Tristan pulled his top over his head and rushed to his female. Scooping her up, he nuzzled her neck; her scent a drug he would never have enough of. “Not yet, but that’s where I plan to be in about ten seconds.”
Melanie laughed and Tristan carried his mate to their bedroom. It was time to let his dragon-half out and make her scream.
Chapter Two
One Week Later
Tristan tapped his finger against the arm of the chair. When his clan leader, Bram, finally hung up the phone, Tristan asked, “Why am I here? I’d rather be with my mate today.”
Bram raised an eyebrow. “As I would rather be with mine. But do I ever call you to my cottage without a reason?”
“No, but whatever you need to say, just say it.”
Bram shook his head. “If you weren’t my friend of thirty years, Tristan, I would actually try to instill some manners into you.” Tristan merely shrugged and his clan leader continued. “Right, the reason I called you in here is to give you the coordinates of a safe location to stash your family in case the worst happens. We have no idea what response the general public will have to the release of Melanie’s book today and I want to play it safe.”
“Then why did you wait so long to tell me this? You’ve known for months when the book would come out.”
Bram crossed his arms over his chest. “Given the recent trouble of traitors in the clan over the last year, I thought you’d understand my need to be cautious.”
Tristan’s dragon piped in. We trust him. Don’t be so rude. He wants to help protect our mate.
Ignoring his inner beast, Tristan replied, “Then hurry up and tell me what I need to know, Bram. When I left, Mel was pacing and muttering to herself. Even with Arabella and Evie there, she needs me.”
Bram uncrossed his arms, picked up a folder on his desk, and held it out. Tristan took it as his friend explained, “Finlay Stewart has graciously offered us protection on the Isle of Skye for you and your family, if we need it. The location is remote enough to protect you. Not only that, there are numerous caves and cottages listed for you to choose from. If things turn violent and humans threaten Mel’s life, I want you to take her to one of those locations.”
Tristan looked up. “The last time you took someone to a safe location, it was compromised. How do we know this time will be any different? After all, the dragon hunters are currently a major pain in our arses.”
“This time, we know they are around and dangerous. Not only that, but Protectors from both Stonefire and Lochguard will be located around the island to act as lookouts and help if needed.”
“You’re trusting the Scottish bastard a lot considering the alliance is a mere four months old.”
Bram gave him a piercing blue-eyed stare. “He saved my mate’s life. I’m not sure what else he could do to prove his sincerity and dedication to the alliance.”
Tristan grunted. “But why Skye? Lewis or any of the Western Isles would be more remote.”
“Transporting five-month-old twins is quite a process. Skye is a bit easier to manage. Besides, from what I hear, the residents of Skye have a history of helping the dragon-shifters and garnering their help in return.”
Skye is remote enough and closer to the Scottish dragon clan. It is a good choice, his dragon said.
Since when are you a master of geography?
You are a teacher. Your knowledge is my knowledge. I pay attention when you instruct the young ones on where it’s safe to fly.
Rather than admit his dragon had a point, Tristan focused back on Bram. “And the transport details?”
“It will be by dragonflight. Dr. Sid devised carry cases for the twins to protect them from the cold.” Bram motioned toward the folder in Tristan’s hands. “The rest of the details are in there. Read them over, discuss them with Mel, and then get back to me and Kai. Since reading a three-hundred page book will take some time, I don’t expect anything to happen today. Still, read it and discuss it with your mate as soon as possible.”
Bram’s tone brooked no argument. “Right, then can I go? Mel hasn’t slept well in days and my dragon is not happy about it.”
His clan leader waved a hand. “Go. I’ll send someone over when the shipment of her books arrives here later today.”
With a grunt, Tristan left Bram’s cottage and headed home. As much as he appreciated his friend’s precaution, Tristan knew there was no bloody way Mel would leave the clan. He only hoped there wasn’t any violence as a result of her book, because then the real test would begin—a battle between his dragon’s need to protect and the need to support his mate and stand by her side when she needed it most.
