Jack squirmed in her arms before crying. Tristan, Samira, and Evie all moved to take him, but Melanie moved her son to her shoulder and stood. “I’ll take care of him.” She looked to Tristan. “See if Bram has a moment. He probably wants to know about the DDA attacks and Evie could use his support.”
Evie opened her mouth in protest, but Tristan cut her off. “I’ll find him.”
As her mate turned and left, their daughter woke up too and cried in unison with her brother. With a sigh, Mel pushed on to take care of her children. Events were snowballing fast. She soon may not have the opportunity to take care of, let alone cuddle, her children over the coming days. She would treasure what time she had remaining.
~~~
Tristan picked up his pace toward the main gate. Each step away from his family went against his instincts, but Bram needed to know the information about the DDA office attacks.
While he grudgingly accepted Evie as Bram’s mate, he wasn’t close with the human female. Only because Melanie had asked him had he gone. Otherwise, the bloody woman would do it herself.
His dragon pushed to the forefront of his mind. You were unable to change her mind. If danger shows up, I will make sure she goes to safety.
No.
She will die because of your carelessness.
Untrue. Your ways will chase her away. She won’t stay if she feels contained. Do you want her to leave us?
She is our mate. She won’t.
Rather than argue, he threw the beast into the back of his mind. At least, the attacks had been in Manchester and London. He didn’t enjoy other people’s deaths, but the distance eased some of his fears about his mate’s life. No doubt, the attack on the press conference earlier was connected to the other two attacks, which meant Melanie wasn’t the sole target.
Tristan reached the gate and was waved through by one of the Protectors. Scanning the grounds, he saw Bram talking with Kai, Stonefire’s head Protector. He moved in their direction.
Once he approached, Bram looked up and frowned. “Tristan, why are you here? I know you want to help with those who threatened your mate, but the best place for you to do that is at her side.”
Tristan grunted. “Your mate needs you.”
Bram turned to face him, his eyes searching Tristan’s. “What happened? Is she okay? Is it the baby?”
“Evie is physically fine. And far as I know, she still carries your young.”
“Then start talking because that was unnecessary,” Bram spat out.
“This wasn’t the only attack today. There was a shooting at the Manchester DDA office and a bomb went off in London. Your female is upset.”
Kai jumped in. “Do you have any details?”
Tristan shook his head. “No, it was some kind of vague news alert.”
Kai looked to Bram and said, “Go to your mate. I can take over here and I’ll also see what my contacts from my army days can tell me.”
Bram nodded. Once Kai took out his mobile phone and walked away, Tristan looked back to his clan leader. “Have you found out any more information about the attack here?”
Bram motioned his head toward the gate. “Let’s walk and talk.” As they moved, Bram continued, “The four shooters are currently with Zain. They haven’t been forthright, but if anyone can get them talking, it’s that towering dragonman.”
Zain was one of the Protectors who had proven his interrogation skills four months ago, when Bram’s mate had been kidnapped. “Your mate doesn’t think the shooters are dragon hunters.”
His clan leader glanced at him. “I agree, but my mate does have a name, Tristan. Would it kill you to call her Evie?”
He grunted. “She is your female and your mate. I will never harm her, but the only human female who matters to me is Melanie.”
Bram gave him a wry look. “Don’t let Mel hear you say that.”
Tristan ignored his friend’s comment. “If it’s not the dragon hunters, then who do you think the shooters work for?”
“It could be any of the extremists, ranging from the old Order of the Dragon Knights to the ultra-conservative Purist Party.”