The Dragon Family (Lochguard Highland Dragons 5)

Sid appeared on Arabella's other side and she placed a hand on her shoulder. "Let us take a look first, Ara. And then we'll go from there."

Arabella nodded and stepped back. She never tore her gaze from her daughter as Layla said, "I need to check on Holly. Will you be fine with Sid and Gregor here?"

Arabella murmured her assurance.

"Aye, then I'll be back as soon as I can."

Clasping her hands, Arabella tried her best to stay calm.

Her beast spoke up. I think Freya will be fine. Her dragon must be anxious to come out and play.

But at that age, the dragon could easily overpower her, and we'll lose our baby girl. Few children under the age of five whose dragons take control resist going rogue. And even fewer ever return to their former selves.

Any children born to us and Finn are guaranteed to be stubborn. I believe in Freya. She'll find a way.

Finn returned and instantly moved to her side. Once he wrapped his arm around her shoulders, she leaned into him and placed a hand on Grayson's back. The combined warmth of the two males helped her to relax a fraction. "Did you learn anything from Meg?"

"The only thing out of the ordinary is that the twins drank all of your breast milk and she had to give Freya some of the formula Graham's mate uses for his son. But Graham's son has never had flashing dragon eyes, so I'm not sure it's related."

Gregor joined them. "It could be. If Freya's allergic to something in the formula, it's possible it brought out her dragon. Whilst allergies are rare for dragon-shifters, an allergic reaction could've affected her inner dragon to such an extent it left the hibernation area of the mind."

Arabella forced her voice to remain calm for her son's sake. "What can we do?"

"I'll run a series of tests to see if I can determine the cause," Gregor answered. "The allergy must be minor, as I didn't see any physical manifestations related to it, such as swelling or rashes. However, I'm not sure if the effect will be long-term or not. It depends on genetics and the individual dragon-shifter. Has anyone in either of your families had allergic reactions before?"

Arabella nodded. "My father did, although I'm not sure what it was. Finn? What about yours?"

He shook his head. "No, my parents didn't have allergies, nor do any of my extended family."

She leaned more against Finn. "I think we need to call Tristan. He's older and always spent more time with Dad than Mum before he disappeared. He might know the specifics of our father's allergies."

Sid jumped in. "I'll call Trahern first to check our records and then talk with Tristan. Right now, the best thing you can do is cuddle your daughter. Gregor will stay here, in case anything happens."

Without missing a beat, Arabella rushed to scoop up her daughter, careful to keep the little stuffed fox with her.

Hugging her close, she breathed in her baby's scent and murmured, "We'll sort this out, Freya." She kissed the top of her head. "Mummy and Daddy will do whatever we can to help."

Although even that might not be enough.

Her beast growled. Stop it. Freya needs our support.

I've never been a full-blown optimist, dragon. You know that.

Then try it. Otherwise, you're all but giving up.

Arabella was about to refute her dragon's claims, but Gregor's voice filled the room. "That lad can sleep. I hope my bairn is like that."

Finn never stopped rubbing Grayson's back in soothing motions as he turned his gaze toward Declan. "Aye, unless his brother picks on him in his sleep, then he wakes up."

Arabella forced a smile, but as Finn and Gregor joked about Declan sleeping through an atomic bomb, Arabella merely sat in the glider and rocked her daughter until she fell asleep.

She hoped that Dr. Sid could find the answers they needed concerning Arabella's father because the thought of losing her only daughter forever to a rogue inner dragon was unthinkable.

No. Arabella had lost so much already—her mother, father, and even a decade of her life after the dragon hunters had tortured her, when she'd avoided everyone and shut in on herself.

There was no way she was going to lose any of her children. If Dr. Sid and Tristan couldn't help with determining her dad's allergies, then Arabella would do something she swore she'd never do again—go looking in the darkest corners of the internet for information related to her father.

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