The Dragon Guardian (3 page)

Those eyes held secrets he suddenly wanted to investigate.

He dismissed the notion as nothing more than his training as an information analyst. Fergus MacKenzie lived to find out the truth so he could help his clan. His brain was hardwired to always ask questions and demand answers. It was nothing more.

It certainly wasn’t because he wanted to wake up every morning with Gina MacDonald at his side.

His dragon hummed.
Yes, we should have her every day.

Care to tell me bloody why?

You’re intelligent enough to figure it out yourself.

The only reasonable answer to his dragon’s behavior scared the hell out of Fergus. Gina was carrying the bairn of another dragon-shifter. Not just any dragon-shifter, but most likely a male from one of the more unstable American clans.

Lochguard already had enough trouble fighting off dragon hunters, Dragon Knights, and old traitors who had been kicked out of the clan. Finn didn’t need a new enemy.

And that would be exactly what would happen if Fergus pursued Gina.

No, he’d find a female in time. One who wanted him and wouldn’t cause a danger to his clan.
What do you think of that, dragon?

His beast remained silent, which was never a good sign.

~~~

Fergus’s words kept repeating inside of Gina’s head.
Maybe he can sense another dragon.

The last eight months had been about keeping her child away from Travis and Clan BroadBay. Yet, had it really been for the best? Her son would need help from the dragon-shifters; only they could teach him about shifting and controlling his inner beast.

Then her son kicked again and Gina smiled. She’d made the right decision. BroadBay may be full of dragon-shifters, but they would’ve trained her boy to treat humans as enemies that were little more than playthings. Gina would die before allowing that to happen.

Still, there was the issue of her son’s upbringing. Thinking of her babe helped to break the spell of Fergus’s warm, solid muscles at her back. Or, the feel of his large hand over her belly. “Maybe you should call your leader, Fergus.”

Fergus instantly removed his hand from her stomach and she nearly grabbed his wrist to bring it back. For a split second, it’d been as if she’d had a husband who would care for her baby.

Clenching her fingers, reality washed over her. Most men wanted to feel their own child kicking inside the womb. Besides, she barely knew Fergus, let alone had a claim on him.

The Scot’s warm burr caressed her ear. “I will, but then I’m going to try to make your son dance again. Maybe if I tire him out, he’ll take a wee nap and give you a rest.”

Gina’s eyes grew wet. Fergus appeared to be the kind of man who took care of a pregnant woman. Hell, he’d probably treasure her. Why couldn’t she have met someone like him instead of Travis Parker?

Yet she knew the answer. Before getting pregnant, Gina had been reckless. A mere dare from her college roommate had brought on all of this mess.

Forget about ‘what ifs,’ Gina. You can’t change the past and your son needs you to fight for him. That is all that matters.

Taking a deep breath, she was about to comment but Fergus pressed a key on his phone and placed it to his ear. A beat later, he spoke. “No, Finn. I can’t call you back. Something’s come up.” Fergus briefly explained Gina’s situation and then added, “I want to bring her to Lochguard. But she will only agree to go if she could meet with you.”

Fergus frowned and Gina resisted the urge to reach a hand up and smooth the creases away. No doubt, his clan leader was yelling at him. She didn’t like the idea. All he was trying to do was help her.

Fergus gritted out, “Aye,” before hanging up and clutching the phone in his hand.

Despite the whiteness of his fingers holding the phone, Gina dared a question. “I somehow don’t think he congratulated you on finding a pregnant human, so what did he say?”

Fergus’s face relaxed and a small part of Gina was pleased. “I guess it’s too much to assume you’re going to be treating me like a king for all that I’m doing for you. Right, lass?”

He’d used “lass” instead of her name on purpose. She would bet her life on it. “How would your clan leader feel if I started calling you King of the Scottish Dragons?”

Fergus grinned and Gina felt as if someone had punched her in the gut. “It would irritate him to no end.”

“Then why are you smiling?”

Fergus leaned close and whispered, “Because Finn is my cousin and irritating him is part of the job.”

“If you think being related to the clan leader means I’m going to start treating you differently, then you’re in for a surprise.”

