Aiding the Dragon (Stonefire Dragons 7)

“I believe you.” Teagan kept her voice soft. “Why didn’t you tell me of this earlier, right after you found the note?”

Eliza wrung her hands. “I know dalliances with Clan Northcastle are forbidden right now. I didn’t want my granddaughter to get in trouble.”

Clan Northcastle was the Northern Irish clan near Belfast. The two clans had been at odds for a number of years, and neither one liked matings between the clans because of it.

Teagan stared until the older female met her gaze again. “Eliza, you can always come to me, no matter what. Sadie isn’t the first female to fall in love with someone she shouldn’t.”

Tears trailed down Eliza’s face. “I know I should’ve come. I only hope my delay didn’t make things worse. But I’m here now. Is there anything you can do to help my granddaughter?”

In fact, Sadie Kavanagh was the second member of Clan Glenlough to run away with a Northcastle member in the last year or so. While Teagan had been working toward mending relations, it hadn’t been soon enough. Her failure had torn apart yet another family.

Her dragon huffed. We can’t fix everything.

Perhaps, but this has been a long time coming. I promised our people that I would try to improve relations.

It’s not our fault the Northcastle bastard leader is acting like a child, demanding everything without offering something in return.

Not wanting to get into that debate for the hundredth time, Teagan focused on Eliza. “I want you to go with Killian and tell him everything you know, down to the smallest detail. Also, take him to your cottage and help him sort through Sadie’s things. There might be a clue somewhere that he can use to tighten the search. If there’s a way to find her, my brother will do it.”

Eliza sniffed and wiped away her tears. “Okay. Do you think there’s a chance she’ll come home to me? She’s the only family I have left.”

Teagan threaded confidence into her voice. “I’m going to do everything in my power to do so, even if it means inviting the Northcastle member to live with us. Don’t worry, okay? Sadie is clever enough to stay under the Department of Dragon Affairs’ radar.”

The DDA was the Irish government’s oversight agency for all dragon-shifters in Ireland. Their word was law, although their interference usually caused more headaches than anything else.

Eliza nodded. Teagan squeezed the elderly female’s hand and stood as she said, “Stay here while I fetch Killian. Will you be all right by yourself for a minute or two? If not, I’ll send someone to fetch him and wait with you.”

“No, I’ll be fine. I’ll do whatever’s necessary to ensure my granddaughter returns. Then I can hug her tightly while simultaneously giving her a dressing down.”

Teagan chuckled. “Just bake up a batch of your famous whiskey cake, and it’ll remind her of why she should stay.”

“Bring her back to me, and I’ll bake whatever you like as a thank-you and throw in some potato pancakes as well.”

“You’re making me hungry, Eliza. I’d better hurry up and set things in motion. I’m definitely going to remind you of your offer once Sadie’s home again.” Teagan moved to the door. “Contact me anytime if you need to. I’ll go get Killian for you. He’ll be here in just a second.”

“Thank you, Teagan.”

Satisfied that her clan member had at least stopped crying and was in slightly better spirits, Teagan took a deep breath and walked the short distance between the room with Eliza and the one where she knew Aaron Caruso should be waiting.

Her dragon spoke up. He’s not going to like that we kept him waiting. He’s always impatient.

Too bad. Eliza needed us. Only because Killian is watching him am I not going to let Aaron wait another half-hour so that he understands his place on Glenlough. His cockiness in the past, both in person and via video conferences, won’t be tolerated on my home soil.

Her dragon sighed. You shouldn’t irritate him. That only makes him cranky. His reputation is one of joking and having a good time. I want to see that side of him.

Even if I was interested in that side of him—which I’m not—a clan leader doesn’t always get to do what they want. The clan comes first. Always.

Don’t quote lines to me. A clan leader can do more than one thing at a time. To be honest, I don’t know why you resist kissing him. I’m not only curious, but he might be a good match.

From the first time she’d met with Aaron Caruso, back when her clan needed help chasing away some dragon hunters, her dragon had constantly banged on about kissing the male.

Teagan answered, No. You know what usually happens when a female leader finds a mate—she gives up her place as soon as she has a mating ceremony. I’m not about to do that.

Her beast grunted. I don’t know why females have to do that when males don’t. It’s ridiculous.

I agree, but let’s focus on mending relations with Northcastle first. Then maybe we can worry about ourselve

s. Or, better yet, we can nudge Killian toward a female. I would be content as an aunt.