The Dragon's Dilemma (Lochguard Highland Dragons Book 1)

by Jessie Donovan

  Holly lightly slapped her cheeks. “No. I should be reviewing my father’s medical records again. My gut tells me something is off, but I can’t place it. If only I were a doctor, I could spot it.”

  Fraser shook his head. “Not necessarily. Dr. Innes couldn’t find anything unusual.”

  “He’s a dragon-shifter doctor. He may have human medical training, too, but he doesn’t practice it.”

  His dragon growled. Find a way to comfort her. Distress isn’t good for her or our baby.

  As if I didn’t know that.

  No need to get huffy. I’m just trying to help.

  Ignoring his beast, Fraser punched the driver’s seat in front of him. “How much longer till we arrive?”

  Faye’s voice was low as she spit out, “I don’t give idle threats, Fraser. I’m pulling over at the next exit and taping your mouth shut. Punch the seat again, brother, and I will tie you to the roof as well.”

  Holly’s voice was kind as she chimed in. “Faye, at least tell me how much longer we have.”

  Faye briefly looked in the rearview mirror before focusing back on the road. “What you see in my brother, I’ll never understand. But we should be there in another twenty minutes.”

  As Fraser hugged Holly, he murmured, “Then drive faster, sister.”

  Before Faye could answer, Iris’s calm, cool voice filled the car. “We have bigger things to worry about.”

  Both man and beast stood at attention. “What’s going on, Iris?”

  The black-haired and brown-eyed dragonwoman turned around in her seat. “Someone is following us.”

  Faye demanded, “Why didn’t you speak up sooner?”

  Iris shrugged. “I wanted to make sure. Besides, it’s not like there was a place for us to turn off without drawing attention. We’re approaching Aberdeen and it’ll be much easier to lose them there.”

  Faye tightened her grip on the wheel. “Just make sure to let the Protectors back on Lochguard know their number plate. We need to identify the threat.”

  Fraser’s dragon snarled. It’s time to shift and protect Holly. I won’t allow anyone to hurt her.

  We’re on the same side, dragon. But give Faye and Iris a chance. They have experiences we don’t have.

  His beast huffed. Fine. But if I think Holly’s life is in danger, I’ll take control and whisk her to safety.

  Holly’s voice interrupted his conversation. “What’s the plan, then? Because I’m not about to be scared away from visiting my father. For all we know, whoever is following us might target my father, too.”

  Faye nodded. “Exactly. You are a Protector at heart, Holly Anderson.”

  Fraser grunted. “Don’t encourage her. Holly is human and more fragile.”

  Holly poked his side. “When this is over and everyone is safe, we’re going to address your overprotectiveness. There’s no way I can survive nine months of it.”

  Iris spoke as if there were no other conversations going on inside the car. “It’s the dark green SUV three cars back, Faye. When I give the word, I want you to take the next available exit.”

  Faye replied, “I’ll do it, but I don’t know Aberdeen very well by car.”

  Holly jumped in. “I’ve lived here most of my life. I’ll tell you where to go. The A90 is coming up. Turning onto the motorway might be a good way to tell if they are truly following us or not.”

  Iris answered, “We’ll try that, first. But if they follow us, then we switch from being cautious to protect and attack mode.”

  As Faye and Iris continued to talk about tactics, Fraser wished he had something to add. But he didn’t. He was an architect and a builder, not a soldier.

  His beast spoke up again. We can still protect Holly. She is our true mate. My instincts will keep her safe.

  Let’s hope it doesn’t come to that.

  His dragon snarled. If they try, they will be sorry.

  Fraser didn’t want to face Finn’s wrath because of his dragon going rogue. Fraser needed something to preoccupy his beast.

  Deciding he would take his sister’s jabs later, he spoke up. “Give me a task, Faye. I need to do something or my dragon will go crazy.”

  Faye briefly met his eyes in the mirror. “Then take out your mobile phone and be ready to call Lochguard to let them know what’s going on. Finn and Grant can also reach out to contacts and find a way to check on Holly’s father.”