~~~
Melanie paced the length of her living room, down the hall to the door, and back again. Where was Tristan?
Without him by her side to calm her or keep her grounded, a million thoughts raced through her head.
Maybe everyone who bought her book would simply return it. Or, if they kept the book, then maybe a plane would appear out of nowhere to drop bombs on Stonefire, killing everyone she held dear.
Tristan would say she was crazy, but an exposé of the dragon-shifters had never been released before; there was no way to judge how the public would respond.
Not even holding one of her babies would help calm her mind. She needed the solid strength and bluntness of her mate.
Once she reached the living area again, Arabella looked up from her laptop. “Your pacing is distracting. Can’t you go clean the kitchen or something so I can finish my work?”
She stopped in front of her sister-in-law and glared. “You came here of your own desire. I didn’t ask you to come, let alone bring one of your laptops here to work on. You can leave if it’s that much of a bother.”
Evie, who was sitting on the floor and building a tower of blocks with little Murray, frowned and chimed in, “You don’t need to bite her head off, Melanie. We’re here for support, especially since Bram needed to talk with Tristan.”
Melanie paced around the living area. “I don’t understand why Bram couldn’t come here, or do a teleconference.”
Evie scrutinized her. “You’re definitely not yourself today. The Melanie Hall-MacLeod I know goes out of her way to make things easy for everyone but herself. You’re stressed, love. Either share your thoughts or I’ll force some chamomile tea down your throat since Bram would frown upon me using a sedative.”
Mel blinked. “You want to drug me?”
Arabella chuckled, which only made Mel blink again. Ara closed her laptop and crossed her arms over her chest. “Even I’m tempted to give you a sleep aid of some sort. You’re driving everyone crazy, Melanie, especially since there’s nothing to do but wait and see how things go.”
Mel sighed. “I know that, but it doesn’t make it any easier. Especially since I couldn’t find a publisher who would publish my book so I had to do it myself.”
Ara shook her head. “You had twenty thousand pre-orders for the ebook version alone. I’d say you did well enough by publishing it yourself and it won’t be long before every book shop in the country wants to stock Revealing the Dragons: the Day-to-Day Lives of a British Dragon-Shifter Clan.”
Evie squeaked a toy dragon at Murray before scrunching her nose. “I still say you should’ve picked a shorter, snazzier title. It almost sounds…academic, which usually means boring.”
Mel huffed. “It’s supposed to sound academic. I wasn’t about to write a tabloid tell-all.” Evie smiled and Mel understood. “You were trying to rile me up, weren’t you?”
Evie shrugged. “It’s better than you pacing until you wear a hole in the carpet.”
After living so long with Tristan, it took everything Mel had not to growl. “Yes, but get me too riled up and I’ll wake the twins. You’ll find out soon enough what it’s like to have two young children to care for and how precious it is when they take a nap.”
Evie’s eyes turned wistful. “I can’t wait.” Then her friend’s gaze turned devious. “Beside
s, Bram can take care of Murray during the day, for the most part, if I need him to.”
Mel sighed. “You understand he’s the clan leader, right, Evie? And he may, I don’t know, have things to do?” Ara snickered and Mel turned her gaze on her sister-in-law. “Are we entertaining you, sister?”
Arabella nodded. “You two are better than most human TV shows I watch. By all means, keep going.”
Melanie was about to switch the focus of her extra energy on Arabella when the front door opened and Tristan’s voice sounded down the hallway. “Melanie?”
“Tristan.” She rushed down the hallway and engulfed her mate in her arms. “Please tell me Bram didn’t have bad news.”
As her mate’s hand rubbed her back, she melted against him. His voice rumbled under her ear. “No, not bad news. It was just Bram being Bram.”
She pulled back and looked up at her mate. “That isn’t very helpful.”
