The Protector (Fire's Edge #4) - Abigail Owen Page 0,51

chin at his orphaned brothers who glowered back through cracking smiles.

Levi shrugged and moved to Sera. “You, too, gorgeous.”

She hugged him back, then moved to return Lyndi’s hug.

“Where’s Blake?” Lyndi asked.

Sera’s gaze flickered, the emotion hard to pin down. “In the tunnel with Demyan. He’s gotten too big to fit down human-sized hallways. He…still can’t shift.”

Lyndi nodded her understanding. Sera’s son from her human marriage had shifted in the same instant Sera had after she’d been turned. As though mother and son were linked. But he didn’t seem to be able to reverse it.

And Demyan was here, too? Another orphan who’d never quite joined Lyndi’s group, the white dragon was one of the best message runners, stealthier even than black dragons, Levi had ever seen. And the only one to know where Aidan and Sera were hiding at any given time.

Levi looked over to find Lyndi worrying at her lip with her teeth. Damn his dick, which swelled at the sight. Clearing his throat, he turned back to Aidan. “When did you get here?”

If they’d arrived in daylight, they’d risked a lot. The Alaz team and the Alliance both had reasons to keep a close eye on the Huracáns these days. Which meant they were desperate.

Aidan urged Sera into a seat, though she took his hand. “Demyan got us in late last night, but we waited in the back tunnel until daylight, just to be sure we hadn’t been followed.”

The kid was scary smart when it came to his ability to get in and out of places. He’d had to be, learning the hard way when he’d crossed over from Russia alone. The colonies were easier for orphans than the clans.

Levi eyed the gathered team, getting only grim expressions in return. “What have you talked about already?”

“Nothing,” Aidan answered. “Just a lot of hugs and getting assembled down here.”

“Good. I won’t have to make you repeat it then.”

Aidan shot him a crooked, exhausted grin. “Like you could make me do anything, old timer.”

Levi snorted, then grabbed the closest chair. Except Lyndi made to move around to the other side of the table.

No way was his dragon having that. Him, either.

In a silent move, Levi snagged her by the wrist, then looked pointedly at the chair beside him before raising his eyebrows at her. He earned a sharp glare, and he knew exactly why. Because with that one small action, he’d told the entire team a hell of a lot. If Aidan and Sera being here wasn’t so serious, he would’ve shot his lover an unrepentant grin. Damned if he was going to let her hide them in the dark like a dirty secret, sordid and embarrassing.

Ignoring every other person in the room, he let go of her wrist and waited, more curious than anything, to see what she’d do next.

Eyes narrowed on him, promising retribution that he had an inkling he’d enjoy a lot more than in the past, she sank, stiff-backed, into the chair. But still beside him. Levi couldn’t regret the smug triumph expanding his chest or the satisfied rumble of his dragon.

“So, why are you here?” Finn’s question, couched in his low rumble, had Levi sitting forward, elbows on his knees.

Focus, dammit.

He was losing his touch, thanks to the woman at his side.

“Demyan got us out of the house we’d been staying in for a few months now. Just in time, too. We watched them blow it to hell with a grenade launcher.”

Fuck. The room rippled with reaction.

Almost as a code of honor, shifters didn’t often use human weapons. They were living weapons. To debase yourself that way was almost as dishonorable as turning rogue on purpose.

“Who?” Finn demanded.

“I’m not sure,” Aidan said. He exchanged a long look with Sera, residual fear for his mate and their son reflected in the grim set of his jaw, his lips a white slash. “Demyan says he recognized an Alaz dragon. We didn’t actually see them.”

The Alaz again? Hell. What were those bastards up to? Retribution? Orders from the Alliance?

“Why come here, though?” Levi asked.

“Because every other safe house was destroyed as well. With no other place to go, we’re headed to Rune, but getting to him is tricky since we don’t know exactly where he is.”

“Coming here puts us all in danger,” Kanta said slowly. No accusation in his voice, just stating facts in his way.

Aidan speared a hand through his hair. “We’re hoping that this would be the last place they’d think we’d dare to come. We’ve heard