Page 5 of The Dragon Recruit
Antony hated surprises because then he couldn’t plan for the eventual attack. “Tell me what’s changed, young man. Otherwise, I’ll turn around and drive off.”
Trina was used to his ways and remained silent.
The young dragonman frowned. “No need to be so dramatic, aye? It’s just that Faye and Grant are busy, so you’ll be meeting with Iris and Cooper.”
He made a mental note to find out what had happened to the co-head Protectors. If his protégé was as good as he knew she was, Trina would already know the answer by the end of his meeting.
As if reading his mind, the woman spoke up. “I’m supposed to inspect the Protector drills today. So, if someone could show me the way?”
The dragonman motioned someone over, and Antony recognized the tall dragonwoman with dark skin, black hair, and brown eyes—she was Zoe Watson. They’d worked together during a recent mission involving a geocaching competition.
She nodded at him and then asked the dragonman, “What’s up?”
“The female is here to watch the Protector drills.” He frowned and glanced at Trina. “Sorry, what is your name?”
She smiled, and the dragonman blinked. Yes, his protégé was bringing out the charm. She answered, “Trina is fine. And you are?”
“Er, Arran.”
As he gaped at Trina, Zoe snorted. “And this is why you’re doing reception work, Arran. You need to learn how to resist a bonny face.”
Arran glared. “I would say more, but we have guests, aye? I know how to act.”
Zoe shook her head and turned toward Trina. “I’m Zoe. And I’ll take you, but you do know they don’t start for twenty minutes, aye?”
Trina nodded. “Yes, but my boss here is eager to talk with the Protectors in charge. He’ll just get grumpy if I’m in the room. I’d rather stare at the sky than deal with that.”
Antony bit back a smile and appeared to be a tad bit annoyed. “She’s right—I need to share sensitive information with Iris and Cooper, and she can’t hear it. So would you take her, even if it’s just to stare at the sky? Us mere humans don’t get to see dragons this close very often.”
In truth, Trina already knew everything but had come precisely to listen to clan gossip and report back to him.
She played her part and smiled at Arran again. “Or, you could show me what you do here? I don’t get to visit with dragon-shifters very often, you know. And I’m oh-so curious to learn as much as possible.”
Arran cleared his throat, but Zoe rolled her eyes and gestured. “The lad will never get anything done then. Come on, follow me.”
As the two women went off, Antony mentally laughed at the dejected look on Arran’s face. He couldn’t be more than twenty-two or so, and it showed. Antony asked, “Pray tell, what is your full name?”
“Arran MacPherson.”
“Right, Mr. MacPherson. If Iris and Cooper are ready, then show me the way.”
Thankfully, the dragonman pulled it together, and Antony followed him down the corridor to a familiar meeting room used for non-clan members. Ever since he’d helped Emma McAllister and Logan Lamont—or, rather, they had helped him—Antony had been visiting Lochguard at regular intervals. Mainly because the Scottish dragon clan was closest to his little problem, one hissuperiors wanted dealt with sooner rather than later. Especially given what had happened in recent days.
Arran knocked and twisted the knob. Inside, the dragonman named Cooper Maxwell stared down at his phone. Next to him sat Iris Mahajan. Her dark brown eyes met his gaze, and a shock of lust rushed through him.
What would it be like to see her completely naked and at ease? Maybe even laughing?
Stop it.He wasn’t a young buck any longer, and he needed to harness his legendary control. While he had some sort of strange pull toward the dragonwoman, it wasn’t as if he could do anything but tease her.
He refused to risk her life.
Focusing on what he could do, he smirked and asked, “Happy to see me like always, my dear?”
“More like I’m busy, so get started already.”
Cooper gave her a look—no doubt because the dragonwoman always seemed so cool with others—but Antony focused on her. “Ah, but small talk keeps us all civil.” He brushed invisible lint off his sleeve before tugging at his shirt cuff. “And I’d rather not talk about the weather. But if you’ve heard of any unique bird sightings, then do tell.”
“What the bloody hell are you talking about? You’re into birds now?”
