Fergus grunted. “It could still happen. There aren’t always symptoms.”
Gina sighed. “You could be hit by a bolt of lightning tomorrow. Does that mean you’re going to stay locked inside a lightning cage for the rest of your life?”
Fergus shook his head. “Don’t be daft, lass. Of course not. But the odds of being hit by lightning are much better than a human dying when bearing a dragon-shifter’s child.”
Dr. Innes placed the ultrasound equipment on a side tray and stood up. “How about we stop talking about odds and focus on Gina and the bairn? Gina, lass, I know you’re not going to like it, but I need someone to be with you at all times. I don’t want you alone when your labor begins.”
Fergus straightened his shoulders. “I can work from home. I’ll watch over her.”
Dr. Innes answered before Gina could. “Good. I’ll probably have Holly spend some time at the old Sinclair place as well.”
Gina sighed. “I don’t get a say in this, do I?”
“No,” both men answered at the same time.
“I swear you guys have been rehearsing behind my back. Are we done now?”
The doctor smiled. “Aye, we’re done. Both you and the bairn are healthy. The next time I see you, it might be when you’re in labor.”
Gina placed a hand on her stomach. “I’m both anxious and afraid. And not because of the danger. I can’t believe I’m going to have to do this without drugs.”
Fergus brushed her brow. “I know, lass. But it could hurt the bairn if you have them.”
She met Fergus’s gaze again. “Considering how stubborn dragon-shifters are, I would expect them to fight it and just come out fine on the other side.”
Dr. Innes snorted. “Just give your son a few years. He’ll think his stubbornness can solve everything.”
Despite his light tone, Gina noticed the sadness in the doctor’s eyes. The poor man was probably thinking of his unborn child. How he dealt with birthing children as part of his career, Gina had no idea.
“Well, he’ll have to deal with me. Just because I’m human doesn’t mean I’m going to allow my son to walk all over me. Him changing into his dragon form won’t affect my resolve one bit.”
The doctor chuckled. “You’ll do, Gina MacDonald. You’ll do.” Dr. Innes picked up his clipboard. “I wish I could chat longer, but old Cal and Archie have been up to their tricks again and I need to check both of them for broken bones.” The doctor nodded to them both. “Don’t hesitate to call me when you need it.”
Gina murmured, “Thank you.” And in the next second, she was alone again with Fergus.
Looking up at him, she asked, “Can you help me sit up?”
As he helped her off her back, he spoke up. “Do you remember old Cal and Archie?”
Gina grunted and swung her legs to the side. “How could I forget? They accidentally dropped a boulder into our yard.”
Fergus grinned. “Aye, Archie’s grip slipped. But those two have been at it for most of their lives and won’t stop until they’re dead. Even then, one will probably claim to see the other’s ghost walking about and try to tease it.”
Gina started pulling on her clothes. “Let’s just hope they don’t drop a boulder on top of our house.”
Fergus leaned down to nibble her ear. “Our house, aye? I like the sound of it.”
She shook her head. “Why you still keep your stuff in the other half, I’ll never understand.”
He kissed the corner of her mouth. “I don’t want to rush you.”
She raised an eyebrow. “And yet you speak for me with the doctor?”
“You know why.”
Gina did. But since she hadn’t had time to speak with Finn, she couldn’t guarantee their future. As much as she wanted to claim Fergus as her own, she couldn’t.
That reminded her. “I need to see Finn as soon as possible.”
“But you have an appointment with him tomorrow.”
“Well, it can’t wait. I’m tired of him canceling. As my Guardian, you need to help me. Otherwise, I’ll resort to my own tactics.”
Fergus growled. “You’re due any time now. Don’t be daft, lass. As I’ve said before, you’re safe here.”
“That’s not the reason. I need to talk with Finn. Believe me, you’ll thank me later.”
“And yet you won’t tell me why?”
“I just need you to trust me in this, Fergus. Can you do that?”