Evie’s voice came from behind her. “He means Bram has a back-up plan, in case things go wrong.”
She swung her head at her friend, who was no doubt holding Murray as a form of protection to keep her from scolding too harshly. Mel’s brows came together. “You knew and didn’t tell me?”
Evie shrugged. “Bram is clan leader, which nearly makes me one as well since I’m his other half. I can’t share his secrets without his permission.”
Tristan rubbed her back a little harder. “She’s right, love.
Under normal circumstances, Mel knew Evie had information she couldn’t share. Yet her book’s release day was the culmination of nearly a year’s worth of work and Mel didn’t like being left in the dark.
She looked back up to Tristan’s brown eyes. “What is this back-up plan, then?”
“You aren’t going to like it.”
She slapped his chest. “Tell me.”
Tristan held up a folder in his free hand. “Inside is a list of safe places to flee on the Isle of Skye if we need it.”
Mel frowned. “Scotland? He trusts Finn that much?”
Tristan nodded. “Apparently so. Although, the real question is if things turn sour, would you even go?”
She stared into her mate’s eyes. They were full of curiosity and a touch of concern. “If it were up to you, we’d leave right now.”
Tristan rubbed smaller circles on her back. “Yes, but it’s not solely up to me. I promised you I would always try to ask first, so I’m asking.”
Not caring that she had an audience, Mel whispered, “I love you, Tristan MacLeod.”
He smiled. “That still doesn’t give me an answer, my little human. Would you go?”
“No, I don’t think I could.” Evie made a sound of protest and Mel looked over at her friend. “It’s my work that’s putting everyone in danger. It’s taken me a year to gain the acceptance of most of the clan. What do you think would happen if I brought a heap of danger to Stonefire and then fled?”
Evie’s face turned grim. “They would hate you more than ever before. Maybe even think you did it on purpose, to make them suffer.”
Tristan growled. “Anyone who would think that is an idiot. My mate hasn’t hurt anyone, ever. She’s too big-hearted.”
Mel smiled up at her mate. “Thanks for the support.” She looked back to Evie. “If it truly turns into an all-out battle, I’ll send the children away to safety. But my place is here with the clan. I have too many interviews lined up over the next few days that might help stem any acts of violence.”
Evie shook her head. “You have more faith in the media than I do.”
Mel snuggled into her mate’s chest. “To change the laws, we need the media on our side. So yes, I am optimistic because otherwise, I might be risking everyone’s safety for nothing.”
Evie readjusted Murray on her hip. “Right, then we’ll all try extra hard. Do you need to go over your talking points again?”
Before Mel could reply, Tristan squeezed her and said, “You need a rest, Melanie Hall-MacLeod. Did you eat breakfast while I was with Bram?”
Turning her head into Tristan’s chest, she mumbled, “No.”
Her dragonman growled. “I’m feeding you and then you’re taking a nap.”
Mel looked up. “What about Jack and Annabel?”
Tristan looked past her to Evie. “I’m sure you and Arabella can manage.”
Arabella’s voice carried from the living area. “You could ask me, brother.”
Tristan dropped his voice so only Melanie could hear. “Ever since she met that Scottish bastard, she’s become bloody demanding.”
Hiding her smile, Mel whispered, “I say good for her. And it could be worse; she could be mated to the Scottish leader.”
Her dragonman made a low noise in his throat. “Don’t tease me about that, little human. He’s the last person I’d want as a brother-in-law.”
She raised an eyebrow. “The last person? What about the leader of Skyhunter down south? I’m sure he’d be a fabulous relative to have.”
Tristan narrowed his eyes. “It would still be a close contest between who would be worse.”
Melanie laughed and then pushed against her mate’s chest. He released his hold and she ordered, “Right, let’s get something to eat before Arabella can escape. She loves her niece and nephew too much to leave with no one else to watch them.”
As Arabella started to protest, Mel took Tristan’s hand and ducked into the kitchen. Just as she’s expected, having her mate close helped chase her worries away.
