Despite everything going on, Brenna's mind put it all together. "If whoever did this finds out that it doesn't kill a dragon completely and successfully changed their personality, it won't be good. If enough dragons are kidnapped, then it could bring about one or more wars, especially if the DDA doesn't intervene as it should."
"Aye, that's possible," Gregor stated. "But let us and Kai worry about that. The question is what do you want to do about your current situation, Brenna? Repeatedly drugging your dragon into silence may end up hurting you both in the long run. Sending Killian away may be best, especially if it's to Lochguard so I can go and easily study him."
Sid crossed her arms. "Don't let Gregor's suggestion sway you one way or the other. This is your choice, Brenna. I can continue to administer drugs if you request it, but there are cases when either the dragon becomes slightly insane or gets so angry that your relationship will be rocky for years to come. Gregor's suggestion is the second option. The third is to have the frenzy. You need to make the decision soon, too. Otherwise, Bram may end up making it for you."
Going through the frenzy would be the easiest choice. She wouldn't have to give up Killian and her dragon would be pleased.
But having a child simply because it was easy for everyone else wasn't a good decision. Brenna was twenty-one and wanted to continue being a Protector. If Killian was sent away or, in a worst-case scenario, died, then she'd be on her own. A single mother would have a hard time remaining a Protector.
Unless she asked her parents for help. Her mother would enjoy that moment, she was sure.
Gregor cleared his throat. "You have a day or two to think about everything. I'll ensure Bram waits that long for an answer."
Sid drawled, "Because Bram listens to you so well."
"On medical matters, I can make him listen, Cassidy."
Shaking her head, Sid focused back on Brenna. "Now that you have the facts, I should let your parents in."
Her stomach dropped. "They're here?"
"Of course. They've been waiting since word reached them about you being brought to the surgery."
A part of her wanted to keep them away, but with everything going on between her and Killian, not to mention the looming frenzy and the unnatural silence of her beast, she needed to sort out matters with her parents. It would be one less thing to fret over.
Besides, she could do with hearing her dad's advice. "Show them in. The sooner I get this over with, the sooner I can think about what to do regarding Killian."
Sid gestured at Gregor and he exited the room. Sid didn't waste time in removing the straps around Brenna's body
as she said, "I can't fully disclose anything, but listen to what your parents have to say, Brenna. That's all I ask."
She barely resisted frowning at Sid's words when the door opened. Gregor ushered in Brenna's mum and dad.
Her mother, Sharon, came in first. While her blonde hair and brown eyes were the same, there was one major difference—she had to be eight or nine months pregnant.
Brenna opened her mouth, but her father, Gabriele, spoke up in his accented English. "We'll answer your questions in time, cara." Her father closed the distance to her bed and gently cupped her cheek. "Are you okay? The doctors have been vague about what's wrong with you."
She finally tore her gaze away from her pregnant mother and met her father's kind eyes. She'd never lied to her dad and she wasn't about to start now. "I kissed a male and it started the frenzy."
"And yet you look unhappy. Why?"
A small part of her wanted to fall into her father's arms and cry. But she refused to show weakness in front of her mother, so she slowly sat up and answered, "It's complicated. The short version is that the male who started it lost his memory and only recently regained his dragon." Her father's brows furrowed, but Brenna hurriedly asked her mother, "Why didn't you tell me you were pregnant?"
Sharon Rossi placed her hands over her protruding belly. "Since I wasn't supposed to be able to have any more children, it was a surprise and high-risk. I didn't want you to worry."
"I'm not a child anymore, Mum. You should've told me."
Her mother smiled sadly. "But you are barely an adult, Brenna. And I didn't want you thinking I was trying to replace you."
As she tried to think of how to reply to that, her father spoke up. "Please no fighting right now. We came back to Stonefire to be closer to you, Brenna. Your brother should know his sister."
"Brother?" she echoed.
Her father stood tall. "Yes, I will finally have an ally."
She couldn't help but smile. "You will outnumber Mum this time around, Papa. After all, I won't be there."
"But I hope you will come around often," her father said softly.