Faye cleared her throat. “If you say so.”
Cat placed a hand over her heart. “Why, is Faye MacKenzie blushing? I’m not sure I’ve seen that since one of our classmates pinned you to the ground during a wrestling match and tried to kiss you.”
“Desmond Smith. I forgot about him.”
“See? We have a lot to catch up on. I was nervous about being assigned someone like Brodie MacNeil, who rarely says two words. You are a much more entertaining choice.”
As Faye looked at her childhood friend, it was as if they’d last talked a few days ago rather than many years ago. Friends like that were few and far between.
They finally reached Sylvia MacAllister’s restaurant, Dragon’s Delight. As she watched Cat order food for them and Faye exchanged pleasantries with Cat’s mother, she realized how much she missed having a female friend. True, she got along with her brother’s mates, but in the army and as a Protector, she’d always been surrounded by males.
She only hoped she didn’t break Cat’s trust if she received the assignment. Because as much as Faye wanted a female friend to talk with, she wanted to track down the traitors more. Accompanying Cat on her art show trip would be the perfect way to do it. All she needed to do was convince her cousin, Finn, it was a good idea.
~~~
Grant finished reading Fergus’s report for the third time when someone knocked on the door.
His dragon perked up. Maybe it’s Faye.
Ignoring his beast, Grant shouted, “Come in.”
The door opened to reveal the blond-haired, brown-eyed form of Lochguard’s clan leader, Finlay Stewart.
Grant raised an eyebrow. “I wasn’t expecting you, Finn. Is something wrong?”
“Not wrong, exactly. But I have a proposition for you.”
He hoped Faye hadn’t gone to her cousin and asked for a favor. “What can I do for you?”
The corner of Finn’s mouth ticked up. “If you’re being nice to me for Faye’s sake, you can stop.”
“So she told you, then.”
“Not everything, but enough.” Finn sat down in the chair across from Grant’s desk. “She mentioned not having a permanent place and made a suggestion.”
“If she’s wanting to go back to the front lines, I won’t clear it, Finn. Not even for you.”
“To be honest, I wouldn’t, either. At least not yet. She still needs to fully rebuild her confidence. However, Faye has recovered enough to resume some duties. She wants to accompany Cat MacAllister on her exhibition around Scotland.”
His beast huffed. She either wants to run away from us, search for the traitors herself, or both.
That gives me an idea.
Grant replied, “I was thinking of accompanying Cat as well.” Finn raised his brows in question, and Grant continued, “I need to scout locations without the DDA getting in the way. It’ll be easier to slip away for a few hours undetected if the DDA already knows I’m off our lands.”
“Are you sure it’s not for another reason?”
He knows, his dragon stated.
He ignored his beast. “No. Faye can handle the actual security detail, and I can be the back-up who ensures the surrounding areas are free of threats.”
“The real question is whether the pair of you can work as a team or not.” Finn leaned forward. “For the next minute, you are not my head Protector and I’m not your clan leader. You are the male who angered my kin and I’m her oldest living male relative who needs to look out for her.”
Since Grant had worked with Finn for years, the sudden change didn’t intimidate him. “Say what you need to say, as long as I get my defense.”
Finn’s pupils flashed. “You hurt her once before. If you do it again, I will challenge you. Understood?”
“And what would Faye say if she knew you were here speaking without her knowledge?”
“She would eventually come around.”
Not likely, his dragon muttered.
Grant agreed with his beast, but from experience, he knew that arguing the point further with Finn would go nowhere when it came to his family. So, Grant merely answered, “I will treat her as I would any of my staff. If she disobeys, I won’t be lenient, not even if it means pissing you off, Finn.”
After one long second, Finn nodded in approval. “I respect that.” He stood up. “I’ll let you deliver the good news. Unless there’s anything else for you to report, I need to check on Arabella. She’s getting close to her due date, and I don’t want anything to go wrong.”
