The Dragon's Discovery (Lochguard Highland Dragons Book 6) Page 3

  Grunting again, he looked over her head and motioned toward the other eight women. "Come closer to me, so I can explain things as they progress."

  The women hesitated. However, Julie moved first, and a second later, the others followed suit.

  Julie stood right next to Alistair and leaned in, displaying her wet cleavage to his full view. "Is this okay?"

  Somehow, Kiyana contained an eye roll. It seemed Julie was no longer afraid of at least one particular dragon-shifter.

  However, Alistair's gaze didn't drift downward, but rather above the women's heads to the children. "Aye, but you may want to turn around so you can watch. Otherwise, I could do this lecture inside, where it's warm and dry."

  As if on cue, the rain fell harder. Kiyana muttered, "You lot are cheery considering the weather here."

  Alistair must've heard her because his eyes found hers. "When the sun's out, the light glimmering on the loch, combined with the sky reflecting on its gleaming surface, fills you with enough good humor to last months, or more."

  She hadn't expected Alistair to be poetic. Maybe there was a hidden depth to him he kept tightly packed away from almost everyone else.

  They stared at one another a few beats until the teacher up front clapped his hands and said, "All right, lads and lassie, it's time to review what goes into a shift."

  The only girl in the class turned to look at them and then back at the teacher. "Do we have to do it with them there? It's weird having people watch. My dragon is shy and doesn't want to be watched."

  The teacher smiled. "A shy dragon? Come, now, we know she's not. The humans are here to learn."

  The little girl looked at Kiyana and the others again, before turning back around. "Then why are they at the back?"

  The teacher shrugged. "So they don't get in the way."

  One of the little boys spoke up. "But you always say we learn better if we sit up front. The humans should come up front."

  The others murmured the same, and Kiyana smiled. Dragon-shifter children weren't all that different from human ones. Sure, they could shift into magnificent creatures while humans couldn't, but their curiosity and forthrightness were the same.

  The teacher looked at Alistair, and Alistair surveyed the group of women. "Would you prefer being up front?"

  Julie nodded. "I would. They're cute, and no matter what people say, I don't think they'll hurt us."

  The little girl cried out, "It's humans who hurt us!"

  Julie shook her head. "No, I don't think so."

  "It's too, true! My mummy said so."

  Kiyana sensed the back-and-forth could go on for a while. Even though it wasn't her place, she blurted, "How about we agree that everyone here won't hurt each other? That should be good enough."

  All of the dragon-shifter children turned and stared at her with wide eyes.

  Thankfully it was Alistair who stepped in. "That's a brilliant idea. Lasses, let's head toward the front. Maybe David, the teacher, can introduce you to the wee ones."

  The women all walked briskly to the front, but Kiyana took her time. True, she was just as excited to watch the young dragons as any of the others, but she wanted to observe, if even for a short while, how the women interacted with the dragon children. Especially as the little girl didn't wait for her teacher's permission to walk up to Julie and start blurting out questions.

  Alistair's voice came from right behind her. Due to her hood, she had to strain her ears to catch his words. "I thought you were supposed to observe and not interfere?"

  She stopped, and Alistair gently bumped against her back and arse. For a second, she sucked in a breath at his hard, warm body against hers. However, as he stood there, not moving, her skin grew too tight and her heart raced.

  She was no longer cold from the wind and rain.

  But nearly as soon as the heat burned, it vanished. Alistair suddenly stood two feet in front of her. Their eyes locked, and she couldn't pull her gaze away. Maybe she imagined the heat and desire in his eyes, but she didn't think so.

  And maybe if they'd met under different circumstances, she would've closed the distance between them, placed a hand on his bare chest, and tilted her lips upward.

  Too bad that could never happen. Kiyana had worked too bloody hard to climb back up the DDA's ladder. No matter how sexy Alistair Boyd was, or how one molten look could make her insides flip, she couldn't act on it.

  Ever.

