He spotted Carol, who was the teacher for the older students, heading their way. The dragonwoman was a little younger than his mother, and if Cam hadn’t still been on Lochguard at the time, she would’ve been his teacher since she’d taught for over twenty years.
Carol smiled at him as she waited for all the students to line up before saying, “Hi ya, Cam. Two hours, like usual?”
He nodded. “Aye. I’ll escort them and make sure they get back to the school on time.”
There were some grumblings from the students about being old enough to walk back by themselves, but Cam merely glanced at them, and they fell silent. Everyone was on high alert because of some dragon hunter sightings less than twenty miles away.
After Carol left, he met the gaze of every student in turn as he said, “Today we’re going to have a visitor named Dr. Emily Davies. She’s visiting from Stonefire, and so I need you lot to be on your best behavior, aye?”
One of the students, Maisie, blurted, “Is it true she might become your mate?”
Well, it seemed Euan had spread the word, as promised. “Aye, although it’s not a sure thing yet.”
Maisie smiled. “We can help you, Mr. Alexander, and tell her why you’re brilliant. You sometimes look lonely, and maybe she can help with that.”
Cam kept his face impassive. Maisie was notorious for trying to help people find love, even though she’d yet to find it herself. Granted, she was sixteen and shouldn’t be in a rush. But her parents’ love story colored her views—her dad was human and her mum a dragon-shifter—and she was determined to find the same.
And as realistic as he was, he didn’t have the heart to tell her real life was no fairytale.
His dragon sighed.Be nice. Maisie is still young, and there’s nothing wrong with dreams.
Some dreams, aye. But it’s harder for female dragon-shifters to find a human mate than the other way around.
Before his beast could respond, Cam spotted someone in the distance and instantly identified them as Emily. He made eye contact for a few beats, lifted a hand, and she did the same. When he looked back at the students, they were all whispering to each other.
“Och, that’s enough. Dr. Davies is nearly here, so be on your best behavior and follow my maneuvers to the letter, aye?”
Once they murmured in the affirmative, Emily came closer, and he took in the image of her hair mussed from the wind, as well as her lovely eyes and flushed cheeks. Maybe she’d look the same way when she first woke up in the morning. Or, after he’d made her orgasm.
And aye, he was going to try to make that happen. Because last night he’d decided to try winning her for real. He might fail, but if he didn’t at least give it a go, he’d regret it forever.
His dragon spoke up.She’ll be ours, just don’t hold back.
We’ll see, dragon. She’s been hurt before by her family and friends, and who knows what else.
Then Emily was there, in front of him, and without thinking, he took her hand and squeezed it. She blinked, but then squeezed back. Whether it was because she was acting the part or for real, he didn’t know. But Cam hadn’t even begun to show her what a determined dragonman would do to try and win a mate.
The entire morning,Emily had struggled to concentrate on her work. The dinner the night before, as well as Cam sharing his family history in front of the wall of photos, kept replaying in her mind.
While she’d made a lot of casual friends on Stonefire, she’d always fallen back on her closeness with Trahern instead of putting herself out there with new people. She’d only really made an effort with Sarah Carter-Wells since she was a bit more reserved with new people, like Emily was.
Sarah had even invited her to a few dinners and gatherings, but watching the happy extended family together had made her both sad and awkward, and so she’d soon found excuses not to go.
But when it came to the Alexander family, they welcomed her without a thought, treating her as if they’d known her for years. It’s been nice, so nice, and had made Emily wish they were her family, too. But she needed to be careful because she and Cam weren’t actually potential mates, no matter how she sometimes wished he would kiss her.
By the time her alarm went off—reminding her to stop so she could watch the young dragons practice flying—she was irritated at herself for wasting the morning and getting almost nothing done.You’re here to work, Emily. That’s it. Daydreaming about the impossible doesn’t help protect the dragon-shifters, does it?
After giving herself a scolding, she felt more centered and quickly put away her supplies. Once she was finally outside in the sea air, she inhaled deeply, and then again, clearing her mind. And before she knew it, the jutting headland came into view. Standing in front of a line of teenagers was Cam, strong and tall, looking as if the wind would never be able to blow him over.
His gaze met hers, and even though he was still far away, she swore she saw his pupils flash to slits and back.
A sizzle of wanting rushed through her.
He raised a hand in greeting, and she did the same before quickly looking at the students, who were listening to whatever Cam was saying.
She picked up her pace, taking a few deep breaths to push aside her attraction to Cam, and stopped a few feet from the dragonman in question. He took her hand and squeezed, and for a beat, she merely blinked up at him. Then she remembered they were supposed to be dating, so she squeezed back.
His pupils flashed a few times, his gaze never leaving hers, and her heart raced. The longer he looked at her, the more she wished they weren’t acting.
