"Ah, but what if the father is a human? That might change my odds."
"I've never thought about that."
He raised his brows. "Backing out now?"
She narrowed her eyes. "Of course not. It's a bet, then."
He kissed her and Nikki melted into him. Rafe's kisses tended to make her forget about what they were arguing about; she needed to make sure he never found out that was his secret weapon.
Her dragon merely chuckled.
As Rafe maneuvered them to start walking again, he wrapped an arm around her waist. "Now, let's find a way to make settling our bet a reality."
As they strode inside the Protectors' central command building, Nikki took a deep inhalation to calm her stomach. It's time to get to work, baby. Work with your mummy on this.
Her dragon snorted. Yes, because that will work.
It just might, dragon. After all, if we can't get rid of Christie, then I will lose the male I love, our child will lose a father, and he will lose us. I'd say that's motivation enough for anyone, especially a clever child of mine.
Rather than argue, her beast shrugged and settled at the back of her mind. Not even her dragon was going to mess with a mother-to-be on a mission to protect her child's future.
Chapter Twenty-One.
Two days later, Rafe pushed back from the table in one of the meeting rooms inside the Protectors' central command. "We're getting fucking nowhere. Two days and no one has ever heard of this Toby."
Nikki frowned. "You better not tell me you're giving up."
"Of course not," Rafe barked. "But it might be time to change tactics." He waved to the telly on with the sound muted. "Christie is being sworn in today. The longer he's in office, the easier it will be for him to spin lies and lower everyone's defenses. Then he'll pounce, and we won't be able to do anything about it."
Aaron shrugged from his seated position at the opposite end of the rectangular table. "Or, it'll be easier to catch him slipping up."
"Optimism isn't going to help our case, Caruso. We need a new approach," Rafe answered.
"Rafe." He looked to Nikki, but she was pointing to the TV behind him. "Look."
Following her finger, he looked to the TV. The camera followed Christie and three other men as they walked toward the podium outside the London DDA office.
One of the men walking behind Jonathan Christie looked a hell of a lot like their picture of Toby.
Rafe swiped up the composite sketch and held it to the TV. The bloke was a dead ringer. "It's him." He looked to Nikki. "Turn on the sound."
She complied, and the announcer's voice filled the room.
"After a long vacancy, the Department of Dragons Affairs will swear in its latest Director. Jonathan Christie, the former Deputy Director, has promised to put in place stricter enforcement and punishment for those who take arms against the dragon-shifters. The vast majority of the population applauds his efforts.
"However, the dragon hunters and Order of the Dragon Knights have been silent so far on the new appointment. In an effort to protect the new Director, security was doubled for today's event. As we all should remember, the DDA offices in London and Manchester were bombed and attacked last year, respectively, and are only now returning to business as usual."
As the announcer continued to ramble off details about the new DDA offices and their goals, Rafe watched the man he knew as Toby talk and confer with Christie. What he wouldn't give to be a fly on one of their shoulders. For all they knew, the pair could be gloating about getting away with their attack.
Rafe may not have proof yet, but his gut told him he would be able to find it somehow.
He then looked to Aaron. "I need you to phone Evie Marshall. She needs to put in a request for the attackers to be brought back here for more questioning."
Aaron took out his mobile but didn't dial. "We need a reason to bring them back."
Nikki chimed in. "Tell them we found new evidence and need them to confirm it. Per the agreements with the British government, we have the right to request a temporary transfer of prisoners for questioning when new evidence arises."
With a nod, Aaron dialed and moved to the far side of the room.
Nikki stood and moved to Rafe's side. He wrapped an arm around her just as the announcer introduced the men on stage.
"Standing with the new Director are some new recruits. The man directly to his left is Tobias White, a former member of the Royal Air Force. He will fill a newly created position-Director of Domestic Terrorism. The new department within the DDA will focus on terrorist acts toward dragon-shifters. The man to White's left is..."
Rafe didn't hear the rest of the introductions. "Bloody traitor. The dragons have helped the RAF as much as the army in recent years. He'll probably help the newly dubbed terrorists avoid being caught."
