The Dragon Warrior (Lochguard Highland Dragons Book 4)

by Jessie Donovan

  “We’re not bowing down. It’s called working together.”

  Michael shook his head. “Roderick was right about you.”

  Grant wasn’t going to rise to the bait. “Speaking of your brother, do you want to make things easy and tell me where to find him?” When his father said nothing, Grant added, “So you’re ready to rot in a jail cell for him, aye? I never would’ve pinned you as the loyal type.”

  “There’s too much at stake.”

  For a split second, worry crossed his father’s face, but then it was gone. The action reminded him that Michael McFarland was just a regular bloke, with little to any training. Maybe if Grant stirred his anger, he could find out more.

  Glad to finally be acting like a head Protector and not a disgruntled son, Grant asked, “You’re aware that if the roles were reversed and Roderick were here, he’d give you up without pause. If anything, you’re a burden to him because of your lack of training or military experience.” His dad remained silent, so Grant pushed harder. “Not to mention the Americans you worked with can verify your identity and add time to your sentence. Your best bet is to talk with me.”

  “Aye, and what would you do? Throw flowers over my head and welcome me back with open arms? I doubt it, son.”

  Grant wanted to tell the male not to call him son, but managed to restrain himself. He needed to keep a cool head. “Perhaps a shorter sentence. And when you’re finished serving it, the DDA might help relocate you with a new identity. That way you can pretend you don’t have a family and you’ll never bother Mum again.”

  “I tried to get your mother to go, but she refused. She made her choice.”

  His father still wasn’t riled up enough, so Grant said, “You and she weren’t true mates and time has shown why not.”

  “Listen, lad. Some things are bigger than love or family. You left us to serve in Afghanistan, to fight for the British and other humans’ war. You should understand that.”

  Grant raised an eyebrow. “Me joining the army and learning the skills necessary to protect the clan is nowhere near the same thing.”

  “Wasn’t it? You made the selfish decision without asking us. You’re not so different from me, son.”

  “I never would’ve attacked my own people, and I was thinking about the clan’s future. That’s a bloody big difference.” Grant had an idea. “Your actions eventually helped to kill Nora and Isla Chisolm during the attack in February. Isla was just a wee lass who had done nothing. You’re going to tell me she deserved to die?”

  For a second, regret flashed in Michael’s eyes, but it quickly vanished. “That is on Finn’s leadership. A better clan leader would’ve evacuated everyone to safety on time.”

  It seemed his father had an excuse for everything.

  Aware that Grant’s time was running out, he played one last card. “If you’re so dead set on dragon-shifters being superior, then why did Roderick work with the Dragon Knights?”

  Before Roderick’s band of traitors had left Lochguard, they had worked with Duncan Campbell to pass on the codes to Lochguard’s security gates so that the Dragon Knights could infiltrate Lochguard. Finn and the loyal members of the clan had ultimately defeated the Knights with the help of the DDA, but it was the event that had triggered the banishment of the dragon-shifters turned traitor.

  “Using humans as a tool doesn’t violate our way of thinking or ultimate goal,” Michael answered. “Once we have convinced enough dragon-shifters to join our cause, we can also rule over the Knights.”

  “So that’s your ultimate plan, aye? I’ll find a way to pass that information on to the bastards. They won’t be helping you again in the future.” Michael fidgeted in his seat but remained quiet. Grant added, “This is your final opportunity to tell me everything you know. Otherwise, you will be dealing with the DDA on your own.”

  “I’m not about to go back to a shit life and do what others tell me. The DDA may imprison me for a short while, but that just gives me time to make friends with the other dragon prisoners. They should be easy to sway to our side.”

  Grant was careful to keep his face expressionless at the statement. His father probably didn’t realize how valuable that information would be.

  The door behind him opened and the guard walked up to the cell to unlock it. Grant looked at his father one more time before he turned and left.

