The Dragon Guardian (18 page)

Fergus shouted above the noise. “Come, I need to get you to safety.”

“What’s happening?”

“Unknown dragons are flying toward Lochguard. It could be nothing, but it could be the rogue dragons trying to take us down. Come on. We need to hurry.”

Fergus changed direction and headed toward the warehouses at the far end of the clan’s land. Thanks to Fraser, Fergus was one of the few that knew security bunkers had been installed underneath the new warehouses. The key players knew to meet there in the event of an emergency.

Gina may not yet be considered one of them, but there was no bloody way he was going to leave her above ground and risk her being injured. Or, worse, being taken.

Because Fergus still needed to find out if the unknown dragons were the rogue traitors or if they were with BroadBay. Either way, they would have to kill him before he allowed them to take Gina or their son away from him.

No matter how much Grant McFarland zoomed in the security cameras, he couldn’t get a clear enough picture of the oncoming dragons to try and identify them. The dragons might be friendly and nothing to be concerned about, but Finn had entrusted Grant with the clan. There was no bloody way he was going to chance an attack.

His dragon growled.
Let’s fly up and surround them. There are more of us than them.

And what if there are others waiting for the signal to join them?

I still say we go.

Not everything requires confrontation. Shut it and let me think.

His beast snarled and retreated to the back of his mind. Grant looked to Iris, Lochguard’s best tracker. “Take a small party and search out any other dragons from the ground. I need to know how many we’re dealing with.”

Iris nodded, her short black hair bouncing around her jaw. “Keep someone manned on the radio.” She pointed at two lower level Protectors. “Come with me.”

As the trio left, Faye MacKenzie burst into the room. “What’s the situation?”

For a split second, Grant was distracted by her pink cheeks and the strands of wild, curly hair that had escaped her braid. He’d been so wrapped up on instituting new protocols and surveillance that Grant hadn’t seem much of the lass as of late, except during their secret project trials. Even then, there had been a dozen dragon-shifters present and Grant had never had the chance to talk with Faye alone. However, judging by the healthy glow of her skin, she was almost completely recovered from her accident last year.

He’d have to make a point of testing her abilities later. For the moment, he debated how to use her. Her family would tell Faye to sit on the sidelines because they didn’t believe she was fully healed. But Grant knew Faye’s spirit would slowly fade if he kept dismissing her. Faye was a warrior and always would be.

His dragon spoke up again.
She’s stronger. Let her help.

Always you bloody suggesting her.

We’re thinking the same thing. Stop overanalyzing everything and go with your gut.

Grant eyed Faye’s flushed cheeks and even breathing. “We have some unknown dragons approaching. I want you to run to the bunker and watch over whoever is there. If it comes to a fight, I need someone on the ground who can take charge.”

She raised her brows. “Does this mean I can tell you what to do, like in the old days?”

The corner of his mouth ticked up. “Aye, it might. But hurry. If the battle is over before you reach the bunker, you’ll lose the chance.”

Determination glinted in Faye’s gaze. “Oh, I’ll make it. And someday, you’ll acknowledge that I’m faster than you again.”

Before he could reply, Faye raced out of the room. For once, he wished he could follow her and have that race. But he was head Protector and the clan needed him.

Grant focused back on the security camera feed. The dragons were flying at a gentle pace, which signaled it probably wasn’t an attack. Of course, it could just be the cold January temperatures slowing the beasts down.

He pressed a button that connected him to the security post at the front gate. “Shay, I want you to spare as many of your staff as possible and have them shift in the sheltered landing area. I want them ready on a second’s notice.”

Shay replied, “Aye, consider it done.”

Grant moved his gaze to Brodie, one of the males in the room. “Take the B-squad and do the same. The sooner we start warming up our muscles, the sooner we can fly without injury.”

Brodie nodded and the B-squad members in the room followed him.

Grant studied the screen and wondered who the hell the red dragon was at the front of the formation. Since Grant knew every Scottish dragon by sight, and most of the English ones as well, the mystery dragon-shifter worried him.

His dragon huffed.
Why? We can hold our own. We defeated the dragons holding the hospital hostage a few months ago.

