The Dragon's Claim

Chapter 6

Sasha

My heart is pounding in my chest, and every muscle in my body feels like it's on edge, but I force myself to remain still. Don't flinch. Don't show weakness. I look at the others in the room. They all stare at me with curiosity, suspicion, and something else I can’t quite name. Dorgan is the one who unsettles me the most. The way he looks at me, it's like he's seeing into every corner of my soul, every dark, hidden thought. His eyes shine silver, with those distinct reptilian features, astonishing. My hands are clammy, but I keep them steady at my sides, refusing to let them tremble. I'm a damn soldier, trained for this. I can handle it.

I sense Pan behind me. His protective stance reminds me I'm not alone, but it also increases the pressure. I don't want him to fight my battles for me. This is my mess, and I have got to clean it up.

Dorgan's voice breaks through the silence, calm and composed. "Why do you think your life is in danger?"

I swallow hard and try to think, but the truth feels like heavy chains around my chest. Everything I thought I knew was a lie. I take a deep breath and force myself to meet his gaze. It feels tough, but I won’t back down.

"I recently found out that I've been lied to for years," I say, my voice more steady than I feel. "I was being groomed for some role I still don't fully understand. And I got my hands on something... something big. Something that could cripple the General's organization."

I sense the gravity of every word, like I'm pulling a thread and watching the whole thing unravel. I know what I'm saying could destroy me. It could destroy Pan, too, but I can't hold this back anymore. This is the truth, and they deserve to know it. There's one thing I need to make clear before I share the rest of this. The stakes are too high.

"I need reassurance," I say. My voice sounds stronger than I thought, but I still feel uncertain. "I need you to promise that no matter what I say, no matter what comes out, I'm not going to be the reason Pandeo pays for his past. He's found a place here. A home. He deserves that. Please, I can't be the one to rip that away from him."

A strange silence falls over the room, thick with the implications of my words. Pan is practically vibrating with tension behind me. I can feel him holding his breath like he's afraid the ground might drop out from under him. I can almost hear his inner conflict. This is about him, but it’s also about me. If they don’t believe what I’m saying, everything could fall apart.

Dorgan leans back in his chair, his gaze never leaving mine, calculating something in his mind. I hold my ground, refusing to look away. The quiet tension is maddening, but I don't dare break it. I can't. This is the moment when everything could change.

Finally, Dorgan speaks, his tone softer but no less commanding. "You're trying to negotiate safety for Pandeo, but what about yourself? Wouldn't this information implicate you?”

I blink, caught off guard by the question. The truth stings, and the fact that they don't know everything yet is making me nervous. They don't know about Pandeo. And yet, there's a part of me that's relieved—because maybe they don't know everything. I swallow again, the bitter taste of fear on my tongue.

"If this information implicates me," I say, pushing the words through clenched teeth, "I'll accept the consequences. I'm not asking for a free pass. But I am asking for fairness. Whatever happens, I need to be treated fairly."

Pan growls from behind me, but I don't turn to look at him. I keep my focus on Dorgan, trying to stay composed. Pan would die before letting me face anything alone, but right now, I have to be the one looking out for him.

Dorgan's eyes narrow as he processes my words. The room feels suffocating. I can hear Pan's growl reverberate through the air, but Dorgan doesn't flinch. He simply lifts a hand, and with that one small gesture, the room goes silent.

"So, you're telling me," Dorgan says slowly, his gaze unwavering, "that all you need from us is immunity for Pandeo? You'll share everything with us, and we do with you as we please?"

The words hit like a slap, and for a moment, I can't breathe. What am I doing? This feels like a game of Russian roulette, and the barrel is pointed right at me. I'm asking for my life to be in their hands, and in the same breath, I'm asking them to take Pan's too. I close my eyes for a moment, gathering the last shreds of my courage.

Pan growls again, his frustration boiling over. "This is ridiculous! No one is going to punish you!"

But I don't flinch. I know that I have to stand my ground, even if the fear is choking me. Dorgan looks calm, but there's a hint of something in his eyes that I can't identify. All I can do at the moment is nod my head to affirm what he said. He releases his breath and leans forward.

"No one will punish you unjustly because of your parentage," his voice remains low and controlled. "We're already aware of Pandeo's past, Sasha. We know what he was forced to do. He's one of us now. We won't hold his past against him."

I blink, surprise sweeping over me. I hadn't expected this—they already know? How much do they know? How much has Pandeo shared with them? I try not to let the confusion show, but my heart is racing.

"As for you, I cannot promise you that there will be no persecution if required. But I can promise you a safe place. I can promise you fairness. That's the most I can offer."

A rush of relief floods me. I hadn't expected this much fairness. I wasn't asking for a free pass; I was asking that they wouldn't treat me like a criminal before I even had a chance to speak. It's more than I expected.

I nod, feeling my throat tighten. Then, I start sharing my story, bit by bit. I hope they believe me and see that I'm not the enemy. That I was as much a victim of my father as everyone else.

Dorgan

Sasha's voice trembles as she speaks, and my heart aches in a way I didn't expect. The pain in her words cuts deeper than I anticipated. She just shared something I suspected, but it feels much stronger coming from her. The General. That bastard.

