Aiding the Dragon (Stonefire Dragons 7)
“Aye, you’re right. It’s how I treat a pest.”
With that, Teagan strutted down the hall. She’d send one of her Protectors to deal with him soon enough, but thirty minutes alone might cool his temper.
In the meantime, she would have to contact Bram about a replacement. There was no bloody way she was working with such a disagreeable male. He would surely make things worse with Northcastle, not better.
Her dragon snorted. You just want to make it easier for yourself.
It took herculean effort, but Teagan kept Aaron’s broad shoulders from flashing inside her mind again. I see nothing wrong with that. Many a clan leader has fallen because of temptation. I’m not about to be one of them.
Chapter Two
After a few minutes, Aaron ceased pounding on the door. Teagan wasn’t coming back.
He muttered a few choice words before he sat down in the chair and put his boots back on the table. It wasn’t much in terms of defiance, but he would do whatever he could.
Just wait until Bram hears about this, he said to his dragon.
Bram will probably wonder what the hell happened to you. On Stonefire, you’re usually teasing and smiling. If anything, he’ll probably agree with the Irish leader about your behavior.
He can send someone else. I can’t stay here.
Why? Because you keep remembering how her warm body felt on top of ours? Imagine if she were naked.
No, just stop. No kissing and no sex. You’ll just have to live with it. When I risk giving a female a chance again, it’s going to be with someone who treats me as an equal, not a subordinate who expects me to follow every order.
If you want that, then you first need to treat Teagan as the leader she is.
In truth, he’d forgotten she was the leader. She ignited my temper. A good leader wouldn’t do that.
I don’t have time to argue. Guard duty might help you figure out a few things.
His beast fell silent.
It seemed everyone was against him for the moment.
Still, the Protector side of him was curious about why Glenlough needed their help. If she’d only told him without treating him like a child, he could already be helping her.
Besides, if she were the strongest candidate to lead Glenlough, he had doubts about his clan forging an alliance. Dragon-shifter males had egos the size of the sun. A female leader would have to be aware of that and tread carefully.
His dragon spoke up again. But why? She is leader. Dragon halves understand that.
The human side of things isn’t that simple.
It could be. Maybe you’re more insecure than I thought.
I’m not bloody insecure. But should be respected as befits my role as Protector.
Then earn it instead of insulting her.
The lock clicked in the door and it prevented him from replying to his beast. Aaron stayed in place, not wanting to appear overly eager. However, when he saw the brown-haired form of Brenna Rossi—the Stonefire clan member who had been staying with the Irish dragons recently—he stood up. “Brenna. Are you here to rescue me?”
She frowned. “What did you do to piss off Teagan?”
He waved a hand in dismissal. “Nothing. She merely overreacted.”
His dragon sighed, but Aaron ignored him. Brenna turned back toward the door. “I doubt that, but regardless, you’re to come with me and I’ll take you to one of Glenlough’s senior Protectors.”
“You’re taking her side over mine?”