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To Brenna, it didn't feel like a demotion, but rather a great opportunity considering she'd been at the bottom of the ladder when she'd last lived on Stonefire.
Her heart skipped a beat in anticipation, but she had to be honest with her clan. "Are you sure about this? Until things are settled with Killian and we're sure there won't be any more episodes, I may not be as focused as usual."
Kai spoke up. "I understand the concern for your mate. After all, Jane is still healing from being stabbed in the shoulder. But as she always tells me, hovering only makes her crankier. Sometimes a little distance can do wonders for a relationship."
"Considering Killian has been unconscious quite often lately, distance isn't exactly high on my list," she drawled.
Bram chimed in. "I think what Kai is trying to say is that Tristan, Sid, and some of the others will need time alone with Killian, to work on controlling his dragons and to prove he's stable and not a threat. I've known you your whole life, Brenna, and you've never liked to sit idly by. Working whilst Killian is with the others will help use up some of your excess energy."
Nikki placed a hand on her shoulder. "Besides, you'll mostly deal with rebellious teenagers trying to sneak off the clan's lands. And giving them a lecture or two will help calm some of your stress. I'll miss that part, although scolding adult Protectors has its benefits, too."
Kai raised a brow. "Just make sure your mate stays away, Nikki. The others are holding back because he's human, but if Rafe goes too far, it won't end well."
Nikki rolled her eyes. "I can't help it." She placed a hand on her slightly swollen belly. "Until this baby is out, I think he'll only get worse."
Brenna should hold her tongue, but she blurted, "Isn't it an inconvenience to your career, being pregnant?"
Nikki smiled as she rubbed her abdomen. "I used to think it would ruin everything I'd worked for. Not trusting Bram and Kai's faith in me was one of the biggest mistakes I've made in a while. Will it be easy balancing parenthood with my job? No. But with the clan's help, I'll manage. My parents are especially looking forward to babysitting as much as possible."
At the mention of parents, Brenna remembered her own. Given how her mum was pregnant herself, Brenna didn't think that would be an option.
Her dragon spoke up. Killian isn't demanding a young. We have plenty of time.
Focusing back on Nikki, Brenna said, "I'll keep that in mind."
Bram grunted. "Well, will you be accepting the assignment, then?"
She nodded. "For now. But before I agree to any long-term commitment, I need to talk with Killian about the future. And I want to be able to contact Teagan, to give her a more personal update about her brother."
"Of course, as long as you don't mention any sensitive information without Kai's consent," Bram stated. "Now that's settled, you can begin straight away."
She blinked. "What if I had said no?"
Grinning, Bram shuffled through stacks of paper on his desk. "I knew you'd say yes."
Her dragon chimed in. As much as I admire Teagan, I've missed Bram's good nature.
The male in question held out a document and she took it. She read the heading, "Safe Zone Construction," and then the summary:
A neutral meeting location is needed on Stonefire's lands, but beyond the gates. An easily monitored and controlled location needs to be found and proposed. Once done, security protocols also need to be designed and tested.
Looking back up, she asked, "What is this for?"
Bram answered, "Clan Skyhunter is having their leadership trials anytime now. Once they have their new leader, I want to make contact and possibly form an alliance. But given how things have been functioning on that clan over the last few decades, I want to be cautious. If there is any malicious intent, I want to ensure it's away from the regular clan members."
Skyhunter was the dragon-shifter clan located in the south of England, and had been ruled by fear and an iron-fist until their leader had been arrested. They currently were without a leader and being held together by a variety of watchdogs.
Kai added, "The new safe zone space will also be used for meeting with other clan leaders and officials. If there's tighter security, more people may be willing to come and talk with our clan."
Brenna closed the folder. "It's a brilliant idea. One I'm sure Lochguard will emulate."
Bram muttered something, but Nikki spoke up. "Getting back to your assignment, finding the best location is your main concern. Once that's done, you'll be working with Nathan, Lucien, and Blake here on Stonefire to design all aspects of the security, from physical to technological."
Nathan was the Protectors' head IT person and someone Brenna had worked with before. The other two she knew only by name and appearance. "So Lucien was made the permanent IT head replacement for non-Protector matters?"
Bram grunted. "Aye. And Blake has a knack for inventing or coming up with solutions to tricky technological problems. He's a bit shy, but extremely clever."
Beyond Blake’s intelligence, she'd only heard that he mostly stayed indoors or in remote locations in his dragon form.
