The Dragon's Dilemma (Lochguard Highland Dragons Book 1) (18 page)

Before Fraser could answer, Holly asked, “What about my father?”

Iris motioned toward Fraser. “Your male can contact Lochguard and set things in motion. Once Faye and I figure out who we’re up against, we can formulate a better plan of attack. If we’re lucky, they’re only after us.”

Faye made a high-speed turn into a side alley. Only the combination of Fraser’s arms around Holly and her seatbelt prevented her from being tossed to the other side of the car.

For the first time, she was glad to be newly pregnant. A high-speed car chase would be hell when combined with morning sickness.

The car stopped with a jolt. As Faye undid her seatbelt, she ordered, “Take Holly and run, brother.”

Fraser nodded. “Take care, sister.”

“I will,” Faye answered and then she was out the door and jogging down the alley. Iris wasn’t far behind.

Fraser threw open the door and guided Holly out of the car. “I’m only going to ask this once, Holly. Do you want me to carry you or can you run?”

Holly hated running, but that didn’t give her a reason to burden Fraser. “I can handle it for now. Come, let’s go. Since it’s the middle of a work day I’m sure we can find an empty home to duck inside. The sooner you call Lochguard, the better.”

They started running and Fraser added, “And lucky for you, I’ve had my fair share of getting in and out of houses undetected.”

“We can talk about your criminal history later.”

Holly tugged Fraser’s hand. He muttered, “Criminal history, my arse,” but then fell silent.
 

As they exited the other side of the alley and turned right, Holly tried her best to keep her breath. Apparently a twelve-day sex marathon hadn’t helped her to get in shape at all.

Of course, not that any of that mattered. All they needed to do was to find an empty home, preferably a detached one. There would be less chance of neighbors hearing them move about if they didn’t share a wall.

Fraser pointed toward the left. “I see some houses in that direction.”

Holly didn’t see anything but a blur of shapes. “Are you using your super-dragon senses?”

“Yes. Trust me, honey. I don’t hear any running behind us and we can find safety to the left.”