Releasing her hand to open the fridge, Mel watched as Tristan made her a sandwich. The everyday act soothed her fears a tad. Maybe she’d over analyzed things and everything would turn out all right in the end. Who would try to kill her over a book? Sure, a few authors had been targeted over the years, but Mel wasn’t picking apart someone’s religious beliefs. All her book did was talk about matings, celebrations, and clan structures.
Yet a small part of her knew someone would take offense. She only hoped it was an extreme minority. The dragon hunters already targeted them. Stonefire didn’t need any more enemies to watch out for.
Chapter Three
The next day, Tristan stood at the foot of the stairs waiting for his mate. Little had been said in the human media outlets about the release of her book. He wasn’t sure if that was a good or bad thing, although it worried Mel to no end.
However, she had her first press conference in half an hour. That would be the first real test.
His human descended the stairs, wearing black trousers and a light green top that showed off her eyes. When she reached the bottom of the stairs, his gaze lingered on her chest before meeting her eyes. “That top is too tight. I don’t want other males staring at your breasts.”
Mel rolled her eyes. “This is probably one of the most conservative things I’ve worn in a long time.”
His dragon huffed. Her arse is highlighted too. I don’t like it.
His mate sighed. “I see your flashing dragon eyes. Tell him I’m wearing this and that’s final. These clothes make me feel important, and I desperately need the confidence.”
Tristan snorted. “Right, love, you lack confidence.”
She poked him in the chest. “Sometimes, yes, I do. And since I’m about to represent our entire clan, I think you’d be a little more supportive.”
“Agreeing with everything you say or do is boring. You wouldn’t like it.”
She sighed. “You’re right, but matching wits with you is a wonderful stress reliever.”
“So does that mean I have a free pass right now to tease you?”
“Most definitely not.” The frown between her brows eased. “Are the twins still asleep?”
“Yes. Samira and Evie are in the living area, keeping an ear open.”
“Where’s Arabella?”
He shrugged. “She had things to do.”
Tristan agreed with the look of confusion in his mate’s eyes. Arabella spent most of her free moments with her niece and nephew. Maybe the huma
ns gathering in front of Stonefire’s main gate for the press conference had spooked her. He only hoped it hadn’t reversed any of his sister’s progress.
His mate took the last step down and patted Tristan’s chest. “I bet Ara’s afraid of how things could change. If humans and dragon-shifters eventually learn to interact freely with one another, she might feel the need to hide away again.”
He growled. “I’m not about to let that happen.”
“Me neither, but it explains her absence.” Mel walked toward the living area. “I really wish she’d take up the foster position with Lochguard. A break from the clan might be good for her.”
Tristan kept pace with his mate. “If she decides to go, then I’ll allow it. But I’m not about to encourage it.”
Mel glanced at him with raised brows. “Allow her? Tristan, love, remind me to tell Arabella about that the next time I see her.”
“Aren’t conversations between mates private?”
They reached the living area and Evie was grinning. “Maybe, but we heard it too. I’m going to make sure I’m here when Melanie tells your sister what you said. I might even bring some popcorn.”
His dragon growled. There are too many females in this house. Let’s hurry.
I couldn’t agree more.
Tristan touched Mel’s upper arm. “Say goodbye to the twins and let’s go. Bram’s waiting for us.”
Moving to the playpen used as a crib, Mel shot him a look. “I’m ready five minutes early, so hold your horses.”
He fought a smile and lost the battle once Mel brushed the cheek of each of their babies in turn. He was a lucky dragonman, and he knew it, too. He only hoped the world would change for the better after the press conference instead of for the worse.
~~~
Standing behind the front gates of Clan Stonefire, Melanie struggled to keep her jaw from dropping. Bram had agreed to host a press conference just outside their land, but she had never expected the sight before her eyes.
Revealing the Dragons (Stonefire Dragons #2.5) Page 2