Page 4 of Purple Protector (Eiloren Clan #3)

“It’s a pleasure to meet you,” Aaron quickly said, still shaking Tito’s hand. “I don’t know how to thank you for this opportunity.”

“You’ll have to thank Killian and Hedley. They’re the ones who decided this was necessary.”

Aaron blinked and dropped Tito’s hand. “Oh, of course. I’m sorry.”

“It’s fine, and I apologize if I came across as rude. Things are changing, and sometimes, it’s not easy to accept it.”

That brought a small smile to Aaron’s lips. “I understand. Right now, I’m nothing more than an invader to you.”

Tito laughed. “I suppose that technically, you are, but that’s not how I see you, and I’m not the only one. Whenever you’re ready, Killian’s waiting for you.”

That seemed to startle Aaron as if he’d forgotten why he was here. He blinked and turned toward the closed door to Killian’s office.

Birch didn’t give him time to start freaking out. He grabbed Aaron’s elbow and guided him toward the door, quickly knocking and opening it before Aaron could slip away. He noticed the way Tito was watching him, but he didn’t care.

“I’m surprised Tito isn’t yelling at you to wait until I tell you to come in to open the door,” Killian said when Birch guided Aaron inside the office.

“He said you were ready for Aaron, so I don’t see why I should’ve waited.”

“Maybe because it’s the polite thing to do?”

“When have you known me to be polite?”

Marlin snorted from where he was sitting in one of the armchairs by the window. Aaron jumped a bit, quickly glancing in Marlin’s direction before turning his focus back on Killian.

Killian got to his feet and reached across his desk to offer Aaron his hand. “I’m Killian. Welcome to the Eiloren clan.”

Aaron didn’t move, so Birch gently pushed him toward the desk.

He heard Marlin snicker, but he ignored him as he decided to follow Aaron to the desk instead of taking his place by the door.

It wasn’t protocol, but Tito wasn’t here to chastise him for breaking it.

For some reason, he wanted to be close to Aaron so he could support him.

Poor Aaron looked like he needed it, and there wasn’t anyone else available.

Birch would have to sacrifice himself, and he’d do it gladly.

* * * *

T HERE WAS SOMETHING about Killian that helped Aaron instantly relax. Even though he was a king, he was joking around with his guards as if they were friends. Maybe they were. Aaron would have to ask the king about it.

“It’s a pleasure to meet you, your Majesty,” Aaron quickly said when he realized he was supposed to say something.

Killian’s smile was kind as he shook Aaron’s hand. “Please, call me Killian.”

“I couldn’t.” Killian wasn’t just a dragon. He was a king, and there was no way that Aaron could be casual with him.

“I insist. I might be king of my clan, but outside of these walls, I’m just another dragon.”

The dragon sitting by the window snorted a second time.

Aaron was pretty sure he’d seen him before, and he looked like the dragon who’d been with Birch yesterday when Aaron had arrived.

Aaron couldn’t say for sure because he’d been focused on Birch, but since both Birch and the dragon were here, there was a good chance he was right.

“Did I ask for your opinion?” Killian asked as he turned toward the dragon.

“Just keep telling yourself that you’re not important outside of these walls. I’m sure Tito and Hedley will enjoy it when I tell them you said that.”

Killian narrowed his eyes. “You’ll keep your mouth shut.”

“Of course, your Majesty .”

The way the dragon said Killian’s title made it obvious that it was a recurring joke between the two of them. They really were friends, weren’t they?

“Ignore Marlin,” Killian said, turning back to Aaron. “And, please, sit.”

Aaron quickly obeyed. He wasn’t sure what to say. He’d planned for the interview, but this wasn’t that. Killian had wanted to meet him before they got to work, which was understandable but left Aaron floundering.

“I know we’re not supposed to start working today, but maybe you’d like to ask a few questions already?” Killian offered.

Aaron had never been more grateful that he was the kind of person to overprepare. He fumbled with his bag, quickly retrieving his phone and his notepad. “We can go over a few things,” he confirmed.

He was the one doing the interview, but he didn’t miss the way Killian asked questions, too.

It sounded like Killian was as curious about Aaron and his life as Aaron was about the king.

It was weird because there was nothing interesting about Aaron, but he supposed that, for a dragon, Aaron’s life was odd.

He didn’t have any problems answering Killian’s questions about his family and his work. He told him about where he lived and the cities he’d visited over the years. Killian looked wishful, which Aaron understood better when he asked his next question.

“I know you haven’t been the king for long,” he started.

“That’s right. I became king after my father was killed.”

“I’m sorry for your loss.”

Killian waved Aaron’s words away. “No one’s sorry for my loss, not even myself.

My father was a horrible man.” He leaned forward.

“I’d like to ask you not to write down these details, but my father should never have been king.

He was cruel and wanted the position for power, not because he thought he could be a good leader.

All of us were forced to stay in the palace.

No one was allowed outside to visit other clans or even to explore the area, and there were strict rules as to when and how we could shift and fly.

Since I was born, the palace has been the only thing I’ve ever known.

That recently changed, but I’m the king now, so I can’t do what I wanted when I was younger. ”

Aaron couldn’t imagine living like that. He hadn’t seen much of the world, but he had traveled. “I’m sorry,” he murmured, not knowing what else to say.

“It’s fine. The clan is finally rid of my father, and I’ve been working hard so that people can be happy.

That was missing for a long time, but not anymore.

My people are allowed to leave the clan now.

They can fly to the closest clans, or even to a human city if they want to.

Of course, things are still complicated when it comes to that, but we’re not confined to the palace anymore, and we never will be again. We deserve to be free.”

