AllFreeNovel
Share Us
Thankfully Teagan had dealt with her fair share of arrogant arseholes. She pulled out a chair to a safe distance and flipped it around. Sitting down, she raised her brows. “If you have a mate, then she must either have unlimited patience or has a thing for jerks.”
“She follows tradition, unlike your self-absorbed arse.”
She propped her chin on her hands, which rested on the back of the chair. “You’re such a charmer. Too bad we don’t have time to share tea.”
The male narrowed his eyes. “I can’t wait for one of the males to beat you in the leadership trials and take control of your clan. Only a weak female leader would invite English dragon-shifters to her land, considering their betrayals over the centuries.”
Rolling her eyes, Teagan sat up. A traditionalist and a long-term grudge holder. “Yes, yes. I’m an abomination. I’m a traitor to all males. I’m only interested in myself. Blah, blah, blah. Anything else I forgot? I want to get all of the crap out of the way so I can learn why you’re here.”
“If you think flashing me a pretty smile is going to make me talk, then you’re even stupider than I’d guessed.”
Teagan extended a talon, stood, and closed the distance between them to press the sharp point against the male’s throat. “I was giving you a chance to talk without threats. Your clan leader would never know it, but sometimes violence isn’t necessary to solve a problem.” She pressed a little harder and the male visibly swallowed. “However, I’m not against using it to protect what’s mine. You trespassing on my land gives me the right to do as I see fit. Not even the DDA will interfere.”
He opened his mouth to say something but promptly closed it. Teagan smiled. “It seems you’re learning. Now, this stupid female already guessed you’re here to spy on me. Padraig O’Leary is getting on in age and can only win through cheating. I want to know what your purpose was for coming here. What, exactly, did he want to know?”
Silence stretched, so Teagan pressed hard enough to prick his skin. A few drops of blood rolled down his throat. She ran a finger to catch one and held it up to his face. “This is my last warning before I hand you over to someone who is a lot less polite about interrogations than me. Is there anything you want to share?”
The male stared at the blood on her fingers for a few seconds before he answered, “No. Killing me will only drive the other leaders harder to defeat you. If my death means preserving tradition, it will be worthwhile.”
Fucking patriarchal maniac, she murmured to her dragon.
In this one instance, I wish we followed old traditions. Then this male would be executed with pomp and circumstance.
As much as I’d like to see that, we can’t. The humans will never become our allies if we return to fear and violence to rule.
Her dragon huffed. I suppose.
Teagan focused back on the male. “It looks like we’re going to have to move you to someplace cozy, with a new flatmate. I’m sure he’ll be much quicker to extend a talon than me.”
Hatred flashed in his eyes. “Weak bitch. You will know your place soon enough.”
Not rising to the bait, Teagan turned and exited the room. Her dragon growled. If we were male, we’d be called strong and leader-like. But because we’re female, we’re a bitch.
Don’t let him get to you.
Are you sure I can’t drop him from a great height?
Not at the moment. But I never rule out all possibilities so early.
As she made her way back toward Killian’s office, Teagan resisted running a hand through her hair. She didn’t want to have her best interrogator work on the male and probably cause harm, but there was little choice.
Until some of the old traditions were shattered for good, she would have to follow some of the same tactics as the other clans to get her point across.
Bloody pointless violence. She needed to make the trials as challenging as ever to truly prove her worth. There was no fucking way she was going to repeat the process year after year, just to appease old-fashioned male egos.
She picked up her pace. There was much to do and Teagan didn’t give up easily. She would change Ireland for the better, even if it killed her.
And given that some of the clan leaders weren’t above killing her to get what they wanted, it just might.
~~~
As the sun sank low in the sky, Aaron headed toward Killian’s office. Every available Protector had done double duty, spending part of the day patrolling the areas surrounding the clan to look for trespassers. Since many humans came and went every day to visit Glenveagh National Park, where Glenlough was situated, it made the task that much more difficult, especially if a female human mate from one of the other clans had been sent to spy on them. It would be bloody difficult to spot her, if she existed.
His beast spoke up. Bloody stubborn arses. At this rate, we’ll never have time to help Teagan train.
She never promised to do it today, anyway.
Still, I want to race her in dragon form.
