Though I had expected some retribution for worrying them, I hadn't thought the wolves would stoop so low. They knew the humans held dragon eggs in their hands. They knew what those eggs meant to my flight. Omega dragons, male or female, were incredibly rare. Those who could carry eggs long enough to lay them? Even rarer. We held them esteemed above all others, making them the kings or queens of our flights.
What if an omega lay sleeping inside one of those shells? We could forge an alliance with another flight once they found love, perhaps find an omega of our own. We may even be lucky enough to have our own eggs one day.
The chance set my heart on fire. We had sold the nesting ground on the assumption that we would never have an omega of our own; at least not in the lifespan of the wolves. Those eggs were a promise; a chance at a way to better ourselves.
And Hudson was holding it over my head like a steak dangling before a dog.
He winked at me.
If not for the humans in our vicinity, I would have gladly killed him where he stood. As it was, I watched him, fuming, as someone approached us. A scent of brimstone, sage, and curling mint reached me. I breathed it, deeply, and my eyes fluttered shut.
A mage, a human mage, or a witch; some sort of spell slinger, was nearing me. Like unicorns with virgins, they spoke to us on a deeper level. They were our opposites, those whom the planet had chosen to work with Her base powers and invocations. Nariti stiffened beside me and took me in hand once more.
I opened my eyes to look down at the little human from before and realized the scent of magic was coming from her.
Beneath one arm she held an egg as blue as the ocean depths. She reached for me and I drew back, my stomach clenching. Panic swamped me. We had to get that egg away from her immediately. I shot a look at Nariti, who only tightened his grip. Behind his sunglasses, his eyes were wide and slitted as they were in our true form. Sweat broke out on his forehead.
Above us, I heard Hudson or Gabriel take a step back from the rim of the hole.
"I apologize, gentlemen, but I've been told to tell you that any claim to these opals will need to be made to the museum directly. It's in our contract. We keep what significant specimens we find and," the woman paused, hefted the egg, and tossed it in the air lightly between her hands. "These may not be opals at all. When we shook one, it sounded as if there was liquid inside. We don't know what they are, but we'll be cracking them open to try to figure it out. If they're of value and you have a significant claim-"
I didn't hear the rest of it. Cracking them open. Discovering what was within. I tore away from Nariti and walked back up the ladder, grabbing Hudson by the sleeve and whispering, "A private place to speak. Immediately."
He didn't argue. Instead, he guided us to the silence of his bloody Hummer. I sat there, my hands in my lap, trying to steady them. They trembled as if I were attempting to ace some sort of examination.
"Eggs?" Hudson asked.
I nodded.
"That's one hell of a you problem," he said.
I stared over at him. "It is our problem. You own this property and I would be well within my rights to demand satisfaction, wergild, and your expulsion over this."
"You sold me the damn place!"
"After I had been over it with a fine-toothed comb," I said, trying to keep the image of those precious eggs cracked over a hot skillet from my mind. It did not work. "Had I known there were eggs buried, I'd have never considered it."
"Why didn't you? Wasn't your own mother the last omega dragon in the tri-state area? Aren't you alphas supposed to have some kind of nest sensory stuff?"
He had a point, though I was loath to admit it. My heart plummeted. "We are sensitive to living eggs."
"Oh," he said, face falling as he realized what I meant. "Oh, dark moon, I'm sorry. Is there any chance...?"
"There is always a chance," I said. "But each day above ground the odds grow further against them. Did you notice the woman?"
His head cocked to the side, a mongrel through and through. "The one with the blue egg?"
"Yes."
"She seemed awfully comfortable with it," Hudson shrugged. "What's that got to do with anything?"
He hadn't scented it. How? It was so strong, so potent that it had nearly knocked me over. I eyed him. "Are you toying with me?"
"Not over something as serious as this."
"She is a witch. A practitioner. And if she were to come into contact with Nariti or I while holding that egg, it may well hatch."
His head cocked the other way. "You use magic to hatch eggs?"
"It is a ritual, but the power coursing through her may be enough if she were to come in contact with one of our blood," I said. "It is beside the point for the moment. I require her services. And I require those eggs."
"You're shit out of luck. It's not like we can just kidnap some lady and make her twitch her nose over a
