Yet the scare of the Dragon Knights and news of Stonefire and Lochguard’s alliance had reached the ears of the Snowridge leader, Rhydian, who saw an opportunity.
Since Kai’s job was security, he’d leave politics to the likes of Bram. If something could be salvaged, Bram would do it.
All Kai needed to do was not piss anyone off.
Oh, and avoid Maggie.
His beast chimed in again. Who cares? We have Jane. She is ours.
I know and I will drug you unconscious if that’s what it takes to keep Jane over Maggie.
The frenzy pull lessens with time. Nothing will take me away from Jane.
At his dragon’s confident tone, Kai’s nervousness eased a fraction. Good, because I don’t think I could live without her.
Neither could I.
Content with his beast’s answer, Kai enjoyed the majestic mountains below. They were nearing Snowdonia National Park and would soon be at Snowridge.
Unlike Stonefire and Lochguard, most of Snowridge’s clan members lived inside the mountains. The scarce flat land was used for landing areas, the main hall, and for livestock.
Kai spotted the main landing area on the edge of Snowridge and slowed his descent. With Jane’s life at stake, he needed to be extra careful. Miscalculating the distance of a sharp rock face could injure his fragile human.
His dragon snorted. Fragile indeed.
Ignoring his dragon, Kai worked with his beast to slowly lower the basket to the ground. Once Jane was safe and sound on solid land again, he scanned the area out of habit.
His mother and sister stood in human form at the far edge of the landing area.
The sight of his sister Delia all grown up squeezed his heart. She was fifteen years old and nearly as tall as him, if he had to guess. Her previously long, brown hair was short, though. He wondered if there was a reason she cut it.
Jane’s voice drifted up to his ears. “Kai.”
Looking away from his sister, Kai moved a few feet over and landed. Imagining his body shrinking back into a human, Kai stood on his two feet again just as a wind blew across the landing area. Even though dragons could survive the cold longer than humans, he still shivered. “Bloody Welsh winds.”
Jane arrived at his side and tossed her blanket over his shoulders. “There. Now you won’t shiver as you greet your mother.”
“I could hold back even without the blanket.”
Jane rolled her eyes and thrust his clothes into his arms. “For maybe another thirty seconds. But I rather like you in a warm, pink color. Blue doesn’t suit you.”
At the mention of turning blue because of the cold, Kai scrutinized Jane’s face, but apart from being a little paler than usual, she looked fine. “How are you feeling? Do you need to lie down?”
“I’m fine. If this is how you act now, I hate to see what happens if we ever decide to have a child.”
Since Kai and Jane had a lot to accomplish over the next few years, it wasn’t the right time for a child just yet. However, the thought of one day having a little one warmed Kai’s heart.
Before Kai could reply, his mum’s voice cut in, “Stop fretting over the girl, Kai Wilbur Sutherland and give your mum a hug.”
Jane’s voice was full of laughter as she echoed, “Wilbur?”
Ignoring his mate, Kai turned toward his mother, who already had her arms open. With a sigh, he lowered the blanket to his waist and walked into them. “Hello, Mum.”
His mother hugged him tightly. “It’s been too long, Kai.” She pulled back and her green eyes searched his before she smiled. “But I’m glad you’re happy this time.”
Delia spoke up. “Hey, Kai.”
As his mum released him from her hug, he looked over at his sister, who had her thumbs tucked into her jeans. For a variety of reasons, Kai and Delia had never spent much time together after he joined the army. He missed hoisting his baby sister onto his shoulders and mimicking a flying dragon.