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With a bob of his head, Aaron closed the door.
In the spare minute of solitude, Teagan rubbed her forehead. Hugh is going to be a pain in my arse.
Perhaps. But if he loses to you and the other leaders, any claim he thinks he has will vanish.
The other leaders might take offense at including him.
You never said it was for other clan leaders only. That is their assumption, and thus their problem.
Teagan sighed. Well, there’s nothing to do now. This is the only way to silence Hugh for good.
Gran would teach him a lesson, if we asked.
She snorted. I wish. Maybe I’ll use that as a punishment if he ever breaks one of the clan laws.
Before her dragon could reply, her next appointment entered. As Teagan listened to the rest of her clan members for the day, solving the majority of the problems, her tension eased. While she would have Killian root out any troublemakers, the majority seemed unconcerned with Teagan’s actions regarding both Aaron and the leadership challenge.
She only hoped it stayed that way.
~~~
When Aaron showed out the final appointment of the day, he locked the front door to Teagan’s secondary office suite and rushed to where she sat behind her desk. Without asking, he moved to her side and leaned down to kiss her gently.
He pulled away, and she made a content noise in her throat. “A female could get used to that every day.”
“My lips are rather powerful. They can cure most anything when it comes to you.” She gave a playful shove and Aaron took her hand in his. “I’m just glad you don’t have a frown permanently etched between your brows. Some of the grievances were rather petty. Is a tree growing into someone else’s garden that much of an inconvenience?”
She shrugged and interlaced her fingers with his. “Sometimes people just need to vent. If it helps their mental health, then so be it.”
“A clan psychologist would be better suited. Or maybe a gardener,” he drawled.
She raised her brows. “Are you volunteering to cut trees for the clan?”
He winked. “I could be fairly vicious with a chainsaw in my hands. But in all honesty, there are probably deeper issues at work. I’m too stubborn to visit a psychologist, but others could use the help.”
“We don’t have one, and given the instability at the moment, I doubt anyone would want to take on my clan’s problems. Besides, I don’t mind listening to them. It’s nice connecting with people, on some level at least.”
“Because you’re usually isolated from them.”
She stared at their hands, and it took everything Aaron had not to pull her close. He had a feeling she wouldn’t tell him anything if he did.
She talked to their hands. “It’s odd in a way. I know everyone and most of their situations, yet I don’t truly know them, if that makes sense. I can’t go to every birthday party or invite them over for dinner.”
“You can’t afford for them to think of you as merely a friend.”
She met his gaze again. “Exactly.”
He did yank her up and pull her close. Cupping her cheek, he murmured, “I’m going to be there for you when you finish for the day, not to mention celebrate everything that should be celebrated. You’ll never be alone.”
She played with the hair at the nape of his neck. “Just don’t hide things from me and be yourself. That’s all I ask.”
His dragon spoke up. See? I told you she is perfect for us.
Ignoring his beast, he focused on Teagan. “I’ll try, but as you know, males are tough to crack.”
She rolled her eyes. “And that is an excuse I don’t believe for a second.”
He stroked her cheek with his thumb. “Is that so?”
