The Dragon's Pursuit (Lochguard Highland Dragons Book 7)

by Jessie Donovan

  How could he deny her now? He took her hand and motioned toward the door with his head. "I know the back way out of this building. My cottage isn't far." He leaned over and kissed her cheek. "And here's a preview of how much I want you, Layla MacFie." He guided her hand to his hard dick, punching against his trousers. "And I'll never stop wanting you, either. I love you. Now, come on. I'll prove it to you as many times as you like without starting the frenzy."

  After one more kiss to her cheek, he moved as quickly and quietly as he could. And as soon as they were inside his cottage, he showed Layla a half dozen times how much he wanted her, making sure to tell her he loved her repeatedly as well. His future mate would never doubt how much he cared for her. Never.

  Chapter Fifteen

  The next morning, Layla walked toward Finn's cottage with Chase at her side.

  Much to her embarrassment, she'd fallen asleep early the night before. And Chase being the overprotective dragonman he was, had checked in with Finn and Sid to ensure it was okay for her to rest.

  They'd both said yes, and so she'd shamelessly slept the night away.

  Her dragon spoke up. We'll be better for it. Between all the crying and orgasms, we wouldn't have been able to string more than a few thoughts together.

  We weren't that tired.

  Aye, we were. And stop feeling guilty for everything. Yasmin and her mate slept nearly the whole time, too. And given the news we'll have to give them after talking with Finn, they'll need their strength.

  Chase squeezed her hand and she glanced at him. His day-old whiskers made him only sexier. Damn males and their ability to roll out of bed and look better than ever before.

  He raised his brows. "I spot the wee furrow between your brows, lass. What's wrong?"

  "Just thinking how unfair it is that you're so sexy."

  He snorted. "You are far lovelier than me, Layla-love. I would think after last night, you'd have learned how much I treasure each and every inch of your body."

  Willing her cheeks not to flush, she whispered, "Not here. We're nearly at Finn's place."

  "I doubt he has time to set up listening devices, just to catch whatever sort of chatting goes on nearby." He leaned over. "Shall we test it out?"

  She battled a smile. "Most definitely not. I know you're just trying to distract me and make me forget what's about to happen, but it won't work this time." Challenge glinted in his eyes, and she chuckled. "Stop it, Chase. I mean it. I can't keep putting this off."

  He quickly kissed her nose before pulling away again. "I know, but you have to admit it's fun trying, aye?"

  "I suppose. I'd say more, but I don't need to inflate your ego this early in the day."

  Chase grinned. "After last night, my ego should be fine for a wee while. What was it you said?" He lowered his voice and made it a higher pitch. "You're so hard and thick, Chase. Yes, harder, faster. Damn, it's never been this good."

  Her cheeks flushed. Aware Chase could distract her for quite a while, she cleared her throat and tugged his hand. "If you ever want me to say those things again, you'll behave yourself."

  Chase winked, which always made her belly flip. "For now. But when we're alone, never."

  Which was just the way she wanted it, of course. It was becoming harder and harder to imagine her life before Chase had finally pushed his way into it.

  They reached Finn's door, raised her brows and gave Chase a look as if to say, "I mean it. Behave." Then she knocked before he could say anything else.

  Her dragon snorted. But he's so much fun. I like him. He might finally get you to relax more.

  The door opened, revealing Arabella holding one of her sons. Since he was asleep on her shoulder, Layla couldn't make out which of the identical twins it was.

  Arabella motioned with her head and said, "Come in. And don't worry about this one. He sleeps through anything, literally. His sister knocked over a cabinet full of dishes, and he didn't even stir."

  Layla entered. Normally she'd ask after the triplets' health, but at the moment, she couldn't think of anything but what her parents had decided. She asked, "Is Finn in his office?"

  "No, he's in the kitchen. He's been on 'distract Freya duty' until you arrived. Come on."

  As Layla followed the dragonwoman and watched her murmur something to her son, Layla silently hoped she didn't have triplets, too. One bairn was a handful. How Arabella managed three at the same time—and remained sane—Layla had no idea.

