After a deep breath, Ara nodded. “I think so.”
“Good. Then it’s time to make the dragon hunters wish they never messed with our family.”
They began walking again and his sister looked up at him. “That’s a bit much, Tristan. One story won’t change the world.”
“I don’t know about that. If Melanie’s involved, it just might. The bloody woman wants to change all of British society in less than two years.”
Arabella smiled. “That sounds like she has another book waiting to be written.”
He shook his head. “Don’t even bring it up. I’m going to try to distract her once all of this is over.”
They reached the door of the cottage and Kai waved them inside. The head Protector guided them to a room off to the side as he briefed them. “Melanie’s in the other room and is about to go on air. Arabella will be last.” A guard moved from in front of the door. As they entered, Kai continued, “Wait in here with the others. They can tell you more of what to expect.”
Tristan looked to Kai. “Are there any signs of danger?”
The blond dragonman shook his head. “So far, so good. Security is on high alert. Nothing will happen to your mate, Tristan, if I have anything to do about it.”
Kai looked as steady and serious as always, but Tristan noticed the circles under his eyes. The head Protector was working around the clock and probably not sleeping.
He would mention it to Bram later. An overworked Protector was a liability rather than an asset, and Kai was too valuable an asset to burn out.
Tristan replied, “I believe you. Go do what you need to do. I’ll keep Arabella company here.”
The undertone was that Tristan would make sure his sister stayed put.
Once Kai was gone, he looked around the room until he saw Nikki, Hudson, and Evie holding baby Murray, all standing near a TV monitor. Evie looked over her shoulder, smiled warmly at Arabella, and then met his gaze. “Mel’s interview is about to start. Come watch.”
Guiding his sister to the group, he looked to the telly and saw Mel. She looked a little too attractive with her hair done and a light coating of make-up, but he contained his dragon before his beast could complain. Instead, Tristan held his breath as the reporter started talking.
Chapter Eight
To keep from fidgeting, Melanie wiggled her toes inside her shoes. When wiggling wasn’t enough, she tried to tap each one in turn. The wait was killing her, and not just because Arabella hadn’t arrived by the time she’d been taken from the ad-hoc green room.
No, she would both help the dragon-shifters and change history for the better, or she would fuck up and make them worse off.
If anyone had ever told her she would be at this critical juncture in dragon-shifter history, she would’ve laughed them off a few years ago. Funny how trying to save her brother had brought her to this exact point in her life.
Soon, the female journalist she’d been briefed about, walked into the room and Mel focused on doing the best job possible.
The black-haired, blue-eyed woman smiled and extended her hand. Once Mel took it, the journalist said, “My name is Jane Hartley. Thank you for agreeing to talk with me.”
“I should say the same for you. I really appreciate you coming at such short notice.”
Jane waved a hand in dismissal. “You’re giving me a leg up on everyone else. I should be the one thanking you.” She motioned toward the groups of chairs. “The live broadcast will start in a few minutes. Let’s get settled.”
Mel took one of the seats and crossed her legs at her ankles. Glancing at the two cameras, she tried not to panic. She’d taken on human-hating Tristan and won. Surely, talking about one of her passions in front of a live broadcast would be easier.
At Jane’s voice, Melanie looked at the woman. “If possible, look at me and not the camera. We go live in thirty seconds.”
Nodding, Mel counted down in her head. When the cameraman did the final finger countdown and then pointed at them, she sat a little taller and looked at Jane as directed.
Jane looked just past Mel’s shoulder into one of the cameras. Each second they sat in silence only made her heart beat faster. How long did they have to wait before they could get the interview started?
After about forty-five seconds, the woman finally replied to whomever was talking to her via the earpiece. “Thanks, John. Melanie Hall-MacLeod first came here as a sacrifice and mated the dragon-shifter assigned to her a little less than a year ago. She is the author of Revealing the Dragons and she, along with a number of other Stonefire clan members, have agreed to talk with me and give us a glimpse into the lives of a few dragon-shifters.” Jane looked at Melanie and smiled. “Before we begin, is there anything you would like to add?”
A million thoughts raced through her head. She wanted to dive right into a speech, but decided against it. The journalist might be smiling for the moment, but who knew what could happen five minutes in.
Mel took a deep breath through her nose to settle her stomach and replied, “No, so far, so good.”