  Fraser took out his phone. As much as he hated any threat to Holly, at least his sister Faye was acting like her old self again.

  Which was good, considering they might need her brain and fighting skills if things turned south.

  ~~~

  Holly’s stomach flipped as Faye took the exit onto the A90 motorway. Between battling her lingering exhaustion and her fears about her father, Holly was on the verge of breaking down.

  While she’d thought often about how she could die in childbirth, she never once imagined someone going after her and her father to get back at the dragon-shifters.

  To think everyone on Lochguard lived with this constant threat over their heads made her heart squeeze. Finn, Fraser, and the rest of Lochguard hadn’t been anything but kind to her. They didn’t deserve the hatred aimed at them and their kind.

  Iris’s voice cut through her thoughts. “The bastards are still there. Where to next, Holly?”

  After Holly gave her suggestions, Faye and Iris went back to talking about options and possible threats.

  Fraser leaned down and whispered, “I trust Faye with not just my life, but yours and our child’s as well. We couldn’t ask for a better dragon-shifter to protect us.”

  She met Fraser’s eyes. “I don’t doubt Faye, but what about my father? The thought of someone going after him too and doing who knows what to him makes me sick to the stomach.”

  He rubbed up and down her arm. “Even if Finn and Grant don’t have any contacts in Aberdeen, Clan Stonefire should. I could say not to worry and nothing will happen. But you’re clever and know it could. Instead, I’ll just say that you’re part of Lochguard now. And Lochguard does everything in its power to protect its own. If there’s a way to save your father, Finn will work to find it.”

  The steel in his voice helped to calm her stomach a fraction. She also knew Fraser’s words about being part of Lochguard were significant, but she would have to digest that statement later, when she wasn’t fretting about her father’s life.

  Holly snuggled into Fraser’s side and took a deep inhalation. His scent helped to slow her heart rate a little. “If this is what it takes to be accepted at Lochguard, you might want to reevaluate your criteria.”

  Fraser’s voice was lighter as he replied, “You can mention that to Finn the next time you see him.”

  Faye took a sharp left turn and Holly was thrown against Fraser. Her dragonman wrapped his arms around her and whispered, “Even if it takes my life, I’ll fight to keep you and your father safe, Holly.”

  In any other moment, Holly might have made a skeptical quip. But as her heart pounded and head throbbed with worry, she merely melted in Fraser’s side. She was exhausted and needed all the support available.

  Faye’s voice cut through the silence. “The bastards are quite good. I can’t lose them. I think we’re going to have to pull over and take a stand, Iris.”

  Iris unclicked her seatbelt. “I agree. Fraser, when we stop, you take Holly and run. They may have sent photos of our car to others, so driving is out of the question. I don’t care where you go, but take her as far away from us as possible. Do you understand?”

  Before Fraser could answer, Holly asked, “What about my father?”

  Iris motioned toward Fraser. “Your male can contact Lochguard and set things in motion. Once Faye and I figure out who we’re up against, we can formulate a better plan of attack. If we’re lucky, they’re only after us.”

  Faye made a high-speed turn into a side alley. Only the combination of Fraser’s arms around Holly and her seatbelt prevented her from bei
ng tossed to the other side of the car.

  For the first time, she was glad to be newly pregnant. A high-speed car chase would be hell when combined with morning sickness.

  The car stopped with a jolt. As Faye undid her seatbelt, she ordered, “Take Holly and run, brother.”

  Fraser nodded. “Take care, sister.”

  “I will,” Faye answered and then she was out the door and jogging down the alley. Iris wasn’t far behind.

  Fraser threw open the door and guided Holly out of the car. “I’m only going to ask this once, Holly. Do you want me to carry you or can you run?”

  Holly hated running, but that didn’t give her a reason to burden Fraser. “I can handle it for now. Come, let’s go. Since it’s the middle of a work day I’m sure we can find an empty home to duck inside. The sooner you call Lochguard, the better.”

  They started running and Fraser added, “And lucky for you, I’ve had my fair share of getting in and out of houses undetected.”

  “We can talk about your criminal history later.”

  Holly tugged Fraser’s hand. He muttered, “Criminal history, my arse,” but then fell silent.

  As they exited the other side of the alley and turned right, Holly tried her best to keep her breath. Apparently a twelve-day sex marathon hadn’t helped her to get in shape at all.

  Of course, not that any of that mattered. All they needed to do was to find an empty home, preferably a detached one. There would be less chance of neighbors hearing them move about if they didn’t share a wall.

  Fraser pointed toward the left. “I see some houses in that direction.”

  Holly didn’t see anything but a blur of shapes. “Are you using your super-dragon senses?”

  “Yes. Trust me, honey. I don’t hear any running behind us and we can find safety to the left.”

  Nodding without hesitation, Holly pushed herself to run faster. “Then let’s go.”

