Losing one of the clan was never easy, but losing a female was even worse given how few of them there were. He couldn't allow his men to be distracted.

Looking at each of his men in turn, Bram said, "Charlie's mate deserves the chance to give her a proper goodbye, but he won't be able to do it if we don't return. Save your grief until we reach home." His men straightened their shoulders and gave slight nods. "Right, then two of you go in front of me and two behind me." Bram moved his gaze to the purple dragon standing above him. "Once we're clear, you know what to do."

The dragon bobbed his head. Bram adjusted his grip on Charlie's body and said, "Right, then let's go."

Two of his men entered the tunnel and Bram followed, careful to keep Charlie's body close. He wasn't about to damage her any further by accidentally banging her head against a sharp rock.

As soon as they reached the tunnel's exit point, he was greeted by the sight of two dragons with large baskets, waiting to carry any wounded back to the clan.

Even though his dragon's impatience had eased at the sight of their fallen clan member and Bram could probably shift to fly home, it felt wrong to leave the dragonwoman alone for her last flight in the sky.

His dragon said, Stay with her. It is best for when we land.

Rather than think about facing Charlie's mate, Bram crawled into one of the waiting baskets and hugged the dragonwoman's body in his arms.

Soon they were all in the air. Bram barely paid attention to the purple dragon bursting free of the building below him, nor the ensuing collapse of the building. The death of one of his own was always hard, especially when she had been on an assignment given by him. There was also the chance more blood was on his hands if Evie, Nikki, or even wee Murray were also dead.

The thought of never seeing Evie again made his stomach drop. She'd wheedled her way into his heart in a short time. Not only would his clan be worse off without her, he would be, too. Life would be lonely without his human.

His inner dragon said, Our mate must be alive. I would know otherwise.

Dragons aren't telepathic. You have no way of knowing if she's alive or not.

She is alive. I won't think otherwise.

His beast was right. Charlie's death was hard enough; constantly thinking of Evie being dead as well would distract him from protecting his clan. As with most of his adult life, his needs would have to come second.

Still, Evie had bloody well be alive. If the hunters had killed her too, he would unleash his dragon on any hunters he could find until Simon Bourne was dead. Bram was done playing nice and by the rules; the next time the hunters messed with his clan, they would regret it. No one else was going to die on his watch if he could help it.

Evie had no idea how long she and Finn had been flying before she recognized some of the surrounding peaks and valleys. They were approaching Stonefire's land.

She was nearly home.

Evie blinked back tears. The adrenaline had mostly worn off during the long flight. After two days of little sleep or food, she was on the verge of crashing.

Yet if she gave in and crashed, she would have to wait even longer to find out who was still alive. Finn mentioned Bram serving as a distraction. Had her dragonman survived? Sure, she believed in him, but after what had happened with Nikki and Charlie, it would only take one canister of periwinkle and mandrake root to bring down the leader of Clan Stonefire.

It wasn't just Bram she was worried about. Murray could still be in the hands of the hunters; it also killed her not knowing which female Protector was still alive.

Her throat closed up and Evie closed her eyes. Tears wouldn't help anyone. If anything, it would sap what little strength she had left. No, she should focus on what needed to be done once she landed. Even if everyone was whole and hearty, there was a lot of shit still to tackle. Stonefire was her clan and she wasn't about to see them fall because of her or the stupidity of the dragon hunters. Her main concern, apart from everyone being alive, was that it was past her deadline to check in with the DDA. While she rather doubted it given the DDA's track record, they could be lying in wait at Stonefire's gates. Handling them wouldn't be easy, but she could do it.

No, she was more afraid of the media circus that could also be waiting. Given everything that had just happened with the dragon hunters, she didn't want the media to make any connection between the incident in Carlisle and Clan Stonefire. Any act of violence, even in most cases of self-defense, ended in a suspension of the sacrifice program, sometimes indefinitely. While Bram would be strong for the clan if that happened, she knew it would devastate him.

Bram. Her dragonman had bloody well better be alive. Life without him would be lonely. She'd miss his humor, his cleverness, and, she wasn't afraid to say, his cock. Stonefire's leader was the whole package and had ruined her for all other men. Since she had no plans of living as a nun, her will alone would ensure his safety. She knew that was impossible, but her willing him alive with every cell of her body couldn't hurt, especially since she was falling in love with him.

Already she dreamed of adopting Murray and starting a family with Bram. If they could ever spend some time together without another threat to the clan or her life, she would fall hard and fast for her dragonman.

Finn made his final descent. Opening her eyes, she clung to the hope that Bram would be there to greet her. Bram, please be alive. I don't know if I can help pick up the pieces of your clan and mobilize them without you.

The Scottish leader slowed his wings and much like Bram had surprised her with his agile movements, Finn was the same way as he rotated his grip on Evie until she was no longer horizontal with her stomach facing down but vertical.

She had just enough time to notice a large tent off to the side of the secondary landing area before the windy backlash forced her eyes shut.

Her feet touched the ground. Before she could open her eyes, Finn released his grip. As the sound of him flying away filled her ears, she wobbled and opened her eyes.

Despite the spinning sensation in her head, Evie scanned the area. When she looked toward the tent, a familiar face raced toward her.

It was Nikki.

She could barely string together the fact Charlie must be dead before the young dragonwoman embraced her in a one-armed hug and said, "Evie! You're alive." Nikki hugged her more tightly. "I'm so sorry we failed to protect you. Bram's words about the place being secure had put me off my 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 shoulders, Evie barked, "Clear the area. If someone's hurt, we don't want Dr. Sid wasting time to push you lot out of the way."

The various clan members glanced at her. For a split second, she hesitated, but then remembered no one in the crowd would hurt her. Unlike with Clan Skyhunter, Evie had special protections. The clan members would never hurt their leader's mate.

