Page 43 of Seducing the Dragon (Stonefire British Dragons #2)

Nikki glanced to Evie, but his mate smiled and bobbed her head in encouragement. Nikki looked back to him. “I’ll take her.”

Bram nodded. “Good lass.” He turned toward Evie, kissed Murray’s forehead and then hers. “I’ll be home soon. Don’t destroy the place in the meantime.”

Amusement danced in Evie’s eyes. “I’ll see what I can cook up.”

As he watched his family walk away, his dragon said, Hurry up. I want our mate as promised.

You are calmer than five minutes ago.

Tasting our mate and claiming our new son helped, but I need her. I am strong, but even I am reaching my limit.

His inner beast’s words rang with truth. Bram couldn’t risk the mate frenzy breaking out while the clan was still in danger. Then let’s find Finn and Kai.

After checking in with Sid, Bram left the tent. It was time to talk to Kai and find out what Finlay Stewart had done.

Finn knocked on the door of Tristan MacLeod’s cottage.

He didn’t have long before Bram found him and while Finn stood by his decision to kill Neil Westhaven, the act might break the new alliance with Stonefire.

If that happened, he wanted to see Arabella MacLeod one last time, both for his dragon and himself.

For some reason, he didn’t want the lass to think ill of him.

The door opened. Instead of Tristan’s glare, Arabella’s dark brown eyes greeted him. She frowned and said, “What do you want?”

“It’s nice to see you, too, lass. Can I come in?”

“Why? Everyone is gone. It’s just me.”

“Aye, that’s why I’m here.”

She hesitated. He’d gleaned from his last visit that the lass didn’t like being alone with strange men. “We can talk out here, if you like.”

“Since we’ve spoken twice, I’m sure all you need to say can be said whilst standing at the door.”

He gestured at his body, clad only in a casual kilt. “It’s a wee bit cold out here and the warmth from the door is enticing.”

Her eyes darted to his chest and lingered. Finn was leaner than most dragon-shifter males, but only because he was taller. The lass’s eyes didn’t seem to mind and his dragon rumbled. I want to feel her skin.

Not now.

His beast growled, but Finn ignored him and cleared his throat. “If you’re quite done with the view, let me in or toss me a jumper.” Arabella’s cheeks flushed and he grinned. “Unless you want a longer look at my epitome of male perfection.”

The dragonwoman rolled her eyes and stepped back. “If coming inside will help stem your cockiness, then hurry up.”

His dragon crooned. She likes us. This is good.

Rather than dwell on his inner beast’s words, Finn stepped inside the cottage and headed into the living area. Once he plopped down on a chair, he dove right to the point. “Have you considered my invitation to come to Lochguard and set up the secure connection?”

She stayed standing on the far side of the room. While her heart rate appeared normal, he didn’t like the distance.

Arabella answered, “I told you I’d think about it. My answer hasn’t changed.”

“In my experience, maybe means no. Come, Arabella. It would benefit us both.”

She frowned and her voice was careful when she said, “Explain that last bit.”

His dragon cautioned, Don’t scare her.

I won’t coddle her. She doesn’t want it. “You’ve proved your skills to me and I won’t have to double-check your work, which saves me time.”

“And what is the benefit to me?”

“You’ll have the chance to interact with people who will treat you with care because you’re a stranger, not out of pity for your past. While I’ve only heard the rumors, I expect everyone on Stonefire knows the truth.”

Arabella took a step toward him. “I don’t want your charity.”

His dragon piped in. Don’t fuck up.

Finn stood up. “It’s not charity, Arabella MacLeod. I need your skills and you desperately need a break from the clan. Even your brother coddles you.”

She took another step toward him. “Leave my brother out of this.”

“It’s true, aye? Your brother is as careful as the rest. I don’t know about you, but living day in and day out with everyone walking on eggshells must be exhausting. Yes, you’ve gone through something terrible. But isn’t it time for you to face the world and live your life?”

They were only a few feet apart from one another. Finn never flinched from her gaze. Aye, she was angry, but there was longing there too.

Arabella’s voice was quiet and full of steel when she said, “I think you should leave.”

