Chapter 3 #2
For a split second, he wanted to say that Roman was all wrong for Dr. Emily Davies. However, he didn’t really know her and refused to meddle like his mother, so he merely grunted.
Ross snorted. “Chatty as always. At any rate, I’m glad I ran into you—a professor from the University of the Highlands and Islands wants to conduct a research trip in the area, and hopes to coordinate with Seahaven, just in case they need our help.”
Better known as UHI, the university network often worked with both Seahaven and Lochguard for various research, studies, and more. Seahaven had only recently been added as a trusted partner, and Cam wasn’t about to let that lapse.
Especially since it meant more training and work opportunities for others inside the clan, like Ross. As irritating as the male could be, he was both a teacher and a marine biologist. Some of his research was the reason Dr. Davies was here in the first place.
He replied, “Aye, just send me the information, and I’ll work it out with UHI.”
Ross nodded. “It’s short notice, though. Once they learned that Dr. Emily Davies was here, they immediately wanted to get started. Apparently, she’s in high demand and it’s hard to get her assistance.”
“I didn’t realize she was that well-known.”
Ross arched an eyebrow. “Your background check didn’t include a popularity rating?”
He gave Ross the double-finger salute. “Don’t you have young minds to corrupt?”
Ross snorted. “It’s a half-day today because of the yearly student health checks.”
That’s right, he’d cleared it weeks ago.
His dragon spoke up. You’re distracted and pretending not to be.
Shut it, dragon.
After assuring Ross he’d reach out to UHI later in the day, they parted ways and he quickly made his way to Euan’s house.
Since the clan leader’s daughter, Kaya, had moved out, Euan lived alone. His mate had died when Cam had been a child, and no amount of meddling from the clan members had convinced him to take another.
His dragon spoke up. He loved her. Sometimes dragons never take another chance at love because of either a broken heart or being hurt too badly.
What are you getting at?
You were betrayed years ago by her. Ever since, you’ve been too serious and a workaholic, and I think you’re hiding.
Cam mentally growled. I just care about my clan. And never bring that female up again.
Why not? Not all females are as dishonest.
It went beyond dishonesty, dragon. She wanted a child—my child—so she could hand it over to the dragon hunters for money.
Before his dragon could reply, he knocked on the front door, and Euan opened it.
Seahaven’s clan leader was in his fifties, with gray hair and hazel eyes. However, since Euan MacKay loved flying and swimming, the male was nearly as fit as Cam himself.
The dragonman motioned for Cam to enter. Once he closed the door, Euan said, “I have a surprise for you.”
He frowned. “I don’t like surprises, Euan.”
“I know, but I had no choice this time. Come on, and I’ll show you why.”
Euan had more than earned Cam’s trust over the years, so he followed his clan leader into the living room. Inside were two people he hadn’t seen in a while—the human named Antony Holbrook and his dragon mate, Iris Mahajan Holbrook.
Antony worked for some secret human department in the government, and until recently, Iris had been a Protector for Clan Lochguard.
She now worked with her mate, doing who knew what.
And while Antony’s help had proved useful over the years, Cam had never fully trusted the male, who was too secretive by half.
Antony smiled. “Hello, Cam. You look happy to see me again.”
He resisted rolling his eyes. Iris spoke before Cam could. “Ignore him, Cam. We’re here for an important reason, aye?”
Euan motioned for everyone to sit down, and once they did, Iris spoke again. “The short version is that the dragon hunters have put a bounty on Dr. Emily Davies.”
He frowned. “What are you talking about?”
Antony nodded and said, “If you remember, a joint task force found a house full of prisoners being experimented on, including some human females that were pregnant with dragon-shifter babies. After that place was raided and taken over, the hunters went mostly quiet. However, through our contacts, we’ve learned that they have a new goal—to improve the success rates of using in vitro fertilization to impregnate human women with dragon-shifter children.
Not only does Dr. Davies have the skills to help with that, she also knows how to use dragon’s blood to reduce the danger of a human carrying a dragon-shifter child. ”
IVF rarely worked for dragon-shifters, which was why the human sacrifice program had been created—to help the dragon-shifters grow their populations again.
However, the dragon hunters probably wanted to improve the chances of IVF for nefarious purposes.
Because if they could impregnate more females and have more dragon babies, they could keep them in dragon’s blood farms. And since dragon’s blood had healing properties, they could earn huge amounts on the black market to fund their operations.
Pushing aside the anger gathering in his belly at the hunters only seeing dragons as sources of cash, he wondered why he hadn’t heard of this big change in their strategy.
So he studied Antony as he asked, “Why didn’t you mention this earlier?
Before we invited Dr. Davies here and she agreed to come? ”
Antony shrugged. “We only learned about the finer details late last night, when our undercover operative finally escaped.”
“And they said she’s the sole target?”
Antony replied, “For the most part. However, she’s our biggest concern right now since she has a unique set of skills. And because she’s human, she’s easier to kidnap than a dragon doctor with the same knowledge.”
He resisted a growl. “I don’t like how you’re only telling me part of the problem, aye? Even so, that means Dr. Davies needs to go back to Stonefire. They have more resources to protect her, plus she knows the area better, including which places to avoid.”
Euan shook his head. “If we send her straight back, it’ll signal that we know what they’re up to since this trip has been planned for weeks.”
Cam glanced at his clan leader. “Does that mean we have a traitor here, or one nearby that would share information with the hunters?”
Iris jumped in. “Everyone inside Seahaven is loyal. Unfortunately, we can’t say the same for all the humans you work with, though. It’s better to use this opportunity, and if Emily consents, then we might be able to trap some hunters alive and then question them later.”
“Wait, you want to use her as bait? Euan, how can you agree to this?”
Euan crossed his arms over his chest. “We’ll talk with Emily first, of course we will.
But if she says yes—and she just might—then we’ll need your help to make this plan work.
Not just because you have to protect her, but because she’ll also need constant surveillance.
Which means it’ll be safer if she moves in with you. ”
“Pardon?” he blurted.
Antony chuckled, and Cam resisted the urge to punch the human in the face as he said, “Now, now, listen to the whole idea before shouting up a storm. Your cover story will be that the DDA is thinking of revoking Dr. Davies’ permission to live with a dragon clan unless she mates a dragon-shifter.
Since Seahaven is in need of mates, they’ve sent her here for both research purposes but to also see if you two suit.
Because, you see, you kindly volunteered. ”
His dragon laughed. I like the idea of her living with us.
Shut it, dragon. He replied to Antony, “Why me? She could live with Dean just as easily.”
Euan spoke up. “Because you’re the best Protector on Seahaven, and you know it.
And when this is all over, you won’t be forced to mate anyone.
However, like it or not, Seahaven is seen as the most vulnerable dragon clan in the UK, and that means the hunters might risk kidnapping her whilst she’s here.
The story of Emily needing a dragon mate is the most believable reason for why she’d live with you. ”
He opened his mouth to reply, shut it, and then tried to figure out how the bloody hell to respond. While he’d vowed to do anything to protect his clan, he hadn’t counted on fake dating a human female and living with her.