The Dragon Warrior (Lochguard Highland Dragons 4)

“No, this your mum, Lorna MacKenzie.”

“I know your name, Mum. Why are you using Finn’s phone?”

“Watch your tone, Faye. I would tsk more, but this is important. Arabella’s in labor.”

Faye sat up straighter. “Pardon?”

“The babies are coming. Finn’s anxious to have you or Grant here to watch over the clan in case one of our enemies tries something.”

“Not that I don’t want to see the triplets, but why can’t Cooper handle it?”

Cooper Maxwell was Grant’s second-in-command of the Protectors and in charge of clan security in Grant’s absence.

Lorna lowered her voice. “There have been some threats from the Dragon Knights. They have a grudge against Arabella, you know. Killing her babies would be their greatest revenge. Cooper is strong, but not as experienced as you two. I believe Cooper already sent you some of the threats to look over.”

Faye cursed. When her mother didn’t scold her choice of words, Faye knew her mum was worried. “I’ll look at the threats and then reach out to Bram on Stonefire first and see what can be done. I want to keep Finn and Arabella safe. However, if this event is canceled because of another attack on our kind, it won’t bode well for our future.”

Her mother paused a second before replying, “It’s nice to have you fully back, Faye.”

Ignoring her mother’s casual reference to Faye’s long recovery from her injury, she pushed on. “Grant left me in charge, so I don’t have a choice. As soon as I talk to Bram, I’ll call you back at this number, aye?”

“Just don’t take too long. Finn’s trying his best to keep Arabella calm, but too much worry could complicate matters. She’s already giving birth to three bairns. She doesn’t need anything else on her mind.”

“Aye, I understand. Talk to you soon, Mum.”

Faye hung up the phone and checked her email. Sure enough, there was a coded message to check the secure server Arabella had set up for the Protectors.

After accessing the correct file, she read the first message:

You were meant to die at the hands of the hunters years ago. Your children are abominations. We will take care of the mistakes and realign fate.

Faye’s inner dragon hissed at the same time she narrowed her eyes. Arabella had been set on fire as a teenager by a group of dragon hunters, but she had survived, thanks to her mother’s sacrifice.

And yet, in some kind of twisted logic, the Dragon Knights thought Arabella surviving the horrific ordeal to start over was a mistake that needed to be corrected. Faye would never understand how strangers could harbor such hatred for someone they’d never met.

She forced herself to read the rest of the threats and Cooper’s notes before dialing Bram’s number. He picked up on the third ring. “I’m not sure why you’re calling me, Faye, but hurry up. I’m late for a meeting.”

“You might have to cancel your meeting. Arabella’s in labor.”

“I’m not sure I follow, lass. She’s hale and hearty. She should do fine.”

“No, it’s not having the bairns that’s the problem. The Dragon Knights are making threats and many of them mention targeting her children.”

Bram’s voice turned steely. “Tell me what you know, Faye, and I’ll see what I can do. I’m not about to allow those bastards to ruin what should be a happy time for Ara. She may be Lochguard now, but she’ll always be like a little sister to me.”

As Faye explained the situation to Bram and worked on a plan, she kept her eyes on the door. She would make the necessary decisions if she had to, but she hoped Grant returned before anyone had to leave.

Chapter Fourteen

Per the DDA guard’s request, Grant had handed over his phone before entering the part of the castle that held his father. He didn’t like being cut off from Faye and the others, but the meeting was too important to risk making demands. Besides, he’d be done soon enough. He didn’t expect the conversation to take long.

He didn’t have much to say to his father.

At one time, Grant had wanted to punch the bastard and yell his question of why he’d left. Not for the sake of Grant or his brother, Chase, as they had both been grown when their dad left, but for his mother.

Gillian McFarland had only recently started to get out of bed and leave the cottage. For all his dad’s faults, his mum had loved the bastard to the end.

And probably still did.