Nodding without hesitation, Holly pushed herself to run faster. “Then let’s go.”

~~~

Fraser appraised the house at the end of the block. It was detached, with no cars parked in front, and a fence that could be climbed around the back garden. And, most importantly, the lights were also out.
 

Holding his breath, he listened for any signs of life, but there was no TV, no music, and no talking.

He was fairly certain the place was empty.

Squeezing Holly’s hand in his, he whispered, “Follow my lead.”

For once, his human didn’t try to argue with him and together they made it to the rear of the house to just outside the fence. Fraser was tall enough to look over it, but when his last check of the windows and for noises came up negative, he released Holly’s hands and laced his own together. “Come on. We need to climb the fence.”

She sighed, but put her foot into his hands and he lifted her. The second Holly landed with a soft thud on the other side, Fraser took the top of the fence in his hands, jumped, and swung over to the other side.

Avoiding the scattered toys in the yard, he guided Holly to the rear door. Some humans tended to keep a spare key of some sort, so Fraser rummaged through the nearby flower pots and bushes. Eventually he found one and opened the door.

The second he and Holly were inside, he took out his mobile phone. “Keep a watch on the front windows. I’ll watch the back as I call Finn and let him know what’s going on.” Holly hesitated, and he cupped her cheek. “What happened to my strong lass? I need her right now.”

Holly took a deep breath and then stood tall. “I’m still here. Do you have a code word or something I should use in case I see something?”

Despite the enormity of the situation, the corner of his mouth ticked up. “How about ‘intruder’ or ‘danger’?”

Holly rolled her eyes and the sight helped to ease some of his own nervousness. “Smartarse.”

He grinned. “Hey, you asked.”
 

Shaking her head, Holly moved toward the front of the house and Fraser pressed his speed dial for Finn’s mobile number.

After two rings, his cousin answered. “What’s going on, Fraser? You’re thirty minutes early for our next check-in. Are you okay?”

“I don’t have time for pleasantries, Finn. Someone was following us on the motorway. Faye turned off into some section of Aberdeen so that Faye and Iris could face the intruders whilst Holly and I found a place to hide.”

Finn’s voice turned serious-but-distant, as if he were holding the phone away from his mouth as he barked, “Arabella, I need your help.” Finn’s voice returned to normal volume. “Tell me where you are and I’ll send reinforcements as soon as possible.”

“I’m not entirely sure where I am. But before I ask Holly, can you have someone check on her father? She’s worried about him.”

“Rightly so,” Finn answered. “I’ll reach out to Stonefire and see what their humans can do to help us. Between the female reporter and the former DDA employee, I’m sure we can do something.”

“Good. Once you know anything, call or text me.”

Holly’s loud whisper drifted through the house, “Someone’s coming, Fraser.”

Fraser was already moving. “Finn, I need to go. We may have been followed.”

“Don’t hang up, Fraser. Even if you have to toss the phone to the side, keep the connection open so Ara can trace your call.”

“Fine, but just don’t speak. I need to keep it silent.”

“Just be careful.”

With that, Fraser slid his phone on top of a bookcase in the living room before joining Holly, who was peeking through a gap in the curtains. Fraser kept his voice low when he asked, “Can I have a glance, honey?”

Holly moved and he peeked outside. There was a man with his dog on a lead and the dog was taking a crap on the grass. “I’m not sure he’s a threat, lass.”

“Not just him. I swear I saw a dragon high in the sky.”

He frowned. “There aren’t any rogue dragons in this part of Scotland.”

“Do you want to chance it? Maybe we should move.”

Fraser shook his head. “No. If it was a dragon, then they’ll be able to see us move anyway. Our best bet is to stay here for the time being.”

Holly touched his arm. “So that means we’re basically sitting ducks?”

He touched Holly’s chin. “Maybe not, lass.” Fraser motioned toward the window. “Keep watch again. I have Finn on the line.” She opened her mouth, but he cut her off. “And yes, he’s trying to check on your father.”

“Thank you.”

Seeing Holly vulnerable, with fear in her eyes, did something to his heart. All he wanted to do was whisk his mate to safety and protect her.

Holly’s eyes darted to his mobile and back.
 

He got the message. Fraser picked up his phone and he whispered, “Did you hear all of that?”

“Aye. I have more Protectors on the way, but it’ll take some time. If there is an unidentified dragon in the sky, then lay low until the Protectors get there.”

“We’ll see.” Finn started to talk, but Fraser cut him off. “Does Ara have the trace?”

As soon as Finn said, “Aye,” Fraser cut the connection. He had no doubt Finn was about to tell Fraser not to shift and distract the dragon. But if the dragon attacked the house, Fraser would be the only one who could keep Holly safe. He hadn’t been bluffing earlier when he said he’d die to protect her.

Fraser was about to ask Holly if she’d seen anything else when something thumped on the roof a split-second before a dragon’s hind legs crashed through the ceiling. Fraser yelled, “Run, Holly, and call Finn,” before imagining his face elongating into a snout, wings growing from his back, and his nails extending into talons. Two seconds later, Fraser broke through the ceiling and stood in his black dragon form. From the corner of his eye, he spotted Holly running into the distance.

Satisfied his mate was safe for the moment, Fraser focused on the older blue dragon standing opposite him. The dragon looked familiar, yet Fraser couldn’t place him.

