Careful to land in an empty section of the car park, Fraser touched down as gently as he could. Humans were already rushing out of the building to gawk. The urge to snarl and scare them away from his female was strong.
His beast spoke up. She needs them. For once, I’m going to say let her go.
Fraser knew his beast was right. Holding Holly close for one last second, he lowered his head and touched her cheek with his snout.
Holly stirred and hope surged through his body.
All Fraser wanted to do was shift and hold his human close. But his need to protect was stronger. With every ounce of strength he still possessed, he removed his forearm from Holly’s body. Her knees buckled and she fell against his foreleg. He crooned in concern, but Holly stood up and motioned with her hands. “Go, Fraser. You can’t stay here.”
He grunted and shook his head. Holly’s jaw set and she barked, “Go, Fraser. I don’t want you here.”
Her words were as if she’d stabbed him in the heart. Fraser knew he’d failed her, but she couldn’t honestly want to send him away.
Holly pointed toward the sky. She said, “Go,” before turning her back on him.
Fraser’s heart squeezed. Yet as more humans came toward them, he knew he should go. Holly refusing him put his life in danger if he stayed. It could give the impression he’d snatched her against her will.
Jumping into the sky, Fraser beat his wings and rose up. He gave one last glance down, only to see Holly being supported but two human males. He bared his teeth at the sight. They shouldn’t touch her.
Then police sirens blared in the distance. Fraser didn’t have much time. Who knew what they’d try to do with him if they caught him.
His dragon spoke up. She needs the medical attention more than she needs us. We can talk with her later.
When did you become so wise?
It’s not wise so much as instinct. I will always say what’s best for our mate.
His beast using ‘mate’ only reminded Fraser of what Holly had said. We weren’t able to protect her and we might’ve lost her trust because of it. She must be angry.
No matter. She will calm down and we’ll woo her back. She is worth it.
For the first time since Holly had ordered him away, Fraser felt confident. Yes. She may be stubborn, but we are more so. I will win her back once she’s well again. She’s contractually bound to return to Lochguard.
Then let’s go home and think of a plan. She is safe inside the human hospital. Not even the traitors will attack the NHS. Because if they do, they are attacking the British government and they have powerful allies the world over.
Only when Holly’s small figure disappeared inside the building did Fraser start flying home.
His lass may be cross with him at the moment, but he would fix it. Holly’s future was with Fraser. He just needed to make sure she accepted that.
~~~
The nurse did her final check of vital signs and smiled at Holly. “Everything looks good for now. I’ll be back in an hour.”
Too tired to do anything but nod, Holly did so and the nurse finally left Holly alone inside her hospital room.
As she lay in the barren room, every muscle and bone hurt in Holly’s body.
But nothing hurt worse than her heart.
The look in Fraser’s eyes, when she’d ordered him to go, would haunt her for the rest of her life. Crestfallen was the only word she could think to describe it.
Yet if Fraser had stayed, the DDA would’ve come to get him. They might have even taken him away and locked him up. She couldn’t bear the thought of her strong, brave dragonman chained inside a cell. Because of his overprotectiveness, Holly’s only option had been to say she didn’t want him and force him away.
And yet, she missed his strong presence.
Looking at the door, a part of her longed for Fraser to walk through it and envelop her in his arms.
She may have only known Fraser a short time, but she’d learned to lean on him. Hell, if not for his strength back at the house in Aberdeen, she might’ve broken down and become a blubbering mess. Yet a few words from Fraser, and she’d found her core of steel once more.