  They entered the kitchen, and Layla spotted Finn with Freya in her blonde-haired human baby form. He bounced her as he sang some sort of children's song. He spotted her and Chase, motioned with his head for them to sit at the table, and finished up the song.

  Once he finished, he tried to hand Freya over to Arabella, but the wee lass held tight. Her fingers even turned into talons, no doubt putting holes in Finn's shirt.

  Arabella frowned. "I'd try to say your daddy needs to work, but we both know that doesn't matter. She'll have to stay with you, Finn. At least until your aunt comes over to help."

  Finn smiled down at his daughter. "Aye, wee Freya loves her Auntie Lorna, doesn't she?"

  Freya waved her free hand and made some sort of baby gurgle.

  The sight made Layla smile, too. Finn and Arabella were proof that some parents loved their children more than anything. And Layla was determined to be one of them, too, once she had a bairn of her own.

  Aye, well, if she ever had the chance to go through the mate-claim frenzy with Chase, that is.

  Her dragon murmured, Did you forget how babies are made? We could be pregnant already.

  Mentally sticking out her tongue at her inner beast, Layla tried to focus on Finn and what was to come.

  He finally slid into the seat across from her and Chase at the kitchen table before meeting her gaze. "I promise I didn't plan on having an audience for this. But Freya's been trying to escape in her dragon form more and more, and she'll at least stay put with me."

  Layla waved a hand in dismissal. "No worries. Now, you may as well just tell me what's going to happen, Finn. There's no point in beating around the bush. They're leaving, aren't they?"

  He grunted. "Aye, stubborn bastards, they are. I wish I could give them a few more chances, but I can't risk the clan questioning my leadership. Especially when things have just started to settle after the clan split into two. I hope you understand."

  Since she'd cried her eyes out the night before, Layla was able to keep herself together at hearing the news. "Of course I do, Finn. When do they leave?"

  As Freya tried to roll off his lap, he readjusted her and bounced her gently. "By tomorrow at the latest. I won't force anything, but if you wish to have one last meeting with them, I can arrange it."

  She didn't hesitate to shake her head. "They made their views plain yesterday. My sister needs me more."

  Finn studied her a second. "Do you want me to tell Yasmin and Phillip? Or, would you rather do it?"

  "It should be me. I'm not sure Yasmin or her mate will shed many tears, given all they've gone through. Add in our parents reporting her whereabouts, and it's definitely safer for me to be present, in case I need to calm her down."

  The news could also induce labor. The bairn was due anytime now, and stress might just make him or her come a bit early.

  Finn readjusted his hold on Freya, picked up the wooden spoon on the table, and gave it to her to play with. Their leader then looked at Chase. "So it's true, you wish to mate Layla, aye?"

  It was on the tip of Layla's tongue to say she was sitting right there. However, she sensed that in the absence of a father, Finn was going to play the role.

  Chase sat up a wee bit straighter. "Aye, I do. I love her. And more importantly, she's said yes."

  Finn looked back at Layla. "Do you truly want it? There's no rush, lass. I know you felt pressured yesterday, but you can take more time if need be."

  She glanced at Chase, and he met her gaze as he took her hand under the table. As he stroked the
back of her hand and stared at her with warmth and love in his eyes, she smiled. "I do want it. However, the mating will have to wait until after my sister delivers—and probably Faye, too—but as soon as we can manage it after that, aye, I want him." She looked back at Finn. "Although it'll mean asking Stonefire a favor again. Either Sid or Gregor will have to stay here during the mate-claim frenzy."

  Finn raised an eyebrow. "What about the Seahaven doctor, Dr. Keith? It would be easier for him to visit and go home each night. Their clan isn't far from here by dragonwing."

  "He seems capable, but I don't know him well enough. Maybe he can help out one of the Stonefire doctors, but I'd like to work with him more before handing over full care of the clan for a couple weeks."

  Finn sighed. "Aye, I suppose that's the logical way of thinking. I'll ask for Stonefire's help. And at this rate, Bram could ask for one of my kidneys and I'd have to give it to him."

