Craved by the Dragon (Stonefire Dragons 8)

Melanie tsked. "Tristan." She looked at her son's wide eyes. "Daddy isn't going to hurt anyone. Fighting isn't always the answer."

Annabel chanted, "Pay, pay, pay."

Rolling her eyes, Melanie sighed. "I suspect she'll be going around the house soon, saying people will pay with blood."

Before Tristan could reply, Jack pointed at Killian. "Who he?"

Jumping on the distraction, he smiled at the little boy. "My name is Killian."

"Kill!" Jack shouted.

Melanie snorted. "That is an unfortunate nickname. But Killian is quite a mouthful for someone not yet two." She turned. "Come in and make yourself comfortable. I'm sure you have a lot of questions for Tristan."

The human seemed an odd choice of mate for the growly, glaring dragonman. But he wasn't going to insult the female who'd been kind to him, so Killian followed her. Tristan trailed two steps behind him.

Once they all settled down into a chair or sofa in the living room, with the children playing on the floor, Melanie spoke up again. "I've heard your story and want to let you know that you can ask Tristan anything without feeling stupid. Despite his growly exterior, he's good at helping students with their inner dragons. Trust him, and you'll have a well-behaved dragon soon enough."

His beast huffed. I'm already well-behaved.

Don't be offended. She's just trying to help.

Still, there isn't much I need to contain.

What about shifting? I have no idea what to expect.

Then ask him.

Killian met Tristan's gaze. The warning from earlier had vanished and had been replaced with curiosity. Tristan spoke before he could. "I've never seen a grown male with a young inner dragon before. Explain what he knows or doesn't and we can formulate a strategy from there."

It was on the tip of his tongue to ask why Tristan was offering his help so easily, but he resisted. Killian explained about the young dragon, shadow dragon, and how both Killian and his new dragon half both seemed to possess knowledge with no memory of how they had gained it.

When he finished, Tristan grunted. "You're in much better shape than Sid was. I think we should start with cooperation exercises and work our way up to shifting sections of your body, such as a hand or foot, before taking the next step."

Little Annabel stood, yelled, "Pay!" and attempted to body slam her brother.

Melanie and Tristan had just managed to each take a child in hand when Kai's voice filled the room. "That was Bram on my phone. I'm to take you back to the surgery, Killian."

He looked at the head Protector. "What? Why did he change his mind?"

Kai shrugged a shoulder. "Brenna wants to see you."

He stood and faced the head Protector. "She's awake?" Kai nodded, and Killian asked, "But won't me being near her stir the frenzy?"

"Her dragon has been drugged and will remain unconscious for a couple days."

As much as he wanted to learn more about being a dragon-shifter, Brenna was more important. "Then let's go."

Kai focused on Tristan and Melanie. "Someone will bring him back shortly. It'll give you more time to handle those two troublemakers."

Melanie grinned. "You know Annabel wants to start training as a Protector already, right? Maybe you should take her."

"Nice try, Mel. Your lively daughter is your concern." Kai motioned toward the door. "Let's go."

As they walked briskly back toward the surgery, Killian's heart rate ticked up. The upcoming conversation with Brenna wasn't going to be a light one. Somehow or another, he needed to find a way for him to stay with her. Having a child terrified him, but never seeing Brenna ever again made his heart heavy.

His dragon spoke up. I'm sure we can find a way to stay with her.

How? You say you have knowledge, but this seems unlikely.