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As the two dr
agons began to shrink into their human forms, Nikki turned Rafe toward her. When he looked over his shoulder, she made a rumbling sound deep in her throat.
Rafe didn’t need to see Arabella naked.
Her beast chuckled. For someone who tries to act as if she doesn’t want to claim Rafe, you’re fairly possessive. Maybe even jealous.
I’m not jealous. Arabella sometimes has lapses of confidence about her appearance still. She’s also moody from her pregnancy. I’m actually surprised Finn allowed her to shift and fly here. She’s nearly five months pregnant with triplets, no less.
Arabella went without her inner beast for a long time. He probably doesn’t want to deny her until the last possible moment.
Her dragon had a point. Arabella MacLeod had been attacked and tortured by dragon hunters as a teenager. For a decade after the attack, Arabella had done everything possible to suppress and distance herself from her inner beast. Only in the last six months had she really learned to embrace and love her dragon half again, thanks to Finn Stewart’s support and encouragement.
Rafe wiggled in her grip, garnering her attention. She met his gaze, and he shouted against the wind. “Are we going to land anytime soon? Otherwise, I’d rather you fly than hover in place.”
She wanted nothing more than to show her human the surrounding area from the sky. However, they would soon need to meet and discuss the security detail for the next day. Not only that, she had a feeling they’d have to look after Finn and Arabella, too.
With the landing area clear, Nikki guided them down until she could gently place her forelegs on the ground. Folding her wings to her back, she put Rafe on his feet and imagined her body changing back to her human form. Her face shrunk, her tail disappeared into her back, and her talons retracted to nails and fingers.
The second she was fully human, Rafe tossed his coat at her. “Hurry, before someone sees you.”
She slid her arms into the holes, enjoying Rafe’s lingering warmth in the material. “Dragons don’t view nakedness the same way humans do.”
“Oh, really? Then why did you turn me away from the shifting couple a minute ago?”
“Because Arabella doesn’t like to be seen naked.”
“I wondered who they were,” Rafe answered. “Despite the months I’ve been working with Bram and Finn, I rarely see the Scottish leader.”
Nikki finished the last button of Rafe’s coat. The hem went to her midthigh. “Considering Lochguard was attacked a few weeks ago, I’m surprised he’s even here.”
Rafe looped an arm around Nikki’s waist. “The DDA is still patrolling the area around Lochguard, looking for any lingering traitors or American dragon rebels. Finn also trusts his head Protector. I’m sure that combination has something to do with it.”
Lochguard had been attacked by enemy dragons dropping bombs on their land. Not only had the attackers been comprised of former Lochguard clan members, but also a few American dragons after an American human female. While the human female was now mated to Finn’s cousin, Fergus, it was still a risky move to visit Stonefire. The Americans could strike again.
Nikki started walking and Rafe kept up pace. She finally replied, “It might also be because this is probably Arabella’s last chance to visit her brother and her niece and nephew until after she gives birth. No matter how progressive Finn might be on issues of female dragon-shifters, he will want his babies born on his land, which means Arabella stays put. Especially since she’s had a rough time of it.”
Remembering how ill Arabella had been during the first few months of her pregnancy made Nikki wonder if she’d be the same way. If she made it to Ireland only to be sent home shortly after, she wouldn’t know what to do with herself.
Rafe’s voice filled her ear. “Hartley babies tend to be good babies, so you shouldn’t have to worry.”
She looked at him askance. “Right, because you saying it will happen must make it true.”
“Hey, you never know. Being knocked up with a half-human baby might make things easier for you, considering how stubborn dragons are.”
“Technically, the baby will be three-quarters human.”
“But the gene to shift into a dragon is always dominant, right? So it’s a pretty moot point.” He squeezed her hip. “Although, come to think of it, Hartleys are stubborn bastards as well, so it’s pretty much a toss-up as to how our baby will act.” Rafe paused, and then added, “Do you know anything about your birth mother?”
Nikki had known the question was coming but hadn’t expected it so soon.
Her beast spoke up. Don’t make it awkward now. Tell him. You will feel better afterward.
If only that were true. Every time Nikki spoke of her mother, her voice would crack with emotion, and she’d quickly change the subject to regain her composure.
Yet, looking at Rafe, curiosity filled his gaze and his words from the day before replayed in her mind. “Honesty is a good first step. But tell me, Nikki, is honesty all you want?”
She’d been unsure at the time, but after him seeing her dragon and including her in the loop on the latest information on Simon Bourne, she knew he was a rare find. Things were still new between them, and she had no bloody idea what she was going to do with regards to the baby, but if there was one male she wanted more than any other, it was Rafe Hartley. He deserved to hear the truth.