  Arabella snorted from near the kitchen sink. "I doubt he'd ask for one of those. He'd be afraid to absorb some of your personality into his body."

  Finn grinned at his mate. "I don't know, he could use a wee bit more charm."

  Arabella opened her mouth to reply, but someone crashed through the front door, and ran down the hall in record time.

  Grant McFarland burst into the room, breathing heavily, fear plain in his eyes.

  Layla immediately stood. "What's wrong?"

  "It's Faye. She's bleeding and in pain. I think the bairn is coming."

  Layla moved right to him. "Where is she?"

  "In the main security building. I didn't want to move her."

  She looked at Chase. "Fetch my bag from the surgery, alert them to bring the stretcher, and have Holly come meet us." She turned Grant around. "Now, tell me everything on the way."

  As Layla ran toward the Protectors' building, she hoped the day wouldn't end up even worse than the day before.

  No. Faye MacKenzie was young, stubborn, and strong. If anyone could pull through a difficult birth, it would be her.

  Faye MacKenzie screamed as another contraction hit. It was as if her bairn had shifted into a wee dragon and was trying to claw her way out with her sharp talons.

  Iris Mahajan, another female Protector, stood next to her, not even wincing as Faye crushed her hand. Even though Grant's presence would help more, she appreciated Iris's support when the others had all moved as far away from her as possible.

  Once the contraction stopped, she eyed the male Protectors standing on the opposite side of the main room. "Cowards, the bloody lot of you."

  And she may have just snarled afterward.

  Her dragon crooned softly a second before saying, Save your energy. The bairn needs us.

  They're so bloody weak. It's just a bit of blood.

  In reality, there was more than she liked. And she grew more lightheaded with each passing moment.

  Where the hell was Grant? She needed her mate here, with her. If anyone could soothe her fears, it was him.

  Because, aye, Faye was afraid. Her child was early, she was bleeding, and each contraction seemed to sap what strength she did have.

  She didn't want to die. Her own father had died on the day of her birth, and Faye didn't want to leave her child motherless.

  Tears prickled her eyes, and her dragon stood tall in her mind. Stop it. We're not going to die. Layla will be here soon.

  Iris spoke softly. "Aye, they're cowards. But just think, watching you survive this is going to make them think twice about teasing you in the future about how you're weaker than them. If anything, you'll be able to tease them until the day they die for flinching at a wee bit of blood and some shouting."

  Female Protectors were few and far between. Leave it to Iris to make her smile during the most frightening time of her life. "You can help me do it, too."

  As they smiled at one another, Faye did her best not to count down until the next contraction she knew was coming. Although given how pain still throbbed in her lower half, counting might help better.

  However, before she could decide one way or the other, Grant and Layla burst through the door. Her mate came right to her on the sofa. Iris stepped away and Grant cupped her cheek. "It'll be all right, love. Layla's here."

  Seeing her mate's deep brown eyes, Faye let the tears fall. "I'm dying, Grant."

  "Nonsense. Who'll help me keep the Protectors in line if you're gone? Besides, if I could do this, you can, too."

  "You couldn't do this."

  He shrugged. "It can't be that bad."

  She knew he was trying to make her feel better by arguing. It was a game to them, one not everyone understood.

  But Grant did, and that made her cry even more.

  Layla spoke in a gentle yet firm voice. "Move. I need room to work, Grant. You can hold her hand if you stand by her head." As he moved to stand above her, Layla barked to the others in the room. "Clear out. Your fear is only making things worse."

  Grant growled, "And Iris is in charge until further notice. She was the only one brave enough to stand with Faye, and I say that means she's earned it."

  Iris nodded and cleared everyone out until it was just Faye, Grant, and Layla.

  Faye focused on Grant's face above hers. "I love you, Grant. I just want you to know that."

  No doubt her mate was afraid, but his eyes remained strong and stubborn. "You're not dying, woman. There's no way I'm going to survive your family without you by my side."

