Free Seducing the Dragon: Part Four by Jessie Donovan Page B

guard.” The woman leaned back and her brown eyes searched Evie’s. “But even so, the fault is mine. I’m done being naive and stupid. If you give me another chance, I will protect you with my life next time.”
    Tears prickled Evie’s eyes. “Don’t be daft. You have nothing to prove to me. I’m just glad you’re alive.” She squeezed the dragonwoman’s good shoulder. “Charlie didn’t make it, did she?”
    Nikki’s face shuttered. “No, they killed her.”
    Sensing the young dragonwoman’s guilt, Evie gave her friend a little shake and said, “Blaming yourself won’t accomplish anything. Channel your anger and sadness toward defeating the dragon hunters. Understand?”
    Nikki searched her eyes. Her voice was quiet when she said, “You sound like Bram.”
    “Well, I like to think he sounds like me.” Nikki gave a small smile and Evie was glad. She continued, “What about Murray? And speaking of Bram, where is he?”
    Nikki motioned with her head toward the tent. “Bram hasn’t returned yet, but Murray’s over there. Kai’s wing of dragons rescued him from the fleeing scientists. He’s fine, but Dr. Sid is checking him over one last time inside the medical tent just to be sure.”
    Rather than think on why Bram hadn’t returned yet, the desire to see Murray to verify he was okay rushed through her body. The little boy was alone, both of his biological parents dead. He needed a family, and Evie wanted to be his new family.
    Giving her friend one last squeeze, Evie ran across the field and into the open-air tent. Scanning the interior, she saw Dr. Sid’s trademark ponytail and rushed over to her side. Murray was lying in a makeshift cradle and drooling in his sleep. The sight of him alive eased the tightness around her heart a fraction.
    Her voice cracked. “Murray.” She looked to Dr. Sid. “Can I hold him? Please?”
    Dr. Sid studied her a second before she replied, “I can’t find anything wrong with him, apart from needing some sleep. Just be careful not to wake him up.”
    Nodding, Evie gently lifted Murray’s little body and laid him against her shoulder. She breathed in his warm baby scent and closed her eyes to keep herself from crying. The baby might be sleeping and oblivious, but holding his warm weight in her arms brought on a fierce protectiveness she couldn’t describe. Maybe the feeling was what mothers felt when holding their children.
    Squeezing him tighter, she vowed to make sure Murray, and all of the other dragon-shifter children, would have a much safer future. Whatever Melanie Hall-MacLeod needed to help launch her book and make it successful, she would do it. There was no bloody way she’d allow them to be used as blood slaves.
    Evie had no idea how long she stood there with her eyes closed, holding Murray’s warm little body, but the sudden shouting behind her snapped Evie out of her bubble of baby bliss. Opening her eyes, she looked toward the commotion and saw a wing of dragons approaching. One of them even carried a basket.
    She wanted to hold Murray and never let go, but Evie forced herself to lay the little boy down. He would be safe enough with all the medical staff and other dragon clan members watching over him inside the tent. With one last brush of his soft, chubby cheek, Evie moved toward the crowd in front of the medical tent.  
    Scanning the dragons in the sky, she saw one blue beast, but the size and shape was off. It wasn’t her dragonman.
    Her heart hammered in her chest. Where was he? If Kai and Finn had both returned, then the dragons in the sky should be the final wave. Bram should be with them. Unless he was hurt and being carried in the basket.
    Or, worse, he could be dead.
    No. With a deep inhale, she pushed aside her fears and mustered up her DDA inspector persona. She needed to be strong not only for herself, but also for the others. If she showed worry, the rest of the clan would no doubt echo it.  
    Raising her chin and straightening her