No, she’d been free to exchange information, voice concerns and worries, and eventually learn that some universities allowed humans to study dragon-shifter biology and medicine. She’d always loved math and science, and combining it with her love of dragon-shifters had seemed the perfect fit.
Cam’s voice brought her back to the present. “So when did you tell your parents about your desire to study my kind?”
The tear-filled row she’d had with her mother and father threatened to break free, but she pushed it back. They’d made their choice, had abandoned her, and she couldn’t do anything about it.
That doesn’t mean it doesn’t hurt.
After clearing her throat, she replied, “I was clever as a child, and enrolled in university at sixteen. I won a scholarship for humans wishing to study dragon biology, with a pathway to dragon-shifter medicine, and it covered everything. As soon as I got the letter, I was so excited and told my parents. However, as soon as I explained what I’d won and what I’d be studying, my father’s demeanor turned cold. He told me to be gone the next day and to never return.”
Emily had looked to her mother, pleaded to stay, but her mam had merely looked away and remained silent. With each passing second, her heart had broken a little more.
She’d known what her father’s reaction would be, of course. But her mother had always quietly supported her, as best she could, while still under her husband’s thumb.
A tear trailed down Emily’s cheek at the memory, and she quickly wiped it away before standing abruptly. “Sorry, but I need to go to bed now.”
And she rushed out of the kitchen without a backward glance, into her room, and then cried silently as she mourned the mother she’d loved as a child but who’d also abandoned her in the end.
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 likeher. 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.”
