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Rian stood tall. "My dad was a dragon, and so am I."
Rhydian had long ago explained to Delaney about how no one knew if Rian's dragon would awaken or not, given his captivity months ago.
However, Delaney had hope and was ready to defend her nephew when Fraser nodded solemnly. "You already act like one, lad. You'll do fine." He lowered his voice. "Who knows, maybe one day Lochguard will try to get you to come to Scotland."
Rian leaned against her side and she wrapped an arm around his shoulders. Rian murmured, "I like it here."
Melanie—who had managed to get her daughter into her arms again—said, "And so you do. It just means we'll have to visit again, so you can be the older, protective friend to our babies."
Rian made a face at baby Skye. "She's so little. I don't think she'd be fun to play with."
Fraser laughed. "She basically eats and poops right now. But one day, lad, that will change." He lowered his voice. "And let's hope my mate doesn't add you to her list of potential mates for our daughters. I swear she's going to weed through everyone old enough before their second birthdays."
A Scottish woman's voice carried over. "I heard that, Fraser."
"And it's true, aye?"
The brown-haired woman she was pretty sure was Holly if she was Fraser's mate answered, "Maybe. But I'm not the only one with plans for Summer and Skye. Shall we tell them your ideas?"
"They're good ones, honey. You agreed earlier."
"I wouldn't say agree…" the other woman drawled.
Not wanting an argument to break out right before the other students came in, Delaney jumped in. "Who wants to introduce Rian to all the other visitors?"
Melanie put out a hand. "Will you come with me, Rian? That way your auntie can meet some of the other adults and probably ask boring adult things."
It was true Delaney had wanted to talk to Holly in particular—she was a human mated
to a dragon-shifter and had suffered her fair share of danger because of it—but only if Rian was okay with it.
He glanced up at her. "Will you be okay, Auntie Laney?"
From the moment she’d read her sister’s letter, asking for her to look after Rian, Delaney had loved her nephew. However, as each day passed, she learned more about him and loved him even more. Him merely asking if she were okay made her heart fill with happiness. She didn’t know how she could ever live without him going forward. "I'll be fine, lad. Go have fun with the other kids and talk with the Protectors."
After her nephew hugged her, he took Melanie's hand. The other woman guided him to the visiting children and the two half-human Protectors.
As soon as they joined the group, the brown-haired woman handed off her baby to Kai and walked over. She smiled. "Hello, Delaney. I'm Holly. I heard you had some questions for me?"
So she'd been correct—this was Fraser's human mate.
Fraser, still standing nearby, mumbled, "I swear you know everything."
She grinned. "Good you recognize that, Fraser. It'll make things easier."
As the couple stared at each other with grins, Delaney longed for the same.
She and Rhydian were definitely more comfortable with each other, but the mate-claim frenzy—or lack of one—laid between them. She had a feeling that until it was completed, she couldn't really grow as close to Rhydian as she wanted.
Let alone admit she was falling for him.
Not wanting to go down that path and risk the Scottish couple guessing her thoughts, she cleared her throat, garnering both of their attention. "If possible, I'd like to talk with Holly alone."
Fraser readjusted his grip on his daughter. "Aye, I suppose you do. I think I need to go over there and prod Tristan a little anyway. His sister Arabella asked me to, and I better keep that promise."
He walked away with a wink and Delaney frowned at Holly. "I don't know how you keep up with who is who so easily."
Holly shrugged. "I don't remember everyone's names, but Arabella is the mate of Lochguard's clan leader. So it's probably best you learn that one."
