The Dragon Family (Lochguard Highland Dragons 5)

Arabella was strong, but sometimes determination wasn't enough to chase away nightmares.

Searching his eyes, she murmured, "Conflicted. I know I can't change what happened to me, and it was done against my will, but I still feel responsible, Finn. I hate to think we brought Freya into the world and doomed her to an unstable future."

He leaned closer. "It's most definitely not your fault, love. Besides, Dr. Sid and the others will sort this out. And then Freya will plot and get into trouble with her cousins, just as any normal child does. I will do whatever it takes to ensure that happens, even if it means searching the Amazon Rainforest for a rare flower or giant insect."

"You hate insects, so that is a fairly big offer."

He growled. "Arabella."

She smiled. "And this, right here, is why I'm not running to a room and hiding from the world like I would've done before. What happened to me as a teen is dark, but you emit more than enough light to chase most of it away."

He kissed her gently. "Then I'll just have to work harder at being even brighter so that there's no darkness whatsoever."

She groaned. "Please tell me that doesn't include you upping your charm. I'm not sure I can take it."

Releasing her face, he pulled her close and nuzzled her cheek with his own. "I have decades of charm left to give you, Ara. And you wouldn't have it any other way."

Before his mate could argue, he kissed her. After slowly nipping her bottom lip and caressing the inside of her mouth, he finally pulled away. "But just remember that charm isn't the only thing in my arsenal. Once Freya and her brothers are safe and free of danger, I'm going to make you forget about your past and all your worries. In our bed."

Arabella's breath hitched, and he knew she'd missed him naked and inside her. Sometimes he wondered why fate required pregnancy with true mates. Finn would've loved a year or two to ensure Arabella knew how much he treasured her.

His dragon huffed. She is ours. That is all that matters. We have a lifetime together.

Arabella's voice prevented him from replying to his beast. "I hope you can live up to your promises, Finn. After all, I know how sluggish you can be from lack of sleep. Maybe your gray hairs are telling me something."

He gently slapped her arse cheek. "You've just set down a challenge for me, love."

"Good." She kissed him and continued. "So let's go and find a way to help our children. The sooner we do, the sooner I can see how you try to beat that challenge."

He nearly asked again if she were all right, but restrained himself.

His dragon spoke up. Good. She is strong. If she needs help, she'll ask us.

Wrapping an arm around Arabella's waist, he guided them out of the room and to where their triplets were. All he could do was tackle each new obstacle as it appeared.

Chapter Ten

A few days later, Arabella lay awake on the bed next to Finn, keeping an ear out for her children. She'd just finished feeding and changing them. Normally, she'd go back to sleep, but every once in a while, Freya would roar and Arabella would rush to her daughter's side to calm her.

Her dragon yawned. She's fine for now. Besides, she roars loud enough to wake the dead. You won't sleep through it. There's another reason you're lying awake.

Her beast was correct, not that she wanted to admit it. I want to trust Dad, I do. But I still don't know him well enough, especially since he's spent most of his time with us sleeping.

Mel and Tristan are staying in the second nursery. Our brother won't allow anything bad to happen. Not that I think it will. Our father is just exhausted. Let him sleep.

Finn rolled over and tossed his arm across her chest. His groggy voice filled the room. "Why are you still awake? We have an hour before we have to get up. You should be sleeping."

Cuddling into Finn's side, she traced the shape of the tattoo on his bicep. "Until we can tame Freya's dragon, I'll always be worrying. Shouldn't Sid and Gregor have more information by now?"

"Until the Australian clan run their tests, there's nothing to compare it to. They're doing all they can, love. And you know that."

She remained silent a few beats, never ceasing her finger's movement on his arm. "At least the problem of your family is sorted, so that's something. Holly and Fraser have settled in, and Gina and Fergus are still in the frenzy. Even Faye has been behaving herself, probably because she's so tired as a result of taking care of Mac-squared."

"Aye, they're in line for the moment. We'll see if it lasts." He kissed her cheek, his faint stubble tickling her skin. "However, I would handle them a million times over if it meant Freya's dragon was forever stable and under control."

Her daughter's dragon had appeared more times than Arabella would've liked.

Turning her face to kiss Finn and reassure him as much as herself, a thunderous roar stopped her from doing so. "Freya."