But then the blue dragon lunged for his throat and Fraser embraced his dragon’s instinct. He swerved his head to the side and slashed his right front talons. Whether out of luck or by surprising the older dragon, his talons made contact and ripped through the flesh.

However, the wound wasn’t fatal and the dragon jumped forward to pin Fraser to the ground.

With the remains of the house about him, he couldn’t move properly. Waving his tail around, he knocked down the walls as he used every iota of strength he possessed to keep the dragon’s jaws from his throat.

When the last wall fell, Fraser kicked his hind legs against the blue dragon’s belly. The blue dragon flew over him. Taking the split-second advantage, Fraser jumped into the air and beat his wings. He may not be the best fighter, but he was one of the best at tricks and maneuvers in the sky. If he could last long enough, he might be able to draw the older dragon-shifter away from Holly as well as tire him out.

With a roar, Fraser glanced over his shoulder just as the blue dragon jumped into the air and moved toward him. Turning, Fraser hovered in place. The instant the blue dragon was twenty feet away, Fraser dove down sharply toward the ground. The other dragon turned to follow. One second passed, and then five. A lesser dragon would have crashed into the ground, but thanks to years of challenging his twin, Fraser pulled up and shot straight toward the blue enemy.

The older beast’s reaction time was too slow and Fraser collided his shoulder into the dragon’s belly. A slight twinge caused pain to shoot through his wing, but Fraser ignored it. All that mattered was giving Holly enough time to flee to safety.

His opponent snarled in pain before dropping down. Not wanting to take chances, Fraser swooped down and slashed one of the dragon’s wings. The blue dragon roared and tried to flap the injured wing, but the tear in the membrane prevented him from moving upward. Fraser hovered in place as his attacker smacked to the ground with a crack.

The beast didn’t move again.

Fraser’s dragon snarled.
We must find Holly.

Sirens blared in the distance. It was now a race against the clock to find his mate before the authorities tried to shoot him out of the sky.

Chapter Thirteen

Holly’s side ached from running and yet she still pushed herself to go down one alley and then the next.
 

She hated leaving Fraser behind. But Holly staying would only distract her dragonman. Her best chance to help him was to find a way to contact Finn. Or anyone from Lochguard, for that matter.

The DDA might be willing to help her, but she wouldn’t try that until she was out of options. They might not acknowledge that Fraser’s shifting inside of a city was a matter of self-defense. The thought of him going to jail made her stomach churn.

Get a grip, Holly. You’re used to high-tension and risky situations. You can do this.

True, her life had never been on the line before. But she’d kept a cool head to save a countless number of mothers and newborn babies. Holly could do the same for Fraser and herself.

A small, wooded park came into view and she made a beeline straight for it. She’d have a better chance at watching the skies from a park versus fleeing into another house.

Making it to the edge of the copse of trees, she pushed her way deeper into the park until she stood at the edge of a clearing. Careful to stay in line with the tree trunks, Holly scanned the sky. All she saw were clouds.

Then a dragon snarled in the distance and her heart skipped a beat. Clutching a hand over her chest, she willed the noise to be from the blue dragon who’d crashed into the house and not Fraser. If he died protecting her, their child would grow up without a father. Not only that, a future without Fraser brought tears to her eyes. Any man who would willingly risk his life to save someone else’s was someone you kept around.

A dragon roared in pain in the distance. Could it be Fraser?

Taking a step out to better see the sky, a red dragon hovered above her.

Shit.
Holly ducked back into the trees. The dragon could be from Lochguard, but she had no idea and she wasn’t about to chance it.

Keeping her breathing even, she remained immobile.
Please let them move on. Please.

After about sixty seconds, Holly debated if the dragon had fled or not when a red forelimb broke through the trees and grabbed her around the middle. Holly screamed as she was lifted into the air.

The sudden climb in altitude made her a little lightheaded, but she fought against the feeling. If she fainted, it was game over. Not just for her, but possibly for Fraser as well.

With a deep breath, she tried to focus on their surroundings and get her bearings. That’s when she noticed a large, black dragon hovering in the sky.

When the beast’s eyes fell on her, he roared. Her gut told her it was Fraser.

Sirens blared below and someone started blasting over a loudspeaker. Yet with the wind whipping around her, Holly couldn’t make out what they were saying.

Just as her dragonman charged toward her, the red dragon released her.

Holly fell toward the ground and screamed hard enough to hurt her throat. She was going to die.

~~~

The human police were using a loudspeaker to order Fraser to land. He was debating his next step when his eyes landed on Holly, who was clutched in Gordon’s foreleg.

The bastard.
Gordon had been one of the dragons who had left Lochguard rather than stay under Finn’s leadership.

His beast spoke up.
We’ll teach him a lesson, just like the other dragon.

Careful. We need to extract Holly first. Help me think of a plan.

Move toward him. I may have an idea.

His beast fell silent. Since his dragon had helped him escape a dangerous situation or two in the past, Fraser trusted his beast implicitly.

Just as Fraser started toward Gordon, the bastard released his grip on Holly.