The Dragon Family (Lochguard Highland Dragons 5)

With a sigh, Finn leaned back in his chair. Fraser's recent big project, to design and oversee the construction of a large clan warehouse, had been completed in recent weeks. Finn assumed that there were other people waiting in line for one of Fraser's designs since he had a unique and in-demand approach. So why the bloody hell was he wasting what time he had before the birth of his children following Holly around?

His dragon said in an almost bored tone, You know about Holly's miscarriage with their first child. He's nervous.

But the bairns are nearly to term. Bloody hell, Holly's had more monitoring and health checks than Arabella ever did, and she carried three children.

Still, the loss stays with them both. Maybe inviting everyone to dinner would be best, after talking with Ara about what to do. That way, we can address this all at once. And if we lock the doors, it'll make it difficult for them to leave.

Aye, and that also makes it hard for us to escape.

He heard the first stirrings of one of his children via the baby monitor. Standing, Finn spoke to his dragon again as he walked, Arabella does function better on little sleep and will probably have an idea other than smacking each one on the back of the head. Although, Ara would do that in a heartbeat if it came to it.

His beast snorted. So instead of Aunt Lorna, you're going to allow your mate to sort out your family?

We'll do it together. The MacKenzie siblings are like my brothers and sister, and the oldest telling the others what to do usually doesn't work.

Finn entered one of two nurseries they used for the children. To help Arabella and still do his clan leader duties, they often put the lads in one room and Freya in another during the day. That way, his mate wasn't stuck with all three children.

He and Arabella also switched duties with the best-behaved baby—their daughter—and the identical twin boys. Today was Finn's turn with Freya.

His only daughter lay in her crib, making little noises and waving her arms. Finn swooped her up and cuddled her against his chest. After kissing her blonde head, he murmured, "Just like Mummy, aren't you? Wide-eyed and awake with the least amount of sleep."

Freya merely slapped her hand against his chest.

With a chuckle, he moved Freya to the changing table. Despite the squirming and her attempts to jump off the table, Finn managed to change her nappy. When he finished, he raised her top and blew against her stomach. Freya squealed, and so he did it again.

Arabella's voice came from behind him. "No wonder it takes you so long to get her up."

Glancing over his shoulder, he saw Arabella smiling, one son in each arm. "Aye, well, I don't have to rush and worry about one of the wee lads pissing on me during the nappy changing."

"If I remember correctly, you laughed the first time it happened to me."

Picking up Freya, he moved to his mate's side and wrapped his free arm around her and his sons. "It was funny then. Now, however, I swear the lads use me as target practice more often than not."

Arabella snorted. "They take after their father, from what I hear."

Leaning down, he kissed his mate gently. "And you wouldn't have it any other way."

As he stared into his mate's brown eyes and held his family close, a part of Finn wished he could whisk them away for a holiday on the Isle of Skye, where Lochguard had some protected training grounds that occasionally doubled as holiday cottages. He'd love nothing more than a week with his family, absolved of any responsibility.

However, until the threat of dragon hunters and Dragon Knights were banished, he couldn't risk leaving Lochguard unprotected.

The son whom they thought took the most after him personality-wise, Declan, squealed right into Finn's ear. He moved his gaze to the lad with dark hair and eyes like Arabella's and winked. "I know everyone wants my full attention, but let's try to avoid making me deaf this early, aye?"

Arabella shook her head. "He's only a few months old. I'm sure he doesn't understand the concept of deafness."

"Ah, but all my children will be clever and braw, so I see no need to treat them any less."

She raised an eyebrow. "Should we put that to the test? I can easily go out for the day and allow you to take care of all three of them. With your supposed baby-whispering skills, it should be a walk in the park."

"I could manage."

Arabella snorted. "Bloody stubborn dragonman." She readjusted her hold on their other son, Grayson. "But enough of that. I can tell something's on your mind, Finn. What is it?"

Freya put her fist into her mouth and chewed on her knuckles with her toothless gums. "As you feed the children, I'll explain it to you."

He motioned toward the living area and they made their way. Arabella placed one son and then the other in their bouncy baby seats, fastening the belts of each in turn.

Grayson immediately frowned. She bopped each nose in turn. "Now, now, I know you love Mummy best, but give Daddy a chance."