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Wrapping her arms around his broad back, she lightly rubbed one hand up and down. "Of course I'd like to know him. And I'm positive it won't change my answer concerning the frenzy."
He pulled back a fraction and placed his forehead against hers, his breath dancing across her lips as he said, "Thank you."
She was about to say it was ridiculous to thank her for something so basic, but an older woman's Scottish voice filled the air.
One belonging to Alistair's mother, Meg.
"Och, there you are, lad. We've been looking for you."
Alistair sighed and raised his head. Since Kiyana wanted to see who constituted "we," she released Alistair and turned to find Meg, Faye MacKenzie, and Grant McFarland.
The latter two individuals were Lochguard's co-head Protectors.
Which most likely meant something had happened.
Alistair asked, "What is it?"
Faye replied first. "We wouldn't be here if it wasn't important, Alistair. I hope you know that."
Alistair grunted. "Aye, and you can save explaining why my mother is trekking out here until later, too. What's wrong?"
Faye glanced at Kiyana and back to Alistair. "Meg came to take Kiyana back to Lochguard."
Alistair took her hand. "She's to be my mate. She should stay."
Faye grimaced, and her partner grunted. "We don't have time for you to be noble and romantic. Finn says she's to return with Meg."
Kiyana jumped in. "It's okay, Alistair. It'll give me a chance to get to know your mother better." She looked at Faye and then Grant. "And I'm sure one day you'll trust me enough to say what's going on." Faye bobbed her head, and Kiyana smiled up at Alistair. "Find me when you can."
Alistair's grip on her hand tightened. Not wanting him to make things worse for himself, she murmured, "It's okay. I won't go running for the hills, I promise."
Meg placed her hands on her hips. "Och, now, come, lad. I'll take good care of Kiyana. Finn needs your help. It's the least you can do."
She tugged and Alistair let her go. Once she was at Meg's side, she waved. "Help your clan, Alistair. Because that's what good dragons do—help their clan and family."
Meg grunted her approval. But Alistair spoke before his mother. "Aye, I will, lass. Until later, then."
Even though she knew she'd see him again soon, she took a second to memorize Alistair's short hair blowing in the wind, the ruins just behind him.
Satisfied she'd burned the image into her memory, she finally turned and walked away with Meg.
Alistair's mother chatted the entire time back to Lochguard—the woman was spritely for her age, that was for sure—but Kiyana barely paid attention. Thankfully the older woman liked to talk, so she could merely think about Alistair. Both what he'd revealed, but also wondering how Lochguard needed his help.
She only hoped something dangerous wasn't happening or about to happen. Because then she had a feeling Alistair would have to go without his dragon even longer, and that would put a whole different kind of strain on him.
And Kiyana didn't want her future mate to be in any sort of pain.
~~~
Alistair waited until his mother and Kiyana were out of earshot before he grunted and demanded, "What's so bloody important that you had to ruin my first date with my true mate?"
Faye clicked her tongue. "My, my, someone's tetchy today."
He growled, and Grant sighed at Faye's words. "Don't provoke him, Faye. And if you say it's merely the baby making you do it, so help me, I won't go out on the next odd craving run you have."
Faye narrowed her eyes. "You wouldn't."
Grant raised both eyebrows. "Wouldn't I?"