  She smiled, but then a contraction rushed over her and she cried out as she arched her back, crushing Grant's hand with everything she had. Layla lightly pushed and touched around her stomach, which only made the pain worse. Every time she cried out, Grant tried to hide his winces.

  When the contraction stopped and the pain lessened a fraction, Faye slumped on the sofa. Layla's voice filled the room. "Your bairn is breech, Faye. Normally, I'd give some time to see if we could turn the wee one around. But with the bleeding, I can't risk it. The best option is to try a C-section."

  Even through the tired haze of her brain, Faye knew that wasn't good. "Then I was right, I'm going to die."

  Dragon-shifters couldn't handle human anesthesia. Adults might survive a small dose, but it would kill a child. And after all the bloody morning sickness and feeling fat, Faye wasn't going to allow that to happen.

  Which meant Faye would either have to be awake for the procedure or risk using a milder sedative for Layla to cut her open and hope it didn't adversely affect her or her bairn.

  Every second that passed only convinced Faye she wasn't going to be around much longer. "If it comes to me or the bairn, save my babe, Layla."

  Layla looked right into her face and stated, "You're not going to die, Faye. Aye, C-sections are rare for dragon-shifters, but you're young and stubborn. As long as we do it within the next half hour, you should be fine."

  "Should," she murmured and closed her eyes.

  Grant took her face in his hands. "Look at me, Faye."

  She obeyed and drew in a breath at the fierceness she saw. Her mate threaded every bit of dominance into his voice as he said, "I will be there the whole time. And you're not going to die, Faye. I won't allow it."

  Under normal circumstances, she'd tease him about not being able to control everything around him.

  However, in that moment, it was exactly what she needed to hear.

  She nodded. A beat later, Holly and Chase rushed into the room, followed by a pair of nurses with a stretcher.

  Her unflappable sister-in-law didn't even blink an eye at the situation, and as soon as Holly was close, she smiled. "Your bairn is a wee bit early like mine were. I think you did it to get one up on your brother."

  Faye smiled weakly. "Aye, well, they'll be closer in age now. It'll be easier for my child to corrupt your daughters."

  Holly snorted and moved so that the other nurses could move Faye onto the stretcher.

  The entire time, Grant never let go of her hand.

  And as they moved her ou
t of the Protectors' main building on a stretcher, she silently hoped all would be well. She'd been somewhat reluctant to be a mother, but now that her bairn was on the way, she wanted the chance to see them, hold them, and spoil them on occasion.

  And, of course, teach him or her how to fight and win against their cousins.

  She just needed to stay alive to do all of it.

  With that thought, Faye slipped into darkness.

  Chase sat next to his mother on the smaller of two sofas inside the private waiting room. Across from him sat Lorna MacKenzie, surrounded on both sides by her ginger-haired twin sons.

  Lorna looked unusually pale, and he'd never seen the female so quiet. Even Fraser, the more mischievous twin, sat silent, merely holding his mother's hand.

  While Chase knew Layla would be doing everything she could—probably even with Dr. Sid's help—he kept looking at the door, willing her to appear to give an update.

  Because with each minute that ticked by, the tenser everyone became in the room. Even his mother was sitting stiller than he'd seen before. Faye may not be her daughter by blood, but he knew she loved her as if she were.

  His dragon spoke up. Layla will come when she's ready. Give her time to work.

  I know, but can you blame me for wanting to ease everyone's nerves?

  And while he was willing above all else for Faye to make it through the procedure, the entire experience only reminded him of how he could lose Layla, too, in childbirth. Faye was younger than Layla and having complications. Would it be worse for his future mate?

  Before his dragon could say anything, the door opened, revealing Holly dressed in her nurse scrubs. Even though her gaze zeroed in on her mate, Fraser, she said, "Both mother and bairn are fine." She looked at Lorna and then Chase's mum, smiling as she stated, "You have a granddaughter."

  The atmosphere in the room changed instantaneously. Both of the twins stood and lifted their mother, engulfing her in a hug. His own mother touched his arm and he smiled at her. "I told you they'd be fine," he murmured. "And you finally have a wee lassie in the family to love and spoil."