Chapter One
Alistair Boyd stood next to his mother, Meg, inside the great hall on Lochguard and almost wished the roof hadn't been replaced yet.
Scotland wasn't the warmest of places, but he didn't mind the rain, wind, or a combination of both. However, he wanted an excuse—any excuse—to leave and not have to meet the group of ten females who would partially become his responsibility. Not because he regularly shirked responsibilities, but rather he suspected his mother wanted to matchmake.
She'd tried to pair him up for years, and Alistair had made it his mission to leave any and all gatherings early. He had no intention of taking a mate.
His dragon spoke up. You used to dream about meeting human females, and now a whole group of them are here.
That was before, and you know it.
Before referred to almost three years ago, when Alistair had made a vow to stay away from and avoid sleeping with any female. He'd failed the one female he'd cared about most, and he couldn't risk that happening again.
His beast huffed. We did everything we could to help Rachel. Enough with the moping. Even if you pretend not to want it, I need a female. Our hand doesn't compare.
Alistair resisted glancing over at his mother. Let's not talk about masturbation standing next to Mum, aye?
Then at least look at the human females and think about giving them a chance. The whole point of them coming to Lochguard is so that some of the single Lochguard members can find mates.
It was true—the Department of Dragon Affairs, or DDA, was trying something new. Instead of sending one human female at a time and requiring her to take a male until she was pregnant, they were sending a group of ten to mingle freely, with no requirements of sex. The hope was that human-dragon pairings would happen more naturally and cause fewer problems in the long run.
Alistair replied to his dragon, We're to educate them about dragon-shifter ways and nothing else. Finlay Stewart, Lochguard's blond-haired clan leader, walked out onto the raised dais at the front of the room. Now, hush. We need to listen to Finn in case he decides to accidentally add any "extra" duties for us.
His dragon snorted. Nothing Finn does is by accident.
Alistair mentally grunted and watched as Finn raised his arms, calling for silence. As soon as the hall was mostly quiet—Lochguard wasn't known as the quietest of clans—Finn projected his voice into the hall. "I can think of no better day to celebrate having the new roof finished, and not just because of the wee storm outside."
As if on cue, wind rattled the windows. Alistair wouldn't put it past Finn to have someone doing it for him, to make a grand show.
Lochguard's leader was intelligent, skilled in handling the clan, and would die to protect them all. But he was also a charmer and performer who tended to act over the top on purpose.
Finn continued, "After the lively year we've had, I imagine all of you are getting a wee bit bored with the calm, aye? But no longer! The group of potential female mates has arrived, along with their chaperone, Dr. Kiyana Barnes."
Murmurs arose, even though everyone knew this day had been coming for weeks. Finn ignored the rumblings and continued, "While the females will stay for a few months, mingling with the single dragons wanting a mate, Dr. Barnes will be with us a wee while longer. Six months, in fact. She'll be here to observe our clan and collect information to better inform both the DDA and the general human population in the UK about our kind."
Some louder grumbles rose up, mentioning a book about dragon-shifters by a human named Melanie Hall, as well as a videocast series by another human mated to a dragon-shifter, Jane Hartley. Both of which had already helped the humans better understand their kind.
Finn shook his head. "Those were good starts, but not enough. Dr. Barnes isn't mated to a dragon-shifter, and it will offer a unique perspective. Especially as she's an anthropologist and will be trying to take an objective look at how our clan works."
Alistair had spent most of his life dealing with objective facts. He may be a school teacher now, but he'd once been the head scientist and research lead on Lochguard. To say he was skeptical of the social sciences, like anthropology, was an understatement.
His dragon sighed heavily, but Alistair was good at ignoring his beast when he wanted to do so.
Finn motioned toward the back of the stage. A group of females came out to form a line behind him. While one was as nice as the other, it was the female at the end, with curly, black hair and light brown skin, that caught his attention.
She stood taller than the rest, but that wasn't what garnered his attention. The others were mostly focusing on one point in the distance or the ground, but the female with curly hair was scanning the crowd. Every once in a while, she'd pause, study something, and then her gaze would move again.
Alistair would bet everything he owned that she was the female sent here to study
them.
His beast grunted. We've suffered preconceptions from humans for decades, if not centuries. Don't judge her before you meet her.
It's not because she's human.
Still, at least she's not afraid. I rather like that about her.
Warning bells went off in Alistair's head. Och, no, don't even think about it.
Why not? She's bonnie. Not to mention brave to come live with us for six months. After all, stories say we eat humans for dinner.
If you make a crack about eating her, in a name-screaming way, I will toss you into a mental prison, aye?
His beast chuckled. I'd like to see you try. It's been years since you've built one, and you're out of practice.
Before Alistair could reply, Finn spoke again as he motioned to the females. "Behind me are the brave lassies who've agreed to come to Lochguard for a few months and are open to mating—marrying—a dragon-shifter. Let's show our support and welcome them to our clan!"
To Lochguard's credit, they cheered and clapped. Since there had been a reception before the meeting, where there had been quite a bit of alcohol, Alistair bet most everyone was happier than usual.
Including the two older dragonmen standing near his mother.
Not wanting to think of his mum and her two males—or, at least everyone suspected they were her two males—he clapped politely.
His mother nudged his side and whispered, "Maybe you'll fancy one of them."
"I thought you were done trying to matchmake," he drawled.
"Aye, I was. But with all those single females coming at once? There may be hope for you yet, Alistair."
It was on the tip of his tongue to say there was more to him than finding a mate, but decades of experience had taught him that arguing with his mother was pointless. She always found a way to win, no matter if she was in the wrong.
The female he'd noticed with the dark, curly hair moved to stand next to Finn, a microphone in her hand. Once Finn quieted the clan again, she spoke, her accent marking her from somewhere in the south of England. "Hello, Lochguard. As Finn said, my name is Kiyana, but feel free to call me Kiki."
Kiki didn't suit her; his mum had once had a dog named Kiki.