This just makes Nicole more agitated.
Good.
Fuck her.
I didn’t ask to have her bother me during my camping trip.
I didn’t ask for any of this.
Maybe she’ll get bored with me and just walk away. Then we’ll never have to see each other again and we can forget this little encounter ever happened.
“I work for a corporation called Lucky,” she says, and pauses again.
Yeah, I don’t know all the companies in the world and I certainly haven’t heard of this one. I raise an eyebrow, but say nothing. My supplies are starting to get heavy and I wonder if I should just set them down. I didn’t exactly pack my backpack evenly when I took off from my campsite.
“We’re scientists,” she says again. “And we’re going to change the entire world.”
“Why are you telling me this?” Is she going to capture me and shove me in a lab? Is that what this is all about?
“Because my partner has gone off her rocker and I need someone new.”
“I’m not a scientist, if you’re offering me a job.” It’s on the tip of my tongue to spit out that I’m a teacher, but that would be stupid. The more information I reveal about myself, the more she can use against me. I’m not interested in having my life’s profession used against me.
“Scientist? Who said anything about that? You’re going to be my bait.”
At that, my mouth goes dry.
My little plan to keep her talking was stupid.
I’m not interested in being bait for her, nor am I interested in finding out what, exactly she needs bait for. Nicole is evil, through-and-through, and I’m out of here. Any second now, I’ll have a chance to take off, and when I do, I’m leaving. No holding back. No turning back. Just going. I can do it.
“Bait for what?” She says. “I’m sure you’re wondering.”
“I’m not.”
“I’m sure you’re wondering,” she repeats. “Well, there are rumors that there are dragons in these woods,” she says. “And you’re going to help me catch one.”
“There’s no such thing as dragons,” I whisper.
Then I hear a growl and I turn to see a dragon dropping from the sky and landing behind Nicole. It roars, and she seems unfazed. Turning, she says, “Welcome to the party, shifter. I wondered when you’d turn up.”
Chapter Four
Lee
LUCKY KNOWS TOO MUCH about us. I don’t like everything they’ve done to my clan, and I really don’t like that they were apparently waiting for my phone call. It’s not okay that they knew I was going to reach out. It’s not okay that they’re still going strong.
We’ve destroyed several of their buildings in Westbridge Forest. How many more are there? How many more people from their organization are hunting us?
More importantly, are we ever going to catch a break?
I stare at the wall in my little cabin. I should fly back to Fablestone. I should return to my clan. It’s been more than long enough. I’ve been gone too long. I left so I could call the number on Peggy’s business card. When Lucky approached her about finding a dragon baby, Daisy, she took the card they offered and shoved it in her pocket. Cameron and Peggy turned it over to me with the hope that I, being the resident tech genius, would be able to do something with it.
After not knowing what the hell to do, after not being able to track it, I fucking called it.
And she was waiting.
She knew I would be calling.