“You already sound like a much better king than your father apparently was,” Aaron offered.

Killian gave him a pleased smile. “I try.”

Aaron hadn’t expected the king to be like this—relaxed and nice, someone who didn’t expect Aaron to bow to him. It was almost like they were having a friendly conversation, which Aaron wasn’t quite sure how to deal with, but he was happy to continue the way Killian led.

Maybe he had been the right choice for this interview, after all. Maybe this wouldn’t be a disaster.

* * * *

B IRCH WAS RELIEVED when he was finally allowed to leave Killian’s office. He’d taken way too much teasing from Marlin and Killian after he’d returned from walking Aaron back to his room. Both of them had seen how interested Birch was in Aaron, and they hadn’t kept their mouth shut for one second.

“Where are you rushing off to?” Marlin called out when Birch opened the door of Killian’s office. “To see Aaron?”

Birch turned to glare at him, then at Killian, even though he hadn’t said anything. “I have a family dinner tonight.”

Marlin’s smile turned more natural and less teasing. “Oh, that’s nice. Say hi to your mothers for me.”

“I will.”

Marlin followed him outside. They both nodded at the guards that would stay with Killian for the evening, then at Tito as they walked past him.

Birch was as excited about dinner as he dreaded it.

He loved spending time with his family, but his mothers liked to fret, even though he was an adult and had never lived with them.

He’d been raised with Killian, but since he’d been chosen to become the king’s bodyguard, he knew who his family was.

The same couldn’t be said for most of the clan members.

When Killian’s father had been king, all the eggs were gathered and raised together in the nursery.

Once they were grown enough, they were distributed amongst the families.

There was no way to know who had been born to whom.

Birch and Marlin were exceptions because the king had wanted to know the families of the dragons who would guard his son.

Birch had always felt weird about that, but there was nothing he could do about it.

He hadn’t had a choice when he was a child, and Killian had changed things.

He’d made sure that no one would be taken from their families ever again and that no parent would have to lose their child.

He was working relentlessly to find records that would help reunite families if they decided that was what they wanted.

He was changing things, which was one of the reasons Birch loved him so much.

As much as he loved his friend, he was happy to leave the office.

He ignored Marlin until they had to go their own way, then waved at him and quickly walked away before Marlin could say anything else about Aaron.

His mothers would fret if he was late, and he didn’t want to hear anything else Marlin had to say.

He supposed he should be happy that he didn’t live with his mothers.

Curran, his brother, wasn’t as lucky. He felt the full force of both their mothers’ worries every day and usually complained to Birch once a week.

He’d be happy that, for one evening, their family would be focused on Birch rather than on him.

He didn’t bother knocking when he got to their rooms. He opened the door, knowing what they would say. “Sorry I’m late,” he declared.

He blinked when he saw his mother, Alayna, sitting on the couch with a dragon he didn’t know. His brother was nowhere to be seen, but his mother, Yarra, rushed in from the small kitchen area.

“Birch, you’re finally home,” she said, opening her arms.

Birch hugged her, but he couldn’t look away from the dragon on the couch. “Who’s that?” he murmured.

Yarra patted his chest as she leaned away. “I had nothing to do with this.”

Birch groaned. “Seriously?”

“Birch!” Alayna exclaimed, sounding excited but also a bit guilty. She couldn’t look him in the eyes. She knew that he wouldn’t be happy with what she’d done.

He hugged her, dreading what was about to happen. Sure enough, she turned and gestured at the unknown dragon to come closer. “This is Charon,” she explained. “I thought the two of you would hit it off, so I asked them to come for dinner.”

Birch nodded at Charon, but he didn’t go anywhere near them. He didn’t have anything against them—he didn’t know them—but he wasn’t planning on changing that anytime soon.

His mothers always did this. He understood that they wanted him to be happy, but they kept pushing people his way, even though he’d been clear he didn’t want that. He didn’t need to be in a relationship to be happy. He had his friends and his work, his family, and that was enough for now.

He briefly thought of Aaron. He couldn’t help but wonder what his mothers would think of the human if he brought him home.

Would they be happy for him, or would they have a problem with the fact that Aaron was human?

He didn’t think they would, but he was tempted to ask Aaron to come for dinner just to check.

He wouldn’t do it. It would give his mothers too much ammunition.

“I’ll help in the kitchen,” he said with a tight smile. He strode toward the small room, knowing that both his mothers would follow. Sure enough, he’d barely stepped in and Alayna was on him.

“You could’ve been nicer.”

“Why did you invite them? You know I don’t want to date anyone right now.”

She looked away because she did know that. “I’m sorry. Your mother and I just want you to be happy.”

That was why Birch couldn’t really be angry. Considering everything the clan had gone through with Killian’s father, Birch couldn’t blame his mother for wanting that for him.

He sighed and pulled her into a hug. “I get it, but this isn’t the way to go about it. I don’t need you to play matchmaker.”

“How else are you going to find someone? You’re always working. You’re always stuck in Killian’s office, even during meals. Either that, or you’re in your rooms.”

He briefly thought about Aaron and how they’d met even though, as his mother said, he was always stuck in Killian’s office. He didn’t tell her about him. It would be better if he even stopped thinking about Aaron.

Aaron wasn’t for him. Charon wasn’t, either, but Birch supposed that he could withstand a dinner with them.

He sighed. “It’s the last time,” he warned both his mothers. “Next time I come for dinner and there’s a strange dragon in here, I’m turning around and leaving.”

Alayna spluttered, but Yarra’s expression was serious as she nodded. “I’ll make sure she doesn’t do it again,” she promised.

Birch could only grin at Alayna’s indignant squawk.