Aye, and they were older dragons in their fifties, sixties, and seventies. These ones are young.

Faye would never back down.

Grant mentally growled.
I’m not backing down, you bloody dragon. I’ll let you out when I need you.

He created a complex mental maze and tossed his beast inside. As soon as his mind was quiet again, he gave the orders for his special surprise. If he were lucky and the strangers attacked, he might be able to lower the number of Lochguard casualties with his top secret maneuver. No doubt, the old-timers who had abandoned Lochguard would frown upon his surprise, but Grant would do whatever it took to protect his clan.

Moving his gaze back to the security feed, he waited to see what happened.

~~~

Gina half-ran and half-waddled to the entrance of the warehouse. She was definitely not fit for running at this point in her pregnancy.

Huffing and puffing, she somehow made her way into the entrance with Fergus right behind. They were greeted by Fraser’s neutral expression, which made her stomach drop. She’d never seen Fraser so serious.

Fergus’s twin nodded toward the door. “Come. The dragons are drawing nearer. We need to get you two inside.”

Gina’s heart thumped inside her chest. “Do we know who they are yet?”

Fraser shook his head. “No, but there’s a video feed from the security cameras downstairs. You can take a look and let us know if any of the dragons are with BroadBay or not.”

Fergus placed a hand on her back. “Regardless, you’re safe here, lass. We won’t let anyone try to take your or the bairn.”

Gina looked up at her dragonman. “Even so, I want to see the feed. If it’s BroadBay, I might recognize them. That could give you an edge over them.”

As they moved down the stairs, Fergus frowned. “I thought you never saw them in dragon form.”

“Not many of them. But I would recognize Travis anywhere.” The pupils of both the MacKenzie twins flashed. Before either could speak, Gina did. “I want you two to promise me you won’t try to kill him. No matter what he did, I won’t have his blood on my hands.”

They remained silent and Gina poked Fergus’s chest. “Promise me, Fergus MacKenzie.”

Fergus growled out, “Or, what’s the threat?”

She shook her head. “There’s no threat. I’m asking you to do this for me.”

Fergus remained silent a second before answering, “Aye, I promise. But if he attacks you or anyone from the clan, he’s fair game.”

“That I can live with,” Gina stated.

Fraser opened one last door and they entered a room decked out with high-tech equipment—flat screens, touch controls, and a lot of gadgets and buttons she didn’t recognize. There was a male and female dragon-shifter manning stations toward the front, but despite looking like siblings with the same black hair and blue eyes, neither one of them were familiar. She’d just have to trust Fraser and Fergus that they were trustworthy.

Then Gina’s eyes fell on the video of the dragons beating their wings in the sky in several V-formations.

Fergus pressed against her back. “Well, lass? Are any of them with BroadBay?”

Scrutinizing the dragons for any familiarities, she finally answered, “I don’t think so.”

Fraser spoke up. “It’s probably the traitors, then. I’ll let Grant know.”

Gina held up a hand. “It still could be them. I’ve only seen a few members of Clan BroadBay in dragon form.”

“Aye, well, we know the bastard isn’t there, nor is the clan leader since we do have a picture of Steven Roberts on file. It’s a start. I still need to tell Grant. Any and all information will help.”

As Fraser went to the front, Gina leaned against Fergus’s side. She murmured, “Is it wrong of me to hope it’s the traitors and not the American clan?”

He hugged her tightly against him. “No, but it’s a bit early to be celebrating. For all we know, they might be working together.”

She raised her head. “Do you know something I don’t?”

“I might.”

“I know your work is classified and I never would ask for you to put your clan at risk. But is there anything at all you can tell me? Please, Fergus, if they’re coming for me and my baby, I need to know.”

Fergus stared down at her. One beat passed and then another. Finally, he replied, “There has been some chatter about British dragon-shifters talking with American-sounding ones over the last few days. While all of the witnesses are human and might have misjudged if the subjects were indeed dragon-shifters, I’m not about to dismiss it so casually. Neither has the DDA.”

“Will the DDA help us?”

Fergus sighed. “I don’t know, lass. Part of Finn’s mission on Stonefire was to convince them to help us concerning you.”

She blinked. “What?”

“Aye, Finn’s in England to try and secure your future here.”

