Aiding the Dragon (Stonefire Dragons 7)

She shrugged. “It’s how it works. But as much as I’d like to tell you more, we need to leave soon, and I have a few more questions for you before the other escorts arrive.”

He crossed his arms over his che

st. “Then ask them.”

She hesitated and her beast roared. Ask him already.

Before she could change her mind, Brenna blurted out, “How far would you go to keep me here?”

“I’m not going to spout fancy words. That much I know about myself. But if there’s something I can do to keep you around and as my main guard, I will most likely do it.”

“Why?” she blurted.

He raised his brows. “Does it matter?”

No, it doesn’t. Her dragon hummed. Ask him to mate us.

Brenna sputtered out loud. Ignoring Killian’s look, she said to her beast, I can’t do that for many reasons, one of which being he has amnesia and that’s taking advantage of him.

I disagree. It’s the only option. Once the Irish DDA calms down and allows foreigners to stay on Glenlough again, we can dissolve the mating. Easy peasy.

There’s nothing easy about it.

It’s your choice. Either do this or we go back to Stonefire, perhaps forever.

Killian’s voice interrupted her conversation. “For someone who says we need to hurry, you’re taking your bloody time telling me your plan.”

Staring at Killian, she saw how the future could be happy or disastrous. If his memories returned, he might dismiss her. Apart from cooperation during missions, he always had before.

And yet if they never did, the amnesiac version of Killian might actually give her a chance.

To be honest, she had no idea which path she was rooting for. Not wanting him to remember everyone and get his dragon back would be selfish of her. And yet, she was growing to like the new version of Killian.

She wished there was another way for her to stay and avoid a conundrum, but this was her last card to play. “If you take me as your mate, I can stay in Ireland.”

He didn’t even blink an eye. “Mate? As in wife? I don’t love you. Bloody hell, I don’t even know you.”

“I’m not asking for a true mating, which is similar to a human marriage, just a pretend one. I can remain your guard because we’ll be expected to share a home. As soon as enough time has passed, we can dissolve it and lead our separate lives.”

Killian remained silent. As the seconds ticked by, she wondered if he would give her an answer before the other escorts barged into the room.

She opened her mouth to prod him, but Killian spoke first. “I’ll agree. But know upfront that I have no intention of making it a true mating, as you put it. We’ll share a cottage, but don’t expect romance. I’m not in a place to focus on anyone but myself.”

A mixture of relief and sadness coursed through her body. Brenna hadn’t thought much about matings since she was only twenty-one; however, a fake one to a man she’d long fancied but who had no memory of her wasn’t exactly what she’d imagined.

Just do it, her beast growled. Then we can stay.

Taking a deep breath, Brenna answered before she lost her nerve. “Then it’s a deal. I’ll work out the details with Teagan as soon as possible. Unfortunately, you still have to spend the night in the cells.”

The corner of his mouth ticked up and took her by surprise. “The threat of tying me up takes on a whole new meeting if we’re to be mates.”

“If you expect sex whenever you want, that’s not part of the deal.”

He slowly perused her body and heat followed his gaze. When he finally met her eyes again, she saw smugness. His voice was low as he murmured, “We’ll see. A little sex might make the situation more authentic to everyone else. Can’t have them thinking it’s a sham and sending you away, now can we?”

She should be offended at his words, but her heart pounded faster and desire pooled between her legs.

Her beast hummed. Yes, a little sex could be nice. But make him work for it.