The Dragon Guardian (Lochguard Highland Dragons 2)

However, the male’s relaxed posture and smug smile told Grant volumes. The bastard wasn’t afraid.

Grant didn’t condone torture, but he was more than on board with mind games. Crossing to the empty chair on the far side, Grant sat down and stretched out his long legs in front of him. Removing a knife from his boot, Grant casually cleaned his nails.

After about sixty seconds, the male’s American accent echoed inside the room. “I know you can’t hurt me and anything you say is bullshit, so don’t try any intimidation techniques with me. They won’t work.”

Grant flicked his gaze to the American. “I don’t believe in wasting my time with lies. Or, in you trying to out-alpha me. Let me save us both some time and say I have all the time in the world.”

“By law, the DDA will come to collect me and you must hand me over into their care.”

He raised his brows. “Do I? My people didn’t give a final prisoner headcount yet. In all of the commotion, it’s easy to overlook one or two.”

“And risk your clan? I somehow doubt it.”

Grant shrugged. “This is the Highlands, lad. We tend to do things our own way and the humans barely take notice. My people will back my decision, no questions asked.”

The man studied him and crossed his arms over his chest. “Which explains the illegal weapons and drugs.”

All of the captured prisoners had been injected with a mandrake root and periwinkle concoction to prevent them shifting into a dragon for at least a day. “Says the man who helped bomb an entire dragon clan.”

Grant went back to cleaning his nails. The shuffling of the male’s feet signaled his plan was working.

Five seconds passed and then ten. Grant’s dragon paced at the back of his mind, anxious to do something.

Flicking his wrist, Grant sent his knife sailing through the air to land just behind and above the American’s head. Grant met the male’s eyes. “Next time, I’ll aim lower. I’ll try not to make you a eunuch, although I can’t guarantee it.”

Slowly rising and walking over to the Yank, Grant tugged out his knife. The male visibly gulped. The dragonman wasn’t as well-disciplined as Grant’s team.

Taking five steps back, he tested the weight of his weapon. Just as he held the blade between his fingers and pulled his arm back to throw, the male blurted out, “Stop.”

Grant paused. “Is there something you want to tell me? You have five seconds to spit it out.”

The male nodded as he pressed his legs together and lifted his knees to try to protect his cock and balls. With his ankles chained to the floor, he didn’t get far enough. “Roberts doesn’t like to be denied. He wants the female and her baby.”

Stephen Roberts was the leader of Clan BroadBay. “There must be more to it than that. Not even Roberts would risk an international incident over a mother and child.”

“I don’t know anything beyond the fact Roberts wants them both alive.”

Grant took a step forward, the blade still between his fingers. “Tell me the reason.”

The male remained silent and Grant swung his arm forward. The male yelped even as the blade clunked into the wood of the wall behind Grant.

Grant leaned down to the male’s eye level. “My fingers must’ve slipped. To guarantee it won’t happen again, I may just have to swing my blade upward into your balls.”

Turning to pick up his knife, the male finally said, “All I know is the female is special. Something about her blood. I swear that’s all I know.”

Grant looked over his shoulder. The male was scrambling to lift his legs.

Casually strolling over to the American, he swept the chain connected to the male’s ankles and forced the traitor’s feet to the floor. “How would they even know anything about Gina’s blood?” The man began to shake his head and Grant yanked the chain hard. The man screamed as his broken leg jarred and he nearly fell off the chair to the floor. Grant added, “I’d suggest saying something when it’s just you and me. If I just happen to chain you at the edge of the woods and let slip your location, there are plenty of journalists willing to snap your picture and paste it all over the news. How long do you think you’d survive once the DDA found you and put you in jail? From all accounts, your clan members aren’t as honorable as mine. I give you a week, tops.”

“You’ll just tell them anyway and I’m good as dead.”

Grant shrugged. “Tell me everything, and I mean everything, you know and I’ll turn you over with the other prisoners. You can tell them you were having your leg checked out.”

Grant waited. The dragonman was clearly weighing his options.

The Yank let out a sigh. “All I know is they drew her blood to confirm the pregnancy. A few weeks after that, the entire clan was alerted to find the human female. When we received a tip from one of our Scottish contacts, we came as fast as we could. You know the rest.”

Assessing the dragonman, Grant’s dragon finally spoke up. I think he finally told us the truth.