Paige lifted her chin. “We didn’t want to mess up her evening. We just wanted to talk to her.”
“And look how that turned out.” His face went hard, his voice cold as he added, “All of you hear me when I say this because I’m absolutely serious: You don’t talk to Imani again until you’re ready to apologise—and that won’t happen unless I’m there to make sure you don’t hurt her any further. If you’re lucky, she’ll forgive you. But I won’t. She’s done nothing to deserve this shit, and none of you have a right to dish it out. She owes you nothing.” His glare fixed on Paige. “And you…you’re the one person I trusted with her. Now? That trust has gone.”
I thought she’d go on the defence, but her face fell. “I—”
He shook his head as he said, “You’re not the person I thought you were.”
With that, he guided me out of the restrooms.
CHAPTER TEN
(Imani)
The Alpha dragon shifter was seriously good-looking. Unkempt russet hair, tall toned body, and electric blue eyes that saw way too much. He didn’t hold a candle to Butch but, still, I wouldn’t kick him out of bed—or, at least, I wouldn’t if my bed wasn’t already occupied.
Two equally good-looking males flanked him, but they weren’t the only ones around. I could sense people standing amongst the trees that fringed the large field. Really, considering the history that existed between our two species, I couldn’t blame the Alpha for being so cautious.
For long moments, no one said a word as we sized each other up. The Alpha took in Butch’s protective body language, and his eyes smiled. Yep, he saw way too much. Then he nodded at the male on my left and greeted simply, “Marco.” The Alpha’s eyes shifted to me, now glinting with curiosity. “You must be his first-born.”
“I must be.”
Marco spoke. “Imani, this is Andres. Andres, Imani.”
Andres inclined his head ever so slightly at me. I gave him a brief nod.
“Ask your questions,” said Andres. Apparently there would be no chit-chat. Good.
“Actually,” I began, “I don’t have any questions. I’m here to pass on a message from the Grand High Pair.”
His lips flattened. “What message is that?”
I lifted my chin. “Whichever dragon drove is planning to obliterate The Hollow should seriously reconsider it.”
The air seemed to chill and the three dragons went unnaturally still. Finally, Andres asked, “What makes you think any such plan exists?”
“Someone had a premonition; they saw the dragons warring with us at The Hollow.”
“Really?” He sounded bored and unconcerned. Granted, I wasn’t expecting fear from him. But, at the very least, I’d expected him to take this seriously.
“I respect that your kind is powerful,” I told him. “But you have one weakness.”
He didn’t like that comment. “We do?”
“Your numbers are low in comparison to ours. The vampires at The Hollow are there because they’re very powerful. If dragons come, they will die. Personally, I think enough dragons have died at the hands of vampires.” I didn’t hide my regret about the latter, and the emotion seemed to appease him slightly.
“The vampire who had this premonition…they lied.”
Of course, Butch tensed. Before he could leap to my defence, I asked Andres, “Why would you say that?”
“If an attack was being planned on The Hollow, I would have heard about it.”
“You’re sure?”
His eyes narrowed. Oh, he didn’t like being questioned.
“The vision was real. Your kind will soon attack mine.”
The certainty in my voice seemed to reach him. “How soon?”
“Soon enough.” Even if I did have an exact date, I wouldn’t have given it to him. That could have led to a self-fulfilled prophesy.
His lips twitched. Why my evasiveness amused him, I couldn’t say.
Frustrated, I said, “Let’s say that, hypothetically, dragon shifters were planning to attack The Hollow. Why might they do that?”
Eyes gleaming, he said, “Hypothetically?”
“Sure.”
“There are only two possible motives. One, your Grand High Vamps made a serious enemy of a drove. Or two, they were hired to attack The Hollow. If the first had occurred, I would know.”
Which left… “Mercenaries.”
“Yes. They will work for anyone, if the price is right.”
Shit. “Maybe you could pass on our message. We truly don’t want to war with your kind. But if there is an attack on our home, we will stand against it. There will be deaths on both sides. I don’t think you want that any more than we do.”
Andres studied me for a moment before shifting his attention to Marco. “We’ll no doubt speak again soon.” As one, he and his dragons turned—giving us their backs to communicate their lack of fear. Whatever.
At my signal, Ian teleported all five of us to the castle entrance, where Sam, Jared, and the two squads waited on high alert.
Sam moved straight to me, but it was Ian she spoke to. “Take Marco inside; this is Hollow business.”