The dragonman’s hot breath danced across her cheek as he said, “Never change, Gina MacDonald. I like interesting females and you are unlike any female I’ve ever met.”

She frowned. “Are you saying that to please me and help me relax?”

Fergus paused a beat, and then answered, “You caught me.”

Gina pushed aside her disappointment. Keeping her voice strong, she tsked. “I hate false words and platitudes. If you want to remain on my good side, don’t do either.”

“I’m on your good side, then, aye? I had assumed the opposite.”

“I never said you had made it to the good list. However, if you want to graduate to it, don’t lie to me or tell me what I want to hear. That got me into this trouble in the first place.”

As soon as the words left her lips, Gina regretted it. The less Fergus knew about her past, the better.

Fergus tossed the phone to the side and placed his hand back on her belly. Rubbing in slow circles, Gina forgot about everything but his warm, strong touch.

Unable to stop herself, she murmured, “Damn, what I wouldn’t give for a massage.”

The dragonman’s hand stilled. Gina searched her brain for what to say when someone knocked at the door.

Thank fuck for the knock at the door or Fergus might’ve done something daft, such as give Gina a massage.

Rubbing her belly had been maybe a little too familiar. Yet the second Gina had mentioned her past, fear and anger had flashed in her eyes. Both man and beast hadn’t liked it.

Bloody hell, all Fergus wanted to do was soothe away Gina’s pain and take care of her.

His dragon spoke up.
As we should. Why you fight it, I will never understand.

Because unlike you, I can put the clan first.

You say that now, but you’ll change your mind. Wait and see.

Not dignifying his beast with an answer, Fergus raised his voice. “Who is it?”

Gina muttered, “I should be the one asking,” right before his twin brother’s voice boomed through the door. “It’s us. Now let us in. It’s bloody freezing out here. Not to mention I think the sheep are a wee bit angry at my landing. I’d like to get away from them before they jump the fence.”

Fergus shook his head. “Always you and the bloody sheep. Just come in. It’s open.”

Removing his hand from Gina’s abdomen, the door opened to reveal his twin wearing a length of tartan around his waist that looked like a poor excuse for a kilt. Before he could comment on his brother’s near nakedness, Gina’s voice filled the room. “There are two of you?”

Grinning, Fraser winked. “Aye. Though I’m the more handsome half.”

Holly shoved Fraser out of the way and shook her head, causing dark strands of hair to fall loose from her bun. “Not now, Fraser.”

Holly’s dark eyes locked on Gina sitting on Fergus’s lap and Holly rushed toward them.

Fergus resisted the urge to hug Gina close and growl at his brother. Instead, he waited for Holly to crouch down and he focused back on Gina. The lass had tensed the second Holly had squatted down. His poor human was afraid someone would take away her bairn.

Wait a second, Gina wasn’t his female. He’d better not slip again.

Holly smiled. “Hello. I’m Holly MacKenzie.” She waved at Fraser. “And that’s my mate, Fraser. What’s your name?”

Gina answered, “Gina.”

Fergus noted the omission of her surname.

Holly reached out to take Gina’s wrist, but Gina moved her arm away. “Why should I trust you?”

Fergus answered before Holly. “Because I trust her, Gina. Will that do?”

Gina turned her head to meet his gaze. Fergus worked on maintaining his kind and patient expression. He didn’t want to scare her.

Finally, Gina answered, “Okay.”

Holly shot him a quizzical look before focusing back on the pregnant female. “Okay, Gina. Are you still in pain, hen?”

Gina shook her head, causing her hair to tickle against Fergus’s chest. “No. But if it follows the same pattern, the pain will come back any minute now.”

Holly nodded. “Right, then let’s get you to the bed.” Holly’s gaze switched to Fergus. “I need you to carry her.”

The corner of Fergus’s mouth ticked up. “I believe I need to ask Gina’s permission first.”

Holly’s brows came together as she looked from Fergus to Gina and back again. Thankfully, the human remained silent long enough for Gina to speak. “Just this once, Fergus. I swear it’s the last time.”

He chuckled. “Keep telling yourself that, lass. Deep down, you love it when I carry you.”

Gina raised her middle finger and Fergus laughed. Gina was a feisty one.

Holly stood up and bent to take Gina’s hands. She talked as if Gina and Fergus had never spoken. “Right, then let’s get you standing first.”