Fergus studied her a second before his pupils flashed. “Fine. You can thank my dragon’s incessant roaring. I think he’s going to always take your side over mine from now on.”
She beamed. “I guess me petting him in dragon form yesterday is helping my case. I might just have to scratch behind his ears again later.”
Fergus’s pupils changed to slits and back to round. “Thanks for that, lass. Next, you’ll convince my bloody beast to take you for a ride in one of the baskets despite being eight-and-a-half-months pregnant.”
“There’s an idea.” Fergus growled and Gina laughed. “You’re so easy to tease.”
“Aye, well, if you want my help with Finn, you might want to be nice to me.”
Gina tilted her head. “Oh, you haven’t seen anything yet. Wait until I can actually sneak about instead of waddle. I have a few surprises in store for you, Fergus MacKenzie. Unless you’re too old for a little fun now and then?”
He moved to stand between her legs. “Twenty-nine isn’t old. I thought I’d proved that to you by now.”
Placing a hand on his chest, she fluttered her eyelashes. “I may have forgotten. After all, I have pregnancy brain and my memory is a little faulty.”
Fergus cupped her cheek and strummed his thumb against her skin. “I say we rush home and I’ll remind you again.” Her dragonman leaned down and gently kissed her. All too soon, he pulled away and whispered, “What do you say?”
Gina leaned forward, but then caught herself. “Help me talk with Finn first. Then you can do a little reminding.”
Searching her eyes, he sighed. “That stubborn glint is back. I don’t stand a chance of changing your mind, do I?”
“No.”
“Then aye, I’ll help you. But, you’ll stay with Arabella or my mum whilst I set it up. That’s the condition.”
The corner of her mouth ticked up. “Aw, there goes my idea to sneak off in black ninja garb and jump Finn out of nowhere.”
“If I didn’t lo— er, like you so much, lass, I would call you a bit crazy.”
Gina’s heart rate kicked up. She had a feeling Fergus had meant to say ‘love’ instead of like.
A small part of her was thrilled that he felt that way. But until she knew she could stay with Fergus, she wouldn’t explore that topic. Gina had a grip on her feelings still, but barely.
Brushing off the comment, she offered up her hands. “Help me up, dragonman. Otherwise, it could take me a good twenty minutes to get to my feet.”
His eyes flashed as he murmured, “Now I know how to keep you in place for a wee spell if I need it.”
She snorted, glad that he was acting as if he hadn’t misspoken. “Do that to me and it’s game on, dragonman.”
Fergus kissed her and answered, “We’ll see, lass. We’ll see.”
The next second, Fergus tugged her to her feet and wrapped an arm around her shoulders. As they left the surgery, Gina snuggled against Fergus’s warmth. Teasing aside, she hoped Finn would find a way for her to stay. After the last week, giving up Fergus might break her heart in two.
~~~
Fergus hugged Gina closer to his side. He was just glad she hadn’t caught on to his near-mistake of saying “love.”
His beast grunted. Gina is clever. I’m sure she figured it out.
Females tend to react when they think a male says love. She’s close to her time, so she might be too tired to put it together like she normally would.
These human games are pointless. We should move our things into her house today.
Help
me with Finn, and we might just be able to do it.
I would, but you won’t like my idea. I’d just pin Finn down and force him to meet with your female.
Right, because Finn would just lie there and allow it to happen.
He might.
Ignoring his dragon, Fergus looked down at Gina. “Do you want to stay with Arabella or with my mum while I hunt down Finn?”
“As much as I love watching the MacKenzie Family TV show, I think I’ll go with Ara, if she’s available.”
“Don’t mention the TV show idea around Fraser. He might actually try to pitch it to Jane Hartley on Stonefire.”
Gina frowned. “I thought she was a BBC reporter.”
Fergus nodded. “Aye, she was. But after she mated Kai Sutherland down on Stonefire, she had to sever ties with the BBC. She’s in the process of launching her own video podcast about dragon-shifters.”
“Somehow, I can’t imagine the reporter I saw interviewing Arabella launching a reality TV show.”