Arabella MacLeod was Finn’s mate, originally from the English dragon-shifter clan called Stonefire in Northern England. She was also pregnant with triplets. “No, there’s nothing really new to report about the traitors or any other threat beyond the usual caution. I hope my trip with Cat and Faye will eliminate at least part of the danger to our clan.”
“Aye, I hope so, too. The rebuilding has gone well, but it’d be nice to have something to celebrate. Keep me updated whilst you’re gone. I’ll also try not to scare Cooper too much in your absence.”
Cooper Maxwell was Grant’s second-in-command. “You can try, but Iris sees him as a younger brother and is a wee bit protective. I wouldn’t want to cross her.”
Finn grinned. “I’ll make sure to tell Cooper you only trust him to watch the clan with Iris here.”
“Finn….”
Lochguard’s leader waved goodbye and exited the room without another word.
His dragon spoke up again. By spending time with Faye, you can grovel and convince her to kiss us.
I’m not going to grovel, dragon. Besides, I plan to work. It’s not often I get clearance to roam Scotland without the DDA watching my every move. I’m going to locate my uncle and the rest of the traitors before we come back to Lochguard, even if it kills me.
His beast fell silent, and that worried him since his dragon always wanted the last word.
Grant would just have to be extra careful around Faye. After all, she would be sharing a room with Cat, and Grant would have his own. Without her scent or tantalizing eyes beckoning him to claim her, he could focus on what was important—protecting the clan.
Chapter Four
A few days later, Faye paced the length of Cat’s bedroom and back again. Her friend’s voice filled the room. “If you don’t calm down, Grant’s going to know something’s wrong.”
She spun around to face Cat. “Nothing is wrong. I just can’t fucking believe he’s going to babysit me.”
Cat tilted her head. “Didn’t he say he wasn’t? Something about looking for someone whilst we’re touring Scotland?”
She waved a hand through the air. “That’s his cover. No doubt his dragon doesn’t want me out of their sight. They both probably think I’ll get myself killed within hours of stepping outside of Lochguard.”
Cat rolled her eyes. “You can stop with the exaggerations. My youngest brother, Jamie, is overly dramatic all the time. It never accomplishes anything with me, let alone our mum.”
Faye growled. “I’m not being dramatic. I was once head Protector and now I can’t do anything without a babysitter.”
Zipping up her luggage, Cat moved to stand in front of her. “Then just do your bloody best and forget about what Grant thinks. You’re letting him get into your head, Faye. Don’t chance throwing away your future to impress a lad who hurt you not once, but twice.”
“I’m not trying to impress him.”
Cat raised an eyebrow. “Are you sure about that?”
Her dragon huffed. You always are.
Shut it, dragon.
She searched her friend’s eyes. “When did you become so observant? As I recall, you only ever were that way when you were drawing or painting. Then you would spot the tiniest details.”
“You may have two brothers and a nosy cousin, but I have four siblings. Four. Mum was always busy with the restaurant, and I was stuck raising the wee rascals. For better or worse, I grew up quicker than most. If I didn’t notice what the de
vils were doing, they would’ve burned the house down or in the case of Ian and Emma, they would’ve hacked some government agency.” Faye opened her mouth to apologize for being an arse, but Cat beat her to it. “Now, how about we head to the landing area and say our goodbyes? Between my family and yours, it’s going to take a while.”
“Just make sure Connor doesn’t come talk to me or my mum will get ideas. She remembers everything.”
“Well, you two did kiss once upon a time….”
“I was ten and he nine, and it was a dare.”
“Maybe you should go after a younger male again and see how that goes,” Cat answered, her eyes twinkling.
Faye stuck out her tongue. “Try it yourself. After all, your mum moans about never having any grandkids.”
Cat shook her head. “Believe me, I know. She goes on about having two kids by my age. But finding a mate and having a child would put my art to the side. Doing that would rip my heart in two; I can’t imagine not having a chance to paint every day or the option to spend an hour capturing the best shot with my camera.”
