Page 9 of Purple Protector (Eiloren Clan #3)

A ARON WAS NERVOUS. He had no idea why he was in Killian’s office, sitting in front of his desk facing him and Hedley.

They’d already had the interview that had been planned, so there was no reason for either of them to talk to Aaron again.

Aaron had a few follow-up questions, but he could’ve emailed them.

He didn’t want to bother either of them, considering how important their jobs were.

But he wasn’t the one who’d requested this meeting. When Marlin had come to pick him up, he’d mentioned that Hedley had asked for it and that Killian had agreed. Unfortunately, that didn’t tell Aaron what was going on.

Were they unhappy with his work? He’d already written a few articles, but only the first one had been published so far.

He’d been afraid to check how people took it, but from what Lucy had told him during their last phone call, most readers loved it.

Humans were curious about dragons and their lives after thinking they were animals for so long.

They thirsted for knowledge about the clans and the dragons who lived in them, and they’d fallen on Aaron’s article like they were starving.

That was it, wasn’t it? Hedley and Killian hadn’t liked the article, and they were about to kick him out of the clan. God, Lucy would be so pissed. He would be so pissed. He’d wasted this opportunity.

“Breathe, Aaron,” Hedley said gently. “You’re fine. You’re not in any trouble.”

Aaron blinked at him. “I’m sorry?”

“You look like you’re about to faint. There’s no need for you to worry. You’re not here because we’re unhappy with you or because you did something you shouldn’t have.” He glanced at Killian. “I told Killian that we should explain right away, but he likes to be dramatic.”

Killian grinned, exposing his fangs. “Am I?”

If there was any species that could be called dramatic, it was dragon shifters, especially their king.

Killian’s skin was covered in light blue patches of scales that glittered in the sunlight.

His long hair was pulled away from his face, and his light blue eyes looked like they could stare right into your soul.

It was a bit creepy, but Killian’s personality helped.

For a king, he was surprisingly nice and respectful of everyone.

Including the boring human who’d been sent to talk to his people.

Hedley rolled his eyes and kissed Killian’s cheek. “You know you are,” he murmured in a tone that spoke of his affection for Killian.

It was intimate, and Aaron had to look away.

The problem with looking away was that he happened to do so in Birch’s direction. The dragon stood by the desk, looking exasperated. He grinned at Aaron, and Aaron couldn’t stop himself from smiling back.

What the fuck was it about this dragon in particular that had pulled Aaron in?

Sure, Birch was sexy, but Aaron had never been one to focus on anyone’s physical aspect.

Maybe it was the fond way Birch behaved with Killian and Hedley.

Maybe it was the obviously strong friendship he shared with Marlin.

Maybe it was the way he treated Aaron—not like he was something to be watched and stared at, but an actual person.

Aaron didn’t mind the fact that a lot of dragons had been staring at him since he’d arrived, but he liked that Birch hadn’t done that.

“We would like you to become a clan member,” Hedley said.

Aaron blinked and turned to look at him. “I’m sorry?”

“You heard me. Killian and I talked about it, and we think it would be a good idea. We want more humans to become part of our clan. It worked for the Ogorth clan, so why not ours? Besides, we feel that you belong with us.”

Aaron had never felt like he belonged with anyone—not his parents, not any of his ex-boyfriends. He’d been happy with them, but he’d always felt like they were temporary, and he’d been right. Something about the clan didn’t feel that way. It felt permanent.

“Yes.”

Hedley frowned, but Killian was all smiles. “That’s great,” he said.

“You don’t want to think about it?” Hedley asked.

“There’s not much to think about. I haven’t talked to my parents in years. I work from home, so I can continue doing so wherever I am. I have a few friends, but they all have their own lives. No one will really miss me, and I know I can be happy here.” He wanted to be.

Hedley hesitated, but eventually, he nodded. “All right. I’m sure you know better than I do. Welcome to our clan, Aaron.”

Aaron felt like he floated through the rest of the meeting. He wasn’t sure he actually listened to anything that was said, and he suspected that both Killian and Hedley knew that. They eventually told him that they would talk about it again and sent him on his way.

Aaron called Lucy as soon as he was back in his room. When she answered, he blurted out the news. “I’m moving in with the clan permanently.”

Lucy screeched. “What are you talking about?”

“They offered me a permanent spot here. I’m a clan member.”

“Are you sure that’s what you want? It’s a massive change, and you were nervous about going there for a few weeks.”

“You don’t know how it is, Luce. I love it here. Yes, I feel a bit like an insect that people are watching, but I can tell it’s in a good way. I want this.”

“Then I’m happy for you.”

Aaron couldn’t stop smiling. He would never have dreamed this opportunity would be presented to him, but he wasn’t going to waste it.

* * * *

“W HY?” BIRCH ASKED AS soon as the door closed behind Aaron and Marlin.

Thankfully, Marlin hadn’t tried to get Birch to walk Aaron back to his room. He’d seemed to understand that Birch needed time with Killian and Hedley. For all that they teased each other, Marlin was a good friend.

“Why not?” Killian offered. “We need humans to side with us so that we’ll be better protected against the hunters and whatever the humans that the government can’t control want to do to us.

What better way than to have humans live with us, and in particular, one who can write about our lives?

We can show the world that we’re not that different from humans and that we all want the same things. ”

Birch stared. It was a good explanation, and he believed it was part of the reason Killian and Hedley had asked Aaron to stay. That wasn’t all there was to it, though. It couldn’t be.

