Chapter 12
Chapter Twelve
The next two weeks flew by for Emily. Between tweaking her formulas, spending time with Cam and his family, and helping out Dr. Keith with patients, she was busy. However, it was the kind of busy that made her smile and feel good, and want to make plans for the future.
Even though it was still rather soon, Cam had been true to his word and done everything he could to win her.
Making her dinner, taking her on the best walks, and even surprising her with a windy picnic on the beach.
He’d also shifted whenever she wanted, and his dragon form was becoming familiar to her, too.
From his color to the nicks on his tail from an old wound, to even reading his body language.
Never in her life had a guy tried so hard to please her. Oh, they sometimes argued over silly things like doing the dishes or Cam leaving dirty clothes on his bedroom floor. But in a way, that only made the whole thing more real.
Emily was living with a dragonman she fancied, who fancied her back, and whom she was slowly falling for.
How it’d happened in such a short time, she couldn’t explain it. And to a woman who’d spent her life guided by evidence, it was difficult to accept. And yet, Cam was just so wonderful, she loved his family, and even more Seahaven clan members had welcomed her into their fold.
She wanted to believe this place was her future. And yet, she’d been burned before, even abandoned by her family, and she couldn’t quite take a leap of faith just yet.
At least today she’d be distracted. After going back and forth with the researcher at UHI, as well as Dr. Keith, today was the day Emily and the others would go diving for more samples. The ones she’d collected on land about two weeks ago were promising, but not quite right.
However, between Dr. Keith’s recommendations and the marine biologist from UHI, Dr. John Richardson, she had some more good leads.
Even though they had an early start, Emily had promised to stop by Mary and Angus’s house on her way to meet the others since Cam had left early to survey the area and ensure it was safe.
She was a few feet from the front door when Mary opened it and smiled. “Emily! I was worried you might have run late. Come in, lass, and say hello. I know you’re busy today, but I have something to give you.”
Emily entered the house, hugged Mary, and followed her into the kitchen. “I told you to stop with the gifts.”
Mary waved a hand in dismissal. “You make our Cameron happy, and I’ll never be able to repay you for that.”
“Mary.”
Before she could protest some more, they entered the kitchen. Angus and Tor sat at the small table, eating breakfast. As much as Emily longed to join them, she never ate so close to a dive.
She waved at them both. “Good morning.”
Angus nodded his greeting, and Tor signed as he talked. “Good morning, Emily. Ready for today?”
She wasn’t quite at the point she could sign and talk at the same time, even though Tor had been giving her lessons. So she just made sure to face him as she replied, “Yes. It shouldn’t be too bad, as the water’s calm and we’re not going very deep.”
Mary scoffed and signed as she said, “I could never dive like that. No, I prefer staying where I can breathe.”
“I get it. A lot of people are like that, although I think dragon-shifters like diving in their dragon forms, right?”
Tor nodded. “Aye, even I’ve done it, with Cam and my dad there. It’s easy to swim down and then jump off the bottom to reach the surface quickly.” He sighed. “I wish I could go with you and Cam today.”
Mary clicked her tongue. “The last thing Cam and the other Protectors need is another person to look out for. You know there was another attack recently, on the Lochguard visitor last week.”
Despite how much she’d loved the past few weeks, it was never far from Emily’s mind that the dragon hunters had a bounty on her head. She’d been careful and listened to Cam’s advice, and had easily agreed to having some Lochguard Protectors assist during her big dive today.
Tor spoke up. “Cam won’t let you get hurt, Emily. He loves you.”
Her cheeks flushed. “I know Cam will protect me. That’s his job.”
Because there was no way he could love her so quickly.
Could he?
No. Don’t think about it. You need to stay focused today, of all days. You can worry about your personal life later.
Thankfully, Mary took something from the counter and turned toward her. “This is for you.”
Having learned early on that trying to refuse something from Mary out of politeness was pointless, Emily opened her hand. The other woman placed a small, painted rock on her palm. One that had purple thistles in the foreground and a dragon flying in the distance. “It’s lovely.”
Mary smiled. “I painted it right before Cam was born. Times were still uncertain for humans birthing dragon babies back then, and I wanted him to have something to remember me by. But, thankfully, we both survived, and I forgot about it for years. I came across it recently, and since it brought me luck with Cam’s birth, I thought it might bring you luck for today and the future. ”
Emily traced the designs on the rock. “Thank you. But are you sure? Maybe you should give it to Cam?”
