The Dragon Guardian (Lochguard Highland Dragons 2)

Flexing her fingers, Gina wished she had her pet right now. She’d adopted Coal from a neighbor shortly after arriving in Scotland, but the large black cat with golden eyes had won her heart quickly. The very first night, he had cuddled at her back as she fell asleep and purred. Her hormones had made her cry and snuggle with the cat for comfort. With Coal, she’d never be completely alone in Scotland.

Since one of the Protectors in the room was allergic to cats, her pet was at home with Fraser. However, Holly hovered at her shoulder. Looking up, Gina smiled. “It’s okay. I haven’t had another contraction. I think I can handle sitting in a chair.”

Holly frowned. “It’s not the sitting I’m worried about. Keeping you here is causing unnecessary stress. I’m going to have a word with Finn later. Failing that, with Arabella.”

Lowering her voice, Gina whispered, “But can you do that? If anyone had challenged Steven Roberts, the dragon leader back in Virginia, they would’ve been punished accordingly.”

One of the Protectors stopped studying his tablet and met her gaze. The dragonman’s dark brown eyes were full of hatred. “Roberts is a right bastard and gives dragon-shifters a bad name. Don’t ever compare Finn to him.”

Gina blinked. “Okay.”

Holly squeezed her shoulder and glared at the black-haired dragonman. “Leave her alone, Shay. If BroadBay is all she’s known, then we should do everything in our power to change her opinion. Barking at her isn’t going to help.”

Before the dragonman could reply, a tall, blond dragon-shifter walked into the room and everyone fell silent. Gina debated standing up or not when the man smiled at her. The kindness in his eyes helped to ease her tension. There was something familiar about him, but she couldn’t place it.

The blond dragonman stopped in front of her. “Sorry to keep you waiting, lass. How about you come with me and we can chat a bit?”

“You’re the clan leader?” Gina blurted out.

“Aye, although you don’t have to sound so surprised about it.” He lowered his voice. “After all, attracting flies with honey is far easier than with vinegar.”

Before she could stop herself, Gina asked, “What the hell are you talking about?”

Slapping a hand over her mouth, she held her breath. If she’d done the same back in Virginia, she would’ve been reprimanded or banished from the clan’s lands. Would the Scottish leader do the same?

Then Finn winked at her and put out a hand. “I prefer not to dance around an issue, and I admire the Americans for doing the same. Come, lass. We’ll talk in private.”

Holly spoke up. “I want to come with you.”

Finn shook his head. Holly opened her mouth, but he beat her to it. “You can sit outside the door, Holly. If anything happens, I’ll shout for you, aye?”

Holly looked about ready to argue and Gina didn’t want to risk upsetting Finn.

Standing up, Gina turned toward the midwife. “It’s okay, Holly. If Finn tries to harm me in any way, I have a few moves to stop him.”

Amusement danced in Holly’s eyes. “Oh, aye? Someday, I’d love to see them.”

Finn muttered, “What is with the females tossed my way over the last year?”

Holly flashed a grin at him. “You love a challenge and I think the universe is testing you.”

“Aye, well, let’s see if I pass this test.” Finn offered his arm. “Come, Gina. The sooner we chat, the sooner we can decide your future.”

As she took the proffered arm, Gina held her tongue. There was no reason to risk blurting out something that could ruin her chances.

Finn guided her out of the room and Gina made sure to keep her chin high the whole way. While she didn’t have a churning stomach as she’d done with Steven Roberts in Virginia, she no longer trusted her own gut. Travis had been a good actor and she wasn’t about to be duped again.

Once she and Finn finally entered a small office at the end of the hall, Finn released her arm. He motioned to a chair and she took a seat. Finn propped his hip on the desk before he spoke up. “So, Gina MacDonald. Tell me why I should allow you to stay here despite the risk to my clan.”

Clenching the material of her stretchy, tunic-style shirt, she kept her voice even as she explained her situation to Finn. “I slept with a dragon-shifter and ended up pregnant. Afterward, he reported the pregnancy to the DDA in Washington, D.C. I was required to give up my child willingly or by force; I couldn’t keep him. Not liking those options, I fled.”

“Which means you can never return to America. At least, if you want to return with your son in tow.”

She nodded, not trusting her voice to remain steady. Just thinking about how she’d never see the Virginia coastline or William and Mary’s campus ever again made her heart ache.

Finn sighed. “I’m truly sorry for what happened to you, lass. If any Lochguard dragonman acted that way and took advantage of a female, he’d be exiled or worse.”

Gina wanted to believe Finn’s kind eyes, but she needed much more than that to secure her future. “The past doesn’t matter. I need to know if my son and I are welcome here.”