The Dragon's Pursuit (Lochguard Highland Dragons 7)

"She's being annoying," she muttered.

He grinned. "So, being a normal dragon, then, aye?"

Her beast huffed. He wouldn't say things like that if I were in charge and riding his cock.

Before Layla could reply, a familiar brown-haired female figure emerged from the door toward the back. Despite the fact Dr. Cassidy "Sid" Jackson had a very young bairn, she looked remarkably awake and was even smiling. All the years of running on little sleep as a doctor must've come in handy for taking care of her son.

Sid stopped a foot in front of them, glanced from Layla to Chase and back again, and nodded. "Good. You both look fairly well-rested and mostly relaxed, as I'd hoped."

Layla's gut said that Sid knew they'd slept together. It took everything Layla had to keep her head up and her cheeks from blushing. "Aye, and ready to go back to work. How's my sister?"

The other female motioned toward the rear door, the one that led to the private patient rooms. "Yasmin is awake and doing much better. She's been asking for you, so why don't you see for yourself?"

Guilt crashed down on her. Layla should've been the one to monitor her sister. Instead, she'd been home, having sex and forgetting about everything for a wee while.

Sid placed a hand on her arm and murmured, "I see the guilt on your face. Push it aside. You'll do much better work now than if you had barely nabbed an hour or two of sleep. Everyone needs a break sometimes." She paused a second before adding, "Once things settle down, we're going to have a nice long chat. Gregor has always felt guilty for leaving Lochguard in such a rush, and it's plain to see he forgot to give you some good advice before he left. Not that you haven't done a bloody good job, but there are a few things I think you need to hear, Layla."

Sid was older than Layla by a number of years and had more than proven herself as a doctor, too. Which meant Layla took her advice to heart. She bobbed her head. "Aye, we'll talk. But first, let me see Yasmin."

"Go on through. The staff knows you're allowed back inside."

She raised her brows. "You really would've thrown me out on my arse if I'd come in earlier?"

Sid also raised her brows. "Yes, I would have. Not only am I a doctor, I'm mated to one. And we're an overly stubborn lot. If it comes to a battle of who wins in the end, rest assured that it'll be me."

The Stonefire doctor had never exaggerated, at least that Layla knew of. She suspected if Sid said she'd win, she probably would.

Anxious to see her sister, Layla headed toward the back door. Chase tried to follow, but Dr. Sid took his hand to hold him back. For a split second, Layla forgot how Sid was mated and a new mother. She didn't like another female's hand on her male. She may just have growled out loud.

Chase must've noticed her jealousy because he came to her and kissed her cheek. "I waited two years for you, love. I'm not bloody going anywhere now that you're finally mine."

Maybe some would be upset at him making such a claim, but it helped to soothe both woman and beast. "This is new for me, feeling jealous. I hope it doesn't get in the way of my work."

Tracing her jaw, he murmured, "You'll adjust soon enough. After all, you're in control of all the drugs that can make our dragons silent. Not to mention also the ones that can make us unconscious. No one will try to steal your male."

Layla would never do such a thing, but she knew Chase was teasing. "Good."

He chuckled, kissed her cheek again and went back to Sid's side.

Taking a deep breath, Layla walked through the rear door, ignoring the looks no doubt being thrown her way after Chase's public display of affection. She would deal with clan gossip later. Right now, her sister was more important.

With each step, her heart pounded harder until she stood in front of the door to Yasmin's room. Taking a deep breath, she knocked lightly and entered without waiting for a word.

Inside, Yasmin sat up in her bed, pillows behind her back, and a pile of knitting supplies lying around her. Phillip Lamont sat in a chair beside her bed, his head next to her leg as he snored lightly.

Yasmin placed a finger to her lips and motioned Layla forward.

She took a few seconds to note how her sister was less pale and her cheeks had a bit more color. Not to mention the smudges under her eyes were fainter. The almost contentment in her gaze was when Layla finally released the breath she'd been holding.

Yasmin truly was doing better.

And it took every bit of training Layla possessed not to sob in relief.

Her dragon said gently, She's well. That's all that matters.

Since she trusted Sid's word, Layla resisted reaching for Yasmin's chart and instead stood on the side of the bed opposite where Phillip slept. Once she took her sister's hand—noticeably warmer than the day before, too—Layla kept her voice low as she asked, "Is there anything you need at all? Just tell me and I'll make sure you get it."

"I'm fine, Layla. Truly." She glanced at Phillip. "Although if there's any way you can convince him to sleep in his own bed, I would appreciate it."