"Last night, I overheard the General in a discussion with the Scientist in his employ. I’m part of an experiment. It aims to create a weapon that can target your kind without any drawbacks. I also overheard the General saying that he was willing to sacrifice me for the project if necessary. The way he spoke about me felt like a business deal," Sasha says. Her voice shakes a little, but her eyes are firm as she pushes on. I can see it now—this was a life she was living, a life that was traded like property. She wasn't a daughter to him. She wasn't even a person. She was a tool.

A surge of anger rises in my chest, but I keep it under control, listening as she pushes forward with the truth. "The Scientist seemed very eager and interested in what the General had to say. I’m not sure about their plan or my part in it, if it’s biological or something else. I did know that I had to leave; I was no longer safe. As I escaped, I found a camp. I didn’t… I didn’t know…" Her voice fades, and I notice her blinking back tears.

The last words land like a heavy blow, the truth pressed against my ribs, stealing my breath. The part of me that thought she still saw the General as something close to a father has shattered. She wasn't blind to his cruelty, but the truth was far worse than I expected. I now see the deep betrayal in her eyes. She realizes that the man she trusted—her own flesh and blood—views her as expendable. A weapon. A pawn.

I take a step forward. My instincts urge me to comfort her and offer solace. But before I can move, I see her shift. She reaches into her pocket, and then it happens.

Kuma's already on high alert, moving to shield me like I'm some sort of helpless child. Dael follows his lead, his hand hovering near the hilt of his blade. The tension in the room spikes, and for a moment, the air is thick with hostility. Of course, they're just doing their job. But the last thing I need right now is more tension.

She flinches. Pan steps closer, pulling her into a protective stance. His back faces the room, daring anyone to challenge him. He's been watching over her like a hawk ever since she walked in. I'm getting sick of the constant posturing. Enough.

"Stop!" I bark out, shoving my way between them and taking a deep breath.

"Sorry," Sasha says quickly, raising her hands in the air, a gesture that's meant to calm the room down. "I have something that might be important to you." She explains, her warrior mask in place.

I stare at her, surprised by how cool and controlled she seems despite the surrounding chaos. She waits for me to nod before she pulls out a folded piece of paper. It's a map of our location, along with something else. An external hard drive.

She's still shaking, but she stands strong now. She's been through enough not to be intimidated by our reactions, and that earns her my respect. I need to focus, not let myself get caught up in the emotions of it all.

“I was hiding after overhearing my father. I slipped into his office. If this is who he really is, I knew I couldn’t afford to waste time. I copied everything critical from his computer.” She explains calmly, like a soldier after a mission, “I deleted some files—enough to hurt him but not to draw immediate attention. Trying to slow him down. And buying me time to escape. I made sure there was no trace I’d been there.”

Myan, always the opportunist, struts into the room at that very moment. I notice the gleam in his eyes when he sees Sasha and the hard drive.

"Well, well, well," he drawls, his voice smooth as ever. "Looks like we've got ourselves a jackpot." He moves toward her, eyes glinting like a predator. But before he can get closer, I step in between them. My body instinctively shields her.

His eyes widen with surprise at the sudden movement, but I shoot him a glare sharp enough to make him take a step back.

"Oh no, no, no," Myan says with a smirk, completely unbothered by my interference. "Don't worry, Alpha. I'm here to help." His tone is light, but the subtle flirtation in his words is unmistakable. "Sugar," he adds with a wink, addressing Sasha.

Myan, I groan to myself. Of course.

I feel a strange wave of possessiveness rise in me. I'm nearly ready to snap when I notice her quiet breath and the faint blush on her cheeks. Damn it. I don't know why it bothers me. Maybe it’s because she has been through so much. The last thing she needs is some charming i***t making her feel uneasy.

I step in front of Sasha, a subtle growl creeping up in my chest. "Not now, Myan," I growl, my tone clipped and firm. "Get back to your post."

"Just here to let you know that Bells has found something." He smirks, winks at Sasha, and strolls out of the room at his leisure.

Sasha looks startled, unsure of what exactly transpired between us. But she seems to calm herself quickly, nodding her understanding. She's stronger than I gave her credit for.

"Thank you," she says softly. "I'm hoping that the information on here can assist your cause and maybe save some lives."

Her eyes meet mine for a moment; that strange pressure blooms in my chest once more, but I push it aside. She's not here for that. She's here to give us something more important than my strange urge to protect.

"Is it okay with you?" I ask, setting aside thoughts of Myan and his antics. "I'd like to meet my team and discuss everything you've shared." Especially the data on that drive. I need to be sure we understand what we're dealing with."

Sasha gives me a nod of understanding, and I see her tense up, her mind racing as she knows exactly what is at stake here.

"Sure," she replies. "I'll wait." She turns to Tivani, who's now standing by the door with a smile.

"Come with me," Tivani says, and Sasha follows her out of the room.

As the door closes behind them, I sit back down, trying to make sense of everything I've learned in the last hour. I glance over at Kuma and Pan, who still seem a little too keyed up for my liking.

"Stay focused," I mutter. "We've got work to do."

But in the back of my mind, I'm thinking about Sasha. It's about the truth she revealed, the hard drive in front of me, and the future we now have a fair chance to fight for. It's a battle that's far from over, but it's one I can't back down from.