The Dragon's Dilemma (Lochguard Highland Dragons 1)

“I’m sure it’ll pass as soon as he mends things with Fergus. It’s usually when the two of them are together that Fraser acts out.”

Finn sighed. “Fergus is yet another problem I’m trying to handle. Sometimes, I wonder how I ever managed all of my clan duties without you at my side.”

Arabella’s voice turned teasing. “Only through pure charm, but that was bound to run out before too much longer.”

Arabella squeaked and then Finn murmured, “I seem to remember my charm working on you.”

As Finn and Arabella went quiet, Fraser clenched and stretched out his fingers. Can we go now?

Yes, although check the location. It’s been a while since we’ve driven to Inverness.

Right, then. As Fraser moved toward the back wall, his heart pounded. He would go to Inverness to find Holly and convince her to come back to Lochguard. He hadn’t done much wooing the first time around, but Fraser could charm a lass as much as his cousin Finn any day. It was time to put his charm to use on the only female he wanted by his side.

His dragon spoke up again. Good. We need to make our true mate happy. Let’s win her back.

And we will, even if it’s the last thing we do.

Fraser slinked over the back wall. The second his feet touched the ground, he ran toward the cottage he and Holly had used during the frenzy.

Wanting to be reminded of his female, Fraser had never moved out.

With man and beast in agreement, Fraser ran all the way to his cottage. Inverness was nearly a two hour drive from Lochguard. The sooner he left, the sooner he could see his female and make her smile again.

~~~

Arabella MacLeod listened as Fraser scaled the back wall and ran into the distance. When she was certain Fraser could no longer hear her, she looked to Finn. “Do you think it worked?”

Finn nodded. “Of course. If you’d been hiding out somewhere and in pain, I would’ve gone after you as soon as I knew where to look.”

“Then why did you wait two weeks? You received this report the day after Fraser dropped her at the hospital.”

Finn’s face turned neutral, but there was sorrow in his eyes. “Between her father’s health and losing the bairn, the last thing she needed was for an overprotective dragon-shifter to hover around her and drive her crazy.”

The urge to hug her male surged through her body, so Arabella walked up and laid her head on Finn’s chest. “Holly is a strong woman. While I don’t wish a miscarriage on any female, it will give her the option to accept Fraser on her own terms. Most sacrifices don’t have that chance if they turn out to be a true mate.”

Finn hugged her closer. “Aye, I know. Nothing has turned out the way I’d imagined. After all of this, I’d be surprised if the DDA will ever work with us again.”

Arabella leaned back until she could see Finn’s amber eyes. “Just stop it. If it were anyone else in the clan, you would accept what had happened and then come up with a new strategy. I know he’s your family, but Fraser doesn’t want your pity. Believe me, I of all people know how awful that is. Fraser probably just wants you to treat him normally again.”

Finn frowned. “What he needs more than that is his twin. If Fergus were back, then the rest of us would settle a wee bit more.”

Arabella tilted her head. “Then call Fergus back. I’m sure talking with the humans there can wait.”

He lightly tapped her bum. “Let Fraser sort things out with Holly first.”

“Are you sure that’s the best idea?”

“Aye, I do. Winning Holly back is something Fraser needs to do on his own.”

Raising a hand to Finn’s cheek, she ran her palm against his late-day whiskers. “If nothing else, all of this drama and commotion has forced Fraser to grow up.”

“I’m both sad and happy about that.” Finn kissed her forehead. “Come, I think we could both use a few scones with clotted cream and jam. Aunt Lorna probably has a new batch in the oven right now.”

“There is no bloody way you can smell it from here.”

He winked. “No, but I know she always makes them about this time every week.”

Arabella tried to frown, but broke into a smile. “Then we’d better hurry before Faye finds them or there won’t be any left.”