He put up a hand. “I know you’re going to say this isn’t my business. And maybe even toss in an excuse or two about your dragon being unstable. Or, how you don’t want to hurt Innes. But I guarantee he’s strong enough for anything that happens.”
Sid raised her brows. “Can I speak now?”
Bram snorted. “Go ahead.”
“What I was going to say is you know full well my parents died trying to find a way to save me. I can’t have that on my conscience again. Gregor would do something daft if it meant I would live. I’m a doctor. My job is to save lives.”
“Aye, and you do a fine job. But let me just ask you one thing—if you could do anything to save Innes’s life, would you?”
“Of course,” she answered without hesitation.
“Then try explaining why you can risk your life to save someone but someone else can’t do the same for you. You’re worth the world, Sid. Start believing that.”
She opened her mouth and promptly closed it. She hated when Bram was correct.
Before anyone could speak again, someone knocked on Bram’s door. He shouted, “Enter,” and Nikki Gray walked into the room.
The female Protector looked between them and said, “I can tell something serious is happening. Care to tell me why you called me here, Bram?”
“Aaron is with his mother and Kai is busy with another task. You’re more than capable of handling this and get along well enough with Arabella.”
Nikki tilted her head. “What’s going on?”
As Bram explained the situation to Nikki, Sid’s mind wandered to Bram’s words: Try explaining why you can risk your life to save someone but someone else can’t do the same for you.
Damn Bram and his words of wisdom. Sid liked logical explanations and he knew it. She’d never be able to dismiss the reasoning now.
There was only one thing to do—be honest with herself and Gregor. When Sid had a moment alone with her dragonman again, she was going to take the plunge and tell him how she felt.
Chapter Twenty-One
Gregor finished the splint on the young red dragon’s wing and looked at the teenager named Miles in the eye. “You’re going to have to stay in your dragon form until one of the doctors clears you. I know you think you’re invincible at sixteen, but if you want to fly without pain for the rest of your life, you need to heed my orders. Aye?”
The male dragon bobbed his head reluctantly. Gregor patted his snout and said, “I know you were trying to impress a lass, but believe me, females prefer you alive and well over lying prostrate on the ground. Displays of stupidity rarely work as well as respect and maybe a wee gift.” Miles grunted and Gregor snorted. “As you wish, lad. But if you try to fly before you’re cleared, I’m not above chaining you to the ground.”
His dragon spoke up. You’re giving the same advice the doctor once gave us. It didn’t work then. I doubt it’ll work now.
Maybe so, but unlike Lochguard’s old doctor, I’ll actually chain him to the ground if it means I can save his wing.
Good luck convincing his parents.
Oh, they may be more open to it than you’d think, given what I’ve heard about this lad getting into trouble.
As the teenage dragon settled on the ground, Gregor put away his supplies inside the tent used for dragon-shifters in their dragon forms and moved to the exit. He gave the lad one more stern look before entering the main surgery building.
He hadn’t taken more than two steps inside when his mobile phone rang. Answering it, Bram’s voice came on the line. “Kai and the others just arrived and they’ll bring the boy to your surgery. Be ready.”
Gregor barely managed, “Aye,” before Bram hung up.
Dashing toward the receiving entrance, he arrived just as Cassidy entered alone. She met his gaze. “Bram told you, too?”
“Aye, he did.” He studied his female a second and noticed her tapping her hand against her thigh. “What’s on your mind, love?”
She shook her head. “Now’s not the time.”
Warning bells went off inside his head. “If it’s to do with your dragon, then tell me.”
“No, it’s not my dragon. It can wait for later. The boy needs all of our attention. I promise to tell you once we help him.”