  From here on out, Grant didn’t have a father. But he did have information that could prove useful to the clan and the DDA in general. He needed to get back to the B&B and talk with Faye. They might just have to use her plan after all.

  ~~~

  Arabella MacLeod slumped to the bed as another contraction ceased. “I thought the bloody things were supposed to help me push out the babies.”

  Dr. Layla MacFie, Lochguard’s recently appointed head doctor, smiled up at her. “They do, but if you push now, all it’ll accomplish is to make you tired. The bairns have to be in the right position to cooperate. Yours are being stubborn devils.”

  “Of course they are. Finn is their father,” Arabella muttered.

  Finn wiped her forehead with a wet cloth. “They’ll be here soon enough, love. Just think of it this way—the longer they stay inside, the fewer nappies we have to change.”

  Arabella glared at her mate. “I will gladly change nappies if it means this can be over. And I meant it, Finn. No more children after this. I can’t handle being pregnant again.”

  Even a year ago, Arabella would’ve had a hard time admitting a weakness. But after falling in love with Finn and the male proving time and again she could trust him, she always spoke her mind.

  Her dragon spoke up. Tell him he needs to work harder at distracting us from the pain.

  Do you really want to encourage him?

  Normally no. But another contraction is about to hit and it should remind you of why his humor can help.

  Arabella didn’t have a chance to reply before a contraction rippled through her uterus. Gripping Finn’s hand in hers, she clenched her teeth. She needed to be strong and not scream. She was the clan leader’s mate.

  Finn whispered into her ear, “It’s okay to yell, love. Half the clan already knows what it sounds like when you scream my name when you come.”

  She growled at Finn and rode out the contraction. When it finished, she whispered, “That is what got us into this situation in the first place. Don’t remind me.”

  Before Finn could reply, Aunt Lorna MacKenzie rushed into the room and went to Arabella’s other side. The woman had been like a mother to Arabella and she smiled at Lorna’s familiar face. “Good, you’re here. Maybe you can tell Finn to tone it down.”

  Lorna raised her brows and looked to Finn. “What have you been saying?”

  “Nothing, Aunt Lorna. I was just trying to lighten the mood.”

  Lorna tsked and looked back at Arabella’s face. “He means well, child. Finn is trying to hide it, but he’s worried. The humor helps distract him as well.”

  Looking to Finn, Arabella said, “It’ll be okay, Finn. Despite your antics, I’m not going anywhere. I love you.”

  Finn smiled slowly. “I sometimes wonder about that.”

  “Finlay,” Arabella and Lorna said at the same time.

  Thankfully, Layla’s voice prevented any of them from saying more. “Lorna, you should go wait with the others.”

  From experience, Arabella knew that Lorna MacKenzie didn’t take orders from many. But she smiled once more at Arabella and said, “If you need me, child, I won’t be far away.”

  Arabella bobbed her head and Lorna exited the room. Layla didn’t miss a beat as she spoke up again. “Okay, Ara. I need you to focus and push on this next one. The first bairn is ready to come out.” Arabella nodded and Layla added, “But stop when I tell you to stop. I need to make sure the next lass or lad is in the right position.”

  Arabella and Finn had followed dragon-shifter tradition in that they wouldn’t know the genders of their babies until they were born.


  Her dragon chimed in. Three boys would be easier. Then Finn wouldn’t threaten the lives of other males wanting to court a daughter.

  It also means being surrounded by protective males.

  Good point.

  The pain returned, but at Finn’s firm grip in hers, Arabella drew on his strength and pushed with everything she had.

  Trying not to think of the details, something stretched her in ways she couldn’t imagine. What she wouldn’t give for pain medication, but it was risky because of the amount of dragon-shifter hormones in her body due to carrying three babies.

  When the contraction finally stopped, Layla beamed at her. “We have a head.”

  “You mean I have to push five more times just to have three babies?”

  “It may be less or even slightly more. The first one will be the hardest, most likely.”

  Arabella barely had the strength to keep her eyes open. She had no idea how she was going to make it through who knew how many minutes or hours of labor. As it were, she’d barely been able to keep anything down her entire pregnancy, and the result was that she was always a bit lightheaded.

  Finn nuzzled her cheek and murmured, “We’ll do this together, Ara. I’ll take care of you for as long as it takes you to fully recover. Let’s just meet our wee rascals first.”

  She leaned into his touch. “Then help support me, Finn. My strength is waning.”

  Finn moved to wrap an arm around her shoulders. The solidness of his muscles and his familiar scent helped her to relax a fraction.

  He kissed her head and murmured, “You can do it, Ara. I know you can.”

  Pain raced through her body with another contraction, and somehow Arabella followed Layla’s command to push. After what seemed like hours but was probably seconds, a baby’s cry echoed inside the room right before Layla said, “Stop pushing, Arabella. It’s time to meet your son.”

  One of the nurses, a male named Logan, took their son and brought him over. “Just for a second. Say hello, wee one, before I clean you up.”

  Arabella looked at the tiny red face topped with dark hair like hers and tears prickled her eyes. She was now responsible for a tiny dragon-shifter. “I’m a mum.”

  Finn kissed the boy’s forehead. “Hello, son. Your mum is a bit worried right now, but I know she’ll do a fantastic job.”

  As Finn grinned at Arabella, she nearly started crying. “Don’t be too nice or I’ll never finish this.”

  Logan moved away, and Arabella wanted to scream for him to come back. She hadn’t even had a chance to hold her firstborn child.

  However, Layla’s steely voice garnered her attention. “The next one feels as if he or she is in the right position. I’m going to need you to push again.”

  When the contraction hit, Arabella followed Layla’s order. She only hoped she could last long enough to deliver all three of her children safely before she passed out from exhaustion.

  Then Finn squeezed her hand and she knew she would. Arabella might be knackered at the end, but she wouldn’t give up. If she could survive being tortured by dragon-hunters as a teenager, she could handle birthing three babies, no matter if they inherited Finn’s stubbornness and penchant for causing trouble.

  Her dragon’s voice was weak, but gentle. I am also here.

  Drawing on the combined strength of her mate and dragon, Arabella pushed with all she had.

