Page 244 of Red Marked

“I didn’t think you’d pull it off, Draiger, but you did. Thank you,” she says. “Thank you for looking after Star and for helping us.”

I nod.

“Star did most of the heavy lifting.”

Scarlet gives one short laugh that’s mostly wet, shakes her head, and goes back to the others.

I give them another minute. Then I put my hand up.

“Attention, everyone.” They quiet down fast. “We’re leaving now. All of us. We’re flying to the rehabilitation clinic. We need to stick together. There are still ferals between here and there, and I’m not losing anyone tonight.” I look around at all of them.

Heads nod.

There are whispers.

Star looks over at me. She has a smile on her face, and she has never looked more beautiful. For a moment, I can’t take my eyes off her. Then I force myself to look away.

Saying goodbye to this female is going to be fucking impossible. I’m not looking forward to it.

67

Star

The clinic comes up out of the dark in front of us. It’s all floodlights, the pale square of the pad, and the tower with its one lit window.

The guard is on his feet before we’ve descended.

He starts waving his arms. He’s calling on the radio.

Flint is up front. He chuffs. Atlas and Rex are on either side so that the guard can see them too.

Flint lands first, everyone else soon after. The pad is full of dragons in various degrees of shift.

Willow clips Raven on the way in. Solar overshoots and has to circle back. Somebody’s tail takes out the shifting screen, and it skids across the tarmac and stops against Fenn’s foot.

Then everybody is shifting, and the pad is bare skin and hair and voices. Rift and I dress quickly and then find items to give the females to cover themselves with.

Flint is already dressed. He hands his shirt to Willow, who pulls it over her head.

“Atlas. You’ve got security,” he tells the male. “Meet them at the gate, and nobody sets foot on this pad until I say so.”

“Done.” Atlas is already moving.

“Rift. Star.” Flint’s eyes land on us. “Get the females inside. The canteen is the only room big enough. They’ll have to camp in there tonight. Strip the linen closet. Grab whatever’s in the lost-and-found box.”

“On it, boss.”

“Yes, sir,” I say.

Two guards come around the side of the admin block, and then two more, and Atlas walks straight to them with his hands where they can see them.

“Stand down. Head of security’s orders. Everyone in this yard is here with his authority.”

“Sir, there are—” One of the guards is looking past him at the pad. “Those are…”

“Females. Yes. Eyes on me, Colby.” Atlas steps into his line of sight.

The residence wing door bangs open.