The corner of his mouth ticked up. “Now who’s being serious and stuffy?”
She lightly slapped his side. “As if you would allow it to happen. Although, a ‘get-to-know Lochguard’ special might be in order.”
“Is that what you want to talk with Finn about?”
“Of course not. Although I could always bring it up.” Excitement filled her eyes. “Actually, I might have a way I can help your clan. Remember how I told you I nearly earned my marketing degree?” Fergus nodded and his lass continued, “If I teamed up with Jane Hartley, I bet we could launch a campaign. Her videocast numbers could jump and we might even be able to do a little advertising. Then her venture could become sustainable for the long haul. I know I’ll have to wait a few months until after my son is born and I’ve established a routine. But even working a few hours here and there, I could throw something together in four-to-six weeks.”
He squeezed her tighter against his side. “Provided you get Finn’s permission, I’ll help you any way I can, lass.”
She bobbed her head. “Awesome. Then I can mention that, too, when I talk to Finn today.”
“If I can find him. He’s due back from Stonefire in about an hour.”
Gina opened her mouth to reply when a warning siren blared across the clan’s lands.
Finn had had them installed after what happened with Holly and the rogue dragons. They signaled unidentified dragons approaching.
Fergus shouted above the noise. “Come, I need to get you to safety.”
“What’s happening?”
“Unknown dragons are flying toward Lochguard. It could be nothing, but it could be the rogue dragons trying to take us down. Come on. We need to hurry.”
Fergus changed direction and headed toward the warehouses at the far end of the clan’s land. Thanks to Fraser, Fergus was one of the few that knew security bunkers had been installed underneath the new warehouses. The key players knew to meet there in the event of an emergency.
Gina may not yet be considered one of them, but there was no bloody way he was going to leave her above ground and risk her being injured. Or, worse, being taken.
Because Fergus still needed to find out if the unknown dragons were the rogue traitors or if they were with BroadBay. Either way, they would have to kill him before he allowed them to take Gina or their son away from him.
Chapter Fourteen
No matter how much Grant McFarland zoomed in the security cameras, he couldn’t get a clear enough picture of the oncoming dragons to try and identify them. The dragons might be friendly and nothing to be concerned about, but Finn had entrusted Grant with the clan. There was no bloody way he was going to chance an attack.
His dragon growled. Let’s fly up and surround them. There are more of us than them.
And what if there are others waiting for the signal to join them?
I still say we go.
Not everything requires confrontation. Shut it and let me think.
His beast snarled and retreated to the back of his mind. Grant looked to Iris, Lochguard’s best tracker. “Take a small party and search out any other dragons from the ground. I need to know how many we’re dealing with.”
Iris nodded, her short black hair bouncing around her jaw. “Keep someone manned on the radio.” She pointed at two lower level Protectors. “Come with me.”
As the trio left, Faye MacKenzie burst into the room. “What’s the situation?”
For a split second, Grant was distracted by her pink cheeks and the strands of wild, curly hair that had escaped her braid. He’d been so wrapped up on instituting new protocols and surveillance that Grant hadn’t seem much of the lass as of late, except during their secret project trials. Even then, there had been a dozen dragon-shifters present and Grant had never had the chance to talk with Faye alone. However, judging by the healthy glow of her skin, she was almost completely recovered from her accident last year.
He’d have to make a point of testing her abilities later. For the moment, he debated how to use her. Her family would tell Faye to sit on the sidelines because they didn’t believe she was fully healed. But Grant knew Faye’s spirit would slowly fade if he kept dismissing her. Faye was a warrior and always would be.
His dragon spoke up again. She’s stronger. Let her help.
Always you bloody suggesting her.
We’re thinking the same thing. Stop overanalyzing everything and go with your gut.
Grant eyed Faye’s flushed cheeks and even breathing. “We have some unknown dragons approaching. I want you to run to the bunker and watch over whoever is there. If it comes to a fight, I need someone on the ground who can take charge.”
