Fergus whispered, “Ignore Arabella. Her brother’s a bit of a bastard and she knows it.”
Arabella growled. “Watch it, Fergus. I’m not even two months pregnant yet. I can still kick your arse if need be.”
Fergus grinned. “I would, but Finn would have my head. We can have a rematch in about five years, when you can send your kid to school.” Arabella rolled her eyes and Fergus met Holly’s gaze again. “Go up the stairs and turn left. The toilet’s the first door on the right.”
Holly squeezed Fergus’s arm. “Thank you.”
As the lass exited the room, Fraser’s dragon finally succeeded in breaking through the top of his mental maze. Go after her. Now is our chance to kiss her. She will choose us.
No way, dragon. She isn’t ours.
His beast snarled. Then you leave me no choice.
His dragon pressed to the front of his mind. Fraser pushed back, but his dragon’s need to kiss Holly and brand her with their scent was strong enough to hold Fraser off.
Dropping his head into his hands, Fraser closed his eyes. No, we can’t.
You had your chance. We’re going after her. I won’t allow Fergus to take her. She is ours.
Wait—if you don’t want to make the others overly suspicious or instantly follow us, then let me give them an excuse.
His beast paused and then replied, I give you two minutes. Try to stuff me back into a maze and next time, I won’t pause before I take control.
Afraid his dragon might scare Holly, Fraser had little choice but to answer, I won’t.
Two minutes.
His dragon relinquished control and moved toward the back of Fraser’s mind, ready to pounce if Fraser showed the first sign of deceit.
With his beast no longer growling and snarling, Fraser finally heard Faye’s voice asking. “Fraser, are you okay? What’s wrong?”
Taking a deep breath, he lifted his head. “I think I drank too much wine too quickly. I’m just going to splash some water on my face.”
Finn wasn’t smiling, but his tone was light. “Or, put your head in a toilet.”
Aware the clock was ticking, Fraser merely nodded and stood. He looked to his mother. “Sorry, Mum, but I’ll be right back.”
Not wanting to give his mother a chance to read his face and guess what was happening, Fraser quickly grunted and exited the dining room.
As he ascended the stairs, his dragon’s voice boomed, Find her.
I will, but allow me to explain what’s going on, first. Otherwise, she might run.
She had better say yes.
Trust me, dragon. I can get a lass to kiss me.
Despite the confidence in his tone, Fraser’s stomach rolled. Never in a million years had he expected to trick his true mate into kissing him. With any luck, Holly wouldn’t hate him afterwards.
It wasn’t as if he had a choice. Unless Fraser left the clan, his beast would want Holly as long as she was nearby. And given how Fraser had spoiled his dragon over the years, what his beast wanted, his beast would take.
He couldn’t allow his dragon to scare the lass. Fraser could take her hate later, but he never wanted to see fear or tears in her eyes when looking at him.
An idea hit and Fraser said to his dragon, Let me talk to Fergus and Finn, first. They might be able to help us.
No. You waited too long. I need to kiss her and claim her. She is ours.
If you would give me five minutes—