The Dragon Guardian

by Jessie Donovan

  Without another word, Fergus rushed back into the room. Both man and beast mentally sighed in relief to see that Jamie was back with Gina, and both were healthy.

  Rushing to Gina’s side, he murmured, “I did it in less than sixty seconds, lass. What did I win?”

  She met his eye. “A family.”

  He kissed her and then his son. “I couldn’t ask for a better present.”

  Fraser’s voice filled the room. “I don’t know, brother. I’d ask for her to do some kinky things in the bedroom, once she’s healed.”

  Lorna growled, “I’m standing right here, Fraser Moore MacKenzie.”

  “Tsk, Mum. No yelling around Mac-squared.”

  Fergus glared at his brother. “You’re not calling him that.”

  His brother moved toward the head of the bed after blowing a kiss to Holly, who was preparing for what Fergus assumed was the afterbirth. Fraser said, “What do you think, Gina? Every child should have a nickname.”

  Lorna answered, “You can talk about bloody nicknames later. Is Arabella okay?”

  Fraser shrugged and looked to his mother. “I think so. She’s sitting quietly in the back.”

  Lorna rolled her eyes. “Do you know Ara at all? Quiet isn’t good.” Lorna leaned in and touched Jamie’s cheek. “I need to check on Arabella.”

  Gina nodded. “I understand. I would talk with her if I could.”

  “Rest, Gina. And Grandma will be right back, wee Jamie.”

  Lorna exited the room and Fergus moved to pick up Jamie. Gina shook her head. “Let Fraser have a turn. Holly says we don’t have much time until she needs everyone out but you.”

  Fergus’s dragon growled. We should have another turn. Jamie is our son.

  Since when do you dismiss Fraser? He’s our brother.

  His beast huffed. I just want to hold the baby again.

  Soon. We have a lifetime with him. Fraser can have a minute or two.

  With a grunt, his dragon fell silent.