“We both like him,” Hedley added. “I truly think he’ll be a good addition to the clan, and it’s something the clan sorely needs. If we want humans to accept us, we need to live with them.”

Birch didn’t miss the way Hedley included himself in that. He might be human and new to the clan, but he already considered himself one of them. It was nice.

“You’re playing matchmaker,” Birch accused.

Killian grinned. “Maybe. Are you going to do something about it?”

“Something about what? Aaron deserves someone who will make him the center of their world, and I can’t do that because you are.”

It was true, but it was the wrong thing to say.

Killian’s smile fell, and he leaned forward.

“I shouldn’t be. We’re friends, and your job is to protect me, so I’m a big part of your life, but I shouldn’t be at the center of it.

You can have a personal life while protecting me.

You should have a personal life. I won’t be like my father, who demanded complete loyalty from his people.

Your loyalty should go to the people you love. ”

“Which includes you.”

“You know what I’m saying. Your life can’t only be focused on me.” Killian smirked. “That’s reserved for Hedley.”

Birch rolled his eyes. “Yeah, okay.”

“Okay, what?” Hedley asked.

He wouldn’t let it go until Birch promised whatever he wanted him to promise. “I’ll make an effort to have a personal life outside of the job. Happy?”

“Only if that personal life includes Aaron.”

Birch pointed his finger at Hedley. “My mothers do enough matchmaking. Keep out of my love life.”

“What love life?”

Birch rolled his eyes, but Hedley wasn’t wrong. He didn’t have a love life to speak of, which was why everyone seemed intent on getting him one. At least Hedley and Killian had chosen someone Birch knew and liked. The same couldn’t be said about his mothers.

*

T HAT WAS WHY HE WAS wary when he made his way to their apartment after leaving Killian’s office later that day.

Yarra had invited him for dinner, and she’d promised that there wouldn’t be any surprises.

He expected it to be a lie, so he was pleasantly surprised when he walked in and didn’t find a stranger sitting on the couch.

He could hear music coming from Curran’s room and his mothers talking in the kitchen. That was where he went first. “You kept your promise,” he said.

Yarra smiled at him and hugged him, but Alayna looked a bit annoyed. “How are we supposed to get grandchildren if you don’t have anyone in your life?” she asked.

“Ask Curran.”

“Ask Curran what?” Birch’s brother asked as he walked into the kitchen. “How long will it be before dinner? I’m hungry.”

“You’re always hungry,” Alayna said. “And we were talking about children. You’re too young to have them.”

“I don’t disagree, but it doesn’t mean I don’t want kids.”

Birch winced. He hadn’t told his brother what Marlin had said about having kids.

Of course, Curran probably wouldn’t end up with Marlin.

After so many years, Marlin had never given a hint that he was interested in Curran.

That probably meant that he wasn’t and only saw him as Birch’s little brother.

Birch thought it was a pity. He loved his brother and Marlin, and Marlin was a good person.

He was annoying as fuck sometimes, but that wouldn’t make him a bad partner for Curran.

“Birch is older than you. He’ll have kids before you,” Alayna said.

“That’s not how it works,” Birch muttered.

“I guess that at least he has someone who’s interested in him,” Curran said before snapping his mouth shut and turning wide eyes to Birch.

Birch glared at him, but it was too late. Alayna had heard and latched onto Curran’s words.

She turned to Birch. “Who’s interested in you?”

“No one.”

“If you don’t tell me, I’ll find out some other way.”

That much was true. She wouldn’t let it go until she had all the answers she wanted.

It would be less painful for Birch to tell her everything right now.

“Curran thinks that Aaron is interested in me.” He didn’t add that Killian and Hedley thought the same, or that Marlin was convinced that Birch and Aaron would eventually end up together.

His mother didn’t need to know that. She’d have a field day with this as it was.

“He is,” Yarra said.

Birch stared at her. “How could you betray me?”

She shrugged and smiled. “I have eyes, and I’ve seen both of you in the dining hall. He’s always watching you. It’s not creepy, though. It’s almost wishful. Has he asked you out yet?”

“He hasn’t, and I don’t think he will.”

“Because he’s leaving,” Curran said, sounding sorry for Birch.

It reminded Birch that they were doing this because they cared about him, not to annoy him. He might as well tell them that Aaron wasn’t going anywhere. They’d find out soon, anyway. “He’s not. Killian offered him a spot in the clan, and Aaron accepted it. He’s here to stay.”

Alayna screeched and threw her arms around Birch’s neck as if it meant that Birch and Aaron were about to get married. Birch sighed, but he hugged her back. She was doing this out of love. That was what he should focus on.

“I’m so happy for you,” she said. “You finally found love.”

“I wouldn’t say that. Aaron might like me, and I like him well enough, but we don’t really know each other.”

That wasn’t exactly true. Birch had been watching Aaron.

It was his job. He’d noticed how seriously Aaron took his work and how respectful he was with everyone, even though his job was to ask questions.

He liked the way Aaron looked, and even the fact that he wanted children.

Birch had never allowed himself to think about having them, not even after Killian had become king, but maybe it was time to think of his future.

Killian wasn’t wrong when he said that Birch’s life couldn’t revolve around him.

Killian had his own life with Hedley and their kids.

Maybe it was time for Birch to have the same.

But not right away. Even if he and Aaron ended up together, it was way too soon for them to have children. Birch wasn’t ready for that kind of step. He was ready to find out if Aaron wanted him, though.

Especially if it got his mothers and Hedley and Killian off his back.