He hated being a hardass, but the clan was used to Dougal Munro’s almost dictator-like style. It would take time to acclimate the clan to his slightly more laid-back methods of trusting responsible dragon-shifters to make good choices, even without him ordering them around.
As he led his team to the location previously provided by Kai to check-in, Finn’s heart beat double time. The alliance and bringing in his own Protectors to help Stonefire were his first real tests as clan leader. He needed to heed his own advice and not fuck up and die.
~~~
“Evie, love, wake up”
Evie vaguely registered Bram’s voice, but rather than answer, she snuggled deeper into her pillow. She was still exhausted from their sex marathon.
Then there was a whoosh and a blast of cool air. She flipped on her back and blinked her eyes open to see Bram holding her blanket in one hand and a mug in the other. Her voice was heavy with sleep when she said, “What the hell, Bram? Will I ever be allowed to wake up on my own?”
“It’s better than a pitcher of ice water, isn’t it, love?”
She grunted. Rather than argue, she sat up and stretched her arms. “I’m assuming there’s a reason for waking me. Is it morning already?”
Bram sat down on the edge of the bed and handed her a cup of coffee. “Almost, but Nikki and Charlie are nearly at the meeting point, where I’ll meet them to bring both females back here. I figured you’d want to be ready before they arrive, and maybe give me a good kiss or two to send me off.”
Evie took a sip of coffee, strong with milk and no sugar, as she preferred. “So through the power of deduction, I’m guessing Charlie is another Stonefire Protector. I didn’t realize there were so many female Protectors, especially given the smaller female population.”
“There are only two in Stonefire, which is more than most of the British clans. Some leaders coddle their females, in the hopes they’ll have more babies. You’ve seen the clan and know how well that would go over here.”
She tucked that bit of knowledge away. “So does this mean Finn’s reinforcements arrived?”
“Aye, which is why I can spare the pair of them to watch over you while I plan with Finn and Kai for Murray’s rescue.”
Doing a double-check, she confirmed Bram’s pupils were still round. “And your dragon is okay with it? Considering his attitude yesterday, I’m surprised you’re so calm at the thought of leaving me behind.”
“My dragon and I had a chat.”
She raised an eyebrow. “A chat? That’s it? I somehow imagine there’s more to it than that.”
A corner of Bram’s mouth ticked up. “Right, then, a very persuasive chat.”
Evie rolled her eyes. “We’ll save the discussion about how a chat with basically yourself can be ‘persuasive’ for later. Just answer me honestly: can you keep control of your dragon? If you’re going to help rescue Murray, which I suspect you are, then you’ll need to shift. The last thing Finlay or Kai needs is for you to be unable to shift back to your human form.”
Bram leaned forward and kissed her nose. “You’re very blunt, lass. Don’t ever change.”
Evie grinned. “I don’t think I could if I wanted to. You’re stuck with me, Bram Moore-Llewellyn. Now, don’t change the subject and answer my question.”
“My dragon behaved all night, even with me holding you close. With a few secrets cleared between him and me, he’s doing better.”
“Secrets? What secrets? How does that even work?”
The humor faded from Bram’s eyes. “I promise you a lengthy discussion on how the human and dragon halves interact later. Right now, I need to meet Nikki and Charlie. You’ll have about fifteen minutes to get ready.” He cupped her cheek and Evie leaned into his touch. “If there’s anything pressing that can’t wait, ask me, lass, because I won’t have time later.”
In case I don’t make it back alive, was left unsaid. “Just promise me you’ll do everything you can to return to me in one piece.”
He stroked her cheek with his thumb. “I only just found you and I’m not about to let you go.”
Before she could reply, Bram kissed her. He nipped her lower lip and she opened, welcoming his tongue. Bram removed the mug from her hand and she wrapped one arm around his broad back and one around his neck. As he stroked his tongue against hers, she reveled in his taste and warmth. The thought of never holding him close again only made her clutch him tighter.
With one last stroke and then nip of her lip, he broke the kiss and laid his forehead against hers. “As hard as it’ll be to function without me near, keep Kai and me in the loop about what you find in the data on the laptop.”
“Yes, because my brain only turns on when you’re in the same room. I don’t know what I was doing for the thirty-one years before I met you.”
Bram squeezed her side. “Cheeky wench.”
She fought a grin and lost. “You know you love that about me.”