Cured by the Dragon (Stonefire Dragons 6)

Gregor looked back to the computer screen. If I could only figure out the mysterious compound that coated the small sliver found in both the child and Cassidy, I might find a way to help her. And not just for selfish reasons, but if too many dragon-shifters get this drug in their system, things won’t turn out well.

Then reach out to Layla. She has a stronger background in chemistry than us.

A knock on the door interrupted his conversation. “Come in.”

Bram appeared in the doorway with a stranger behind him. “Your help has arrived.”

“What help?”

Bram stepped to the side, and a young dragonman in his midtwenties with black hair and brown eyes moved to stand next to him. When he spoke, it was with a North Welsh accent. “Hello. I’m Dr. Trahern Lewis from Clan Snowridge.”

Gregor moved a little more in front of his computer screen. He didn’t need a stranger knowing what he was doing. “While normally I’d welcome you and get you up to speed on my patient list, Nurse Ginny can do that. I have something important to work on.”

Bram raised his brows. “Is it to do with Sid? Trahern knows about that.”

Gregor eyed the Welsh dragonman and then met Bram’s gaze again. “Can I speak to you alone?”

Bram said to Trahern, “While I talk with Innes, find the nurse we met a few minutes ago. She’ll help you get settled. I’ll find you once I’m done here.”

Curiosity burned in the male’s eyes, but he merely nodded and exited the room. Once the door clicked shut, Bram demanded, “Tell me why you’re dismissing him. Trahern came a few weeks early to help ease your burden so you can help with Sid.”

“I appreciate the help, but I don’t know him. Unless you want him seeing the recent information we received from the Irish clan?”

“I imagine that’s not all you’re doing, but I’ll play innocent for now. Still, you’re going to get Trahern up to speed with your patients, and Ginny will keep an eye on him. While my head Protector was thorough, we all need to watch him to make sure he’s not hiding anything.”

“I’m surprised you’re including me in on this.”

Bram shrugged. “Sid has a high opinion of you and I admire your dedication. You’re well on your way to earning my trust, so remember that and don’t fuck up.”

Gregor’s dragon preened in the back of his mind. Before his beast could gloat, Gregor nodded. “Thanks, Bram. I have no plan of fucking things up.” He hesitated a second but decided honesty with Bram would be best. “Cassidy is my true mate. While neither one of us intends to see the frenzy through, my dragon alone will do anything to help her.”

Bram stared at him a second before answering, “Will you tell me why you’re so hell-bent on not embracing the gift of a mate?”

Gregor stood to his full height and was happy to notice his gaze was level with Bram’s. “I mean no disrespect, but it’s none of your fucking business.”

For one long second, Gregor wondered if he’d just earned himself a one-way ticket back to Scotland. But when Bram smiled, he relaxed a fraction as the Stonefire leader said, “Aye, I understand that. All I ask is to keep an open mind. While you bloody Scots are always causing me trouble, if keeping you around means Sid can be happy, I’m open to the idea. Don’t let my judgment stand in the way.”

Before Gregor could say anything, Bram opened the door. “Talk to Trahern. There were several applicants to come to Stonefire, but Sid chose him. Find out why.”

The door clicked shut and Gregor turned back to his computer. He would test out the waters with Dr. Lewis, but he wasn’t about to trust the bloody man. No matter how much it pained him to delay finding anything that could help Cassidy, Gregor would have to work on the files later.

Chapter Eleven

Several hours later, when Tristan closed the door behind him, Sid sighed and collapsed back on her bed. Looking for cracks in mental prisons and repairing them had sapped her mental energy. Despite her previous determination, Sid wasn’t sure she could control her beast when she woke up. Even if she managed to patch any visible cracks, her dragon could be stronger and still break free. She was starting to see why the children needed several years of practice to perfect it. At one time, Sid had been quite adept, but too much time had lapsed. Like with any skill, if a person didn’t use it, it tended to fade.

There was always Tristan’s other suggestion—to embrace the frenzy and see if it calmed her dragon. After all, the facts pointed toward her beast being mostly contained, at least until Gregor showed up. Of course, if he did say yes and they went through with it, Sid ran the risk of causing Gregor even more heartache in the process.

Growling, Sid punched one of her pillows. She’d known what to expect a few weeks ago. She almost missed the certainty.

But then the thought of never kissing Gregor and knowing what it was like to be desired would also never have happened.

“Why is life so complicated?” she asked aloud.

The handle turned and a familiar Scottish brogue filled the room. “Because it would be boring otherwise.”

She glared at the handsome, blond-haired Scot. “I never understand why people say that. I like making plans and hitting goals. Not being able to do that not only irritates me but also stresses me out.”

“I think you need a hobby, then.”