Page 47 of Feathers and Scales

“You have courage for someone in potential enemy territory,” Keiran said.

Though she stayed composed, fear trembled along their link.

“I’ll be blunt,” she said. “You made a judgment about me before I even arrived. You must have decided I wasn’t your enemy, or I wouldn’t be standing here.” She placed her hands on her hips. “My priority is figuring out this link that’s formed between Daxton and me. That he can fill you in on. Let’s not draw this out. From the surprise and speed of your arrival, I’m assuming this is a quick layover for you. You’re as pressed about something as I am.”

“All right.” Keiran crossed his arms. “We’ll talk later. Sarah requested on your behalf that I bring some of our Archives. You can have full access to the collection on one condition.”

“I’m listening.”

“Daxton’s alias has come under suspicion of kidnapping you since he was the last person in your hospital room before you disappeared. Someone erased the security tapes. Would you clear his name, please?”

Izzy’s face paled as she turned to Daxton. “Why didn’t you tell me?”

Because it’s not a problem.He opened his mouth to explain.

She held up a finger. “Give me a moment.” Pulling out her phone, she walked to the opposite side of the Jeep.

Annoyance bristled along his spine. He resisted the urge to follow her.

“Why did you do that?” Daxton asked Keiran as they both watched her. “Dupont is expendable. They can’t arrest a nobody. I could have handled it.”

“You still put us and your company at risk,” Keiran said. “But I wondered how she’d handle it.”

“She’s not an experiment.”

Keiran growled.

The hair on Daxton’s arms rose, energy crackling.

“Don’t let her blind you.” Keiran shifted a step forward. “She may not be our enemy, but we need to learn about her. From her. Like how her kind has kept secret all this time.”

Daxton’s face heated. Keiran was right. As much as he detested admitting it.

“How’s my alias cleanup going in Tennessee?” Izzy asked the person on the other side of the phone.

She, more than likely, expected privacy, but considering she stood near two curious dragons with heightened hearing, she hadn’t walked far enough.

“Fire at a small drug house is a go.” Simon’s British-accented voice sounded muffled and staticky.

What did that mean? Did she have ways of faking her death? The Tattered One might not believe her dead, but it was a good tactic. Daxton wasn’t sure how Simon would pull it off, but the two brains had probably done it before.

“You enjoy this too much,” she said.

“So, why aren’t you sticking your nose in their books or, you know, monster anatomy?” Simon teased.

Daxton’s neck burned, rebelling at Simon guessing at the truth.

She turned so her back met the Jeep. A hint of red splashed her cheeks. Keiran gave him an accusatory look.

“He’s human and has kept her secret,” Daxton said.

Keiran slanted a nod, expression unreadable.The calm before the lecture storm. Always the scariest part.

“Can you make sure Daxton’s alias, Dupont, doesn’t get any heat for this?” Izzy asked.

“Consider his name cleared. Your puppet mum, creepy to watch on the telly by the way, has been going after him. Want me to point fingers in her direction?”

Sadness crept across the link, inciting Daxton’s protective instinct once more.