  Gina squeezed his hand and he looked down at his mate. But she nodded toward his brother before either one spoke. Gently lifting Jamie, Fergus turned toward his brother.

  ~~~

  Gina watched as Fergus tenderly handed over Jamie to Fraser. Witnessing the tall, cocky dragonman coo at her son made the corners of Gina’s mouth tick up. She never could’ve imagined anyone from BroadBay acting the same way.

  Wanting to focus on the happiness of the present and not dwell on the past, Gina pushed aside all thoughts of BroadBay. There might still be trouble ahead, but in that moment, she celebrated the birth of her first child.

  And if everything went to plan and she could stay on Lochguard, she might even find a way to bring over the only person missing from her special moment—her sister, Kaylee.

  Fraser broke the silence. “Just wait, Mac-squared. I’m going to be your favorite uncle. We’ll get into all kinds of trouble.”

  Fergus growled to his brother, “Right now, you’re his only uncle.”

  Fraser grinned. “All the better. It makes me the best.”

  Fergus sighed and motioned with his hands. “You’ve held him long enough. Give me my son.”

  Fraser shook his head as he offered Jamie to Fergus. “Gina is going to have to balance out your protectiveness. Otherwise, you’ll create a wee rebel.”

  Fergus cuddled Jamie close. “Not that it would matter. I think his uncle would plant the ideas in his head first.”

  Holly’s voice interrupted the pair. “Fraser, love, I need you to leave for a bit.”

  Fraser saluted and blew a kiss. “I know the drill by now. But come find me when you’re done, honey. There are some pregnant females who are worried and could use your assurances.”

  Holly nodded. “Aye, as soon as I’m finished here.”

  Fraser touched Jamie’s cheek one last time and exited the room. Fergus sat next to Gina on the bed and leaned his head against hers. “Thank you.”

  She frowned. “For what?”

  “For being bloody wonderful. Whether you realize it or not, you’ve scored brownie points with my mum today by naming wee Jamie after my father.”

  She raised her brows. “And what about with you?”

  He adjusted wee Jamie’s swaddling. “Since you mated me and gave me a son today, I think you’ve earned a few.”

  “Good. I plan to collect in a few months’ time.”

  As Fergus and Gina remained silent, they stared at their baby boy and leaned against one another. Gina knew reality was waiting for them above ground and they’d face it soon enough. But for the moment, she simply enjoyed the heat and scents of the two most important men in her life and branded it into her memory. After the events of the day, Gina was ready to fight for her place on Lochguard. Not just for her son’s and her own safety, but also for the man she loved. Fergus MacKenzie was hers in more ways than one and she was never giving him up.

  Chapter Nineteen

  Grant McFarland ignored the stabs of pain in his injured shoulder and walked into the Protectors’ central command. Thanks to the structure and reinforced design of the building, it still stood.

  Other Protectors and select staff darted in and out of rooms. Grant trusted his people to take care of recovery and clean-up. He had a more important job to take care of before he could help them.

  Striding into the main command room, he spotted Faye MacKenzie sitting in his chair, giving orders. Despite the events of the day, the corner of his mouth ticked up at the lass’s actions. Faye had fallen back into her old role of head Protector; she might even challenge Grant for his spot before long.

  Faye finally turned her head. The relief in her eyes warmed both man and beast. His dragon spoke up. I like that she waited for us.

  Aye, I suspect you’d like any bonny lass to be waiting for you.

  His beast growled. Faye is better than the others. She is strong as well as beautiful.

  Grant resisted a frown. If I had the time, I’d ask for more detail. As it is, keep quiet. I need to work.

  In the next second, Faye’s eyes darted to his shoulder. Her lips parted and she stormed over with a frown. “Of all the bloody stupid things to do, Grant McFarland. Why wouldn’t you get your injury tended to? If it festers, the clan will be at a loss.”

  Desperately needing a moment of levity after recent events, Grant raised an eyebrow. “Why? I’m sure you already have a plan in place to take over my position.”

  Faye shook her head and turned to pick up a first-aid kit from a nearby shelf. “Now is not the time to joke, Grant. Lochguard would suffer if you were lost.”

  “I’d almost say you’d miss me.”

  Faye turned. Studying him, she finally answered, “Maybe.”

  His dragon hissed. She would.

  Ignoring his beast, he resisted the urge to tuck a wisp of curly brown hair behind her ear. “Regardless, I need to find out the prisoners’ secrets. The DDA could come to collect them at any time and I might be able to persuade them to talk. My injury can wait.”

  Faye poured a disinfectant onto a cotton clump. “Then stop interrupting me and I’ll have this done in less than a minute.”

  Before he could answer, she dabbed the wet cotton along the slash on his shoulder. Clenching his teeth, he resisted hissing in a breath.

