The words were out of his mouth before he could stop them. “As of late, you never are.”
Faye’s face turned neutral. “I used to be Finn’s go-to Protector for the clan. Now, I can barely jump in dragon form and still can’t fly. Excuse me for not being all charming and full of smiles.”
Fraser had mostly tiptoed around the subject of Faye’s injury since it had happened two months earlier. But as his dragon paced inside his head, pushing for him to go downstairs and wait for Holly, his patience snapped. “Stop pitying yourself, Faye. You’re not the only one with problems.”
“Oh, aye? Are you having trouble deciding between two females? Or, let me guess, you can’t sneak off with Fergus anymore to cause trouble in the neighboring towns and villages?” She rolled her eyes. “Those aren’t real problems, Fraser.”
Growling, Fraser took a step toward Faye. “There’s more to me than lasses and getting into trouble.”
She raised an eyebrow. “That’s pretty much what you’ve been doing for the last decade. What’s changed?”
He teetered on the edge of telling Faye about Holly. His sister could keep a secret if she wanted to. After all, she’d been one of the top security officers for Lochguard.
But at the last minute, he decided not to. Fraser wanting Fergus’s sacrifice might be a big enough problem for Faye to go to Finn or their mother. “Never mind. It’s not that important and we don’t want to keep Mum waiting.” He put out an arm. “Shall I escort you to dinner?”
Faye’s amber-brown eyes scrutinized him a second and she almost looked like her old self, from before the accident that had damaged her wing.
Finally, she stood up and threaded her arm through his. “I would be honored, Fraser Moore.”
He bowed his head. “As am I, Faye Cleopatra.”
She scrunched her nose. “I still don’t understand why you and Fergus are named after Roger Moore and I’m named after an Egyptian pharaoh.”
He winked. “It could’ve been a lot worse if Dad hadn’t wanted that middle name. Mum could’ve gone with Connery or even Sean. You know how she loves the James Bond films.”
Faye’s voice turned somber. “I wish I could’ve known Dad.”
They rarely talked about it, but their father had died the night before Faye’s birth.
Fraser squeezed his sister’s shoulders. “I don’t much remember him myself, but at least we had Mum. She has as much personality and strength as any two parents combined.” Anxious to change topics, Fraser tugged his sister’s arm and they started walking. “I hope Fergus’s meeting with his sacrifice is going well.”
Faye looked up at him. “I hope so, too. He may hide it, but he’s a romantic at heart. If he can’t find a mate in this Holly woman, then I’m not sure where else he can look. He’s tried everyone on Lochguard, to no avail, and he’s determined to stay in the Highlands. Without accepting a foster position in one of the other clans, I’m not sure how Fergus could ever meet someone else.”
Fraser’s dragon snarled at the idea of Fergus having Holly, but Fraser just managed to shove his beast to the back of his mind. She’s off limits, dragon.
Forcing his tone to remain light, he replied, “He’ll make it work. Fergus may not be as charming as myself, but he’ll still manage to win the human over. Remember, it’s more than just Fergus’s happiness at stake—Holly’s final report on her time here will help determine if we ever have another sacrifice.”
“Maybe. But I don’t want our brother to merely settle. He should choose a mate for love.”
Fraser looked down at his sister. “Since when are you a romantic? I seem to remember you stating a mate would only get in the way of your career.”
“Aye, I did. But I don’t have much of a career to look forward to these days, do I?”
Fraser stopped them in their tracks and turned Faye toward him. “Stop with the pity, Faye. You’re a MacKenzie. We’re stubborn and never give up. Even if I have to find a scientist to design a customized dragon jet-pack, you’ll fly again.”
Faye smiled and it pleased both man and beast.
She tilted her head. “I’d like to see that. Although, I’m sure the humans wouldn’t approve of dragon jet-packs.”
“Who cares what the humans think?” Fraser patted her arm. “Right, how about we survive dinner first and then we can discuss the jet-pack option later.”
“Because it’s such a believable option,” Faye answered. Fraser growled and she patted his arm. “Okay, okay. We’ll start with dinner and go from there.”
Guilt flooded his body at keeping the truth about Holly from his younger sister, but Fraser pushed it away. Unfortunately, he couldn’t stop his dragon from bursting free. I will fight for Holly and you won’t be able to stop me.
Are you really going to betray our family to do it?
She’s our true mate. Tell Fergus. He’ll understand.