Page 17 of Wild Fire

Warrick grinned. The detective had returned. “For a number of years.”

She put down her taco. “You said we weren’t going to lie to each other.”

“I haven’t lied.”

“You also haven’t answered my question. It’s not the first time you’ve tap danced around my wanting to know about your age.”

Warrick thought a moment and deciding she was right, he said calmly. “I have forgotten how old I am. Everything gets a little hazy back before the Romans ruled the world.” She stared at him but said nothing. “I am immortal, Dani.”

CHAPTER 8

DANICA

She searched his face, looking for any signs of deception or amusement and saw none. Okay, so she’d just fantasized about an immortal, fire-breathing dragon who could shift between his dragon form and his human form. She was sure there was some kind of kink that covered that, but she really didn’t care. His dragon had seemed sad, but then that should be expected of someone held in captivity, but the man was gorgeous.

“Are all dragons immortal?” she asked.

He shook his head. “No. Most have an extended lifespan but only those of the Phantom Fire were granted immortality. The other dragons sacrificed it to become shifters and live alongside man.”

“Why did the Phantom Fire retain it?”

“We were tasked with keeping the other dragon clans safe. The Age of Man had begun to rise, and we felt it was easier to blend in. The same is true of most other shifters. The Ruling Council wanted to have dominion over the Phantom Fire, but we refused. So, in order to have a specially trained group of warriors, the Council created the Shadow League.”

“That sounds kind of ominous.”

“It is. For years the League existed and acted as a vanguard for all shifters. Little-by-little their duty to protect was whittled down from all shifters to just those on the Council. When the Council was questioned, they said they had disbanded the League, but no one believed them. There are those who believe the Shadow League has gone beyond protecting even the Council to pursuing an agenda all their own. One theory is that they now seek, with tacit approval of certain members of the Council, to establish a new world order.”

“I take it the Phantom Fire opposes their actions?”

“Correct. Long ago, they were warriors and fought in the open and with honor. Now, they’re a group of highly trained thugs. The Phantom Fire has always opposed their actions, and there are now those among the shifter population who are forming a resistance.”

“Would it be so bad if the Phantom Fire took their rightful place amongst the other shifter communities and had representation on the Council?”

“Yes. We are separate, even from our own kind, and have to be. Dragons are feared by most other shifters and with good measure. Our kind has not always acted with honor. The Phantom Fire was created not only to protect dragon-shifters but to protect others from the dragon clans. You assume the League would simply want to be recognized as its own entity. In that you are wrong. They have far darker ambitions that the Phantom Fire would oppose.”

“Like what?”

“Like what you call trafficking and we call slaving. Most shifter species for some reason produce far more males than females. Given that most can turn a human female into one of their own kind…” Warrick let his sentence trail off, leaving her to draw her own conclusion.

“Shit. Warrick if there are shifters seeking to rise up and rule the world, not to mention turning human females without their consent just to make them breeders, and I have no reason to think you’re lying, I have to tell somebody.”

He leaned over and took hold of her hand. “And tell them what? They have no frame of reference, and even if they did, they would attack, and that would only serve to unite the shifters in an all-out war.”

“You think they’re involved in the human trafficking…”

“Let’s call that what it is: slavery. Yes, I think the slavers are using the sale of those people, most of whom are women of breedable age to raise money and start their own breeding program.”

“They wanted you to sire dragons on them—create their own army to fight the Phantom Fire.”

“You pick up the nuances of their schemes, and yes, that’s precisely what I think. Not only did they cut patches out of my hide and douse me with salt water, they tried inducing me with aphrodisiacs and then put terrified or unconscious girls in a room with me.”

“They didn’t know you too well.” He quirked an eyebrow at her. “I haven’t known you long at all, but I know you wouldn’t do that. You are far too honorable. But what does worry me is them having your DNA.”

Warrick nodded. “I thought the same, but I don’t think they have the sophistication or set-up to do any kind of cloning. I do mean to report back to the Phantom Fire to let them know what happened, though. Which leads me to ask, do you think we’re safe here? Given they have your license plate number and you’ve been here before…”

“I think we were safe last night…”

“And you remained on watch to let me sleep. The fact remains that you are now a target for their revenge, and they’d do just about anything to retake me.”

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