Right, Evie. Be the hardass inspector. You can do it. On the next exhalation, she raised an eyebrow and made a shooing motion with her hands. When the dragon-shifters created a pathway, she let out her breath.

Dr. Sid squeezed her arm as she rushed past. As soon as the black dragon laid the basket on the ground, Bram stood up with a naked woman in his arms.

"Bram," Evie whispered. Her dragonman met her eyes and the world stilled around her.

Even at a distance, his pale blue eyes were filled with sadness. Glancing toward the woman in his arms, she saw it was Charlie.

Aware of the clan's eyes on her, Evie made her way quickly but efficiently toward the basket. By the time she reached it, a male dragon-shifter had also approached the basket. Bram's gaze moved to the dragonman. She heard him say, "I'm sorry, Hudson. It was too late. The hunters were cruel, but your mate died fighting to the end. The entire clan will remember her sacrifice and forever honor her service. She will not be forgotten."

The dragonman took Charlie's limp body from Bram and hugged her close. His eyes were wet and voice scratchy when he said, "Thank you for bringing her back to us. Now we can give her a proper goodbye."

Evie's throat closed at the sight of the dragonman holding his dead mate. Evie would also look after Charlie's family. After all, the dragonwoman had been captured protecting her.

Bram nodded and the dragonman walked away with Charlie in his arms.

Then Bram looked at her and she stopped breathing. She was torn between scolding him for taking so long to return and pulling him close to kiss him until they both lost their breaths.

Before she could so much as blink, let alone make a decision, Bram leaned over, picked her up, and placed her in the basket with him. He pulled her flush against his hard body and whispered, "Evie, love. You're alive."

And then he kissed her.

Chapter Eight.

Bram had given in to his dragon's need, hauled Evie's soft body up against his, and not caring who saw, he kissed her.

As he seamed her lips with his tongue, she opened and he devoured her mouth with hard, strong strokes. He'd seen the anger in her eyes and he was determined to make her forgive him. An argument would fire his blood and as much as he wanted to take his mate hard and fast, he didn't have the time.

No, he'd merely have to placate her with his tongue.

As he continued to explore her mouth and squeeze her soft curves against his body, her arms finally wrapped around his chest and hugged him tightly, never surrendering her mouth to him.

The lass had forgiven him.

His dragon roared. The kiss is not enough. I need to feel her skin. The frenzy is becoming harder to control.

Sensing his dragon's tension, he roamed Evie's body with his hands. He cupped her face with one hand and placed his other on her arse. He squeezed her large, squishy arse cheek, wishing he could mold and shape her soft skin without any barriers. But as his dragon roared again to take their mate to safety and claim her, Bram caressed Evie's face with his thumb. The skin-to-skin contact eased his dragon's tension a fraction.

His inner beast said, Please. I need her. Deal with the clan so we can fuck her.

Breaking his kiss with Evie was one of the hardest things he'd ever done, but it was better than taking her in front of everyone.

Staring into Evie's dark blue eyes, he could make out relief, happiness, and even affection. Every cell in his body wanted it to be love, but it was too soon.

Caressing her jaw again, he whispered, "I'm sorry, love. I have plans involving us both naked and alone, but right now, I need to check on my clan."

Evie ran a hand up his chest and gave it a pat. "You mean our clan."

He smiled. "Yes, our clan."

"Good. I only have one condition before you go."

He frowned. "Now isn't the time for conditions, love. I need to see who's hurt and then check in with Kai and Finn. The hunters could be planning an attack right now."

The stubborn glint was in her eye and he resisted a groan. She said, "Just listen a minute, dragonman. It's important."

"Make it quick, love."

She bristled but shook her head. "I don't have time to argue. My condition involves Murray."

He blinked. "Murray?"

Evie nodded. "Yes. I just need you to tell Dr. Sid it's okay for me to take him home and then you can do whatever needs to be done." She leaned against his body and whispered, "We'll both be waiting for you when you're finished. I might even forgive you for taking so long to come back to me and let you fuck me once or twice."

Bram's heart skipped a beat. His dragon tried to take over at the mention of fucking, but he pushed the beast aside to focus on the other half of her words. "You want to look after wee Murray?"

Evie smiled. "More than that, I want to adopt him. He can be the start of our new family."

Ignoring his beast's attempts to break out of his mental prison, Bram searched Evie's eyes. "Are you sure?"

Evie frowned. "You should know by now that if I suggest something, I mean it."

Stroking her waist, he murmured, "Sorry, love, but the last two days have been hell. I can hardly believe it'll end happily for anyone, let alone me."

His mate softened. "I'm here, Bram, and I want to make sure nothing happens to Murray ever again. I think together we can give Murray the love he deserves as well as make sure he's safe." She frowned again. "Just make sure you stay alive to help me. Being a single mother with a dragon-shifter baby is not something I want to experience. Murray needs his dad."

Hearing her call him Murray's dad warmed his heart. "I don't want the lad to be fatherless, now, do I? That's only slightly worse than upsetting my mate."

Evie smiled and he knew he'd won. She gave him a quick kiss. "Good. Now that's settled, let's see Dr. Sid so you can finish up with the clan and come home to me."

He nodded. "Also, I'll have Melanie and Tristan sent over to you. You've been imprisoned for two days and while you're strong, you may yet go into shock."

"I'm not a delicate flower, Bram Moore-Llewellyn. But I can use the help as I need to shower and have not the faintest bloody idea of how to care for a baby."

He squeezed his mate. "You'll do fine, love." He kissed her one more time and pulled away. The loss of her heat stabbed his heart. "Now, I need to find Finn. I hear he's the one who rescued you."

"Yes, he did. But he also killed Neil Westhaven."

Bram blinked. "What?"