  ~~~

  Fraser appraised the house at the end of the block. It was detached, with no cars parked in front, and a fence that could be climbed around the back garden. And, most importantly, the lights were also out.

  Holding his breath, he listened for any signs of life, but there was no TV, no music, and no talking.

  He was fairly certain the place was empty.

  Squeezing Holly’s hand in his, he whispered, “Follow my lead.”

  For once, his human didn’t try to argue with him and together they made it to the rear of the house to just outside the fence. Fraser was tall enough to look over it, but when his last check of the windows and for noises came up negative, he released Holly’s hands and laced his own together. “Come on. We need to climb the fence.”

  She sighed, but put her foot into his hands and he lifted her. The second Holly landed with a soft thud on the other side, Fraser took the top of the fence in his hands, jumped, and swung over to the other side.

  Avoiding the scattered toys in the yard, he guided Holly to the rear door. Some humans tended to keep a spare key of some sort, so Fraser rummaged through the nearby flower pots and bushes. Eventually he found one and opened the door.

  The second he and Holly were inside, he took out his mobile phone. “Keep a watch on the front windows. I’ll watch the back as I call Finn and let him know what’s going on.” Holly hesitated, and he cupped her cheek. “What happened to my strong lass? I need her right now.”

  Holly took a deep breath and then stood tall. “I’m still here. Do you have a code word or something I should use in case I see something?”

  Despite the enormity of the situation, the corner of his mouth ticked up. “How about ‘intruder’ or ‘danger’?”

  Holly rolled her eyes and the sight helped to ease some of his own nervousness. “Smartarse.”

  He grinned. “Hey, you asked.”

  Shaking her head, Holly moved toward the front of the house and Fraser pressed his speed dial for Finn’s mobile number.

  After two rings, his cousin answered. “What’s going on, Fraser? You’re thirty minutes early for our next check-in. Are you okay?”

  “I don’t have time for pleasantries, Finn. Someone was following us on the motorway. Faye turned off into some section of Aberdeen so that Faye and Iris could face the intruders whilst Holly and I found a place to hide.”

  Finn’s voice turned serious-but-distant, as if he were holding the phone away from his mouth as he barked, “Arabella, I need your help.” Finn’s voice returned to normal volume. “Tell me where you are and I’ll send reinforcements as soon as possible.”

  “I’m not entirely sure where I am. But before I ask Holly, can you have someone check on her father? She’s worried about him.”

  “Rightly so,” Finn answered. “I’ll reach out to Stonefire and see what their humans can do to help us. Between the female reporter and the former DDA employee, I’m sure we can do something.”

  “Good. Once you know anything, call or text me.”

  Holly’s loud whisper drifted through the house, “Someone’s coming, Fraser.”

  Fraser was already moving. “Finn, I need to go. We may have been followed.”

  “Don’t hang up, Fraser. Even if you have to toss the phone to the side, keep the connection open so Ara can trace your call.”

  “Fine, but just don’t speak. I need to keep it silent.”

  “Just be careful.”

  With that, Fraser slid his phone on top of a bookcase in the living room before joining Holly, who was peeking through a gap in the curtains. Fraser kept his voice low when he asked, “Can I have a glance, honey?”

