Page 53 of Fanged Secrets
Feigning nonchalance, I began to wander toward the bathroom, politely excusing myself from the gathering and stepping away from Dylan. Each step felt like walking a tightrope. I could feel the dragon shifter’s gaze glued to my back, but I didn’t dare look over my shoulder to check.
When I reached the passageway leading to the bathrooms I slipped inside, heart in my throat. I tried to act natural, but the closer I got to the bathroom door the more I had to fight to keep my hands from trembling. I reached for the door handle, praying I could keep my cool just a little longer.
But then I felt it, a clawed hand closing on my shoulder. My body tensed, bracing for the attack that was sure to come. My shivering body was poised to defend itself, but before I could react the pressure on my shoulder disappeared.
I spun around, and to my relief, saw Dylan. My fierce protector had the dragon shifter in a headlock, her grip like iron as she held the woman in place. The dragon shifter’s eyes flashed with a volley of fear and defiance, and for a moment, it looked like she was about to shift.
But before thick scales could fully emerge from her rippling skin, Hunter appeared from down the hall. With what looked like a few sharp words and her hands gripping the shifter’s face, her coercion took hold, and the dragon shifter’s movements stilled. Her resistance faded, replaced by a defeated compliance and I brought a hand to my mouth.
Dylan had told me about Hunter’s uncanny ability, though it was even more unsettling to watch it in action.
The telepathic vamp ran a hand through her hair, needle-thin brows raised as she turned to me. Her lips moved sharply, but she looked almost impressed. “That was a risky move. But good job getting her away from the party guests.”
Dylan released her grip just enough for the woman to breathe, but the threat was still there, palpable in the air between them. Ifelt my own fear slowly ebbing away as the situation came under control. All things considered, it was a clean capture.
But now came the hard part – making her talk.
Chapter 27
Dylan
My arms were trembling slightly as I dragged the dragon shifter into the bathroom. The woman had been strong, uncomfortably so. It had taken every last drop of my strength to wrench her away from Amara. Thanks to Hunter, she was now putty in my arms, but that split second of resistance from her had already taken a lot out of me. It was terrifying, knowing just how powerful the dragon shifters could be.
But the woman was struggling weakly after Hunter’s sharp words, her breath coming in short gasps. I hauled the shifter into the corner of the small, dimly lit room, and bound her hands behind her back with my belt. It probably wasn’t enough to hold her for long, but it would have to do. She hissed as I stepped back, placing myself between her and Amara.
Jordan and River arrived moments later, slipping into the bathroom with an air of quiet authority. Jordan’s presence was like a storm gathering on the horizon, calm, but with an undercurrent of danger that promised swift action if provoked.River, for once a silent sentinel, stood by the door, her gaze sharp and watchful.
Hunter followed close behind, her expression more severe than usual. There was a certain darkness in her eyes that I had come to recognize. Hunter’s powers were usually subtle, relying more on slight coercion rather than sheer force of will. But occasionally, she pushed harder. And when she did, there was no room for mercy.
“Talk,” Jordan demanded, her voice low as she stepped forward, her eyes boring into the disorientated shifter. “Why are you here, and what does Don Leone have to do with it?”
The woman remained defiant, her lips pressed into a thin line as she refused to meet her gaze.
I could see the tension in her body, the way her muscles tightened as she fought against the invisible force that was Hunter’s coercion. But Hunter pressed on unabated, her powers like a vice tightening around the shifter’s will. She took a step closer, her voice a soft whisper that seemed to snake its way into the trembling shifter’s mind.
“You can’t resist forever,” Hunter murmured, her eyes narrowing as she concentrated. “You might as well make it easier on yourself.”
The woman’s breath hitched, and for a moment, I thought she might break. But then she clenched her jaw and shook her head, her resolve wavering but still intact.
Jordan wasn’t willing to wait though. “Who sent you?” she demanded, her tone sharp as a blade. “Why are you working for Don?”
Silence hung in the air, thick and heavy. I felt a small, warm hand curl around my own and glanced down to find Amara staring in silent horror at the interrogation. I pulled her closer, wrapping a protective arm around her waist.
When the woman stayed silent, Hunter’s eyes flashed, and she doubled down.
“Talk,” she said again, her voice laced with ominous power. The dragon shifter shuddered, her eyes wide as she tried to fight back. But there was no use in resisting Hunter when she was like this. I could almost see her influence, digging deeper into the shifter’s mind, prying at the cracks in her defenses.
Finally, with a gasp, the shifter’s resistance crumbled.
“Oksana!” She slumped against the wall, breath ragged and voice rasping. “My name is Oksana.”
Hunter seemed worse for wear too, and she leaned in the doorway with a fatigued groan. The dragon shifter eyed her with naked resentment before turning those burning black pupils on Jordan.
“And yes.” Her words were laced with bitterness as she spat out the confession. “I’m working for Don.”
The confession hung in the air, a bitter truth that tasted like ash in my mouth. I glanced at Amara, who blinked up at me with glazed eyes. We had suspected something like this, but hearing it confirmed was another matter entirely.
“How did he know?” Jordan stepped forward, her voice a menacing whisper. “How did he know about us?”
