Evie brushed his chest with her hand. "You didn't know?"

"No."

"Don't be too hard on him. Neil was threatening to kill me at the time."

His dragon growled. It is good the traitor is dead.

Yes, but he should have faced trial. Killing one of our own plays into the image all dragon-shifters are monsters.

If the traitor was threatening our mate, then our mate's life is more important than trying to impress the humans.

His dragon had a point, but he didn't have time to argue. He'd already spent more time with Evie than he should have. While the hunters' base near Carlisle was destroyed, it didn't mean they wouldn't attack again.

Bram crawled out of the basket, helped Evie out as well, and then faced the members of his clan standing in front of him. "I want everyone to return to their cottages and remain alert. Until I release the order, off-site visits won't be allowed."

A male voice shouted, "How long, Bram? I can't run my business if I can't deliver goods to the humans."

Bram looked at his clan mate and said, "Don't worry, Alex. I won't keep the restriction in place any longer than necessary. But I think staying alive is more important than delivering your wood carvings, aye?"

The same male replied, "Aye."

Bram nodded and then did a sweep of the crowd in front of him. "Go. I'll let you all know when things have returned to normal."

As the crowd dispersed, Bram took hold of Evie's hand and tugged her inside the tent. While he'd taken care of Murray a hundred times in the last five months, he was anxious to see the lad. From here on out, Murray wouldn't be a charge but his and Evie's son.

Sid and her core nursing staff were finishing up the minor wounds on Bram's team. Sid noticed him, gave an order to one of her staff, and stood in front of him. After giving him a once-over, she said, "You'll have a bruise on your jaw, but you'll live. Do you have any other injuries I should be worried about?

Evie moved slightly in front of him and gave an assessing glance. "Stubborn dragonman, if you're hurt, say so."

He put up his free hand. "I'm fine. Before the two of you insist on checking every inch of me to verify my words, Sid, I want you to let Evie take Murray home. Provided, of course, he's well."

Sid moved her gaze to Evie and back. "Yes, he's healthy if not a little tired and dehydrated. But does your mate know how to take care of a dragon-shifter child?"

Evie's grip on his hand loosened and he squeezed her fingers in reassurance. "She'll be fine. I'm sending Mel and Tristan to help until I finish with clan matters."

Sid turned and Bram followed, tugging Evie along until they stood over wee Murray. The babe was asleep, but his cheeks were full of color and the lad seemed content. His dragon chimed in, his previous tension somewhat diminished. Our son will be well.

That was fast. I expected it to take longer to claim him.

Our mate wants him, so I want him. The baby will make her happy.

Bram watched as Sid lifted Murray and placed him in Evie's arms. The sight of his mate holding the babe caused a rush of warmth to spread throughout his body. He said to his dragon, The baby will make us all happy.

He brushed Murray's soft cheek. "Be a good lad, Murray, and mind your mum until I return." Glancing over at Evie, her eyes were wet. He rubbed her back and said, "You'll do all right, love. Don't worry."

Evie met his eyes. "I'm not worried about that. It's just that I never thought I'd have the chance to be a mum. Hearing you call me that makes me happy."

"Evie." He gave her a gentle kiss. "This is just the beginning for us. We'll see how you feel when he wakes you up at four a.m. The reality might be a little less rosy."

She frowned. "Don't you have clan matters to attend to?"

Bram laughed. "I can take a hint. You want to enjoy the rosiness of being a new mum without a reminder of the realities to come."

Scanning the tent, he noticed Nikki sitting in a corner. He shouted her name and motioned for her to come. As she made her way toward them, he whispered to Evie, "I really do need to take care of some clan matters. Nikki will take you home. Are you okay with that?"

Evie's stern voice returned. "Why wouldn't I? Blaming her for my capture and Charlie's death is pointless. A number of factors contributed to that happening."

The corner of his mouth ticked up. "Good. My clever lass understands." Before Evie could reply, Nikki approached. Her expression was unsure and her posture a little less confident. Bram decided to fix that. He ordered, "Take Evie and Murray to my cottage and help her settle in. Then call Melanie and Tristan to come over. I want you to watch over them all until I return."

