The Dragon Warrior (Lochguard Highland Dragons 4)

“Excuse me, Max.”

Faye met Grant halfway. She opened her mouth to ask what was going on, but he beat her to it. “Not here. Come.”

“What about Cat?”

“I asked Aaron on the way in, and he said they’ll keep an eye on her.”

She nodded and allowed Grant to guide her to a room off the main exhibition space. Once he closed the door, he asked, “How much longer do we need to be here?”

“I don’t know. Lachlan didn’t specify. What’s going on?”

He lowered his voice. “I found my father. He’s currently being held at Inverness Castle.”

“What?”

“It’s true. I also found my aunt, but she managed to slip away. We need to question my father as soon as possible, before word gets out that I have him.”

She studied him a second before stating, “You’re telling me this because you want my help.”

“Of course I want your help, bloody woman. As much as I want to singlehandedly do this on my own, there’s too much history between my father and me. You would do a better job at interrogating him.”

Grant’s words made her stand a little taller. “I can do it, but what did Finn say? I’m all for irritating my cousin, but this is rather important.”

“Finn is negotiating with the DDA. I just want to be ready as soon as he gets the green light to question him.”

“Well, Iris is here. If you stay, too, then I could probably slip away without Lachlan noticing for a little while. The only question is if the staff at Inverness Castle will allow me to be alone with him.”

“As long as he’s chained up in his cell, I don’t see why not. I dosed him with our special mixture and he won’t be able to shift for a few days. If worse comes to worst, you can turn into a dragon and easily contain him again.”

For a split second, Faye was stunned at how easily Grant was including her on such an important task. Then she pushed it aside. She didn’t want to give him any reason to change his mind. “Right, then it’s probably best if I slip away now and you take my place. I’m sure you can make up an excuse.”

He nodded. She turned to leave, but Grant grabbed her wrist. She met his gaze again as he said, “Be careful, lass. Not because I don’t think you’re capable, because you are. My father is unpredictable and I don’t know if his brethren will attack Inverness Castle to retrieve him or not.”

“If they do, you’ll be the first to know.”

He smiled. “Aye, then you’d best leave. Don’t be afraid to punch him if my father steps out of line.”

Faye made a fist and raised her free arm as if to clock someone. Grant snorted at her antics and finally released her wrist.

Making her way out of the exhibition center, Faye did her best not to dwell on Grant’s actions and willingness to include her. She needed all the time she could muster to prepare her interrogation questions.

Unfortunately, her dragon didn’t share the same view. Grant is trying too hard.

She sighed. First he wasn’t trying hard enough and now he’s trying too hard. I think you’re just making excuses.

Her beast paused a beat before replying, Let me ask you this—are you ready for the frenzy and all it entails?

Wait, you’re trying to protect me?

Why is that surprising? We are one, and if something happens to you, it happens to me, too.

Putting aside self-preservation, you could just ask me. Just because Grant is earning my respect and proving how much he values us doesn’t mean I’m going to jump into bed with him at the earliest opportunity.

Are you sure? You go crazy at his touch. What would happen if he undressed us and kissed every inch of our skin?

It took everything Faye had not to visualize her dragon’s words. Stop it, dragon.

Just think about it. I’ll let you carry out your interrogation, but this conversation isn’t over.