  Faye’s ministrations were gentle yet firm. She worked quickly and efficiently, much like she’d done during their time in the British army.

  Not wanting to remember what his young, immature self had done, he blurted out, “You were brilliant today.”

  Picking up a gauze pad, her eyes flicked up to his for a second. “Says the male who chased down the last of the intruders on the clan’s land. I was able to watch some of it. While good, I have some suggestions.”

  “Of course you do.”

  She placed the gauze over the worst section of his cut with a little more force than necessary. “You give me suggestions all the time. I wish you’d stop being so male when I do the same. I haven’t f
orgotten our agreement.”

  His beast huffed. Why are you irritating her on purpose? She will never kiss us if you’re an arse.

  Grant answered slowly, Since when do you want to kiss her?

  Since when have you wanted to do the same?

  His eyes fell on Faye’s pink lips. At one time, he’d done everything in his power to insult the female in front of him. Yet in the moment, he wished everything was taken care of, the clan was safe, and he could pin Faye against a wall, let loose her wild, curly hair, and persuade her to kiss him.

  Faye finished wrapping his slash and stepped away, reminding him it wasn’t the time. He murmured, “Thank you.”

  She tilted her head. “I never thought I’d hear that from your lips.”

  Shit. If he were overly nice to her, Faye would try to figure out why. Grant fell back on his head Protector role. “I put it down to blood loss.” Grant looked over to his staff at the front of the room. He directed his question to Cooper Maxwell, his second-in-command. “I’m going to question the prisoners. You and Faye can keep things under control.”

  Cooper nodded. “Aye. I’ll let you know if the DDA approaches.”

  Grant nodded. “Right, then I’m off.” He looked down at Faye. Her whiskey-colored eyes were inquisitive, but she remained silent.

  Having dawdled for too long already, Grant turned and exited the room. As he strode down the long corridor, he carefully placed a mask of indifference on his face. If he appeared too eager, the prisoners would sense they had the upper hand. Grant needed to convince them he couldn’t care less if they shared information or not.

  He gave one final command to his dragon. Stay quiet in there unless you sense something of importance in their mood or scent.

  Of course.

  Interrogations and battles were the only time his beast was cooperative.

  Grant knocked on the assigned room and his best interrogator, Brodie, opened the door and motioned him into the small, soundproofed observation room. Grant asked, “Anything new?”

  Brodie shook his head. “Not since the last update ten minutes ago. The Lochguard traitor refuses to say anything except he’s old and won’t betray his true clan. The American merely asks for Gina MacDonald.”

  Grant frowned. He was one of the few who knew the details of Gina’s past. “Do you think it’s Travis Parker?”

  “I don’t know. We haven’t found a clear picture of him to compare.”

  Regardless, anyone associated with a bastard who would impregnate females to fulfill a bet didn’t deserve any sort of respect from Grant. “Let me try while we still have the chance. Stay here and monitor the situation.”

  Brodie nodded and Grant focused on his objective. Mentally prepared, he entered the small, windowless room and locked the heavy door behind him.

  He eyed the male. Since he was in human form with scrapes and a broken leg set in a makeshift cast, he probably had been one of the dragons hit with the mandrake and periwinkle powder capsules.

  However, the male’s relaxed posture and smug smile told Grant volumes. The bastard wasn’t afraid.

  Grant didn’t condone torture, but he was more than on board with mind games. Crossing to the empty chair on the far side, Grant sat down and stretched out his long legs in front of him. Removing a knife from his boot, Grant casually cleaned his nails.

  After about sixty seconds, the male’s American accent echoed inside the room. “I know you can’t hurt me and anything you say is bullshit, so don’t try any intimidation techniques with me. They won’t work.”

  Grant flicked his gaze to the American. “I don’t believe in wasting my time with lies. Or, in you trying to out-alpha me. Let me save us both some time and say I have all the time in the world.”

  “By law, the DDA will come to collect me and you must hand me over into their care.”

  He raised his brows. “Do I? My people didn’t give a final prisoner headcount yet. In all of the commotion, it’s easy to overlook one or two.”

  “And risk your clan? I somehow doubt it.”

  Grant shrugged. “This is the Highlands, lad. We tend to do things our own way and the humans barely take notice. My people will back my decision, no questions asked.”

  The man studied him and crossed his arms over his chest. “Which explains the illegal weapons and drugs.”

  All of the captured prisoners had been injected with a mandrake root and periwinkle concoction to prevent them shifting into a dragon for at least a day. “Says the man who helped bomb an entire dragon clan.”

  Grant went back to cleaning his nails. The shuffling of the male’s feet signaled his plan was working.