Nikki patted his chest. "If we can get even one of the attackers from two weeks ago to confirm Toby, or Tobias, was their leader, we can arrange for Toby to be brought to Stonefire for questioning. If Christie hired him to set up the attack, Zain will be able to find out."
Before he could reply, Aaron strode over. "Evie's talking to the DDA right now. We should know their answer soon." Aaron paused, but finally added, "I hate to be the devil's advocate, but what if the DDA refuses to cooperate?"
Rafe tightened his hold on Nikki. "Then we'll find another way. The hard part was locating the bastard. But now, we know where he works. Kidnapping him should be easy enough."
Nikki frowned. "That's illegal. If we're caught, it won't end well and will hurt our case more than help it. Especially if Toby refuses to talk. As hard as it will be, Rafe, I think we should assign surveillance first. Any minor infraction will be enough to have him questioned. And if that doesn't work, then Jane could have one of her journalist friends set up a fake interview and try to find something out that way."
He brushed Nikki's cheek and smiled. "I love your cleverness, Nikki Gray."
She smiled in return, but Aaron's phone rang and ruined the moment. Aaron answered it. "Evie?"
Rafe was too far away to make out the other side of the conversation, but after a minute, Nikki blurted out, "No."
"What?"
She met his gaze. "The DDA has no record of the prisoners ever being delivered, let alone a record of taking possession of them from Stonefire. It's as if they disappeared."
Rafe cursed. "I bet my life Christie had a hand in it."
"But Rafe, we need proof," Nikki pointed out.
"Then we're going to get it. Tobias White is the key to taking down Jonathan Christie." Rafe looked to Nikki, Aaron, and back again. "I have a plan."
Half an hour later, Nikki stood next to Rafe and waited for Bram to answer. Finally, Stonefire's leader sighed. "I don't like it. I can't do anything to help whilst Rafe is in London."
Rafe nodded toward his sister. "Jane will be with me, and I have a network I can rely on. It's easier for us to walk around in disguise in London than any dragon-shifter."
Nikki spoke up. "I'm shorter than most dragon-shifters, though. I could blend in."
Rafe touched her cheek. "We talked about this. Clan Skyhunter considers London part of their territory. Between the hunters and knights, Stonefire can't afford another enemy. Let Jane and I use our human status for something." He winked. "It can help make up for our substandard hearing and eyesight."
Nikki's anger eased a fraction at his attempt at humor. "One of the few pluses to being human, I suppose."
Evie's voice interrupted Rafe's response. "Just be aware that if you are caught, I'm not sure how much I can do. Christie has already lined up a shuffle in the staff. The few people I trust are being assigned to less important and influential positions within the DDA."
Rafe looked to Evie. "I'm going to try my best not to get caught. Although if it does happen, the list of names you provided will be extremely helpful. I now know who to trust."
Jane jumped in. "Besides, I still know quite a few influential people within the BBC and The Times. You'd be amazed at what knowing off the record can help you in a tight situation."
Kai grunted. "Just remember to stick to Rafe's plan." Jane opened her mouth, but Kai beat her to it. "You're clever and brilliant, but Rafe knows how to run an operation. Follow his orders so you come back to me."
Jane sighed. "You worry too much, Kai. But I promise to try my best. However, if Rafe tells me to jump off Tower Bridge, I'm not going to listen."
Kai shook his head, but it was Bram who responded. "I appreciate humor and teasing to calm your nerves, but we need to act fast before there's another attack. I have a feeling there will be one or more coming." He looked to each person in turn in the room. "You have an hour until it's dark and need to leave. Spend time with your mates, say your good-byes, and then report to the hidden back entrance. Everything you need will be waiting for you."
As Nikki and Rafe nodded and turned to leave, Bram added, "You do this, Hartley, and I will fight with everything I have to keep you on Stonefire."
Nikki drew in a breath. "Even if the law doesn't change?"
"Even then," Bram answered. "I've become quite addled by love myself, and I want all of my clan members to have the same chance, regardless if they're male or female."
