Aaron asked, “And me?”
Ronan looked at the monitors h
ooked up to Teagan as he answered Aaron, “Just don’t die until you come back.”
Teagan bit her lip to keep from laughing at the frown on Aaron’s face. Eventually, she’d talk to Ronan about being a bit nicer to her male. But for the moment, she merely tapped her fingers against the bed, impatient to deal with the DDA. Only then could she move on to rebuilding her clan and carving out her own future.
Chapter Twenty-Two
As the nurse Arlanna wheeled her into place inside the conference room, Teagan looked to Lara and Trevina, the two human Irish DDA liaisons.
Since it was still illegal for a human female to mate a dragon-shifter male—Ireland lacked the freedoms or even the sacrifice program of the UK—the DDA almost always sent females to deal with the dragon clans. That way, no attachments would be formed or at least pursued, unless the DDA employees wanted to be imprisoned.
Her dragon huffed. I don’t know why it’s okay for human males to mate a dragon-shifter but not a female in Ireland.
Like with most things, men usually gain the right first unless there are special circumstances, such as with the British sacrifice program.
The British sacrifice program enlisted compatible human females to sign contracts and live with the dragon-shifters for six months. While there, the female attempted to conceive a child with an assigned dragon-shifter male; if successful, she stayed until the baby was born. In return for their participation, the female received a vial of dragon’s blood that could cure many diseases, or they could sell it for money. Since the program had started in the 1980s in the UK, Ireland had been too busy with other domestic problems to follow suit.
Teagan had never thought much about the rights of human females to mate male dragon-shifters, but maybe it was another thing she should add to her list of things to do.
Her beast chimed in. Let’s take care of this first and then you can plan how to change Ireland for the better.
Once Aaron took his seat next to her, Teagan focused back on the DDA liaisons. Since she’d dealt with Trevina before, she smiled at the human. “We never seem to meet under happy circumstances, do we?”
The human didn’t smile. “There’s no time for jokes or chitchat today, Teagan. Two dragon-shifters are dead, one is in custody, and pictures, as well as a short video, have leaked all over the Internet. The DDA is being stretched thin to prevent outright chaos, and my superiors want a scapegoat.”
Teagan replied, “I was careful to check that the surroundings were empty. The only ones who could’ve leaked anything were the farmers in the vicinity.”
“Aye, but that was all it took,” Trevina stated. “The only good thing from it all is the video begins with the other party attacking you. We’ll question”—she looked down at a file—“Hugh Burns later. For now, we need an official statement from you. Tell us what happened and I’ll report it to my superior. Make it convincing or you might become the scapegoat and suffer the consequences.”
Teagan raised her brows. “There shouldn’t be any consequences for self-defense.”
Trevina shrugged. “Perhaps. But you must understand that we need to ease the public’s fears and ensure them that dragons won’t come to terrorize their homes. As it is, our sources have reported talk of a possible dragon war. Is one brewing?”
Teagan sat taller in her chair. She wondered if she’d ever get to tell her story what with how Trevina kept jumping around from topic to topic. “Those who attacked me were upset at Glenlough having a female leader. The leaked pictures and video have another consequence—they should deter anyone else from challenging me for not being male. Between dragon-shifter turning against dragon-shifter, the resulting deaths, and garnering the DDA’s notice, it should quell any more thoughts of war or conquest.”
At least for the time being, not that Teagan was going to mention that.
The other human, Lara, finally spoke up. “Or will their deaths only encourage the foolish, macho ones to have a go and prove they’re better?”
“Look, there will always be male arseholes who think they’re better than females since history tends to teach males are superior in all ways, apart from childbirth. I’m sure you deal with it yourselves inside the DDA. You’ve never had a female DDA director in Ireland. Most of the higher-ups are male, too. Doesn’t that just make you want to work harder and show them you can do a better job through your actions?” Teagan asked.
Trevina cleared her throat. “I’m all for equal rights, Teagan. But it’s a bit different working through the ranks and gaining promotions. We don’t turn into dragons and scare the bejesus out of others.”
Her dragon growled. Why do they always paint us as monsters?
Because it’s easier and it attracts more eyes.
As Teagan searched her brain for another approach, Aaron laid his hand on her thigh under the table and squeezed.
He believed in her.
Drawing on his support, Teagan said, “If there is another incident and more males come calling for a challenge, I will step down and hand myself over to you.” She focused her gaze on Trevina. “You’ve worked with me for years, Vina. Whilst my word should be good enough, I will sign anything you like to satisfy the DDA, provided it’s fair.”
The two DDA employees glanced at each other. It was Lara who spoke first. “That may placate our bosses. However, there is one other requirement. Everyone who visited for the leadership trials and isn’t officially part of Glenlough must return home as soon as possible. I understand some of them are ill and they will be given time to recover. But we’ll check back over the next few weeks to ensure compliance. Any violation of visitors without our approval will also result in you giving up your position.”
The first thought that entered Teagan’s mind was that Aaron would have to go home to England.