A second later, Gina was on her feet, revealing a stark naked Fergus. Fraser growled from across the room. “Bloody hell, Fergus. Why are you naked? You know I don’t like you naked around my mate.”

Fergus ignored his twin. Standing up, he scooped Gina off her feet and turned away from his brother. “Where’s your room, lass?”

Her answer was monotone. “Down the hall. First door on the left.”

His dragon huffed.
I don’t like her so distant. We should tell the others to go away.

As Fergus made his way down the hall, he replied,
Don’t be daft. Gina needs Holly’s help. If all goes well, Gina will come home to Lochguard with us.

His dragon paused a second before replying.
Okay. Then tell Holly to hurry up so we can take her home.

The door for the room on the left was open. Fergus stepped inside. Weak light filtered in through the windows to highlight the clothes tossed everywhere on the floor. He carefully made his way through the mess. “Good thing my mum’s not here, or she’d scold you for keeping your room such a tip.” Gina pinched his neck and he cried out. “What the bloody hell was that for?”

“That was for criticizing my room. It’s mine and I’m free to do with it what I will.”

Fergus kicked a pair of stretchy leggings off to the side. “Aye, you can. But remember, I’m trying not to drop you.”

Gina muttered, “I could’ve walked if I had to.”

Fergus gently laid Gina on the unmade bed. “Keep pinching me or kicking me behind the knee and you may well have to the next time.”

Staring into Gina’s eyes, he realized he was leaning over the lass on a bed. The urge to lie down next to her and pull her close was strong. He didn’t like the idea of Gina MacDonald sleeping alone in the huge bed.

Not only that, the human’s flushed cheeks and deep green eyes made both man and beast want to do much more than carry her around.

Gina drew in a breath and his beast snarled.
She wants us too. Kiss her. Don’t think. Just do it.

His dragon’s need pumped through his body and Fergus moved his head a fraction closer to Gina’s face. Darting a glance to her pink lips, he contemplated kissing her. Surely one kiss wouldn’t hurt anyone or risk his clan. Meeting Gina’s eyes again, they were full of heat. Her heart was also hammering in her chest.

Raising a hand, he cupped her cheek. Just as he tilted his head to kiss her, Holly cleared her throat behind him.

It was as if cold water had been splashed over his body. What the hell was he doing nearly kissing a human female? Not only that, a pregnant one carrying another’s child? It wasn’t as if he could mate her. Doing so might anger the DDA and hurt his clan’s chances of another female sacrifice in the coming year. And Lochguard desperately needed the new blood.

As always, he needed to think of his clan first and his cock second.

His dragon roared.
She can become part of the clan. Kiss her and take care of her. I want her.

No.

Pushing himself away, Fergus avoided Holly’s eye. “Take care of her.”

Without another word, he strode out into the hall. When he reached the living room, Fraser opened his mouth to ask a question but Fergus cut him off. “Not now, Fraser.”

Fergus needed to clear his head without his twin’s infernal questions. The only way to ensure that was to go outside and stand near the sheep pens.

Walking out the door, he ran his hands through his hair.

Bloody hell.
If his beast roaring inside of his head wasn’t enough, his own heart was beating double-time. Even without the lass’s scent surrounding him or her tempting lips right in front of him, all Fergus could think of was pulling the human close and kissing her.

Just thinking of Fraser in the room with Gina made his dragon snarl.
She’s ours. Go back inside and claim her before it’s too late.

Damn, he wanted to say yes and rush back inside. But unlike his beast, Fergus had responsibilities to fulfill.
I can’t.

You’d put the well-being of the clan before seizing what we’ve both wanted for years?

For so long Fergus had yearned for his own female. Judging by his dragon’s reactions, it was entirely possible Gina was his true mate.

Yet would fate be cruel enough to give him a female he couldn’t have?

She could be ours
, his dragon stated.

For a split second, Fergus toyed with the idea of charging back inside the house. Then he remembered the last time his clan had been attacked by an enemy. His sister has been gravely injured and confined to a wheelchair for over a month. The next time, it could be his mother or even his cousin, Finn, who was injured.

His beast spoke up again.
Talk with Finn and find a way. We shouldn’t throw away our chance.