The Dragon Guardian (Lochguard Highland Dragons 2)

“You wouldn’t dare.”

“Hey, you’re the one making me out to be the villain.”

Gina opened her mouth to reply when the baby kicked against his arm. A yearning he’d hidden for years, of wanting to be a father, flooded his body. Moving his hand to the same spot, the bairn kicked again.

He expected Gina to push his hand away, but instead, she placed her warm fingers over his. Gina’s voice filled the room. “Strange. He’s been a quiet baby. Yet with you, he’s all but dancing and causing trouble.”

Afraid moving would break the spell, Fergus kept his tone neutral. “Maybe he can sense another dragon.”

Fergus met Gina’s eyes. The lass searched his gaze while keeping hers neutral. For the first time, Fergus had the chance to admire her green eyes flecked with gold.

Those eyes held secrets he suddenly wanted to investigate.

He dismissed the notion as nothing more than his training as an information analyst. Fergus MacKenzie lived to find out the truth so he could help his clan. His brain was hardwired to always ask questions and demand answers. It was nothing more.

It certainly wasn’t because he wanted to wake up every morning with Gina MacDonald at his side.

His dragon hummed. Yes, we should have her every day.

Care to tell me bloody why?

You’re intelligent enough to figure it out yourself.

The only reasonable answer to his dragon’s behavior scared the hell out of Fergus. Gina was carrying the bairn of another dragon-shifter. Not just any dragon-shifter, but most likely a male from one of the more unstable American clans.

Lochguard already had enough trouble fighting off dragon hunters, Dragon Knights, and old traitors who had been kicked out of the clan. Finn didn’t need a new enemy.

And that would be exactly what would happen if Fergus pursued Gina.

No, he’d find a female in time. One who wanted him and wouldn’t cause a danger to his clan. What do you think of that, dragon?

His beast remained silent, which was never a good sign.

~~~

Fergus’s words kept repeating inside of Gina’s head. Maybe he can sense another dragon.

The last eight months had been about keeping her child away from Travis and Clan BroadBay. Yet, had it really been for the best? Her son would need help from the dragon-shifters; only they could teach him about shifting and controlling his inner beast.

Then her son kicked again and Gina smiled. She’d made the right decision. BroadBay may be full of dragon-shifters, but they would’ve trained her boy to treat humans as enemies that were little more than playthings. Gina would die before allowing that to happen.

Still, there was the issue of her son’s upbringing. Thinking of her babe helped to break the spell of Fergus’s warm, solid muscles at her back. Or, the feel of his large hand over her belly. “Maybe you should call your leader, Fergus.”

Fergus instantly removed his hand from her stomach and she nearly grabbed his wrist to bring it back. For a split second, it’d been as if she’d had a husband who would care for her baby.

Clenching her fingers, reality washed over her. Most men wanted to feel their own child kicking inside the womb. Besides, she barely knew Fergus, let alone had a claim on him.

The Scot’s warm burr caressed her ear. “I will, but then I’m going to try to make your son dance again. Maybe if I tire him out, he’ll take a wee nap and give you a rest.”

Gina’s eyes grew wet. Fergus appeared to be the kind of man who took care of a pregnant woman. Hell, he’d probably treasure her. Why couldn’t she have met someone like him instead of Travis Parker?

Yet she knew the answer. Before getting pregnant, Gina had been reckless. A mere dare from her college roommate had brought on all of this mess.

Forget about ‘what ifs,’ Gina. You can’t change the past and your son needs you to fight for him. That is all that matters.

Taking a deep breath, she was about to comment but Fergus pressed a key on his phone and placed it to his ear. A beat later, he spoke. “No, Finn. I can’t call you back. Something’s come up.” Fergus briefly explained Gina’s situation and then added, “I want to bring her to Lochguard. But she will only agree to go if she could meet with you.”

Fergus frowned and Gina resisted the urge to reach a hand up and smooth the creases away. No doubt, his clan leader was yelling at him. She didn’t like the idea. All he was trying to do was help her.