Cat threaded her arm through Faye’s. “Then come on. I’m leaving in a few days for a special exhibition that’s going to tour around Scotland, and I don’t know exactly when I’ll be back to catch up with you.”
“You’re leaving?”
“Aye, for a bit. The DDA director proposed it as an outreach idea with the humans. Art can transcend cultures, and all of that. She asked for submissions a few months ago, and I was one of the ones chosen. It took a lot of work to convince Finn to let me go
, and once he and Grant select a Protector to accompany me, everything will be cleared.”
Faye looked askance at Cat. “So, you don’t have an assigned guard yet?”
“Not yet.” Cat searched her eyes. “Why?”
Faye started walking. “Maybe I can do it.”
“But I thought you said you weren’t a Protector anymore.”
“Grant recently welcomed me back, but has yet to find a permanent place for me. Acting as your guard might be the perfect solution.”
Cat picked up her pace and Faye matched it. “I like the idea. Not only do I trust you, it means you most definitely have to eat lunch with me now.”
“Even after everything we did as children, you still trust me?”
“Oh, aye. You have a good heart, Faye MacKenzie. And you’re loyal, too. Besides, I wasn’t exactly an angel myself. We both kept each other on our toes. We also both understood about having annoying siblings that we could laugh and moan about. To be honest, I miss doing that with you.”
Faye smiled. “Me, too.”
“Right, then let’s hurry up. I’m sure we both have stories to unload about our siblings, and there’s only so much time in the day.”
“You want to chat inside your mum’s restaurant? If she hears us, then she’ll probably serve us the moldy cake.”
Cat shook her head. “We’ll eat upstairs in our flat above the restaurant and lock the door. Since the walls are soundproofed to keep out the restaurant noise, no one will be the wiser. It’ll also give me the chance to fill you in about my art show tour. The more you know, the greater the chance Grant will allow you to come.”
Faye nodded. “You should show me some of your art, too. If I’m being honest, I haven’t kept up with what you paint.”
“No worries. You’ve had a lot going on in the last five years or so. You’re quite the inspiration to the female dragon-shifters of the clan.”
She turned her head. “Pardon?”
Cat smiled wider. “It’s true. While the Scottish dragon clan has been more open about females playing important roles in the clan than the others in the UK, you were Lochguard’s first female head Protector. Because of it, there are several teenage females who now want to one day achieve what you did.”
Faye cleared her throat. “If you say so.”
Cat placed a hand over her heart. “Why, is Faye MacKenzie blushing? I’m not sure I’ve seen that since one of our classmates pinned you to the ground during a wrestling match and tried to kiss you.”
“Desmond Smith. I forgot about him.”
“See? We have a lot to catch up on. I was nervous about being assigned someone like Brodie MacNeil, who rarely says two words. You are a much more entertaining choice.”
As Faye looked at her childhood friend, it was as if they’d last talked a few days ago rather than many years ago. Friends like that were few and far between.
They finally reached Sylvia MacAllister’s restaurant, Dragon’s Delight. As she watched Cat order food for them and Faye exchanged pleasantries with Cat’s mother, she realized how much she missed having a female friend. True, she got along with her brother’s mates, but in the army and as a Protector, she’d always been surrounded by males.
She only hoped she didn’t break Cat’s trust if she received the assignment. Because as much as Faye wanted a female friend to talk with, she wanted to track down the traitors more. Accompanying Cat on her art show trip would be the perfect way to do it. All she needed to do was convince her cousin, Finn, it was a good idea.
~~~
Grant finished reading Fergus’s report for the third time when someone knocked on the door.
His dragon perked up. Maybe it’s Faye.