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I heard something on deck. We were celebrating our wedding anniversary. I told her to relax, I ’ d be right back. The champagne must have been drugged, because by the time I got onto the deck, gun in hand, my head was swimm ing, I could barely hold onto consciousness with both hands. Everything became blurry. I heard a gunshot. Not my gun, but someone shooting at me a second before I felt the bu llet . ”
    “ Did you see who shot you? ”
    “ No. ” Anger at what the bastard had almost gotten away with pounded through Grayson. “ But I know who did it. My partner, Michael James. ”
    “ How can you be so sure? ” David circled Grayson, a quiet predator.
    “ I smelled him. His stink permeated every dragon sense I possess. He was also the one who recommended the champagne to Cate . Told her where to order it as a special gift to me. I don ’ t know how he pulled it off. But I plan to prove it. I also plan to find evidence he embezzled millions from our company. Right now he ’ s throwing hints that Cate is the culprit. ”
    David sucked in an angry breath. “ He needs to be stopped. ”
    “ Yes, I will stop him. As soon as I reconcile with Cate . ”
    “ No. You ’ ll prove it before you beleaguer Cate . ”
    It was Grayson ’ s turn to glare at David. “ The hell I will. ”
    “ You will. And I ’ m here to enforce it. He ’ s a threat to you and your family. ”
    “ You mean Cate ? He ’ s a threat to her? She ’ s in America, safe from Michael ’ s machinations. ”
    “ It takes only one plane ride, Grayson, and it could all be snatched away from you forever. You have much more to lose than your pride this time. ”
    A tingling foreboding crawled over his skin. The dragon caught scent of trouble and roused from its slumber, shaking its scaly head, groggy as if waking from a deep calming enchantment. “ Tell me what ’ s at stake. ”
    “ You ’ re going to be a father, Grayson. Cate will bear you a son by the end of the year. She and the boy will be in confinement for five years. ”
    Oh my God. The dragon bellowed inside. Raged.
    A son.
    Grayson harnessed the monster, yanking hard at the tether to keep control. He squeezed his eyes shut against the transition that threatened at the news. He took a deep breath. Then another. Pulled on his hoard. Added another element to his hoard. A son. Something else, no someone else, precious to him.
    “ I can ’ t see her? ”
    “ No, Grayson. You know the rules. No adult males around mother or child for five years. Until the transition occurs or doesn ’ t occur. ”
    “ I ’ ve mastered the beast. I won ’ t hurt them. ”
    “ Stronger men than you have failed, Grayson. No. Sorry. ”
    Tears smeared Grayson ’ s vision. God, he just wanted to protect her and the baby. He needed them to be well. Safe. Provided for. He understood the restriction in his head, even if his heart couldn ’ t comprehend the need in this moment. Dragon males were a threat to their own children until the child turned five years old. They were predators like lions. If the beast perceived the child as an impediment -- either coming between him and his mate, or between him and food, the dragon would eat his young. He couldn ’ t take that chance. Sadness and regret warred within him. If only he hadn ’ t squandered his time with Cate . Maybe they could have found a way to get through this together, instead of alone on two separate continents. “ I understand. ” No words had been harder to utter in his life.
    “ Good, then we ’ ve got work to do. Looks like Michael James also sent a letter to Cate waiving your custodial rights to the baby. The woman believes you ’ ve abandoned her in her time of need. Time to expose a rat and reclaim your life, old man. ”
    The bellow Grayson let out rattled the whole house.
    It was a war cry, loud and clear . And if Michael James couldn ’ t hear it in London, the bastard soon would feel the brunt of Grayson ’ s