Page 31 of Claimed By the Dragon
His mate hesitated a second but finally nodded and headed toward the cottage. Only after she was safely inside did he turn around and stride toward Bram’s place.
Before long, he knocked at his clan leader’s door. Repeatedly. Until Bram’s mate, Evie, opened the door with a frown. “Trahern? What is it?”
He rarely visited the clan leader’s home, preferring to talk with Sid or Gregor. However, this was too important. Grace and the boys were too important.
His dragon hummed in approval.
Trahern’s pupils must’ve flashed, because Evie’s eyes widened and she stepped aside. “Come in, then. Bram’s with the children, but I’ll send him to his office.” She pointed down the hall. “It’s down there. Will you wait?”
He nodded, thanked her, and went to the indicated room. He’d barely noted the desk, or chairs in front of it, or the bookcases full of books and binders before Bram’s voice echoed behind him. “Trahern, what a surprise. If you’re here, it must be important, lad. Tell me what it is.”
“The threat to my mate might be bigger than we realized since he will get a lot of money if he turns in the twins. You need to find him and ensure he pays for his crimes so my mate doesn’t have to worry all the time.”
Bram raised his eyebrows. “Aye, well, I think we need to chat. Sit down and tell me everything you know. I can’t help you if I don’t have all the facts.”
“But you’ll look for him and ensure Grace and the boys are safe?”
“As best as I can. Now sit down, lad, and tell me everything.”
Trahern didn’t know Bram well, although the clan always said good things about him. Personally, Trahern had always been grateful the male had allowed him to stay on Stonefire.
So after gingerly sitting in one of the chairs, he recounted the guard’s conversation and the money involved. And by the end, Bram was scowling.
Before he could ask why, Bram stated, “We’ve been looking for the bastard, but we’ll try to make it a bigger priority now that a few other things have been taken care of. Don’t worry, Trahern, we’ll find him. Although if Grace could talk with Kai or even Nikki about anything else she might’ve remembered since returning to Stonefire, it would be helpful. Do you think she will?”
Trahern counted the binders on a shelf—eight—before answering, “I don’t know, but I will ask.”
“That’s all I need.” Bram hesitated before asking, “How are you doing with Grace?”
Emotionally exhausted from the ups and downs with his mate throughout the day, Trahern stood and replied succinctly. “Good. However, she’s had a long day, is tired, and I need to return home. Please let me know once you find the bastard.”
A quick glance showed the corner of Bram’s mouth kicked up before he replied, “Aye, I will. Go home to your mate, Trahern. And don’t hesitate to see me again if you need to. I’m always here. Goodnight, lad.”
With a nod, Trahern exited the office and, thankfully, didn’t run into anyone else in the hallway. Once outside, he rushed toward the clan restaurant. It was getting late, but he wanted to ensure Grace had something to eat. She’d mentioned liking pasta once. He’d get her that.
However, by the time he returned home with the food, she was sleeping on her bed, snoring slightly, and he didn’t want to wake her. So he pulled the blanket up around her, did the same with each of the boys, and then retreated to his home office. The urge to wake up Grace and talk with her was strong, but he resisted.
Not only because she needed sleep, but also because Trahern knew himself. He was already getting attached to Grace and if he gave in to the urge once, he’d want to make it a part of his routine.
However, Grace wasn’t really his mate. His friend, maybe. But that was all. He had no right to demand so much of her time. Especially since once he adjusted his routine to include her, it would be difficult to stop.
So, he would be careful and look after her, protect her, and be her friend, but nothing more. It had to be that way, to save both of their sanities.
Even if his stomach swirled and his dragon huffed, neither liking the distance.
Chapter Ten
Over the next few weeks, Grace and Trahern settled into a routine.
Whenever Trahern was home, he helped out with the twins, ensured she had enough to eat or took a nap to rest, and was always courteous to her.
And yet, whenever Grace tried to ask silly questions or convince Trahern to watch a movie with her, he always found a way to be nice enough but decline. He explained that he needed to follow as much of his normal routine as possible or his mind wouldn’t settle, and then he wouldn’t be able to focus on his work.
Since she’d read a few of the articles Dr. Scarlett Turner had sent her about others like Trahern, she knew he wasn’t making it up—he truly needed structure. While Trahern could adapt more easily than some, he couldn’t just rearrange his life because he’d mated Grace in name only.
So she’d done her best to let Trahern keep as much of his former life as possible, even if she yearned to have more days like the one with the ice cream and the walk home.
The only good thing was that Dawn’s friend had mostly healed—physically—and was still secretly staying on Stonefire.Marianna didn’t say a lot, but she’d allowed Dawn to share more with Grace about her ex and her children and how loads of dragon Protectors, from various clans, were still trying to track them down.