Delaney was still staring into Rhydian's eye and swore she saw sadness there.
Careful to keep her voice low so Rian wouldn't hear her, she stated, "Later, you need to tell me why you're sad all the sudden. I have a feeling it's related to Rian, and I have the right to know."
She expected Rhydian to back away and huff or some such dismissive dragon signal. But he merely nodded.
Then he roared and Rian rushed back. "He wants to change back, Auntie Laney. Come on. We'll stand where it's safe."
She nearly protested that it had only been a few minutes, but Delaney kept her mouth shut. Rhydian no doubt had plenty to do. And if she wanted to talk alone with him later, she shouldn't delay him from his clan leader duties. The sooner he did them, the sooner she could seek him out and corner him to explain a few things.
As she walked back to her original spot and turned her back once more, she wondered what a clan leader did all day.
Despite her research, there was still so much she didn't know about dragon-shifters.
Then an idea sparked. "Rian, once you're done with school, will you help me learn more about Snowridge?"
Rian swung his toy rabbit back and forth. "Well, I don't know if I can help, but I'll try. I know some of the kids and the teachers and the doctors. But I don't know what's in every room or floor. Snowridge is big, but I can only stay on two floors. And the landing area if I'm with Rhydian."
Just the tidbit about multiple floors piqued her interest.
Even if it took five security escorts, Delaney wanted to explore a bit of the clan while Rhydian worked and Rian was in school.
While she didn't want to think the worst could happen, she needed to prepare herself in case it did. Ever since the crowd had devolved into a giant fight at one of her matches years ago, Delaney always looked for escape routes, hiding places, and even multiple exits. It was a habit that had never gone away.
Rhydian would probably never hurt her. However, she didn't know about the others.
She hated being skeptical, but Rian couldn't lose her, too.
And since preparation had always saved her arse in the past, she wasn't going to skip it now.
Chapter Five
Hours later, after finalizing everything with the DDA about Delaney's trial period on Snowridge and attending to the most urgent clan matters, Rhydian sat behind his desk, frowning at two of his most trusted Protectors—Wren and Carys. "You think a gathering introducing the human to everyone would be too dangerous?"
Wren nodded. "You have yet to even introduce Rian to the clan as a whole. Deep down, you know why."
His dragon chimed in. Why you've put off weeding out the questionable members of the clan, I have no idea.
Kicking out uncooperative clan members didn't end well for the Scottish clan. I'd like to think we learned from that mistake.
Clan Lochguard in the Scottish Highlands had expelled all members who didn't support their young clan leader, Finlay Stewart. Not long after, the banished members had teamed up with some other dragon enemies and attacked the clan. Rumors said some of the disgruntled dragon-shifters were planning something even worse for the future, although nothing had happened yet.
His beast grunted. If we don't take care of the problems within our own ranks, then the DDA may never send a group of human females to our clan. And we need a few to come and stay. Otherwise, the clan will slowly die out anyway if there isn't some sort of influx of fresh blood.
True, it would take about a hundred years for the DNA pool to grow dangerously small, but Clan Snowridge had been around for more than a thousand years. Rhydian wouldn't be the one to encourage Snowridge's extinction. I'll think on it, but I'll need to be careful and not rush into anything.
Rhydian returned to the conversation with the Protectors. "We can't keep shielding certain clan members from others. Not only does it create its own kind of division, it'll blow up soon enough and endanger lives. How close are you to finishing your deep background checks on the entire clan?"
Carys replied, "Nearly done. I'll have the list of potential farming candidates to you within the next two weeks."
He nodded. Some of the dragons would be given farms on the outlying edges of Snowridge's land. That way he and the Protectors could keep an eye on them while not having them inside the main stronghold, possibly fomenting trouble and dissent.
Rhydian glanced at Wren. "You at least sent out the clan-wide alert about Delaney?"
The dark-haired male nodded. "Aye, everyone knows she's under your protection. Although we'll see if that ends up being enough because I'm not sure it will be."
Wren had been with Rhydian for years and had even handled the recent purging of certain, disloyal Protectors within Snowridge's ranks. He trusted the male and his honesty. "It'll have to be enough, especially with your team keeping an ear to the ground. And if it isn't, then it'll show us the true colors of some individuals and we can take care of them." He glanced between the pair. "Regardless, keep me updated. If someone so much as makes a verbal threat at the human female, I want to know."
Wren and Carys glanced at each other before looking back at him. Carys spoke first. "You're more protective of her than other guests, even taking into account she's a human. Is there something we should know?"