Page 70 of Seducing the Dragon
Hearing her call him Murray’s dad warmed his heart. “I don’t want the lad to be fatherless, now, do I? That’s only slightly worse than upsetting my mate.”
Evie smiled and he knew he’d won. She gave him a quick kiss. “Good. Now that’s settled, let’s see Dr. Sid so you can finish up with the clan and come home to me.”
He nodded. “Also, I’ll have Melanie and Tristan sent over to you. You’ve been imprisoned for two days and while you’re strong, you may yet go into shock.”
“I’m not a delicate flower, Bram Moore-Llewellyn. But I can use the help as I need to shower and have not the faintest bloody idea of how to care for a baby.”
He squeezed his mate. “You’ll do fine, love.” He kissed her one more time and pulled away. The loss of her heat stabbed his heart. “Now, I need to find Finn. I hear he’s the one who rescued you.”
“Yes, he did. But he also killed Neil Westhaven.”
Bram blinked. “What?”
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 thelad. 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 eyeswere wet. He rubbed her back and said, “You’ll do all right, love. Don’t worry.”