  ~~~

  Finlay Stewart might be teasing and strong on the outside, but inside, he felt guilty. He was the cause of Arabella’s pain and suffering in the moment. She would forgive him, of course, but given her past, he’d never wanted her to suffer ever again in her life.

  His dragon spoke up. It is temporary. Besides, the pain will give us a family. That is something Arabella yearns for, but rarely voices.

  Aye, she’s stubborn. Still, I wish I could take her suffering away.

  Even though it was minor in comparison, Arabella squeezed his hand and pain radiated up his arm.

  Thankful for his experience as clan leader, Finn never showed his discomfort. “You’re doing well, love.”

  “Harder, Ara,” Layla ordered. Soon, the doctor shouted, “Another boy!”

  He grinned. “We have two sons, love. I’m rooting for lucky number three, too.”

  “I hope not. Living with four males in one house would drive me mad.”

  Logan brought over their second son. He was tiny and pink with dark hair, just like the first. The thought that Finn had helped make the wee one sent a rush of pride and love through his body. He couldn’t wait to see how their bairns turned out. For Arabella’s sanity, he hoped at least one of them took after her and not him.

  Finn was no expert, but their second child looked to be the same size as his other son, not to mention he had the same nose and face shape. “Hello, younger devil.” Finn maneuvered their clasped hands so that Arabella could touch their son’s head. “You’re handsome, just like your brother.”

  Logan said, “Aye, he and his brother look alike. I’ll have to check more closely, but you might have identical twins on your hands.”

  Finn smiled as Arabella said, “At least they have dark hair and not ginger. We don’t need two sets of ginger-haired twins.”

  Finn’s cousins, Fergus and Fraser, were identical twins with red hair. “If our sons did, I might just have to question the parentage. Ginger hair is a MacKenzie trait, not a Stewart one.”

  Arabella sighed. “Finn.”

