Page 1 of The Dragon Recruit
Chapter One
Iris Mahajan placed a cup of tea in front of her mother, sat down at the table, and got straight to the point. “Right, you have your tea and biscuits. Now, tell me what’s so important that I had to stop by immediately.”
Her mother sipped her tea, then again, and Iris gripped her mug tighter in her hands. Of course she’d take her time, despite the fact Iris only had ten more minutes before she had to head into work.
Her inner dragon, the second personality inside her head, spoke up.We’re the same way, you know that. So why do you tell her to hurry when you know it’ll only make her drag her feet?
Before she could answer, her mother set her cup down and said, “Your father and I are trying to arrange a mating for you with Ashton Mitchell.”
Iris blinked, and again. Ashton was a scientist on Lochguard, one she hadn’t exchanged more than greetings with before. “What the bloody hell are you talking about?”
Her mother tsked. “Language, Iris.”
She bit back what she really wanted to say and used the tried and true, “Mu-um.”
“Well, you haven’t given us any choice in the matter. You’re nearly thirty, you have no friends, let alone a boyfriend, and your father doesn’t have all the time in the world to wait.”
Her stomach dropped. “What are you talking about?”
Her mother searched her gaze for a few beats, and Iris nearly demanded an answer. But her mum finally said, “Your father is nearly twenty years older than me, and even dragon-shifters age.”
“I don’t think that’s the full truth, aye?”
Her mother sniffed. “You’re always so suspicious, Iris. Not everyone is out to deceive you and hurt you.”
Not wanting to talk about her past yet again, she steered them back on topic. “So if Dad is healthy, apart from nearing seventy, then why are you trying to find me a mate? I don’t want one. Bloody hell, I don’t have time for one.”
“Yes, yes, work. Always work with you. But it wasn’t always that way once.”
“Don’t use that against me, Mum. That was a long time ago.”
“If I truly thought you didn’t want a mate, I would back off.” Iris opened her mouth, but her mother beat her to it. “You’re lonely, Iris. You try to hide it, but I’m your mother, and I see it.”
Iris tried not to shift in her seat. Few could endure the stare of Jhanvi Mahajan and keep quiet. It was why she did so well working in the clan archives—one look would quiet anyone.
Her dragon spoke up again.She’s right, though. You can hide it from everyone but me. And I wouldn’t mind a mate.
You just want someone to fuck on a regular basis.
Maybe. But I also would like for you to be happy. And you’re not.
Her mother reached across the table and touched Iris’s hand. “Do you know why I named you Iris?”
“Aye, of course?—”
Her mother cut her off. “No, I think you forget. The flower often symbolizes hope, wisdom, trust, and valor. You were the hope of our new start here in the UK. And whilst you’re very clever and have lived up to the valor part, you need to learn to trust others, Iris. Even just a little.”
“I trust you and Dad.”
“And that’s a start. But I don’t want to see my only daughter so lonely all the time. Find a friend, even. Maybe later you can find a mate.”
She was about to repeat she didn’t need any distractions from her job when her Protector-only mobile phone rang. The ringtone was for Cooper Maxwell, Lochguard’s second-in-command of security. She whispered, “I have to take this,” and hit the Receive button. “Cooper?”
“Iris, come to the surgery right away.”
She stood. “Why, what happened?”
“It’s Faye.”
