The corner of his mouth ticked up. “Now who’s being serious and stuffy?”
She lightly slapped his side. “As if you would allow it to happen. Although, a ‘get-to-know Lochguard’ special might be in order.”
“Is that what you want to talk with Finn about?”
“Of course not. Although I could always bring it up.” Excitement filled her eyes. “Actually, I might have a way I can help your clan. Remember how I told you I nearly earned my marketing degree?” Fergus nodded and his lass continued, “If I teamed up with Jane Hartley, I bet we could launch a campaign. Her videocast numbers could jump and we might even be able to do a little advertising. Then her venture could become sustainable for the long haul. I know I’ll have to wait a few months until after my son is born and I’ve established a routine. But even working a few hours here and there, I could throw something together in four-to-six weeks.”
He squeezed her tighter against his side. “Provided you get Finn’s permission, I’ll help you any way I can, lass.”
She bobbed her head. “Awesome. Then I can mention that, too, when I talk to Finn today.”
“If I can find him. He’s due back from Stonefire in about an hour.”
Gina opened her mouth to reply when a warning siren blared across the clan’s lands.
Finn had had them installed after what happened with Holly and the rogue dragons. They signaled unidentified dragons approaching.
Fergus shouted above the noise. “Come, I need to get you to safety.”
“What’s happening?”
“Unknown dragons are flying toward Lochguard. It could be nothing, but it could be the rogue dragons trying to take us down. Come on. We need to hurry.”
Fergus changed direction and headed toward the warehouses at the far end of the clan’s land. Thanks to Fraser, Fergus was one of the few that knew security bunkers had been installed underneath the new warehouses. The key players knew to meet there in the event of an emergency.
Gina may not yet be considered one of them, but there was no bloody way he was going to leave her above ground and risk her being injured. Or, worse, being taken.
Because Fergus still needed to find out if the unknown dragons were the rogue traitors or if they were with BroadBay. Either way, they would have to kill him before he allowed them to take Gina or their son away from him.
Chapter Fourteen
No matter how much Grant McFarland zoomed in the security cameras, he couldn’t get a clear enough picture of the oncoming dragons to try and identify them. The dragons might be friendly and nothing to be concerned about, but Finn had entrusted Grant with the clan. There was no bloody way he was going to chance an attack.
His dragon growled. Let’s fly up and surround them. There are more of us than them.
And what if there are others waiting for the signal to join them?
I still say we go.
Not everything requires confrontation. Shut it and let me think.
His beast snarled and retreated to the back of his mind. Grant looked to Iris, Lochguard’s best tracker. “Take a small party and search out any other dragons from the ground. I need to know how many we’re dealing with.”
Iris nodded, her short black hair bouncing around her jaw. “Keep someone manned on the radio.” She pointed at two lower level Protectors. “Come with me.”
As the trio left, Faye MacKenzie burst into the room. “What’s the situation?”
For a split second, Grant was distracted by her pink cheeks and the strands of wild, curly hair that had escaped her braid. He’d been so wrapped up on instituting new protocols and surveillance that Grant hadn’t seem much of the lass as of late, except during their secret project trials. Even then, there had been a dozen dragon-shifters present and Grant had never had the chance to talk with Faye alone. However, judging by the healthy glow of her skin, she was almost completely recovered from her accident last year.
He’d have to make a point of testing her abilities later. For the moment, he debated how to use her. Her family would tell Faye to sit on the sidelines because they didn’t believe she was fully healed. But Grant knew Faye’s spirit would slowly fade if he kept dismissing her. Faye was a warrior and always would be.
His dragon spoke up again. She’s stronger. Let her help.
Always you bloody suggesting her.
We’re thinking the same thing. Stop overanalyzing everything and go with your gut.
Grant eyed Faye’s flushed cheeks and even breathing. “We have some unknown dragons approaching. I want you to run to the bunker and watch over whoever is there. If it comes to a fight, I need someone on the ground who can take charge.”