  At the exhaustion in Arabella’s voice, Finn nodded and refrained from teasing his mate further. Logan took their second son away to be checked and cleaned up. His beast said, Why do they keep taking our bairns away? I want to see them and hold them. They are ours.

  In time, dragon. We need to make sure they’re healthy first. And we also couldn’t lend Arabella the support she needs if we had to look after the bairns, aye?

  His beast grunted at his logic and fell silent again.

  Finn focused back on his mate. “You’re nearly there, love. Just one more. Our third son is eager to join his brothers.”

  Arabella shook her head. “Our daughter wants to wait as long as possible. She knows already that her brothers are overprotective. They probably growled in the womb.”

  Finn chuckled. “Aye, I could see that. Even if it’s another boy, he’ll be the youngest and the other lads will look out for him.”

  He watched as Layla felt around Arabella’s abdomen. While working, Layla said, “Don’t push on the next contraction, Ara. I need to get the last one in position.”

  As if on cue, their boys started crying in unison. Logan murmured, “It’s okay, lads. Your sibling will be along shortly.”

  While Finn trusted Layla and Logan with his children’s lives, he missed the former head doctor, Gregor Innes, who had mated Stonefire’s doctor and had moved to Northern England to be with her. If he were still part of Lochguard, Arabella would have both Layla and Gregor watching over her. Two doctors were better than one.

  His dragon spoke up. Gregor is finally happy again and will have his own child before long.

  I know. Still, he was much better at getting Ara to rest and listen to him.

  Layla is still earning her marks as head doctor. It won’t be long before the whole clan adjusts.

  Finn could spend an hour thinking of how to better support Layla, but Arabella sighed and he zeroed in on his mate. “Is the pain worse?”

  “No. But I feel as if I could sleep for a week and still be tired.”

  Because of the circles under her eyes, he refrained from mentioning that the triplets were going to keep them busy. Finn would shoulder what he could, but Arabella was the food source and would have to help.

  He merely hummed a tune and Arabella smiled at him. “That’s your mum’s tune. The one you’ve been using with little Jamie.”

  “Aye, I practiced humming it with my nephew. I wanted to have it perfect for our bairns. Singing is not one of my specialties, despite my best efforts.”

>   She nuzzled against his arm. “If the babies start crying, then you can worry about being tone-deaf. Until then, it’s just a sign of love and tribute to your mother.”

  Not wanting to think of his parents and how much he wished they were still around, he looked to Layla. “Any progress?”

  Layla nodded. “Let’s try with the next contraction. We’re nearly there, Ara.”

  It wasn’t long before Arabella was pushing again. He barely noticed his bruised fingers. He was anxious to meet his last child.

  Last? His dragon echoed.

  Aye. I’m not doing this to Arabella again. We’re going to get snipped.

  Arabella strained as she tried to push their third bairn out. After what seemed like two lifetimes, a baby’s cry pierced the air, followed by Layla’s declaration. “You have a daughter.”

  Arabella slumped onto the bed and leaned heavily against Finn. “A daughter.”

  Kissing Arabella’s nose, he answered, “Aye, and her Auntie Faye is going to have to teach her a few things about being the youngest and holding her own.”

  Logan brought their little girl over. She was smaller than the other two with fair hair, just like Finn as a child.

  “She’s so tiny,” Arabella murmured.

  “Aye, but she’s braw,” Logan answered. “I still need to check her thoroughly, but she looks healthy to me.”

  Finn guided their hands to their daughter’s cheek. The soft skin under his fingers brought tears to his eyes.

  His dragon spoke up. Why are you emotional now? All three children are precious.

  Of course they are. But this is the last one we’ll be greeting for the first time. Allow me to enjoy it.

  Finn murmured, “Thank you, love, for the precious gifts.”

  His mate merely snuggled against him and continued to stare at their daughter.

  After Logan finally took away their youngest child, Finn looked at Arabella. “Two sons and a daughter. Aunt Lorna will be pleased. It’s as if we paid homage to her own brood.”