Faye patted Cat’s arm. “Oh, aye, I understand. That’s why I’m going to do the best job I can on this assignment and prove I’m ready to protect Lochguard once more. Grant won’t have a choice but to give me decent assignments again.”
“Just be careful because if he kisses you, you may end up with a child even if you don’t want one. You’re clever enough to suspect what I do—that he’s your true mate.”
“True mate or not, if there’s one male I can resist, it’s Grant McFarland.”
Cat studied her a second before saying, “Let’s hope so.” Faye wanted to put up a better defense, but Cat didn’t let her get a word in. “We’d better go or our mums will hunt us down.”
Faye snorted. “Unless your grandpa causes havoc in the interim.”
“Grandpa Archie has been rather quiet as of late,” Cat replied. “I hope he’s not digging an underground tunnel under Cal’s property. Who knows what he’d do then. Maybe he’d do like the humans in World War II and try to blast underneath his target—Cal’s farm.”
“With sheep flying every which way.”
“And the pair of them blaming the other for the mess.”
They stared at one another, and even though dead sheep flying through the air shouldn’t be funny, they both burst out laughing.
Faye’s beast spoke up. It’s nice being around another female our age. I thought I wouldn’t like it since I’m not interested in so-called girlie things, but Cat is different.
She and I may have different professions, but we’re both fairly determined to succeed.
It will also be easier to ignore Grant with her at our side.
So now you want to ignore him?
The lust haze cleared. He was a jerk. He needs to bow down and apologize before I think of wanting to kiss him.
Faye had a feeling her dragon would lose that battle as soon as they saw Grant again, but kept that thought to herself. Unlike her brother Fraser, Faye had never spoiled her beast. She could contain her if need be.
Cat picked up her luggage and Faye did the same. As they made their way to the landing area, Faye steeled herself for what was to come. Putting her family and Cat’s together should be interesting, to say the least. If nothing else, the horde of people would keep Grant away since he hated big families.
~~~
Grant tapped his hand against his thigh as he leaned against the rock enclosure surrounding the landing area. He’d already said goodbye to his mum and brother, and was ready to leave. Glancing across the wide, open space, he tried not to grimace at the sight of the MacKenzies and MacAllisters surrounding Faye and Cat.
There were so bloody many of them.
We once had that much family, too, his dragon pointed out.
Not wanting to think of the past, Grant took out his mobile phone and was about to distract himself with text messages when the crowd cleared enough for him to spot Faye MacKenzie. She wore a loose-fitting dress that hid her body, but it wasn’t hard to imagine her trim waist or toned thighs.
Then the wind blew and her curly hair went every which way around her face. What he wouldn’t give to gather it in one hand and lightly tug her head back to kiss her.
Blinking, he looked away before she caught him gawking. Still, he couldn’t resist watching from the corner of his eye as each member of her family hugged her and said their goodbyes. He barely noticed Cat doing the same.
Seeing one happy family was bad enough, but two twisted his heart. As much as Grant tried to deny it, he missed his family. Not only his uncle, but his dad, aunt, and cousins, too.
His beast huffed. Why mention our father? He left with the other traitors and broke our mother’s heart. He’s not worth anyone’s time.
He’s a bastard now, but he wasn’t always so. No one can just block memories forever.
I could. I’m stronger than you.
So if our dad appeared right now in dragon form, you could kill him without a thought?
I don’t like to kill unless it’s necessary. But I’m not above kicking his arse.
Before he could reply, Lorna MacKenzie’s voice boomed across the landing area. “Grant McFarland, stop hiding in the shadows and give your old Aunt Lorna a hug.”
Lorna wasn’t a blood relation of his, but almost everyone on Lochguard called her Aunt Lorna.
He debated declining, but Faye met his gaze. Not wanting to appear cowardly in front of her, he walked toward the MacKenzie brood.
As he approached, Fraser and Fergus—Faye’s older twin brothers—glared at him with piercing blue eyes. If not for Aunt Lorna, Grant would’ve given them the double-finger salute.
