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Chapter One

I ris Mahajan placed a cup of tea in front of her mother, sat down at the table, and got straight to the point. “Right, you have your tea and biscuits. Now, tell me what’s so important that I had to stop by immediately.”

Her mother sipped her tea, then again, and Iris gripped her mug tighter in her hands. Of course she’d take her time, despite the fact Iris only had ten more minutes before she had to head into work.

Her inner dragon, the second personality inside her head, spoke up. We’re the same way, you know that. So why do you tell her to hurry when you know it’ll only make her drag her feet?

Before she could answer, her mother set her cup down and said, “Your father and I are trying to arrange a mating for you with Ashton Mitchell.”

Iris blinked, and again. Ashton was a scientist on Lochguard, one she hadn’t exchanged more than greetings with before. “What the bloody hell are you talking about?”

Her mother tsked. “Language, Iris.”

She bit back what she really wanted to say and used the tried and true, “Mu-um.”

“Well, you haven’t given us any choice in the matter. You’re nearly thirty, you have no friends, let alone a boyfriend, and your father doesn’t have all the time in the world to wait.”

Her stomach dropped. “What are you talking about?”

Her mother searched her gaze for a few beats, and Iris nearly demanded an answer. But her mum finally said, “Your father is nearly twenty years older than me, and even dragon-shifters age.”

“I don’t think that’s the full truth, aye?”

Her mother sniffed. “You’re always so suspicious, Iris. Not everyone is out to deceive you and hurt you.”

Not wanting to talk about her past yet again, she steered them back on topic. “So if Dad is healthy, apart from nearing seventy, then why are you trying to find me a mate? I don’t want one. Bloody hell, I don’t have time for one.”

“Yes, yes, work. Always work with you. But it wasn’t always that way once.”

“Don’t use that against me, Mum. That was a long time ago.”

“If I truly thought you didn’t want a mate, I would back off.” Iris opened her mouth, but her mother beat her to it. “You’re lonely, Iris. You try to hide it, but I’m your mother, and I see it.”

Iris tried not to shift in her seat. Few could endure the stare of Jhanvi Mahajan and keep quiet. It was why she did so well working in the clan archives—one look would quiet anyone.

Her dragon spoke up again. She’s right, though. You can hide it from everyone but me. And I wouldn’t mind a mate.

You just want someone to fuck on a regular basis.

Maybe. But I also would like for you to be happy. And you’re not.

Her mother reached across the table and touched Iris’s hand. “Do you know why I named you Iris?”

“Aye, of course?—”

Her mother cut her off. “No, I think you forget. The flower often symbolizes hope, wisdom, trust, and valor. You were the hope of our new start here in the UK. And whilst you’re very clever and have lived up to the valor part, you need to learn to trust others, Iris. Even just a little.”

“I trust you and Dad.”

“And that’s a start. But I don’t want to see my only daughter so lonely all the time. Find a friend, even. Maybe later you can find a mate.”

She was about to repeat she didn’t need any distractions from her job when her Protector-only mobile phone rang. The ringtone was for Cooper Maxwell, Lochguard’s second-in-command of security. She whispered, “I have to take this,” and hit the Receive button. “Cooper?”

“Iris, come to the surgery right away.”

She stood. “Why, what happened?”

“It’s Faye.”

Faye MacKenzie was one of the co-leaders of the Protectors on Lochguard. She was also pregnant with her second child. “The bairn?”

“Safe for now. But Grant wants to speak with us.”

“Aye, I’m on my way.”

She ended the call and looked at her mother. “I have to go, Mum. Faye’s at the surgery.”

“Is she okay?”

“For now.” She kissed her mother’s cheek. “I’ll stop by later.”

With that, Iris dashed out of her parents’ house and ran toward the surgery. While she wasn’t as close with Faye as she could be, Iris respected her. And the thought of anything happening to the female made her heart twist.

Her dragon spoke up. Between Grant and Dr. MacFarland, she’s in good hands.

Not wanting to argue, she ran faster. Iris had just entered and skidded to a halt when Cooper waved at her from reception. She stopped next to him, and he said, “That was fast.”

“Aye, well, I can’t help it if you’re a slow runner.”

His lips twitched. “Let’s not bring up my loss again.” He gestured with his hand. “Follow me.”

They walked down a hallway until they reached one of the patient rooms. Cooper knocked before entering.

