Page 49 of Red Marked

I watch for a few minutes while she hugs all of the females gathered. Some are stoic, while others are openly crying.

The three Draig females say their teary goodbyes. It’s clear to me that this group is very close. They survived together, killed together.

Scarlet glares at me while she hugs Star. She whispers something into Star’s ear, and they hug again.

Both of them wipe their eyes as they pull apart.

“This isn’t goodbye,” Star says. “Please take good care of each other.”

“Be careful,” Scarlet tells her. “If anything happens to her, you are as good as dead,” she says to me.

“Scarlet. Flint is helping us.”

Scarlet’s jaw tightens, but she doesn’t say anything more.

Then we are walking toward the ravine.

18

Flint

We shift and fly out to my team, who are waiting in their scales. Dane, Rex, and Atlas are in the air.

Saber is on the ground. He leaps into the air when he catches sight of us.

Atlas rumbles a welcome.

Brian gives a wave. He trains his dart gun away from us, which makes me breathe a little easier.

I turn as we get close, hovering, my eyes on the silver dragon who trails behind the three Draig females.

I rumble to her, and she advances.

Atlas growls, his slitted eyes on Star. There was never any talk of a fourth she-dragon, so he is skeptical.

I give a chuff to tell him to stand down.

I land and shift. The others do too.

I beckon Star to come closer, and she does, also shifting.

The three Draig females stay a little to the side, in their scales.

“This is Star,” I tell the group. “She is coming with us. There isn’t much time to explain. We’re going to leave her on the perimeter of the rehab center. I will sneak her in later. None of you saw her. None of you know anything about her. She is not a threat. You will need to trust that I am making the right decision by bringing her back.”

“Good to meet you.” Atlas nods his head. “Hopefully we can help you. We have all been worried about you and the others.”

“Hi.” Star smiles. “I appreciate this.”

Everyone says their hellos except for Brian, who hasn’t moved. His gun is forgotten across his chest, his mouth open. His eyes are firmly on a very naked Star.

Fuck!

Human males!

I step into the space between them.

“Brian,” I growl.