Chapter 7
Chapter Seven
It’d taken every iota of restraint Cam possessed not to go after Emily the night before, when she’d started crying and rushed out of the room.
While he’d known that humans often faced criticism, or lost family and friends over mating a dragon-shifter—his mother had suffered it herself—he’d never really thought about the same thing happening to those who simply fought to help his kind.
Not because of being mated to a dragon, but those who simply did it because they envisioned a better future for everyone.
Emily had lost so much for her choice of career, and so learning that she had a bounty on her head had probably made everything that much worse for her.
Especially if she’d also lost her human friends, too.
Did she have friends on Stonefire? Maybe he should invite them for a bit, if Emily ended up staying a long time.
His dragon spoke up. You seem awfully interested in making her happy.
If she’s upset or depressed, it’ll affect her work. That’s all.
His beast huffed. You’re such a liar.
Not wanting to argue, he ignored his dragon and went through the motions the next day, ensuring Antony Holbrook would help him protect Emily.
The human female had been gone by the time he got out of bed, so Cam set up a time to meet before heading to his parents’ house via text message.
He itched to ask more about her past, about what else she might’ve given up—he sensed it’d been more than just her family—but held back since he preferred speaking in person.
Watching a person’s face helped him better understand when they were holding back, or stretching the truth, or outright lying.
Of course, given how much work Emily had to do, she’d opted to meet him just down the road to his parents’ place ten minutes before six. Naturally, Cam was there at a quarter to.
As he watched her rush down the path toward him, her cheeks flushed, he imagined her rushing to meet him because she wanted to, not because they needed to keep up a ruse.
His dragon spoke up. You could try wooing her and see how it goes.
No. The last time I did that, it ended up a disaster. I won’t risk that happening again.
She’s nothing like her. Emily has spent her life helping dragon-shifters and would never see them as a way of making money.
Before he could reply, Emily stopped in front of him, breathing hard, and she managed to get out, “Sorry! I…lost track…of time.”
“No worries. I was early.”
Once she caught her breath, she replied, “At least I’m here.”
He arched an eyebrow. “How many times did your reminder alarm go off?”
“How did you know I have one?”
He smiled. “Protector, remember?”
“Protectors don’t know everything, not even the head ones.”
“Aye, that’s true enough. But my brother loses himself when he’s painting. In fact, he has to set a vibrating timer for his digital watch, and sometimes it’ll go off five times before he finally growls and stops.”
“Your brother paints?”
“Aye, Torquil has always had a way with paint or pencil. My mum says it’s because he pays closer attention to the world and the little details since he can’t hear a lot of what others can.”
“Now I want to see some of his work, although me asking out of the blue might be strange. I don’t want your family thinking that I’m treating them like reconnaissance work for our current plan, or anything.”
He touched her lower back and gestured toward his parents’ cottage down the pathway. “Aye, I know. I’ll ask Tor about it at some point, but we need to go. Otherwise, my mum will find an excuse to come looking for us.”
“But it’s still a few minutes before six!”
He snorted. “Trust me, it could be ten seconds past six and she’d scold us for being tardy.”
As they started walking, Emily murmured, “It just means she cares.”
He could pretend he hadn’t heard her. But dragons had supersensitive hearing, Emily had to know that, and he didn’t want to stay silent, either.
“Aye, I know. If she ever gets to be a wee bit much, just let me know. However, she just wants to take care of everyone, that’s her way.
It’s not because she thinks you can’t do something yourself. ”
“I know people like that. After all, everyone has their own kind of love language.”
“What are you talking about?”
“You know, the ways people show they care. Some use touch, some give you undivided attention, others like to give gifts. I think there are five types, if I remember right.”
He grunted. “Dragons usually use all three of those. We probably do all five.”
She laughed. “I’ll have to look them up later and see if that’s true or not.”
He gently grabbed her wrist, stopping her, and said, “What’s yours?”
“Um, pardon?”
“You should have at least one of these love languages, aye?”
“I-I don’t know. I’ve never really had a long-term relationship, and my parents weren’t the most affectionate of people.”
He wanted to say he’d find out, but held back. They weren’t a real couple and never would be.
His dragon spoke up. Someone protests too much.
Shut it, dragon.