  Clearing her throat, she shrugged. "The DDA didn't think it through when they made me their liaison in addition to the observer-slash-documentarian. So I'll have to do the best I can, and once the other women all decide to stay or go home, I can finally get to work."

  Alistair searched her gaze, his pupils flashing, and she willed her heart to slow the hell down. His dragon most definitely didn't think about her in that way.

  He couldn't.

  With a grunt, Alistair turned and walked toward the group of women. As he went about helping with introductions, Kiyana tried to look away. But even when she could force her gaze to one of the adorable schoolchildren, they almost instantly darted back to Alistair's broad shoulders and square jaw.

  And his chest. Damn, the warm, solid chest she'd felt against her back for the briefest of moments.

  Someone said her name, loudly, and she blinked before finding Julie. The other woman shot her a puzzled look then asked, "Aren't you coming, Kiki?"

  "Kiyana," Alistair stated.

  All eyes turned toward the towering dragonman. Julie managed to say, "Pardon?"

  "She prefers Kiyana. The children should learn her real name and not the ridiculous nickname."

  The human women all exchanged glances before zeroing in on Kiyana.

  Thank goodness for the distance and the hood pulled close around her face. They probably couldn't see how uncomfortable she was. No shuffling of feet or biting of lips for Kiyana. No, she started tugging strands of her hair straight, releasing them, and doing it again.

  Wanting the focus off her, Kiyana clapped her hands. "Enough about me. We're here to talk with the children. Now, shall we finish the introductions? I'm Kiyana."

  As the kids each jumped in to share their names, she did her best to focus on the little balls of energy. Throughout the entire exchange, she felt Alistair's gaze on her back, but she refused to turn around. She most definitely wouldn't turn around.

  And if she kept running into him or being near him, she might slip in her resolve and do something stupid. So, the first chance she had, she would encourage Julie to be the leader of the group of women. If Julie was up for the task, then she only had to report back to Kiyana, meaning less time Kiyana had to interact with the clan members.

  Yes, that would be the best option. And with Kiyana out of the way, maybe Alistair would go after one of the other women.

  Although why that thought left a sour taste in her mouth, she refused to acknowledge. Her work was too important to her. And as she'd learned the last time she'd dallied with a dragonman, a heated look didn't mean forever. She needed to remember that.

  Chapter Three

  After the outdoor session with the children, Alistair had thankfully been able to teach his other lessons to the humans in a classroom. The women were mostly eager to learn, and the familiarity of teaching, quizzing, and fostering discussion made time pass easily.

  Well, for the most part. He had a hard time not looking at the door to see if Kiyana would show up or not.

  Even now, when he was sitting inside the clan's archive building, he was tempted to look at the door despite the fact she probably didn't even know about the place's existence.

  His dragon spoke up. Go find her. I know I saw heat in her gaze the other day.

  You keep saying that, but it still doesn't matter to me. Besides, this afternoon is the first time we've been able to work on our secret project for weeks.

  His beast grunted. The information you're searching for may not even exist.

  I'm not giving up.

 
Alistair looked back at the dusty, barely legible book in front of him. Since few people visited the clan's archives, it was one of the quietest places on Lochguard, and therefore one of his favorites.

  He'd just managed to decipher a passage about centuries-old treaties when a female voice—a Southern English female voice—filled the space. "What are you doing here? I thought you had lessons since it's a weekday."

  His dragon sat up tall and spread his wings at Kiyana's voice. However, Alistair didn't give the beast time to suggest they woo the female into his lap. Not looking up from his book, he shrugged. "Every third Wednesday of the month, the students go volunteer with the elder dragon-shifters and help them with whatever they need."

  Amusement tinged Kiyana's voice. "From the few pensioner-aged dragons I've seen, they're more than capable of doing things themselves."

  "Maybe. Still, they have much to teach us. Not everything is found in a book."

  A fact Alistair was all too aware of himself.

  "Are you going to keep your back to me for the entire conversation?" the human asked.

