Page 25 of Purple Protector (Eiloren Clan #3)

A ARON FELT LIKE HE was always nervous these days. He’d been nervous about moving in with the clan, about meeting Birch's family, and now, he was nervous about his next article coming out.

The first two had gone great. He hoped this one would, too, but he knew it could bring trouble, both to him and Killian. That was why he’d talked to Killian before sending it to his editor. Both Killian and Hedley had agreed that it was good and should be published.

Aaron wasn’t so sure anymore.

“You look like you’re about to puke,” Killian said from his side of the desk. “If you weren’t human, I’d ask if you’re pregnant and nauseous.”

Birch glared at Killian from where he was sitting next to Aaron. “Leave him alone.”

“I didn’t say anything bad. Don’t be so overprotective.”

“As if you are not overprotective of Hedley.”

Aaron ignored their bickering and refreshed the website on his phone’s browser. He sucked in a breath when the article finally appeared. “It’s out.”

Everyone scrambled for their phones or, in Killian’s case, to refresh the browser on his computer. Killian and Hedley had already read the article, but Birch and Marlin hadn’t. They were reading it for the first time now, and Aaron felt like he couldn’t breathe.

Marlin whistled. “Damn. You didn’t pull any punches. Pearl isn’t going to be happy when she reads this.”

“That was kind of the point,” Aaron said faintly. He’d been angry at her after what had happened with Mitri. He was still convinced she’d been the one to organize both attacks, and he’d wanted her to pay in some way. More than that, he wanted to help Killian keep her under control.

So, he’d done the thing he did best. He’d written an article about her and some of Killian’s half-siblings who thought they could take Killian’s place on the throne.

He mentioned that she was undermining Killian’s authority and that the human government wouldn’t be happy if she took the throne.

Hell, they’d probably be so unhappy that they’d support Killian so he could keep it.

It wasn’t like the government didn’t have a history of sticking their noses into things like that.

They knew Killian and that he was willing to work with them, but Pearl?

She was an unknown entity, and it was clear that if she was to become queen, she would stop working with the government and possibly antagonize them.

That wasn’t something anyone wanted.

“I like it,” Hedley said. “And I hope it will help. At the very least, it’ll make Pearl think twice about trying anything.”

“It still won’t stop her,” Killian pointed out.

“I didn’t think it would, but as long as it slows her down, it gives us more time to deal with her.” Hedley turned to Aaron. “You did a good job.”

“Thank you.”

Aaron had come into this not knowing whether or not he’d be able to do the job that was supposed to be Lucy’s at all.

He was convinced that a lot of the success his articles had found came from the subject he was writing about rather than how good a writer he was, but still.

He was proud of the work he’d been doing since he’d arrived at the clan.

People wanted to know more about dragons, and Aaron was giving them that.

This job had been the best opportunity he’d ever been given, both professionally and personally.

It had given him everything. He didn’t know what he’d do once he was done writing the articles he’d been contracted for, but he’d find something.

As long as he could stay with the clan and be with Birch, he wasn’t worried about his future.

Not anymore.