  Five seconds passed and then ten. Grant’s dragon paced at the back of his mind, anxious to do something.

  Flicking his wrist, Grant sent his knife sailing through the air to land just behind and above the American’s head. Grant met the male’s eyes. “Next time, I’ll aim lower. I’ll try not to make you a eunuch, although I can’t guarantee it.”

  Slowly rising and walking over to the Yank, Grant tugged out his knife. The male visibly gulped. The dragonman wasn’t as well-disciplined as Grant’s team.

  Taking five steps back, he tested the weight of his weapon. Just as he held the blade between his fingers and pulled his arm back to throw, the male blurted out, “Stop.”

  Grant paused. “Is there something you want to tell me? You have five seconds to spit it out.”

  The male nodded as he pressed his legs together and lifted his knees to try to protect his cock and balls. With his ankles chained to the floor, he didn’t get far enough. “Roberts doesn’t like to be denied. He wants the female and her baby.”

  Stephen Roberts was the leader of Clan BroadBay. “There must be more to it than that. Not even Roberts would risk an international incident over a mother and child.”

  “I don’t know anything beyond the fact Roberts wants them both alive.”

  Grant took a step forward, the blade still between his fingers. “Tell me the reason.”

  The male remained silent and Grant swung his arm forward. The male yelped even as the blade clunked into the wood of the wall behind Grant.

  Grant leaned down to the male’s eye level. “My fingers must’ve slipped. To guarantee it won’t happen again, I may just have to swing my blade upward into your balls.”

  Turning to pick up his knife, the male finally said, “All I know is the female is special. Something about her blood. I swear that’s all I know.”

  Grant looked over his shoulder. The male was scrambling to lift his legs.

  Casually strolling over to the American, he swept the chain connected to the male’s ankles and forced the traitor’s feet to the floor. “How would they even know anything about Gina’s blood?” The man began to shake his head and Grant yanked the chain hard. The man screamed as his broken leg jarred and he nearly fell off the chair to the floor. Grant added, “I’d suggest saying something when it’s just you and me. If I just happen to chain you at the edge of the woods and let slip your location, there are plenty of journalists willing to snap your picture and paste it all over the news. How long do you think you’d survive once the DDA found you and put you in jail? From all accounts, your clan members aren’t as honorable as mine. I give you a week, tops.”

  “You’ll just tell them anyway and I’m good as dead.”

  Grant shrugged. “Tell me everything, and I mean everything, you know and I’ll turn you over with the other prisoners. You can tell them you were having your leg checked out.”

  Grant waited. The dragonman was clearly weighing his options.

  The Yank let out a sigh. “All I know is they drew her blood to confirm the pregnancy. A few weeks after that, the entire clan was alerted to find the human female. When we received a tip from one of our Scottish contacts, we came as fast as we could. You know the rest.”

  Assessing the dragonman, Grant’s dragon finally spoke up. I think he finally told us the truth.

  So yo
u don’t think he knows anything else?

  No. But what he told us is valuable. Now, knock him unconscious. He’s taken enough of our time.

  Grant stepped back and dusted off his hands. “You’re going to wait here a while longer.”

  “But—”

  “We’re done.” With that, Grant exited the room, locked the door behind him and looked over to Brodie at the monitor. “Reach out to the medical team once things start to die down. I want to know what’s hiding in Gina MacDonald’s blood.”

  Brodie nodded. “Aye, though it could be a day or two before we have enough staff to do it.”

  “That’s fine. Take care of the clan first.” Grant motioned toward the monitor. “Keep an eye on him. When word of the DDA retrieval team arrives, visit the American one last time just to ensure he’s not hiding anything. I left my knife out of his reach in case you need it. Then hand him over with the rest.”

  “Of course,” Brodie answered.

  Exiting the room, Grant headed back to command central. He would eventually need to talk with Finn in private and let him know what the American had said. But in the meantime, he pushed away the information and focused on the list of things to be done. The fighting might be over, but ensuring his clan’s welfare had only begun.

  Chapter Twenty

  The next morning, Fergus lay beside Gina as she tried yet again to nurse Jamie. Despite Holly’s busy schedule assuring pregnant females and new mothers that everything was okay, she’d come back to help Gina as often as possible.

  And both man and beast noticed how every time Holly looked at Jamie, she smiled. His dragon spoke up. Just ask her.

  We should ask Fraser first.

  He’s busy doing work for Finn above ground. I want to know. Our son could use some cousins.

  Fergus debated bringing up the topic considering Holly’s miscarriage last year. However, before he could convince himself to ask, Jamie finally latched on to Gina’s nipple and suckled.

  Gina scrunched her nose. “That feels weird. Good, but weird.”