She raised her brows. “Does this mean I can tell you what to do, like in the old days?”
The corner of his mouth ticked up. “Aye, it might. But hurry. If the battle is over before you reach the bunker, you’ll lose the chance.”
Determination glinted in Faye’s gaze. “Oh, I’ll make it. And someday, you’ll acknowledge that I’m faster than you again.”
Before he could reply, Faye raced out of the room. For once, he wished he could follow her and have that race. But he was head Protector and the clan needed him.
Grant focused back on the security camera feed. The dragons were flying at a gentle pace, which signaled it probably wasn’t an attack. Of course, it could just be the cold January temperatures slowing the beasts down.
He pressed a button that connected him to the security post at the front gate. “Shay, I want you to spare as many of your staff as possible and have them shift in the sheltered landing area. I want them ready on a second’s notice.”
Shay replied, “Aye, consider it done.”
Grant moved his gaze to Brodie, one of the males in the room. “Take the B-squad and do the same. The sooner we start warming up our muscles, the sooner we can fly without injury.”
Brodie nodded and the B-squad members in the room followed him.
Grant studied the screen and wondered who the hell the red dragon was at the front of the formation. Since Grant knew every Scottish dragon by sight, and most of the English ones as well, the mystery dragon-shifter worried him.
His dragon huffed. Why? We can hold our own. We defeated the dragons holding the hospital hostage a few months ago.
Aye, and they were older dragons in their fifties, sixties, and seventies. These ones are young.
Faye would never back down.
Grant mentally growled. I’m not backing down, you bloody dragon. I’ll let you out when I need you.
He created a complex mental maze and tossed his beast inside. As soon as his mind was quiet again, he gave the orders for his special surprise. If he were lucky and the strangers attacked, he might be able to lower the number of Lochguard casualties with his top secret maneuver. No doubt, the old-timers who had abandoned Lochguard would frown upon his surprise, but Grant would do whatever it took to protect his clan.
Moving his gaze back to the security feed, he
waited to see what happened.
~~~
Gina half-ran and half-waddled to the entrance of the warehouse. She was definitely not fit for running at this point in her pregnancy.
Huffing and puffing, she somehow made her way into the entrance with Fergus right behind. They were greeted by Fraser’s neutral expression, which made her stomach drop. She’d never seen Fraser so serious.
Fergus’s twin nodded toward the door. “Come. The dragons are drawing nearer. We need to get you two inside.”
Gina’s heart thumped inside her chest. “Do we know who they are yet?”
Fraser shook his head. “No, but there’s a video feed from the security cameras downstairs. You can take a look and let us know if any of the dragons are with BroadBay or not.”
Fergus placed a hand on her back. “Regardless, you’re safe here, lass. We won’t let anyone try to take your or the bairn.”
Gina looked up at her dragonman. “Even so, I want to see the feed. If it’s BroadBay, I might recognize them. That could give you an edge over them.”
As they moved down the stairs, Fergus frowned. “I thought you never saw them in dragon form.”
“Not many of them. But I would recognize Travis anywhere.” The pupils of both the MacKenzie twins flashed. Before either could speak, Gina did. “I want you two to promise me you won’t try to kill him. No matter what he did, I won’t have his blood on my hands.”
They remained silent and Gina poked Fergus’s chest. “Promise me, Fergus MacKenzie.”
Fergus growled out, “Or, what’s the threat?”
She shook her head. “There’s no threat. I’m asking you to do this for me.”
Fergus remained silent a second before answering, “Aye, I promise. But if he attacks you or anyone from the clan, he’s fair game.”
“That I can live with,” Gina stated.
Fraser opened one last door and they entered a room decked out with high-tech equipment—flat screens, touch controls, and a lot of gadgets and buttons she didn’t recognize. There was a male and female dragon-shifter manning stations toward the front, but despite looking like siblings with the same black hair and blue eyes, neither one of them were familiar. She’d just have to trust Fraser and Fergus that they were trustworthy.
The Dragon Guardian Page 14