Page 8 of The Dragon Recruit
Her dragon’s voice was sleepy as she said,Stop trying to be responsible for all security on Lochguard. You are one of many.
Cooper’s voice prevented Iris from replying to her beast. “Here’s where all their activity stopped. Take a look, Iris.”
She quickly scanned the document and said, “It really was like they fell through a portal and vanished. One day, they were flying and hunting and quietly visiting villages, and the next, nothing.”
“And what’s strange is that everything was left in a hurry—dishes on makeshift tables, clothes drying on lines, and even a few toys stacked in the middle of a clearing.”
She’d known about some of the rogue dragons having bairns over the years, but for the first time, she wondered how they were doing living outside a clan.
But she pushed that aside and focused. “Maybe there was some kind of danger. Or, this is all part of a plan.”
“Aye, well, we need more than what’s in this folder. We should call Holbrook and see if he has more answers.”
Iris shook her head. “No, there’s a better way. Nothing beats flying to a location and investigating it ourselves.”
She stood, and Cooper followed. “Hold on, Iris. I know you’re a bloody good tracker and have more contacts in Scotland than anyone. However, some of the worst of dragonkind lived in those forests, and if something made them run, it can’t be good, aye?”
“I know that. But this will leak by tomorrow, Cooper. If I don’t go now, we’ll lose our chance. And my gut says I should go.”
Cooper searched her gaze, and she resisted growling or tapping her foot. He was one of the few people on Lochguard she trusted with her life. They’d served together in the British Army, and he’d stood up for her when others had tried to steal credit for her work or pressure her to quit.
He didn’t doubt her abilities. No, he cared about her as a friend, no matter how much she’d tried to keep him at a distance, like everyone else.
Iris softened her voice. “Cooper, you know deep down that I need to investigate whilst we still can. I’ll be careful, aye? And you can even give me a check-in time.”
He raised an eyebrow. “Will you follow it?”
“I’ll try this time, I promise.”
Cooper grunted. “Fine. But only if you take Holbrook’s phone with you, in addition to the untraceable one for the Protectors. And more importantly, you’ll promise to reach out to the human male if you need to. Holbrook has resources we can only dream of.”
“Aye, I will. But time is of the essence, and I need to go now. The news hasn’t broken yet, and the clock’s ticking.”
“Go, then. But come back as soon as you can, Iris. The last thing I need is to finally get more responsibility and then lose one of the best Protectors in the country.”
“Are you trying to butter me up?”
“No, I mean it. And sometimes, I think you need to hear it. Maybe one day you’ll stop trying to prove yourself. Especially since you don’t need to do it here, of all places.”
Her dragon spoke up.He’s right.
Ignoring her beast, Iris replied to Cooper, “Aye, well, then I’m off. I’ll be in and out as quickly as I can. In the meantime, can you double-check the list of everyone who has a relative, former friend, or loved one that left Lochguard and joined the rogue dragons? I want to make sure we didn’t miss anyone, not even someone distantly related.”
He tapped his temples. “I already have the list in my head and have gone over it many times. There are a few I think we should watch closely, to see how they react to the news about the dragons vanishing. I’ll also debrief Finn, plus assign extra patrols around the perimeter in case angry humans show up once the news leaks.”
She studied her colleague, who was probably the closest thing she had to a friend. “Having more responsibility suits you.”
“Same for you. Now, let’s prove we can do this, Iris. Lochguard is going to need us more than ever.”
She bobbed her head. “Aye, I’m off. We’ll meet up once I get back and then talk to Grant. It won’t be easy for him.”
“It won’t be easy for a lot of people here. And remember, Iris, asking for help isn’t a weakness. We need you to come back in one piece.”
Not wanting to discuss it further, Iris waved and walked down the corridor. Soon she exited to the landing area behind the Protector building and stripped her clothes. Once she’d stowed them and her mobile phones in a satchel she could carry in her dragon form—the last thing she needed was for humans to see her naked and freak out—she closed her eyes. Her nose elongated into a snout, wings sprouted from her back, and legs stretched until she stood in her purple dragon form.
Her beast flapped their wings a few times.I wish we had time to test out some new maneuvers.
They both enjoyed pushing themselves to the limit in the air.Once all of this mess is sorted, I’ll make time.