Nikki twisted her hands. "Are you sure you want me to do it?"

"Nikola Gray, unless there is a valid reason for why I shouldn't send you, then you have your orders."

Nikki's voice was faint when she replied, "The last time I was given an assignment, Charlie died."

Pushing aside the loss of his clan member, Bram focused on healing the one still alive. "You aren't responsible for Charlie's death. If anyone is to blame, it is I. Now, do you wish to keep arguing or will you take Evie and Murray so I can ensure the clan's safety?"

Nikki glanced to Evie, but his mate smiled and bobbed her head in encouragement. Nikki looked back to him. "I'll take her."

Bram nodded. "Good lass." He turned toward Evie, kissed Murray's forehead and then hers. "I'll be home soon. Don't destroy the place in the meantime."

Amusement danced in Evie's eyes. "I'll see what I can cook up."

As he watched his family walk away, his dragon said, Hurry up. I want our mate as promised.

You are calmer than five minutes ago.

Tasting our mate and claiming our new son helped, but I need her. I am strong, but even I am reaching my limit.

His inner beast's words rang with truth. Bram couldn't risk the mate frenzy breaking out while the clan was still in danger. Then let's find Finn and Kai.

After checking in with Sid, Bram left the tent. It was time to talk to Kai and find out what Finlay Stewart had done.

Finn knocked on the door of Tristan MacLeod's cottage. He didn't have long before Bram found him and while Finn stood by his decision to kill Neil Westhaven, the act might break the new alliance with Stonefire. If that happened, he wanted to see Arabella MacLeod one last time, both for his dragon and himself. For some reason, he didn't want the lass to think ill of him.

The door opened. Instead of Tristan's glare, Arabella's dark brown eyes greeted him. She frowned and said, "What do you want?"

"It's nice to see you, too, lass. Can I come in?"

"Why? Everyone is gone. It's just me."

"Aye, that's why I'm here."

She hesitated. He'd gleaned from his last visit that the lass didn't like being alone with strange men. "We can talk out here, if you like."

"Since we've spoken twice, I'm sure all you need to say can be said whilst standing at the door."

He gestured at his body, clad only in a casual kilt. "It's a wee bit cold out here and the warmth from the door is enticing."

Her eyes darted to his chest and lingered. Finn was leaner than most dragon-shifter males, but only because he was taller. The lass's eyes didn't seem to mind and his dragon rumbled. I want to feel her skin.

Not now.

His beast growled, but Finn ignored him and cleared his throat. "If you're quite done with the view, let me in or toss me a jumper." Arabella's cheeks flushed and he grinned. "Unless you want a longer look at my epitome of male perfection."

The dragonwoman rolled her eyes and stepped back. "If coming inside will help stem your cockiness, then hurry up."

His dragon crooned. She likes us. This is good.

Rather than dwell on his inner beast's words, Finn stepped inside the cottage and headed into the living area. Once he plopped down on a chair, he dove right to the point. "Have you considered my invitation to come to Lochguard and set up the secure connection?"

She stayed standing on the far side of the room. While her heart rate appeared normal, he didn't like the distance.

Arabella answered, "I told you I'd think about it. My answer hasn't changed."

"In my experience, maybe means no. Come, Arabella. It would benefit us both."

She frowned and her voice was careful when she said, "Explain that last bit."

His dragon cautioned, Don't scare her.

I won't coddle her. She doesn't want it. "You've proved your skills to me and I won't have to double-check your work, which saves me time."

"And what is the benefit to me?"

"You'll have the chance to interact with people who will treat you with care because you're a stranger, not out of pity for your past. While I've only heard the rumors, I expect everyone on Stonefire knows the truth."

Arabella took a step toward him. "I don't want your charity."

His dragon piped in. Don't fuck up.

Finn stood up. "It's not charity, Arabella MacLeod. I need your skills and you desperately need a break from the clan. Even your brother coddles you."

