“Oh, I can be quite determined, Arabella. Promise me the reward, and I’ll find a way to make it happen.”
Arabella sighed. “Fine. But getting along with my brother doesn’t mean sharing a pint. I want to see you two together at a gathering, singing and drinking as if you were the best of friends.”
He placed a finger under her chin and kissed her. “Consider it done.” As Aunt Lorna’s voice boomed down the hallway, telling them to hurry up, Finn sighed. “I can’t believe my own aunt is cockblocking me.”
Arabella grinned. “I’m glad.”
“Glad? Why the bloody hell would you be glad? If nothing else, your dragon is probably roaring for my dick right about now.”
She poked his chest. “Even if she was, I don’t need your clan thinking any worse of me. We need to go to the gathering. If you had your way, we wouldn’t, and rumors would start. I had enough of rumors back home. There are probably already a few because of what happened this afternoon, but I’ll never change their minds if you keep me locked in a bedroom.”
Finn blinked before clearing his throat. “I think the version of you, who had wanted to be clan leader, is back with full force.”
Her confidence faltered a second. “Maybe. I have a few things I still need to do, but I’m working on it.”
Caressing her cheek, he murmured, “Let me know if I can help in anyway, love.”
Arabella nodded as Lorna’s voice boomed down the hallway, “Finlay Ian Stewart, get your arse out here or I’ll come in there myself.”
Arabella smiled and whispered, “We should listen to her, Finlay Ian.”
He rolled his eyes. “Great, now you’re going to do the first and middle name scoldings, aren’t you?”
“Maybe.” Arabella tugged at his clothing. “Let’s go, Finlay Ian.”
Shaking his head, he opened the door and guided them back to the foot of the stairs, near the front entrance.
Faye spoke as soon as she saw them. “Finn, we’re late. You need to learn how to keep your tongue and cock to yourself.” Faye gave Arabella a once-over. “But at least you didn’t destroy my work.”
Finn sighed. “Of course not. I learned a long time ago not to cross paths with you and Aunt Lorna.”
Lorna threw a cloak over her shoulders and looked at him askance. “I’m not sure about that. But rather than argue, let’s hurry up. We don’t want to keep the clan waiting too much longer.”
After laying a cloak around Arabella’s shoulders, he walked out the door and toward the great hall with Arabella at his side. Only because of his dragon snarling inside his head did he not
wrap an arm around her shoulders and draw his little alpha goddess close.
Finn only hoped the evening would go well. Faye’s Protectors were in place, as were the other Protectors stationed around the clan’s perimeter. After what had happened back on Stonefire, when a child had been kidnapped during a clan gathering, Finn was being overly cautious. If anyone tried to take Arabella from his side, they would have to deal with him.
~~~
Despite Finn’s comforting heat at her side, the walk to the great hall wasn’t easy. Her stomach twisted a little bit more with each step. Public events had never been her favorite activity, even when she’d been whole and healthy. As much as she could be confident with Finn, it was going to take all of her energy to be strong in front of the entire Lochguard clan. She only hoped she could pull it off—not just for her, but for Finn, too.
Her dragon sighed. I don’t like this lack of confidence. What happened to your fuck-the-past mentality? We are amazing. Act like it.
Her beast’s tone stoked her anger. If we’re so amazing, why did you remain silent so long? If I’d had you around, I could’ve been strong a lot sooner.
You wouldn’t let me out. That’s not my fault.
Arabella growled and Finn touched her shoulder as he asked, “Do I need to charm your dragon a wee bit to calm her down, lass?”
She forced her dragon into a mental cage. “No, she’s in time out and doesn’t deserve any charm.”
Fergus slowed his pace to match theirs. Due to his sensitive hearing, he’d heard Arabella and jumped in. “I’ve found that time outs aren’t very effective. A mental maze, on the other hand, occupies them for a bit. My dragon tends to be a little less growly when he’s done with one of those.”
Arabella blinked. “I’ve never thought of that.”
Finn tightened his grip on her hip. “Don’t give Fergus too much credit. It was originally my idea.”