His beast grunted. We can easily take them. Neither one is a soldier.
Not now.
Later, then.
Lorna closed the distance between them and took his face into her hands. “How many times do I have to tell you not to be shy? I’ve known you since the day you were born, lad. You’re always welcome in our family.”
For a split second, Grant yearned for the warmth and peace of a family untouched by scandal and betrayal. The MacKenzies were notorious for their lively dinners and more than a few food fights. An evening with them could help him forget about his own father and how he had abandoned him.
But before he could do something stupid, such as invite himself over for dinner once they returned from the exhibition excursion, Faye spoke up. “How about you let us go, Mum? Otherwise, we’ll never reach Inverness by nightfall.”
Lorna tsked. “Since Cat sent her art on ahead and everyone’s luggage with it, you’re flying. Inverness is fifteen or twenty minutes from here by dragonwing. You have plenty of time.”
Ross Anderson, Lorna’s human mate, wrapped an arm around his dragonwoman’s waist. “She’ll be back soon enough, love. Besides, they need the daylight to keep an eye out for any hunters or Knights. Unless you’re wanting them to be at a disadvantage and possibly attacked?”
Lorna smacked her mate’s chest. “Ross Anderson, don’t even joke about that.”
Faye jumped in. “Mum, we’ll be fine. I promise to call once we land and many times after that. You’ll probably beg me to stop pestering you before long. After all, your mating is still new.”
Fraser spoke up. “While you’re ringing people, make sure to call each of us.” Fraser placed a hand over his heart. “I’m just as concerned about your welfare.”
“Stuff it, Fraser,” Faye replied. “I haven’t forgotten your recent ‘gift’ of a pink tutu and a note saying I could be a ballerina to fill up my time. You can just linger and wonder what happens to me.”
Fraser raised his eyebrows. “And cause my pregnant mate undue stress? I’m shocked at you, sister.”
Holly, Fraser’s mate, sighed. “I’ll handle Fraser. Have a good time around Scotland. I really hope this DDA outreach program is successful.”
Faye nodded. “Me, too.”
Fergus took a
step forward. “Make sure to give me any intel you find straightaway via Arabella’s secure network.”
“I know, Fergus.” Faye grabbed Grant’s hand and tugged. “We’re leaving now. I’ll talk to you lot later.”
Grant tried to ignore her warm hand in his, but he couldn’t resist closing his fingers tightly. Faye shot him a glance, but he gave an imperceptible shake of his head; her family was watching and if she chewed him out now, they’d never leave until they learned everything between them.
Grant cleared his throat. “Faye can take care of herself.” He looked at Cat, who was motioning them toward the center of the landing area. “Cat’s already waiting for us. Cooper can handle things whilst I’m gone. We’ll be in touch.”
Grant walked away from the MacKenzies, never releasing his grip on Faye’s hand.
Faye murmured, “Thank you. Otherwise, we’d be there another half an hour.”
Since he didn’t want to betray his jealousy at how much her family cared and stood by her, Grant said nothing.
Only when they reached Cat did he reluctantly release Faye’s hand to tug off his shirt. Even though he and Faye had stripped and shifted a million times before, he swore he could feel her eyes on his bare chest.
His dragon growled. I want more than her eyes on our chest.
Not going to happen anytime soon.
If not for needing his dragon to shift, Grant would’ve tossed the bastard into a mental maze.
His beast grunted. But you do need me. Remember that.
With a sigh, he tossed away his shirt and went to the fly of his trousers. He took an extra second to think of football statistics to deflate his semi-hard cock.
However, he couldn’t resist sneaking a glance upward in Faye’s direction. It had been longer than he liked since he’d seen the lass naked.
Cat and Faye stood nude with their backs to him. He didn’t even notice Cat as he couldn’t force his gaze away from Faye’s toned arse. What he wouldn’t give to touch her soft skin to see how her body reacted to him.
The Dragon Warrior (Lochguard Highland Dragons Book 4) Page 3
