The Dragon's Dilemma (Lochguard Highland Dragons 1)

Arabella frowned. “Jamie, stop talking the poor human’s ear off. She doesn’t care about the Jacobite rising or how old the cottages are.”

Jamie straightened his shoulders. “She might.”

Arabella looked to Holly. “Do you care?”

The dragonwoman’s voice threaded with dominance. While Holly had thought Arabella brave for recounting her story on national television, she had even more strength in person. “Not really.” Jamie’s face fell so she added, “But I did like learning where the different areas were situated. I now know not to stray toward the children’s area until I’m more settled.”

Jamie beamed, but Arabella rolled her eyes. “Please don’t feed his ego. If there’s one thing you’ll learn quickly, it’s that dragon-shifter males think they are able to move the sun if they merely try hard enough.”

Jamie replied, “That’s not fair, Ara. Your mate is the worst out of us all.”

Arabella waved a hand. “Let’s not argue about Finn.” Arabella looked back to Holly. “I know what it’s like to come to the clan as an outsider. I bet you could use some tea and cake.”

Holly blinked. “Dragon-shifters eat tea and cake?”

The corner of Arabella’s mouth ticked up. “Of course. It’s the best way to serve ground-up human babies.”

Holly laughed. “Nice try, but the DDA staff assured me at least twenty times that dragon-shifters don’t eat humans. At least, not since the middle ages.”

Even from a few feet away, Holly saw Arabella’s pupils flash to slits and back. She must be talking with her dragon. I wonder what that’s like.

But Holly was the stranger here and didn’t know how things operated on Lochguard. So far, everyone seemed friendly, yet it could all be an act. There were stories about sacrifices being treated poorly and sometimes even abused. As far as Holly knew, Lochguard didn’t do that, but she wanted more time to draw her own conclusions.

Arabella looked to Jamie. “You can go, Jamie.”

With a nod, the young dragonman smiled at Holly and went back the way they’d come.

Arabella stepped to the side. “Come. There’s a lot to do before you meet Fergus.”

Holly sobered at the name of the unknown dragonman she’d soon be sleeping with. “When will that be?”

Arabella studied her a second before replying, “In a few hours. Finn has some things to go over with you first.” The dragonwoman paused and then added, “Fergus can sometimes be irritating, especially when he’s paired with his twin brother, but he’s a good male. You shouldn’t be afraid of him.”

“That’s good to know.”

Arabella raised an eyebrow. “So you had been a little afraid?”

Holly shrugged. “Of course. A few paragraphs on his history and occupation as an analyst hardly tells me much about him.”

“You’re honest. I like that.” Arabella motioned inside. “Now, come in before the whole clan comes out to gawk at you.”

She frowned. “Why would they gawk at me?”

Arabella met her eyes. “Because you’re the first human sacrifice to set foot on Lochguard in over fifteen years.”

Chapter Two

Fraser peeked around one of the cottage’s walls just as a short, dark-haired female disappear into Finn and Arabella’s home. When the door shut behind her, he cursed. He’d just missed her.

His dragon spoke up. We can spy on her from one of the windows.

Arabella won’t be happy if she finds us spying.

Then make sure she doesn’t find out. I want to see this human meant for our brother.

Okay, but if Arabella notices us, we’re shifting. Maybe your innocent dragon eyes can sway her.

His beast snorted. Maybe if we were a wee one. Just don’t get caught.