Nikki didn't have the heart to tell Bram that Rafe didn't love her yet. Instead, she whispered, "Thank you."
Bram waved them out. "Go. The clock is ticking, and you don't want to waste your precious time with me."
Rafe murmured, "Thank you, Bram," before guiding Nikki out of the room.
As they walked out of Bram and Evie's cottage, Nikki's heart beat double-time. Rafe was an accomplished soldier. Compared to some of his past assignments, the one in London was relatively simple.
And yet...
Her dragon spoke up. You should tell him how we feel.
I don't want to scare him off.
Her beast sighed. He's devoted to us. He won't leave.
Nikki knew that rationally, but sometimes she still had a hard time believing it. Being abandoned by her mother had done a number on her, to say the least.
Rafe's voice interrupted her thoughts. "If we have a daughter, you should name her Rafelia after me if I don't come back."
She pushed aside the ridiculous name to focus on what was more important. "Of course you're coming back. I'm not changing a year or more's worth of nappies by myself."
He grinned. "So that's the only reason you want me to stick around? To change nappies?"
"You may have a few other uses," she muttered.
Rafe laughed. "Then another one should be to use my name as inspiration for our daughter. She'd never have to worry about someone else having her name."
"Exactly. The poor dear would have to grow a backbone fairly quickly, or be forced into hiding during most of her adolescent years."
"Any child of ours will not lack a backbone. I'm fairly confident about that."
Nikki couldn't keep up the lightheartedness any longer. "Don't joke about not coming back. You will come back, plain and simple."
"For more than changing nappies?" he asked teasingly.
Nikki stopped walking and faced her human. "I'm serious. I'm not sure I can survive another heartbreak, especially since I love you this time around."
Rafe stilled and Nikki mentally cursed. Why, oh why had she told him that?
Her dragon huffed. The truth is always best.
Cupping her cheek, Rafe whispered, "Tell me again."
She could barely hear anything above the thumping of her heart. Swallowing, she decided in for a penny, in for a pound. "I love you, Rafe Hartley. And the thought of you not coming back to me or seeing our child born shatters my heart."
Five long seconds ticked by and Nikki wondered if she'd just made the biggest mistake of her life. Then Rafe smiled slowly, and she finally breathed again.
Leaning closer, his breath tickled her lips as he spoke. "You are stubborn, opinionated, a bit bossy, and bold. You're different from any woman I've ever met." Nikki's happiness morphed into a slowly burning anger. Pointing out her more negative qualities had to be a joke. Maybe Rafe needed a kick in the cock. She'd been hurt by his words before and didn't need it again.
But Rafe continued before she could say or do anything. "And I love all of those qualities about you."
She eyed him. "I'm not sure what to say to that. Was that supposed to be a compliment?"
He stroked her cheek. "It means, you bloody woman, that I love all of you. I could say you were beautiful, caring, funny, and kind. But any man could say that. I want you to know that it's what sets you apart that I love most of all." He placed a hand on her abdomen. "And as crazy as it may be, I hope all our children share those same qualities because the world needs more people like you, Nikki. I love you."
Nikki opened her mouth and shut it.
Rafe Hartley loved her. And not just her ability to breed or be a soldier, but all of her.
Her beast stretched her wings. Of course he does. Why wouldn't he?
Tears prickled her eyes. "Tell me now if you're serious, Rafe. I can't handle it if you're just saying you love me before a mission to make me feel good and then come back only to pretend it's true for my sake."
He growled as he moved his hand to her back and pulled her flush against him. "We really need to work on your trust issues. You are fucking beautiful, clever, and designed as if a perfect fit for me." He nuzzled her cheek and then met her gaze again. "I want you as my mate, Nikki Gray, if you'll have me. Because even if it takes my entire lifespan to convince you of how bloody wonderful you are and how much I love you, then I'll do it. I'm not about to let you go and give another bloke a chance."
Her dragon hummed. Trust him.
Not wanting to lose the best male she'd ever known, she took the plunge and nodded. "I'll mate you, Rafe Hartley. But on one condition."
He frowned. "What?"
"The name Rafelia is off the table."