  Alistair decided to be as blunt as she was. "I thought this would be a universal sign shared between humans and dragons, one that says leave me alone."

  She laughed, the deep sound washing over him, making his dragon hum and his cock go semihard.

  His beast spoke up. Why resist her? You haven't been this attuned to a female since Rachel.

  At the mention of his late girlfriend's name, his body cooled instantly, as if ice water had been dumped over him.

  Turning, he gave his best stern look, one he'd perfected over the years with his students. "I wasn't making a joke. I'm working on an important project."

  Curiosity flared in Kiyana's brown eyes, ones he was fast becoming able to read. She asked, "What are you researching?"

  He shouldn't tell her. Hell, he hadn't told anyone.

  His dragon murmured, And it's a lonely endeavor. Tell her. What could it hurt?

  She would keep asking questions and might even want to help. So I most definitely don't want to tell her.

  And then Kiyana was next to him, squinting at the page of his book. "The History of Dragon Clan Treaties: 1700 to 1860."

  He closed the book. "You have good eyesight for a human."

  Kiyana peered closer at the cover. "Why are you reading that? Do Lochguard and the other clans in the UK want to form treaties with dragon-shifters in other countries?"

  "If we did, I wouldn't tell you."

  She didn't pay his clipped tone any heed. "Is the book proprietary knowledge, forbidden to humans?"

  Try as he might, Alistair couldn't lie. "No."

  She nodded. "Then when you're done with it, I'd like to read it."

  He frowned. "Why?"

  She raised an eyebrow. "Are you going to tell me why you're reading it?"

  "No."

  "Then until you share, I have no reason to tell you my reasons, do I?"

  His dragon hummed. I like her. She's not afraid of us and treats us as if we were merely another human.

  You just want me to sweet talk her so that maybe she'll kiss us.

  What's wrong with that? Imagine pulling her close, kissing her lips, jaw, neck, and down to her hard nipple…

  The image flashed into his mind. Alistair closed his eyes and growled to his beast, Don't do that.

  Why? She's not going to crawl under the table and check the current status of our cock.

  Kiyana's voice interrupted his inner conversation. "Most dragon-shifters can easily talk with their dragons and jump right back into a conversation with someone else. Is it different for you?"

  His dragon hissed, Of course not. Tell her.

  Opening his eyes, Alistair drew in a breath at how close Kiyana stood. If she leaned a few inches closer, her breast would brush his shoulder.

  And if he turned his head and lowered it a little, it'd be at the perfect height to suckle her nipple through her top.

  Stop it, Alistair. Nothing can come of it, he mentally told himself. Of course, his dragon snorted.

  Careful to keep his voice even and not husky, he shook his head and answered, "No, I can talk as easily with my dragon as anyone else. Maybe I was trying to send another subtle signal for you to leave, but somehow you're still here."

  "Well, you haven't actually asked me to leave."

  His dragon chuckled. She's right.

  "Will you leave, then?"

  She tilted her head. "That depends. Will you let me know when you're done with that book?"

  Fuck, if he said yes, she'd leave but then he'd be forced to talk with her again. Somehow, he didn't think she'd take too kindly to him sending a student on his errand. If Finn got word of him avoiding Kiyana, then his clan leader would probe. And no one wanted to be prodded and questioned by Finn. Charmer he may be, but he was tenacious, too.

  His dragon sighed. Stop being a coward. Just let her know we'll bring it to her. It's not that difficult.

  Alistair grunted. "Fine, I'll let you know when I'm finished with it. Although you'll have to bribe Jhanvi—she's in charge of the archives—heavily to even think of taking it out of this building."

  Kiyana stepped toward the nearest bookcase, and Alistair tamped down his disappoint at how her scent diminished. He watched as she ran a finger over the nearest shelf of books, carefully touching each spine. "I like it in here and don't need to take the book out of the building. Besides, I wouldn't do anything to revoke archive privileges. There's so much knowledge here, stuff that most humans haven't had access to in decades. I almost wish I could stay here my entire time on Lochguard. Not to avoid everyone, but the knowledge will be brilliant, I know it."

