The Dragon's Pursuit (Lochguard Highland Dragons 7)

Anger gathered in the pit of his stomach. "This isn't the fifteenth century when we were barely surviving extinction, Faye, and you bloody well know it. Fuck, just your family alone is going to repopulate our clan."

As Faye placed a hand over her belly, her lips curled upward. "Aye, and one day the MacKenzies will take over everything, I'm sure. But I'm just trying to prepare you, Chase. You're my younger brother now and I don't want you to get hurt."

He clenched his fingers into fists. "Everyone judges me by my age, but it's just a number. There are males twice my age who are bloody hopeless at anything. Not to mention I've controlled myself for two years—two long years—knowing the whole time that Layla is my true mate and I couldn't have her. I won't force anything on her, but I'm sure as hell going to try my best to win her over."

Faye grinned and bobbed her head. "Good, you've passed the test. I needed to make sure you were serious. Layla isn't the type to let people in easily, and I couldn't stand to see her heartbroken if you decided to give up when things turned difficult."

He growled. "Be grateful you're pregnant, Faye. Otherwise, I'd be tempted to challenge you to some sort of competition. Not flying, of course, but something else."

Faye's face softened, no doubt because he was considerate of her wing, which had been damaged a while ago by a group of Dragon Knights, and had never been quite the same since. She finally muttered, "Even if I weren't pregnant, it's not like I could accept the challenge anyway. I promised Grant not to do anything overly dangerous because of the bairn—both now and after the wee one is born."

He snorted. "We'll see how long that lasts."

Faye put out a hand. "So are we okay then? You're a fine male, Chase, don't doubt that for a minute. But I like to meddle a wee bit here and there, as you well know. I can't help it."

The fact Faye even admitted she liked to meddle was a big concession.

With a sigh, he took Faye's hand and shook. "Aye, you're forgiven. Although if you plan to test Layla in your own way, wait a while, okay? It's taken me months to get her to even look at me. Let me charm her a bit more before you regale her with all my faults."

Before Faye could reply, her mobile beeped. After quickly checking the message, she opened the door. "Come on. This conversation will have to wait until later. Right now, Grant and Layla want us upstairs."

With a nod, Chase followed his sister-in-law upstairs.

Once inside the room with Logan, Layla had allowed Grant to do the talking, waiting for him to ask the most important question—why was Logan stealing supplies?

Of course, as the minutes ticked by, she began to tap her foot a little against the ground.

Her dragon huffed. Grant wastes so much time asking about little things, such as what was stolen and for how long. He should've asked these before we came.

I'm sure there's a reason or process. Grant knows more about interrogation and confessions than we do.

Her dragon grunted and fell quiet.

Layla kept willing Logan to look at her, but he didn't. The behavior was different from his usual bold, outgoing personality.

Maybe it was shame, or maybe even something else, she didn't know. But all Layla knew was that she didn't like how Logan acted as if he were a stranger.

Finally, Grant asked the question Layla longed to hear. "Who did you give the supplies to?"

Logan hesitated before answering, "I need a guarantee first."

Grant raised an eyebrow. "You're not in a position to negotiate, lad."

Logan continued as if Grant hadn't spoken. "I want you to promise to hear out a few people before simply handing them over to the DDA."

The DDA, or Department of Dragon Affairs, was the human government oversight department that determined how dragon-shifters lived inside the UK. Logan's request meant that at least one person involved had to be a dragon-shifter. True, it could be a dragon hunter or Dragon Knight—enemies of the dragons who broke laws left and right—but she doubted it.

Or, at least, her heart didn't want to believe Logan was trying to protect one of them.

Grant took his time replying. "I've never simply handed someone over to the DDA without first talking with them myself, not even when it's a fucking hunter."

Logan nodded, seeming to trust Grant's words. He took a deep breath and stated, "It was for my brother and…"

"And who else?" Grant prompted.

Logan's eyes finally met Layla's. "Yasmin and her unborn child."

Layla's heart skipped a beat. "What?"