Page 62 of Red Marked

Flint

I’ve been out here since the sky turned gray. Behind me, the facility is waking up. I yawn into my hand and stretch my back.

Star was still sleeping when I was about to go, so I woke her up. I know she’ll want to see the three females leaving.

I feel like shit!

I’ve had about three hours of sleep. The sofa was not comfortable at all.

My eyes are scratchy against the rising sun. I watch as the group of dragons approaches.

Magma’s beast is the biggest of them, scarred along one flank. He circles once, checks the ground, then descends. The others follow him down. The wind from their wings flattens the grass. There’s a rider on the back of one of the dragons, a small figure in a jacket.

It’s Robyn. I’d recognize her anywhere.

She swings a leg over and slides down the dragon’s shoulder before the male has stopped moving. He waits until her boots are on the ground before he shifts. He shakes out his arms once in human form.

Magma’s dragon lowers his head until one huge eye is level with mine. A rumble rolls out of him.

“You’re late,” I tell him, grinning. “The sun’s already above the horizon. I could have slept an extra half hour.”

He huffs smoke into my face and shifts. Then he’s standing in front of me, and he pulls me into a bear hug that drives the air out of my lungs.

“Don’t push it,” he says into my ear. “I’ve been up half the night coordinating this pickup.”

“Get dressed. You’re scaring the humans with your massive cock.”

Magma laughs.

He lets go and takes the sweatpants I hold out. Robyn reaches us soon after. She doesn’t bother with hello. She grabs my face in both hands, pulls me down, and kisses my cheek hard.

“Where are these poor females? I didn’t realize that the female who served us coffee at Smoke & Steam was one of those taken. I believe her name is Koa and that she’s pregnant by one of them.”

I sigh and nod. “She’s happy to be finally going home, but she’s not in a good way. We rescued her just in time, I would say.”

“Bless you, Flint.” She throws her arms around me and hugs me tight. “We miss you.”

“I miss you guys too,” I say into her hair.

She lets me go.

“They’re on the second floor. Saber over here will take you up.” I gesture to him, and he nods.

She nods and starts walking toward the buildings, already unzipping the bag slung across her chest. Saber is at her side. I watch them go.

The gate opens behind me. Pryce comes through it in a charcoal suit and a tie, hair damp and combed flat, and he’s shaved so close there’s a nick on his jaw. He walks too fast and slows himself when he sees me looking.

“Lay it on thick,” I whisper, so that only Magma will hear me.

Magma chuckles.

We walk toward Dr. Pryce.

“Alastair, this is Magma, head of Security Central on Draig Island.” I turn. “Magma, Dr. Alastair Pryce, site director. This is his facility.” I gesture around us.

Magma puts out a hand. Pryce takes it. I watch him try not to wince.

“Dr. Pryce,” Magma says, brows raised. “It looks like you had a very successful night.”