  His beast said, She appreciates books as much as we do.

  Maybe, he conceded.

  That kind of female is a rarity. Are you really going to ignore her and risk never finding another one who shares such a major passion of ours?

  He watched as Kiyana continued to read the spines on the shelf above her. Her profile was just as beautiful as her whole face. The urge to kiss every curve and line of it exploded through his body, his lips throbbing in anticipation.

  Kiyana met his gaze and froze. After a beat, she faced him and shook her head. "Sorry, but not going to happen, Alistair."

  He blinked. There was no way she could've read his mind. "What the bloody hell are you talking about?"

  She gestured between them. "Us. The desire is plain in your gaze, but I can't. Just know that I can't, no matter how much I may want to."

  His dragon roared. Then she does want us. Why can't we have her? Ask her. Ask her now.

  Since he was curious as well—even Alistair had some pride—he asked, "Why not?"

  As they stared at one another, sadness flickered in her gaze. "Because if I do, I'll lose everything. My job, my career, my whole life's purpose. Things may be changing between most humans and dragons, but employees of the DDA still aren't allowed to dally with dragons if they wish to remain in the organization."

  His dragon growled, It wouldn't be a dalliance because that implies once or twice. That's not enough. I want to know her better.

  The words gave Alistair an idea, one he should instantly toss away. And yet, if he was to truly understand humans better and pass on the knowledge to his students, he shouldn't shun all of them.

  And so far, Kiyana fascinated him the most.

  Not to mention with her not wanting to sleep with him, it created the perfect barrier. Alistair would never push something that would cause harm, which meant he'd never have sex with Kiyana and ruin her dreams.

  He spoke up. "Then no sex. None. I promise you that."

  She searched his gaze. "Just like that?"

  "Aye. But is there anything in the rules about being friends?"

  Pausing a second, she tapped her chin. It took everything he had not to stare at her long, graceful finger as she did so. "Not that I recall."

  "Good. Then we can share information. Once a week we can meet
here and ask each other questions. No touching, no heated gaze, just two people engaging in a professional relationship."

  His dragon hissed. I don't like that, not at all.

  To me, it's the perfect solution. After all, sex is off the table. And neither of us are dishonorable enough to take everything away from her, aye?

  Of course not. Maybe some rogue dragon-shifters don't have honor, but we most assuredly do. It doesn't mean I won't try to think of a way around it.

  You do that. Although I somehow doubt you have a vast knowledge of the DDA's policies.

  Then maybe I'll work on changing that.

  Kiyana's voice interrupted his conversation with his dragon. "I hope I don't come to regret this, but okay. We'll try it." She narrowed her eyes. "But at the first heated look, I'm out of here and I do my best to steer clear of you."

  "I'll try to hold back, but I can't always control my dragon's emotions. Unlike my human half, he doesn't understand why we should hide emotions."

  At the spark of interest in her eyes, Alistair knew she wanted to know more.

  And while his dragon may cringe at a platonic relationship, it worked well for him.

  His beast spoke up. And what about Mum? She'll ask questions if she finds out.

  Good point. Alistair focused back on Kiyana. "And maybe one more caveat, aye? I have no interest in finding a mate, but my mother will continue to foist females in my direction with the hope of me changing my mind. So if she asks, I'll tell her I have someone. I won't mention names, but maybe we can humor her?"

  "I can't risk that, Alistair. Forgive me, but even I've already learned how much of a gossip your mother is."

  "Aye, she is that. But I will merely tell her we're friends, nothing more. However, she may wink at you occasionally, thinking she's cracked our secret. Still, if there is no proof of a romantic entanglement, the DDA can't reprimand you."

  "Add any more conditions, and we'll need to draw up a written contract so I can remember them all," she drawled.

  His lips twitched. "No more stipulations, I promise. And look at it this way—the less time I have to argue with my mother about finding a female, the more time I can answer your questions."