She took another step toward him. "Leave my brother out of this."

"It's true, aye? Your brother is as careful as the rest. I don't know about you, but living day in and day out with everyone walking on eggshells must be exhausting. Yes, you've gone through something terrible. But isn't it time for you to face the world and live your life?"

They were only a few feet apart from one another. Finn never flinched from her gaze. Aye, she was angry, but there was longing there too.

Arabella's voice was quiet and full of steel when she said, "I think you should leave."

His inner beast roared, but Finn ignored him. "I'll leave, but think on it, lass. Lochguard may not be perfect, but it could be a fresh start for you."

Provided, of course, he hadn't fucked up the alliance with Stonefire.

Before the dragonwoman could reply, there was a knock on the door followed by Bram shouting, "Finlay Stewart, I know you're in there. We need to talk."

Arabella retreated to the far side of the room. It took everything Finn had not to walk over and corner her against the wall to provoke her fire again. Both man and beast liked her fire, maybe a little too much.

There was more pounding on the door and Finn sighed. "It looks like you're getting your wish, lass."

He waited a beat, but Arabella remained silent. Rather than push too far, he gave a flourishing bow and went to the door. Opening it, Bram glared up at him and said, "Where's Arabella? Is she okay?"

Finn motioned behind him. "She's back there. Lass, care to shout out so he doesn't kill me?"

Arabella peeked her head around the corner. "I'm fine, Bram. Finn was just leaving."

Bram looked between him and Arabella, but if the Stonefire leader expected an explanation, he wasn't going to get one.

Finn raised an eyebrow. "You're letting the heat out. If we're walking and talking, then let's go."

Bram gave him one more assessing stare before he turned around and started walking. Finn took one last look at Arabella and dared to say, "Think on it, lass. I mean it."

Then he was out the door. As he lengthened his stride to catch up with Bram, Finn hoped that wasn't the last he saw of Arabella MacLeod. The lass deserved to have laughter and light in her life and Finn wanted to be the one to give it to her.

When he caught up with Bram, Finn decided not to delay the inevitable. "Care to tell me if the alliance still stands or not?"

Bram stopped and turned toward him. "As much as my dragon doesn't like it, I can handle you being the one to rescue Evie. She's alive and I thank you."

Finn raised an eyebrow. "But?"

"But killing Neil Westhaven was never part of the plan. You were supposed to help capture him and bring him back alive."

Finn's dragon huffed. Why would he want the traitor alive? It's better that he's dead.

He likes to play by the rules.

Hmph. Sometimes the rules are meant to be broken.

Finn agreed, but from what he'd learned of Bram Moore-Llewellyn over the last week, it would take a different way of thinking to preserve the alliance. "He had your mate in his arms, a talon at her throat, and was one slice away from killing her. The idiot had his back to me and I took advantage. Wouldn't you have done the same?"

Bram stared at him a second before he answered. "Maybe. My concern is you acting out of turn and ignoring what we agreed upon for the alliance. You being unpredictable could hurt my clan."

Finn's dragon snarled and he pushed back his beast. "The foundation of the alliance is helping each other out and protecting one another when needed. I plan on doing that. My ways may differ from yours, but after what happened today, I reckon you and I need to stick together. The rescue was too easy."

Bram's tension eased a bit. "I feel the same. Simon Bourne isn't an idiot. I can almost guarantee he allowed us to rescue Evie, Nikki, and wee Murray. I just don't know why."

"Right now, neither do I. But think about it-if we're both gathering intelligence and keeping an eye on the dragon hunters, then our clans both have a greater chance of surviving whatever Simon Bourne may throw at us."

The Stonefire leader assessed him, but Finn didn't waiver. While the alliance would make his life easier, he could find another way to protect his clan if it came to that. Giving up wasn't in Finlay Stewart's vocabulary.

Another second passed and then Bram nodded. "Right, we'll keep the alliance for now, but on one condition."

"What?"

"Leave Arabella MacLeod alone."