“Och, no. We painted our own rocks together when he was wee, and this is mine to give to whoever I wish.” She patted Emily’s arm. “And I want to give it to you. Come back to us safe, lass. Not only for Cam, but we care about you, too.”
Emily’s eyes heated with tears as she studied the rock. She’d told Mary a little about her parents and what had happened, and Mary had only tried harder to make Emily feel included.
Feel like a daughter.
“Thank you, Mary. It’s small enough that I can tuck it into my suit today and take it with me.”
She hugged Mary briefly before checking the time. “Oh, no! I don’t mean to be rude, but I really need to leave or I’ll be late.”
Mary shook her head. “Don’t worry about it. But remember, you’re coming over for dinner tonight. So come back safe to us.”
“Of course.” She smiled at Tor and then Angus, before saying to Mary, “Thanks again for the good luck charm.”
With that, Emily said her goodbyes and raced toward the Protector building, where Cam and the Protectors from Lochguard should be waiting for her.
Cam hadn’t liked asking Clan Lochguard for help, and yet, to protect Emily, he would do anything.
Especially as someone from Lochguard—a cousin to the MacKays—had visited and been attacked on his way home.
He’d also discussed extra security with Antony Holbrook, and he knew Iris would be monitoring them all from a distance, too.
And yet, his gut still didn’t like how exposed they’d be today. He’d shared his concerns with Emily, but she’d been determined to go. The very last element she needed for her serum might be in the sea, and she couldn’t risk someone bringing back the wrong thing.
Oh, she’d agreed to his extra security and even a time limit for diving.
But he still didn’t like it.
His dragon spoke up. Between us, Lochguard, the UHI diving team, and Holbrook’s people, there won’t be many chances for them to harm or attack anyone.
That doesn’t mean they don’t exist.
You looked into everyone’s background, and patrols cleared the area.
Before he could reply, someone knocked on his office door and entered.
Cooper Maxwell, the second-in-command of Lochguard’s Protectors, nodded in greeting. “All right?”
“So far, aye, everything looks good and is going according to plan.”
Cooper entered, and a younger Protector named Zoe Watson walked in behind him.
The dragonwoman nodded, and Cam gestured toward the map on his desk.
Once they were close enough, he pointed as he said, “We’ve been keeping an eye out for boats, drones, or anything suspicious in this area.
Holbrook’s team is watching from the nearby cliffs on land. ”
Cooper asked, “And do you have the equipment for us to contact them in the water?”
“Aye.” Cam removed the devices he’d received from Antony—large squares with a single button to be worn around a dragon’s neck—and handed one to each of the Protectors. “These will send a distress signal to Holbrook’s team on land. They’re waterproof, and big enough to press with a talon.”
Cooper studied the device. “No doubt Iris helped him improve it. He had another version that was far too small to use before.”
“All that matters is that they work.”
Zoe raised an eyebrow. “Of course. But you’d better get your head in the game, aye? Or the overprotectiveness of your female will get people hurt.”
His dragon huffed. I told you the same thing. Maybe now you’ll listen.
Ignoring his beast, he replied to Zoe, “I’ll be fine once we’re all in the water. Although relying on Holbrook makes me uneasy.”
Cooper snorted. “Aye, I know the feeling. But he’s proven himself, and he’d rather die than fail Iris.” He slapped Cam on the arm. “Let’s just focus on protecting those in the water.”
Zoe and Cooper had visited in the past week to survey the area they’d be protecting and get the lay of the land. Cam hadn’t worked much with the pair before this, but he almost liked them.
His dragon spoke up. You do like them. Stop letting the past interfere. Cooper and Zoe were young, too, when Lochguard pushed us out. They couldn’t have done anything to stop it.
Aye, I know. But old habits die hard, and all that.
Then make new ones. As Seahaven’s head Protector, it’s part of your job to set an example.
Cooper’s voice brought him back to the present. “As much as I hate to interrupt, we should pack up and escort the dive team to the boat. We have four hours to take them out, have them dive, and bring them back.”
He nodded. “Dean should be waiting for us at the van. I’ll give the last-minute instructions as we walk.”
As he and the other Protectors hashed out their security plans, Cam was grateful for the extra help. It hadn’t been easy asking for it in the first place, but to keep Emily safe, he’d do whatever it took.