"So you're not here to take Yasmin back, obviously," Finn stated. "So what favor are you wanting?"
"Before I tell you, I must do something first." He glanced at Layla. "I'm sorry your sister had to be on the run for so long. I kept listening for information about her, to let her know she wasn't in any danger. However, I only learned of her whereabouts last night, when your parents sent word to my clan. No doubt they had no idea my father didn't live there anymore."
Layla couldn't contain her outburst and turned to her parents. "You did what?"
Her father finally looked at her, his eyes guarded. It was hard to remember the hard male at the other end of the table had chased her as a child and made her laugh.
Emotion choked her throat, but as Chase ran his thumb back and forth over her knee, it helped to tamp down the hurt, anger, and betrayal rolling around inside her.
Her father replied, "If we'd kept her location a secret, the contract we signed would've made us culpable, and they would've come after us. Or, at least, that's what we understood."
Any levelheadedness she had flew out the window. Standing, Layla seethed. "She is your daughter. Parents are supposed to protect their children, not give them up to save their own hide."
Finn put up a hand and motioned for Layla to sit. Only because she respected the male and trusted him to take care of her and the others did she follow the order.
Finn glanced at her parents. "We'll be discussing this later, trust me."
Her parents nodded weakly, and Finn looked back at Azar. "Now, with your apology out of the way, tell me what the bloody hell you want."
Azar didn't miss a beat. "An alliance."
Finn frowned. "Why?"
"I've followed the news broadcasts about the British dragon clans. You and Stonefire have done much to help the dragon-shifters in your own country. If you are as ambitious as I think you are, you'll want dragon clans all over the world to also form alliances and share information. That's the only logical next step. So I'm offering you a chance to work with me and the other likeminded dragon clan leaders in western Iran."
Strumming his fingers on the table, Finn merely stared at Azar for a few beats. Layla didn't know much about alliances and the politics of getting along with other clans. But she sensed this was important. So much so it helped her to forget a wee bit about her traitorous parents sitting not ten feet away.
Finn's fingers stilled. "I'm open to discussing it. However, you will first order your clan members to stop hovering above my bloody house and scaring my children."
"Done."
"And then once you settle into a camp nearby—we have a few pieces of land we use for farmland that should work—you can return tomorrow with any other leaders in your community, including any doctors as they should share information as much as clan leaders do, if any came with you."
"There is one doctor with us."
Finn motioned toward Layla. "Then he or she will report to Dr. MacFie when she's ready for them. You may not know, but Layla is the head doctor here now."
Azar didn't hesitate to nod. "Dr. Keshmiri will be waiting for an invitation."
"Good." Finn motioned toward Faye and Grant. "My Protectors will show you where you can set up camp. I'll be in touch tomorrow via one of them, too."
Aware that they'd been dismissed, Azar and his compatriots stood and followed Faye and Grant out of the room.
That left Layla, Chase, Finn, and Layla's parents.
She clenched her jaw, trying her best to hold her tongue in front of Finn. He would be the one to decide the fate of her parents. And it would go a lot faster if she didn't start shouting.
But oh, how she wanted to shout some more. It was the only thing she could do and not start crying at her parents' actions.
Her dragon said softly, I know it hurts, but there are lots of people we care for and who care for us in return. Focus on Yasmin and Chase, to begin with. They're worth more of our time than our so-called parents.
If only it were that easy. I know we're thirty-five years old and adults, but it still hurts to know they care so little about me and Yasmin.
Lochguard's leader finally stood and moved to the opposite side of the table, preventing Layla's dragon from replying. As Finn leaned over the wooden surface, he braced his hands on the table. "Scott and Almira, you owe your daughter—nay, daughters—many an apology."
Her father shook his head. "All of this was cleared before you became leader, Finn. It was approved and endorsed. We're merely following the contract we signed. There is nothing to apologize for."
Layla narrowed her eyes at her father's words, her sadness replaced by anger. He doesn't even feel sorry for reporting Yasmin, she muttered to her dragon.