Wanting to change the subject, he released her and got them moving again. As expected, his mother opened the door when they were still ten feet away.
She waved. “I was worried you weren’t going to make it.”
“It’s one minute past six, Mum,” he drawled.
“Aye, well, you’re still tardy. I don’t blame Emily, as I saw you stop her to chat.”
He resisted groaning. Of course his mother had been spying on them.
His dragon chuckled. Maybe I should work with her, and then we’ll get somewhere.
Ignoring his beast, he gently pushed Emily forward. “Mum, Emily’s been busy with her work. Given how she’s trying to help all of dragonkind, you might give her some grace, aye?”
His mother smiled at Emily. “Of course. Come, lass. We’ve been looking forward to you visiting all day.”
Cam followed behind them, now understanding Emily’s somewhat hesitant and awkward demeanor with his mother—she’d been betrayed by her own mum and probably thought she could offend others easily.
His dragon spoke up. As if she could upset Mum. After all, she had to deal with us, and that wasn’t easy. But I think Mum will be good for her. Given the way Emily acts, I don’t know how much she opened up to others on Stonefire. We should find out.
And yet, you teased me about wanting to do exactly that earlier.
His beast harrumphed but remained silent.
And as they all sat down at the dinner table, already laden with food, he ignored how irritated he was that his brother and mother got the seats next to Emily.
During the walk from the door to the dining area, Mary Alexander had asked about Emily’s work, praised her for all that she was trying to do, and had even invited her to join the unofficial human mate club on Seahaven.
How the woman had managed so much in such a short walk, Emily had no idea.
At least they’d arrived at the table before she was forced to answer about the club. Emily was an introvert who could be social in the right circumstances, but the thought of constantly being around people and never getting time alone made her anxious.
She smiled at Tor and then Angus before sitting down at the table. Cam was across from her, sitting with his arms crossed, and watching her. Closely.
Why was he always watching her? If they were an actual couple, then maybe she’d think it was the love language of undivided attention. But they weren’t, and so he was probably just making sure she didn’t insult his family.
Like she would.
Tor touched her shoulder to garner her attention, and then said, “Mum said you went to Farr Bay and then later Kirtomy Bay yesterday. They’re beautiful, aye?”
She smiled and made sure to face him. “Yes, each in their own way. What’s beautiful in sign language?”
He placed his thumb against his other fingers, making a circle, held it to his chin, and then moved it away from his face as he spread his fingers. “Beautiful.”
Emily made the same motion. “Beautiful.”
Tor grinned. “Aye, that’s it.”
Before she could stop herself, she blurted, “Have you painted those beaches?”
Tor didn’t even blink. “So Cam told you about my painting. Aye, I paint there, and a lot of other places in the Highlands. I love to focus on the lighting and how it plays against water, rocks, plants, anything, really. But my style is more stylized than realistic.”
She smiled. “I’d love to see your paintings.”
“Of course, Emily. Anytime.”
Mary jumped in and signed as she said, “Aye, well, now that’s settled, let’s eat before everything gets cold.”
Emily wished she could do the same and talk and sign at the same time. The last thing she wanted was to make Tor feel left out.
But the teenager in question must’ve been able to read her facial expressions and said, “It’s okay.
As long as you look at me when you speak, I will understand most, if not all, of what you say.
And if you’re talking to someone else, that’s fine, too.
That just means I get to eat more whilst no one’s looking. ”
She laughed. “You do require more calories to grow at your age, after all. Dragon-shifter teenagers could quite literally eat people out of house and home, with the vast quantities they need.”
Cam spoke as he signed, “Tor, switch with me, and then you can see Emily more clearly. Otherwise, she’ll get a twinge in her neck, aye?”
Tor’s pupils flashed before he shrugged. “Fine.” He signed something quickly, and Cam frowned.
She was about to ask what was happening when Mary whispered, “Tor’s teasing Cam, is all. We can all tell Cam wants to sit next to you, lass, and is jumping on the excuse.”
Her cheeks heated as she glanced at Tor and then Cam, who were still busy signing to each other. “I doubt that’s it. Cam just likes to find the best solutions, I think.”
Mary snorted. “For him, aye.” She opened her mouth to protest, but Mary continued, “I’ll have a word with them later about having entire conversations in BSL without you.”
“No! It’s me who should learn.”