “Almost. There are a few things that if I revealed, I would be relocated and never heard from again. I’m working on higher clearance for you, but it takes time.”
She blinked. “You want to give me higher clearance?”
