The Dragon's Dilemma (Lochguard Highland Dragons 1)

As his beast sulked, Grant moved to help his clan members.

Since most of the traitors were older dragons in their fifties, sixties, and seventies, Grant noticed their reaction times slowing. All they needed to do was keep it up for another ten or fifteen minutes, and their enemies would either surrender or try to flee.

Determined not to allow anyone else to escape, Grant snarled and dove toward his nearest enemy.

~~~

Fraser watched the telly as Grant took on another dragon. Fraser was starting to see why Faye kept supporting the dragonman. He was fierce and skilled. Fraser wished he could pull off all of the split-second maneuvers of Lochguard’s head Protector.

Faye motioned toward the screen. “I’d say the tide is turning.” She stood and pointed to one of the rogue dragons and then another. “If you watch closely, you can see the other side is growing tired.”

While there was nothing Fraser could do about Holly at the moment, he walked up to his sister and lightly squeezed the back of her neck. “You’ll be back with them before much longer, Faye. You did a bang up job back in Aberdeen. I’d say your recovery is progressing well.”

Faye frowned up at him. “Whenever you’re nice to me, you always have some plan. What is it this time, Fraser Moore?”

“No plans, sister. Can’t your favorite brother show a little love?”

Fergus snorted. “I’m her favorite, brother. That hasn’t changed.”

Fraser turned his gaze to Fergus. “Once Holly is safe and sound, you and I might have a little challenge. The winner becomes the favorite?”

Fergus nodded. “You’re on.”

Faye sighed. “Don’t I get a say in this?”

“No,” Fergus and Fraser said in unison.

Finn’s voice boomed, “Enough. Look. I think the enemy is surrendering.”

Looking back to the screen, the camera angle had switched to one on the ground. It showed both Kai and Grant pinning a dragon under each of them. The view switched again and displayed a few moaning dragons covered in scratches and blood.

None of them looked like Lochguard’s Protectors. And Fraser would bet his life that none of them were from Stonefire, either.

Finn hugged Arabella close to his side. “As long as there’s none of the traitors inside the hospital, we just need to play the waiting game.” Finn met Fraser’s gaze. “Grant knows to bring Holly and her dad here as soon as it’s safe to do so.”

Fraser nodded. “Holly’s dad was due to be discharged today, so hopefully the hospital will still do so. If that’s the case, then they’ll be here in a few hours.”

Finn kissed Arabella’s forehead and then released her to walk over to Fraser. “Come, cousin. We need to chat.”

Knowing everyone would be staring at him with questions in their eyes, Fraser quickly followed Finn out of the central command. The second Finn shut the door of a side office, he spoke up again. “While I told you that I talked with Bram about Holly coming to stay, I didn’t tell you everything.”

Fraser ignored the thundering of his heart. “Just spit it out, Finn.”

His cousin crossed his arms over his chest. “The only way the DDA agreed to allow Holly and her father to live here is if you two are officially mated. It needs to be done within seventy-two hours of her stepping foot on Lochguard.”

“That seems rather quick.”

Finn raised an eyebrow. “Are you having second thoughts?”

“Never,” Fraser growled out. “But Holly has had a hell of a few weeks. Between being dropped out of the sky, losing a child, and being held hostage in a hospital surrounded by dragons, the lass needs a breather.”

Finn sighed. “I wish I could give it to her, Fraser. But you have three days. The mating just needs to take place in front of me, Arabella, and your family. We can plan a big ceremony later.” Finn paused, and then asked, “Do you think you can gain her consent?”

Fraser’s dragon roared. Of course we can. She is our true mate.

There’s that confidence again.

Fraser took a step toward Finn. “I can do it, but I’m going to need some help. I can’t woo the lass and ease her nerves if she’s worried about her father. Do you think you can get my mum and Meg Boyd to look after him for a little while? At least, until we’re mated? They’re both about his age. I’m sure they can keep each other company.”