~~~

Keeping Finn’s true purpose from Gina had nearly torn Fergus in two. But his cousin’s line of reasoning made sense—offering a safe haven before a deal could be made was foolish. Gina had suffered so much already and Finn didn’t want to raise her hopes only to dash them. So, Fergus had agreed to keep the secret.

Gina turned to face him. “But Finn never asked me if I wanted to stay.”

His dragon snarled in the back of his mind, but Fergus ignored it. “My cousin is fairly good at reading people. Was he wrong that you wanted to stay here?”

Fergus’s heart skipped a beat at Gina’s silence. He refused to believe Gina didn’t care enough for him to stay.

Or, had he yearned too much for a mate that he’d constructed the image inside his head?

No.
Fergus knew Gina cared for him.

His dragon growled.
This is why we needed to tell her we love her. Your caution may have cost us our mate.

You’re wrong, dragon. Saying the words too soon would’ve spooked her.

His beast huffed.
We’ll find out soon enough.

Thankfully, he didn’t have to wait much longer. When Gina answered, her voice was strong. “You know, that’s why I wanted to talk with him, actually. And also why I was so irritated that he kept canceling.” She stood on her tiptoes and whispered, “I didn’t want to give you false hope until I knew my future.”

Fergus’s dragon chimed in.
Ask her if she wants to stay with us.

If Fergus were rational, he would save this conversation for a later time. But between his dragon’s roaring and his own curiosity, he asked, “So you’ve thought about becoming my mate?”

Last week, the word had caused panic to flare in her eyes. But in the present, Gina’s gaze was only full of hope. “I’ve been warming up to the idea.”

He placed his hands possessively on her hips. “That’s not a good enough answer.”

She smiled and laid a hand on his cheek. The soft touch of her fingers eased his tension a fraction. “I thought you were supposed to be the patient MacKenzie?”

Leaning down, he nipped her bottom lip. “I am, except when it comes to you, lass. It’s as if I become a whole different person around you.”

She tilted her head. “Is that a bad thing?”

“Yes. No. Hell, it’s both.” Tightening his grip on her, he pulled her closer. “But I wouldn’t change a thing, Gina MacDonald. You’re everything I never knew I wanted.”

Her eyes watered and his beast snarled.
Don’t make her cry.

Sometimes, tears are happy.

I still don’t like it.

Gina wiped her eyes with the back of her hand and murmured, “I wish I knew if Finn had found a way for me to stay. There’s so much I want to say.”

“Then say it, lass. Because even if I have to leave here to follow you, I will. And not just because I’m your Guardian or because you’re my true mate. Life would be lonely without you.”

Gina shook her head. “But you can’t leave your family and I would never ask you to do so.”

The corner of his mouth ticked up. “Oh, they’d find a way to sneak off and see me. My brother and I have secret hideouts all over the Highlands.”

Amusement twinkled in her eyes. “Full of treasure?”

Fergus chuckled. “Maybe one day, you’ll find out.”

As they stared at one another, Fergus willed the lass to speak her mind. But before she could say anything, Fraser rushed over to them and said, “I’m sorry to break up the lovey dovey time, but we have a problem.”

Fergus frowned. “Spit it out already, brother.”

Fraser answered, “Iris radioed back. She’s found several wings of dragon-shifters just beyond the Naver forest.” Fraser switched his gaze to Gina. “The ones in human form are speaking in an American accent. A few have mentioned Virginia.”

Gina’s body tensed under his fingers. “BroadBay.”

Fraser nodded. “Aye, we think so. What’s worse, Roderick McFarland is with the Yanks.”

Confusion flashed on Gina’s face and Fergus filled her in. “Roderick is one of the traitors who not only left the clan rather than accept Finn’s leadership, but he helped lead the attack on the human hospital and Holly a few months ago.”

Placing a hand over her belly, Gina looked between the twin brothers. “So, what’s going to happen?”

Fergus stroked her side. “We wait. It’s in the hands of Grant and the Protectors now.”

Gina answered, “But I don’t want anyone to die for me, Fergus. And that’s a possibility.”