Cured by the Dragon (Stonefire Dragons 6)

He lightly brushed Cassidy’s arm and nodded.

They stood in comfortable silence until Kai and Quinn entered the surgery with a boy on a stretcher between them. The black-haired boy was bound at the wrists and ankles, but unconscious.

The sight of an eight-year-old boy tied up made Gregor want to punch a wall. He hoped Cassidy’s earlier idea bore fruit. The bastards responsible for the attack needed to be caught and tried for their crimes.

Cassidy asked, “How is he unconscious? I thought he was out of control.”

Kai answered, “He was drugged before we left with the dragon slumber drug.”

Gregor shared a glance with Cassidy before an unknown dragon-shifter stepped into the hallway. The male said, “My name is Ronan O’Brien. I’m the junior doctor from Glenlough and I’m here to watch over my patient.”

“Great, you think we’re going to kill him,” Gregor drawled.

Cassidy shot him a look before saying, “Ignore Gregor. I’m Dr. Sid. Tell me what you know, Dr. O’Brien.”

Gregor directed Kai and Quinn to the closest room as Ronan replied, “Brendan has nearly lost control to his dragon. In order to transport him safely, he was given two shots of the drago

n slumber drug.”

“No more,” Cassidy ordered.

Ronan raised his brows and Gregor chimed in. “An overdose can lead to permanently silencing someone’s inner dragon.”

“He’s stable for now, so that shouldn’t be an issue,” Ronan said. Kai and Quinn transferred Brendan to the bed and he continued, “My clan leader seems to think you can help him. I’m a little less certain.”

Gregor opened his mouth, but Cassidy beat him to it. “Look, I know clans have been secretive and distrustful for more years than I’d like to admit, but I assure you we only want to help Brendan. If you can’t accept that, then you can wait inside the Protector’s central command. I don’t need any extra negativity hindering my work.”

As Gregor stared at his lovely lass with fire in her eyes and her chin raised, he loved her all the more for standing up to the doctor who was several stones heavier than she.

He blinked. Love?

Yes, as he watched his mate glare at Ronan, Gregor admitted he loved everything about his female; from her strength to her stubbornness, even her dedication to the clan. Aye, she was bonny as well, but Gregor loved more than her beauty.

His dragon spoke up. It took you long enough.

Hush, dragon. We don’t have time for an argument.

Taking a deep breath, Gregor bottled up his feelings. The young lad needed his help; his own feelings and claiming of Cassidy would have to wait for whenever things finally calmed down.

Kai’s voice garnered his attention. “There’s no time for fighting. Focus on the boy. The more doctors he has on his case, the better chance he has of survival.”

Ronan finally muttered his assent and then added, “Then let’s hurry up and exchange information since I have no idea how long he’ll be out. This is the first time I’ve ever used more than one shot of the dragon slumber drug.”

Ronan held out the file he’d been holding and Cassidy took it. Gregor read over her shoulder.

As the boy twitched for a few seconds before relaxing again, Gregor hoped they could help. No, he wasn’t going to hope. Gregor was going to find a way to save the lad. Because the sooner he did that, the sooner he could finally ask Cassidy to be his mate. There was no way he was ever leaving her side.

~~~

Trahern Lewis was trying his best to focus, but every time Emily leaned toward him to read the results on the computer screen, he caught her sweet feminine scent, which made his dragon wake up bit by bit.

With a yawn, his beast finally spoke up. Her?

Yes, Emily. Our friend.

His dragon sighed and lowered his head again.

Trahern wanted to shake his dragon and ask why being friends with the clever, beautiful female at his side was such a problem. But Emily tapped something on the computer screen and said, “Another negative result. I’m starting to think the moss won’t harm a dragon-shifter.”