His inner beast roared, but Finn ignored him. “I’ll leave, but think on it, lass. Lochguard may not be perfect, but it could be a fresh start for you.”

Provided, of course, he hadn’t fucked up the alliance with Stonefire.

Before the dragonwoman could reply, there was a knock on the door followed by Bram shouting, “Finlay Stewart, I know you’re in there. We need to talk.”

Arabella retreated to the far side of the room. It took everything Finn had not to walk over and corner her against the wall to provoke her fire again. Both man and beast liked her fire, maybe a little too much.

There was more pounding on the door and Finn sighed. “It looks like you’re getting your wish, lass.”

He waited a beat, but Arabella remained silent. Rather than push too far, he gave a flourishing bow and went to the door. Opening it, Bram glared up at him and said, “Where’s Arabella? Is she okay?”

Finn motioned behind him. “She’s back there. Lass, care to shout out so he doesn’t kill me?”

Arabella peeked her head around the corner. “I’m fine, Bram. Finn was just leaving.”

Bram looked between him and Arabella, but if the Stonefire leader expected an explanation, he wasn’t going to get one.

Finn raised an eyebrow. “You’re letting the heat out. If we’re walking and talking, then let’s go.”

Bram gave him one more assessing stare before he turned around and started walking. Finn took one last look at Arabella and dared to say, “Think on it, lass. I mean it.”

Then he was out the door. As he lengthened his stride to catch up with Bram, Finn hoped that wasn’t the last he saw of Arabella MacLeod. The lass deserved to have laughter and light in her life and Finn wanted to be the one to give it to her.

When he caught up with Bram, Finn decided not to delay the inevitable. “Care to tell me if the alliance still stands or not?”

Bram stopped and turned toward him. “As much as my dragon doesn’t like it, I can handle you being the one to rescue Evie. She’s alive and I thank you.”

Finn raised an eyebrow. “But?”

“But killing Neil Westhaven was never part of the plan. You were supposed to help capture him and bring him back alive.”

Finn’s dragon huffed. Why would he want the traitor alive? It’s better that he’s dead.

He likes to play by the rules.

Hmph. Sometimes the rules are meant to be broken.

Finn agreed, but from what he’d learned of Bram Moore-Llewellyn over the last week, it would take a different way of thinking to preserve the alliance.

“He had your mate in his arms, a talon at her throat, and was one slice away from killing her. The idiot had his back to me and I took advantage. Wouldn’t you have done the same? ”

Bram stared at him a second before he answered. “Maybe. My concern is you acting out of turn and ignoring what we agreed upon for the alliance. You being unpredictable could hurt my clan.”

Finn’s dragon snarled and he pushed back his beast. “The foundation of the alliance is helping each other out and protecting one another when needed. I plan on doing that. My ways may differ from yours, but after what happened today, I reckon you and I need to stick together. The rescue was too easy.”

Bram’s tension eased a bit. “I feel the same. Simon Bourne isn’t an idiot. I can almost guarantee he allowed us to rescue Evie, Nikki, and wee Murray. I just don’t know why.”

“Right now, neither do I. But think about it—if we’re both gathering intelligence and keeping an eye on the dragon hunters, then our clans both have a greater chance of surviving whatever Simon Bourne may throw at us.”

The Stonefire leader assessed him, but Finn didn’t waiver. While the alliance would make his life easier, he could find another way to protect his clan if it came to that. Giving up wasn’t in Finlay Stewart’s vocabulary.

Another second passed and then Bram nodded. “Right, we’ll keep the alliance for now, but on one condition.”

“What?”

“Leave Arabella MacLeod alone.”

Finn’s dragon growled. No. I don’t like that.

Rather than answer his dragon, Finn merely replied, “If she seeks me out, I won’t turn her away.”

Bram searched his eyes. “While not quite the answer I was looking for, it’s better than nothing. You hurt her, and I will cut off your bollocks.

His inner beast said, We would never hurt her.

I know, but he’s blind to what Arabella needs. Let’s humor him for now.

His dragon conceded. Finn put out a hand. “So the alliance remains?”

Bram took his hand and shook. “Aye, but you’ve yet to earn my full trust.”

“Good, because you have yet to earn mine.”