Wicked Burn (Realm Enforcers #3)(78)

“Are you prepared to defend her?” Adam asked, his gaze hard on Nick.

“Sit down before I sit you down, bunny.” Nick turned toward Adam. “I am, and I’m prepared to get her the hell out of there if things go south.”

“The Enforcers have been banned from the chambers,” Adam said quietly.

Simone gasped and sat in the damn chair.

Nick took a deep breath. “Considering the Enforcers are all cousins to Simone, that doesn’t surprise me.” While forcing her underground held appeal, it would put her on the run from the Guard, and that wouldn’t be healthy for her or the baby. “Do you have any insight as to how the trial will go?”

“She’s innocent, so it has to go her way,” Adam said simply.

“Agreed.” Nick forced confidence into his tone.

Adam cleared his throat. “I have to get on the road shortly, but first, time for the two of you to report in.”

Simone took a deep breath. “Well, let’s see. Bear is my half-brother, I’m part dragon, and guess what? Nick and I are going to have a baby.”

Silence reigned in the underground room for a moment. Then, “You’re pregnant?” Adam took one look at Nick and charged.





Simone finished drying the dishes, her gaze out the kitchen window at the jagged rocks leading down to the sea. “How’s your face?”

“Better than Adam’s,” Nick said cheerfully from the small table in the corner.

Simone shook her head. The men had gone at it, throwing punches, both working out stress more than anger. In fact, they’d seemed to enjoy the silly skirmish, and then Adam had taken off to search for Tori even farther north. The man’s razor-sharp focus would lead him to the human female, without question. “He seemed fine about the whole dragon issue.”

“Why wouldn’t he be?”

“I don’t know.” Maybe she’d been a little worried that the Enforcers would think less of her, or at least be pissed she hadn’t told them about her connection to Bear. But they understood the need for secrecy, and frankly, her silence had probably protected Bear through the years. Especially since his other secret, that dragons existed, was far too dangerous to get out. Or at least, it had been. She understood the reason for it, but now was a time for peace, and the dragons should reenter the world.

Nick stood and reached her in seconds, drawing her back into him and wrapping an arm around her waist. “They’re family, sweetheart. They love you no matter what.”

She smiled and smacked his arm. “You are such a pain in the ass.”

“Of course.” He leaned in and nuzzled her ear.

The heat of his mouth sent desire through her body, zinging at several important stops on the way. They did have the night before a helicopter arrived the next day to take her to the trial. She wiggled until his hold loosened and then turned to face him, safely within the circle of his arms.

The door blew open on its hinges, flying past the kitchen and into the table Nick had just vacated.

He pivoted instantly and shoved her toward the refrigerator. “Downstairs. Now.”

She’d barely made it a step when Guard soldiers ran into the room, fully armed and wearing battle gear, including night scopes. She paused and straightened, refusing to run or cower. “This is quite a show for little ol’ me.”

Their flak boots crunched debris on the floor, and their weapons remained centered on her and Nick’s chest. He stepped to the side, partially covering her. “Lower your weapons, now.”

The soldiers didn’t flinch.

The muscles in Nick’s back vibrated, and the room filled with the swell of his fury. “You have guns pointed at a member of the Coven Nine. You will lower those weapons.”

Slowly, the weapons lowered a couple of inches.

One of the soldiers cleared his throat. “By the power of the Nine, we’re to escort you to Dublin, Miss Brightston.”

“My trial starts tomorrow,” she said clearly, showing no fear, even though her insides were absolutely quaking.

He nodded. “I understand, but you’ve been out of contact, and the Nine sent a warrant.”

Well, she couldn’t exactly tell them where she’d been, now, could she? “How did you find me?”

The soldier shrugged. “I don’t know the details, ma’am. Just that we have a force of twenty surrounding the area to take you in.”

Twenty? Jesus. As pissed as Nick was, he could probably fry all their brains, but one or two of them would get off a shot first. Simone couldn’t risk the baby, and since she was headed to Dublin anyway, why not cooperate? She reached out and clasped Nick’s arm. “We’d appreciate the ride, gentlemen.”

Nick’s arm was steel beneath her fingers.

She tightened her hold. “There’s no reason not to go.” Although one more night with him had held a lot more appeal.

“I had plans for the evening,” he rumbled, his gaze not leaving the soldiers.

As did she. She paused. “What kind of plans?”

“The kind involving markings, bitings, and coming hard,” he returned, keeping his body between her and the weapons.

Oh. Heat climbed up her neck to her face. The soldiers didn’t react to the words, but her entire body did. The markings should probably wait until they’d had a good discussion . . . and she had her freedom. “I’ll have to take a rain check,” she said, stepping to his side and nodding at the lead soldier. “Let’s go.”