Page 71 of The Dragon Recruit
A scream followed. Iris dashed down the old tunnel Killian and Kerry had used, pulling out her tranquilizer gun as she ran. Another scream was cut short, followed by some grunting.
Iris entered a larger space where two sets of tracks could be laid side-by-side. Kerry was unconscious on the floor, and Killian battled against a number of humans. One who looked just like Gavin Edwards from Antony’s team.
But as he attacked with his left hand, something wasn’t right.
Then it hit her—he looked like Gavin, but wasn’t him. The real Gavin was right-handed and had a wee freckle on his neck, which this male didn’t.
Scanning the area, she calculated that she and Killian were outnumbered three to one. The only way to win would be if they could toss a gas canister to render the humans unconscious. Iris, Max, and the others on her side wore the discreet filters and should be safe.
Max caught up to her, and an idea flashed from a memory. Long ago, before she’d learned the truth about Max, he’d grumbled about a dig having to be halted for a day since someone got heat stroke and fainted. He’d gone on and on about everyone rushing to help, nearly ruining their grid lines, and other details she’d blocked out.
Like someone fainting from heat stroke, she needed something big to garner their attention, just long enough to incapacitate them.
Leaning to Max, she handed him the canister. “Pull the ring at the right moment.”
She imagined wings sprouting from her back. They grew and grew, brushing the sides of the large room. It was a tight fit, but she just managed to flap them. The force of the wind knocked a few people down.
Just as a bullet pierced her wing, Max pulled the ring and tossed the canister.
Iris knelt down, hoping she wouldn’t do irrevocable damage as she imagined her wing merging into her body. Once complete, pain shot through her and she could feel blood dripping down her back.
However, as the gas slowly knocked the humans out, Killian and Max went to help Kerry and then used Killian’s zip ties to bind all the humans.
The pain in Iris’s back dulled, and she knew it wasn’t life-threatening. Although she hoped her wing would heal properly despite shifting while injured, which was a big no-no for any dragon-shifter.
Pushing that aside, she struggled to her feet and went to Killian, Max, and Kerry—who was awake again—and stood next to them. Kerry spoke first. “That’s not Gavin, but it looks just like him.”
“A twin, maybe? Or a family member.”
Kerry replied bitterly, “One he probably told everything to. I can’t believe I ever fancied him.”
Killian grunted. “You don’t know for sure he did. At any rate, backup should be here any second?—”
Before he finished, a mixture of humans and Protectors flooded the room. After quickly debriefing them, everyone went to work carting the unconscious humans off.
Alice walked over to them and nodded. “The DDA will take care of these people for now. Contact me whenever you’ve finished your mission and we’ll talk.”
The female walked off before anyone could say a word.
Iris was about to ask Killian if they should keep searching down this tunnel when the wall off to the side began to open and a blaring sound filled the space.
She braced herself, wondering what the bloody hell was happening now.
Zoe struggled to keep her breathing slow and even as the two males approached her. The female would be back at any minute, and once she returned, Zoe’s chance of signaling to the others where she was would be zero.
Once they were close enough, she sprung up and jumped over them, twisting, to land on her feet. She didn’t waste time, bashing their heads together hard enough to knock them unconscious without killing them.
Even though her head still pounded from whatever drugs they’d given her, she pushed it aside and dashed to the main computer terminal. The small dragon lifted his head and stared at her, but she ignored him for now. After all, she couldn’t help the wee male unless her clan could find them.
The computers weren’t locked or password protected—highlighting the arrogance of whoever was in charge—and Zoe searched for any sort of remote control panel or security system.
Bingo, she found it within seconds. As she’d thought, she could lock the doors from inside. Just in time, too, because someone started to pound on the smaller door, probably the human female.
Zoe ignored the noise, looking for either a way to broadcast her location or to open the giant set of doors.
Sirens blared just as she tried something to open the large doors. They slid apart slowly, and a cloud of smoke or gas or something rushed into the room. Zoe coughed and did her best to cover her mouth. However, while it tickled her throat, it didn’t make her woozy or fall unconscious.
In fact, the young dragon was fine as well.