  Holly moved and he peeked outside. There was a man with his dog on a lead and the dog was taking a crap on the grass. “I’m not sure he’s a threat, lass.”

  “Not just him. I swear I saw a dragon high in the sky.”

  He frowned. “There aren’t any rogue dragons in this part of Scotland.”

  “Do you want to chance it? Maybe we should move.”

  Fraser shook his head. “No. If it was a dragon, then they’ll be able to see us move anyway. Our best bet is to stay here for the time being.”

  Holly touched his arm. “So that means we’re basically sitting ducks?”

  He touched Holly’s chin. “Maybe not, lass.” Fraser motioned toward the window. “Keep watch again. I have Finn on the line.” She opened her mouth, but he cut her off. “And yes, he’s trying to check on your father.”

  “Thank you.”

  Seeing Holly vulnerable, with fear in her eyes, did something to his heart. All he wanted to do was whisk his mate to safety and protect her.

  Holly’s eyes darted to his mobile and back.

  He got the message. Fraser picked up his phone and he whispered, “Did you hear all of that?”

  “Aye. I have more Protectors on the way, but it’ll take some time. If there is an unidentified dragon in the sky, then lay low until the Protectors get there.”

  “We’ll see.” Finn started to talk, but Fraser cut him off. “Does Ara have the trace?”

  As soon as Finn said, “Aye,” Fraser cut the connection. He had no doubt Finn was about to tell Fraser not to shift and distract the dragon. But if the dragon attacked the house, Fraser would be the only one who could keep Holly safe. He hadn’t been bluffing earlier when he said he’d die to protect her.

  Fraser was about to ask Holly if she’d seen anything else when something thumped on the roof a split-second before a dragon’s hind legs crashed through the ceiling. Fraser yelled, “Run, Holly, and call Finn,” before imagining his face elongating into a snout, wings growing from his back, and his nails extending into talons. Two seconds later, Fraser broke through the ceiling and stood in his black dragon form. From the corner of his eye, he spotted Holly running into the distance.

  Satisfied his mate was safe for the moment, Fraser focused on the older blue dragon standing opposite him. The dragon looked familiar, yet Fraser couldn’t place him.

  But then the blue dragon lunged for his thro
at and Fraser embraced his dragon’s instinct. He swerved his head to the side and slashed his right front talons. Whether out of luck or by surprising the older dragon, his talons made contact and ripped through the flesh.

  However, the wound wasn’t fatal and the dragon jumped forward to pin Fraser to the ground.

  With the remains of the house about him, he couldn’t move properly. Waving his tail around, he knocked down the walls as he used every iota of strength he possessed to keep the dragon’s jaws from his throat.

  When the last wall fell, Fraser kicked his hind legs against the blue dragon’s belly. The blue dragon flew over him. Taking the split-second advantage, Fraser jumped into the air and beat his wings. He may not be the best fighter, but he was one of the best at tricks and maneuvers in the sky. If he could last long enough, he might be able to draw the older dragon-shifter away from Holly as well as tire him out.

  With a roar, Fraser glanced over his shoulder just as the blue dragon jumped into the air and moved toward him. Turning, Fraser hovered in place. The instant the blue dragon was twenty feet away, Fraser dove down sharply toward the ground. The other dragon turned to follow. One second passed, and then five. A lesser dragon would have crashed into the ground, but thanks to years of challenging his twin, Fraser pulled up and shot straight toward the blue enemy.

  The older beast’s reaction time was too slow and Fraser collided his shoulder into the dragon’s belly. A slight twinge caused pain to shoot through his wing, but Fraser ignored it. All that mattered was giving Holly enough time to flee to safety.

  His opponent snarled in pain before dropping down. Not wanting to take chances, Fraser swooped down and slashed one of the dragon’s wings. The blue dragon roared and tried to flap the injured wing, but the tear in the membrane prevented him from moving upward. Fraser hovered in place as his attacker smacked to the ground with a crack.

  The beast didn’t move again.

  Fraser’s dragon snarled. We must find Holly.