Faye lay on a hospital bed, propped up on pillows. Her mate and other co-protector, Grant McFarland, stood next to her, holding her hand.

Faye met her gaze and smiled. “I’m fine.”

Grant grunted. “You aren’t.”

A throat cleared from behind her, and Iris turned to see Dr. Layla McFarland—the clan’s head doctor and Grant’s sister-in-law. Layla entered and stood on the other side of Faye’s bed. “Well, you’re both right.”

Grant frowned. “What do you mean?”

The doctor answered, “Faye and the bairn are fine. This time. Faye had a difficult pregnancy with your daughter, and this one looks to be no different. Which means she needs to take it easy.”

Faye scowled. “Please tell me it’s not bed rest again this time around.”

“Trust me, I understand, aye? I had to endure that too. But whilst it hasn’t reached that point yet, you need to ease back on your Protector duties until the bairn is born.” Layla glanced at Iris and Cooper before saying, “I need all of you to make sure she follows my orders, aye?”

Grant nodded. “I’ll make sure she takes it easy, Layla. That’s why I called Cooper and Iris here.”

Layla said, “Right, well, I’ll come back in about ten minutes to go over Faye’s restrictions for the next six months.”

Once the doctor was gone, Grant looked at Cooper and then Iris before saying, “The two of you have been asking for more responsibilities for ages, aye? Well, with Faye and Isla needing me, I’m going to have to step back a little as well. Which means you two will need to handle most of the clan matters until our bairn is born.”

Iris was torn between concern for Faye and excitement at this opportunity. After all, she’d been waiting for years to be given more duties.

Cooper spoke up. “Aye, we’ll do whatever you need, Grant, Faye.”

“Yes, we’ll do whatever you need,” Iris stated.

Faye said, “Aye, well, you might not be so happy about it once we fill you in on a few things.”

Grant lifted a hand and brushed some of Faye’s curly hair from her face. “We can do that later, love. Right now, you need to rest.”

As the pair stared at one another, their eyes full of love, a stab of jealousy rushed through Iris. At one time, she’d dreamed of having that kind of love forever.

Until reality had taught her it was foolish.

Her dragon spoke up. We could still have it, if you only looked and opened up to people.

Thankfully, Cooper cleared his throat to prevent her from replying to her beast and asked, “Is there anything immediate we need to know? If not, then we can leave you two to talk with the doctor and we’ll chat later.”

Faye’s eyes shot to Iris’s. “Actually, there is.”

She didn’t like the look in Faye’s eyes. “What is it?”

“This afternoon is our monthly report meeting with you-know-who.”

Her stomach dropped. No. Not him .

Before Iris could protest, Faye continued, “I want both of you to meet with Antony Holbrook. If there’s anything you can’t answer, then ring us, aye? But between the pair of you, it should be fine.”

Iris wanted to make excuses and say Cooper could handle Antony. But that would be cowardly and might make Faye and Grant rethink their decision about giving her more responsibility.

Her dragon snorted. Out of everyone to be afraid of, he’s an odd choice, aye?

You just want to ogle him again.

Why not? He’s fit, and I wouldn’t mind riding him.

Not wanting to get into the same argument yet again with her dragon, Iris nodded. “Aye, we’ll handle it. The two of you focus on your family.”

Once she and Cooper had said their goodbyes, they headed toward the main Protector building. The entire walk, her dragon flashed images of Antony’s tall, lean figure, his light brown hair sprinkled with silver, and his piercing brown eyes. Ones that always seemed as if they could see straight into her soul.

By the time she reached her office, she shut the door and growled at her dragon. Stop it.

Why? It’s been a long, long time since we’ve had sex. He seems like the kind of male who would be up for it with no strings attached.

No. I won’t risk him being my true mate.

Then don’t kiss him.

I don’t plan on kissing anyone.

Then Mum will push Ashton again.

There was nothing wrong with the male. Well, apart from him still grieving for his dead sister. He coped by obsessing over finding a way to save others.

She replied to her beast, I can handle Mum. Don’t worry.

She’s just as stubborn as you. Don’t forget that, aye?

As if she could. I have work to do.

Fine. Besides, I want to be alert when Antony gets here.

Her dragon yawned and curled up into a ball inside her head. Once her beast was asleep, Iris sat at her desk and tried to focus on work.

And as she went over the new information Grant had sent her, she forgot all about Antony Holbrook and his simultaneously charming-yet-annoying self.