Craved by the Dragon (Stonefire Dragons 8)

Her expression softened. "The fact you care so much about the little one has just raised my esteem for you." She paused a second, fear growing inside his heart at her silence.

While Killian was going to do everything he could to help his blue and white dragon’s head mature, he didn't know how long it would take. The wait might be too much for Brenna.

Taking his chin between her fingers, Brenna's dominance-filled voice carried to his ears. "Stop looking so worried. If you second-guess everything, this will never work, Killian. So the real question is—are you willing to trust me?"

He didn't miss a beat. "I do. But—"

"No 'buts' allowed." His blue dragon snickered as Brenna continued, "We'll find a solution, together."

At the conviction in her voice, a weight lifted off Killian's shoulders. "Do you have one, then?"

"Yes, but I'm not sure you're going to like it. I think you need to let your dragons take control so I can talk to them."

His first instinct was to outright deny her. However, he would honor his word about trusting her. "And what if I can't wrestle back control?"

She shrugged a shoulder. "I know how to distract Black. That should be enough until someone comes to check on us."

He spoke to his beasts. Can you behave and promise not to hurt her?

Black answered first, I want her to distract me, so I won't argue with you about not trusting me.

Not wanting to have another row, he focused on Blue. Will you be okay? The dragon bobbed his head and Killian added, You two need to share. She wants to talk to both of you. And if we want to keep her as our mate, we need to pass this test.

Says who? Black demanded.

Says me. Because if things spiral out of control, I will end it with her. That means never seeing her again. Remember that.

He focused back on Brenna. "Let's try this." He kissed her slowly, tasting every inch of her mouth before pulling away. "Good luck."

Retreating to the back of his mind, Killian allowed his dragons to take control.

Since his pupils would remain slitted as long as his beasts were at the front of his mind, Brenna knew when he'd finished ceding to the dragons. She tilted her head. "Who am I talking to first?"

Black and Blue each tried to answer, but ultimately it was Black who spoke. "I am Black, the more mature and handsome of the two dragon heads."

She smiled. "I'll hold off making any judgment until I see you shift."

Black growled. "I would do it now, if not for the reinforced steel in the walls and the chance that the baby won't be able to complete the shift, possibly killing all of us."

Blue finally pushed to the forefront. "I will be able to do it soon enough. Unlike Black, I have patience."

Stroking his bicep, she murmured, "We all need to work together, lads. Otherwise, everyone will lose out. I'll stay as long as you behave. If you give Killian trouble, then I may just leave."

Black won control again and grunted. "You sound just like Killian."

She grinned. "Then you have double incentive to get along." Her face sobered. "I know it isn't easy. I can't begin to understand how difficult it is to share a mind three ways. However, if we're to help anyone ever again, you lot need to work together, not against one another. Is there a way we can make that happen?"

Killian resisted shaking his head from his vantage point in the back of his mind. Surely it couldn't be as easy as asking them.

Black replied to Brenna's question. "If Blue will only listen to my advice about how to live as a dragon, it would help along the process."

Brenna raised her brows. "The question is whether you're genuine in wanting to help or are you just wanting to be in charge?"

"Both," Black said. "But I can help. If he allows me to coach him, he might mature faster. Then we'd all get along much better. Being literally one-half child and one-half adult will only continue to cause problems."

Brenna spoke again. "Right, then what does Blue have to say about it all?"

For a few beats, Black kept control. However, he finally allowed Blue to take over and the young dragon answered, "I'd like to learn, but I don't like being ordered around all the time. If Black makes suggestions and asks me, then it might work better."