She imagined Khan himself coming to guard her home, a dragon sitting on the front lawn. The thought would have made her laugh if not for the flashing images of Spencer and Amy in her mind.

“We need to figure this out,” she continued, then shifted her gaze to Kiera. “Most of this is coded, but Rowan and I have gotten an address from the files Amy found. It’s for a location north of here with a facility we suspect is the prime location for this Project Pack 013.”

“Sounds like a party,” Kiera drawled.

“You think it has something to do with wolves?” Miles asked.

“I hope not,” Stacy answered tightly. “But we all know how fond of wolves Victor is. I wouldn’t be surprised to discover it has something to do with those shifters.” She turned to Kiera, “I want you to investigate it from a distance and report whatever you find.”

Kiera stood, nodding. “I’ll go now.”

“You haven’t rested,” Rowan inserted, his voice cold enough to make Stacy and Kiera pause.

“I’ll be fine,” Kiera returned evenly.

Kiera did everything she could to avoid Rowan’s gaze, which perplexed Stacy. Rowan did the same. Everything had been fine between them all evening while assaulting Victor’s estate. What had changed in the past half hour? Stacy decided she didn’t have the energy to apply to their complicated relationship. Let them figure it out for themselves. For now, she had to focus on Victor.

“I’ll walk you out,” Miles offered, following Kiera after giving Rowan a mild glare. The sidhe fae didn’t seem to mind Miles’ suggestion, and soon, Stacy was alone with the dryad guardian of her home. Rowan’s expression was drawn, his gaze distant. What was he struggling with?

“This has to work,” she insisted. “I can’t… If anything goes wrong again…” Fresh tears pricked her eyes. “Will Amy be okay?”

Rowan nodded. “She will. I promise.”

Stacy’s brows furrowed. “Who did you call? Miles didn’t seem happy about it.”

Rowan sighed. “It’s a long story. I will tell you another time.”

Stacy relented, mostly because of the exhaustion sliding through her. Seeing the sorrow in her eyes, Rowan drew her into his arms. He was so much taller, and Stacy couldn’t resist the urge to bury her face in his chest and cry. She thought she had finished crying, but the floodgates opened again.

“I know it’s difficult,” Rowan murmured. “We will get through this, though. Amy will come home.”

Spencer wouldn’t. Stacy couldn’t get that thought out of her mind.

Rowan pulled back, placing strong hands on her shoulders. “Call your father to arrange security, then get some sleep. You need it.”

Stacy agreed. It was a wonder she didn’t topple over and pass out where she stood. “You, too.”

Rowan nodded. “I will.”

He walked from the room, and she pulled in a deep breath. Sleep would come soon, but first, it was time to call upon the Red Dragon.

Wraith finished her task and faded away as silently as she had arrived. Always a pleasant trip up north, she thought as the night folded around her.

In the hospital room, Amy awoke with a start. Gone was the haze and the soothing, warm feeling she’d had while asleep. She still remembered the coaxing voice and those long fingers. I didn’t imagine or dream it, she thought. It was real.

She wondered if it was drugs and the voice belonged to a nurse. Somehow, she couldn’t shake the feeling that what had happened to her was far from normal.

“Ms. Greentree?” a voice called.

Amy turned her head to see a nurse standing nearby, clipboard and pen in hand. Surprise was written on the woman’s face. “Y-yes?” Amy responded.

“You’re awake.” Not a question.

“Yes, I—how long was I out for?”

“Several hours. You were shot in your side. The doctor removed the bullet, and…” The nurse went on, but Amy couldn’t focus on what she was saying. The pain in her side had subsided completely.

“Ms. Greentree?” the voice prompted.

“Sorry. What was that?”

“The police would like to speak to you as soon as you are able.”

“Oh, yes. I-I can do that.” Amy felt like she was still in a daze. Her body felt too heavy and too light at the same time. She wanted to call Stacy, call her mother. She wanted to get the hell out of the hospital and find out what happened at Victor’s estate. She wanted the men who had chased them brought to justice.

“We’ve seen a miracle tonight,” the nurse remarked, her voice tinged with awe.

Amy’s brows furrowed. “What do you mean?”

“Your improvement is inexplicable. There is no logical reason for how you could have healed so quickly.”

Yes, there is, Amy thought. You wouldn’t believe me, though.

Magic, somehow. Someone had been here and used magic to heal her. She had no idea who. She hadn’t recognized the voice. She wondered if the person came of their own accord or if someone else had sent them. Stacy? Rowan?

Amy thought of something else. The circumstances that had driven her to this hospital returned to her mind in full force. “H-how is the man who came here with me? How is Spencer doing?”

CHAPTER NINETEEN

The balcony connected to Stacy’s room overlooked the back portion of the estate. She stood there dressed in pajamas with her gaze directed at the clouds gathering above. They covered the moon, and the pale silver light cast shadows against them. Stacy could have sworn she saw the image of a dragon etched against the moonlit clouds. Was it there, or was she so tired she’d made it up?

She shook her head and issued a deep sigh. Regardless, the symbol reminded her of the ancient lineage and legacy of the Drakethorns. What came next with Victor would be another marking stone in that legacy.

She pulled her phone from her pocket. Her father deserved to know what happened and what she planned to do, not only as the man who raised her and gave her this home but as the Drake whose dragon power flowed through her veins.

Stacy inhaled deeply, gathering her courage before calling.

“Stacy?” her father answered. “It’s late. Is everything all right?”

Stacy couldn’t help the tears that streamed down her face. She thought she could keep it in, but his concern had her breaking down again. Her voice was choked when she replied, “Something’s happened.”

She told him about Amy and Spencer going to the Corbinelli gala and her, Rowan, and Kiera assaulting Victor’s home in Aurora. She told him what happened to Spencer and Amy’s current state. It flowed out of her so quickly that Khan stopped her several times to ask clarifying questions.

Stacy couldn’t quite believe she’d told him all that. She had held back in recent months with her father, her pride wounded when she had to ask him for help. Now, the weight of failure due to Spencer’s death and Amy’s near death was too much to bear alone.

“I’m in over my head, Dad,” she admitted. “I won’t risk anyone else dying, but I have to bring Victor down. He’s hurt too many people. I know you’ll say I shouldn’t because I need to be safe, but I’m going to proceed with or without your blessing. I can only hope you will help me. Please.”