Chapter Twenty-Two
As the nurse Arlanna wheeled her into place inside the conference room, Teagan looked to Lara and Trevina, the two human Irish DDA liaisons.
Since it was still illegal for a human female to mate a dragon-shifter male—Ireland lacked the freedoms or even the sacrifice program of the UK—the DDA almost always sent females to deal with the dragon clans. That way, no attachments would be formed or at least pursued, unless the DDA employees wanted to be imprisoned.
Her dragon huffed. I don’t know why it’s okay for human males to mate a dragon-shifter but not a female in Ireland.
Like with most things, men usually gain the right first unless there are special circumstances, such as with the British sacrifice program.
The British sacrifice program enlisted compatible human females to sign contracts and live with the dragon-shifters for six months. While there, the female attempted to conceive a child with an assigned dragon-shifter male; if successful, she stayed until the baby was born. In return for their participation, the female received a vial of dragon’s blood that could cure many diseases, or they could sell it for money. Since the program had started in the 1980s in the UK, Ireland had been too busy with other domestic problems to follow suit.
Teagan had never thought much about the rights of human females to mate male dragon-shifters, but maybe it was another thing she should add to her list of things to do.
Her beast chimed in. Let’s take care of this first and then you can plan how to change Ireland for the better.
Once Aaron took his seat next to her, Teagan focused back on the DDA liaisons. Since she’d dealt with Trevina before, she smiled at the human. “We never seem to meet under happy circumstances, do we?”
The human didn’t smile. “There’s no time for jokes or chitchat today, Teagan. Two dragon-shifters are dead, one is in custody, and pictures, as well as a short video, have leaked all over the Internet. The DDA is being stretched thin to prevent outright chaos, and my superiors want a scapegoat.”
Teagan replied, “I was careful to check that the surroundings were empty. The only ones who could’ve leaked anything were the farmers in the vicinity.”
“Aye, but that was all it took,” Trevina stated. “The only good thing from it all is the video begins with the other party attacking you. We’ll question”—she looked down at a file—“Hugh Burns later. For now, we need an official statement from you. Tell us what happened and I’ll report it to my superior. Make it convincing or you might become the scapegoat and suffer the consequences.”
Teagan raised her brows. “There shouldn’t be any consequences for self-defense.”
Trevina shrugged. “Perhaps. But you must understand that we need to ease the public’s fears and ensure them that dragons won’t come to terrorize their homes. As it is, our sources have reported talk of a possible dragon war. Is one brewing?”
Teagan sat taller in her chair. She wondered if she’d ever get to tell her story what with how Trevina kept jumping around from topic to topic. “Those who attacked me were upset at Glenlough having a female leader. The leaked pictures and video have another consequence—they should deter anyone else from challenging me for not being male. Between dragon-shifter turning against dragon-shifter, the resulting deaths, and garnering the DDA’s notice, it should quell any more thoughts of war or conquest.”
At least for the time being, not that Teagan was going to mention that.
The other human, Lara, finally spoke up. “Or will their deaths only encourage the foolish, macho ones to have a go and prove they’re better?”
“Look, there will always be male arseholes who think they’re better than females since history tends to teach males are superior in all ways, apart from childbirth. I’m sure you deal with it yourselves inside the DDA. You’ve never had a female DDA director in Ireland. Most of the higher-ups are male, too. Doesn’t that just make you want to work harder and show them you can do a better job through your actions?” Teagan asked.
Trevina cleared her throat. “I’m all for equal rights, Teagan. But it’s a bit different working through the ranks and gaining promotions. We don’t turn into dragons and scare the bejesus out of others.”
Her dragon growled. Why do they always paint us as monsters?
Because it’s easier and it attracts more eyes.
As Teagan searched her brain for another approach, Aaron laid his hand on her thigh under the table and squeezed.
He believed in her.
Drawing on his support, Teagan said, “If there is another incident and more males come calling for a challenge, I will step down and hand myself over to you.” She focused her gaze on Trevina. “You’ve worked with me for years, Vina. Whilst my word should be good enough, I will sign anything you like to satisfy the DDA, provided it’s fair.”
The two DDA employees glanced at each other. It was Lara who spoke first. “That may placate our bosses. However, there is one other requirement. Everyone who visited for the leadership trials and isn’t officially part of Glenlough must return home as soon as possible. I understand some of them are ill and they will be given time to recover. But we’ll check back over the next few weeks to ensure compliance. Any violation of visitors without our approval will also result in you giving up your position.”
The first thought that entered Teagan’s mind was that Aaron would have to go home to England.
Just picturing her cottage empty again, with no male harping on about her mess or cooking her dinner, made her heart heavy.
Her dragon growled. They can’t send him away. He’s ours.
Not officially. Putting aside that he may not want to take a mate, making it official will cause more problems.
The clan will stand by you. The only question is whether you want Aaron regardless of the consequences or not.
She glanced at Aaron. I do.
Then we will find a way. Get rid of the DDA first and then we can talk with him.
Aaron patting her thigh brought her back to the present. She spoke again. “As long as the rule about no visitors can be revisited in a month or two, I’ll agree.”
Trevina folded her hands in front of her. “You’re not in much of a position to bargain, Teagan.”
“I disagree. If you revisit the ruling, I will also reach out to the other Irish clans and work on establishing alliances. If some or all of us sign a treaty, that will make your jobs easier.”
“We can possibly allow other Irish dragon-shifters to visit, especially since many members of Glenlough no doubt have relatives living in other parts of the country. If the higher-ups approve of it, then how about once you get at least one clan to sign the treaty, we’ll revisit the rule about no visitors from other countries. I can’t guarantee the new restriction will change even if you sign an alliance with every dragon clan in Ireland, but your actions will help sway members of the DDA into fighting for you.”
Teagan knew that was the best offer she would get. She nodded. “Deal. Put it in writing. Once it’s signed, I’ll start reaching out to other clans, but not before. I’ll also put my account in writing and have it witnessed. That should be easier for both sides when it comes to finding out the truth.”
Trevina stood and Lara followed suit. The former picked up her paperwork and said, “We’ll send the paperwork in the next few days. I expect your report before then.” Trevina glanced to the bandage around Teagan’s neck and back to her face. “Although, if your condition worsens, you have my direct line. Let me know and I’ll ensure you have a few more days.”
“Thank you, Vina.”
Trevina waved a hand in dismissal. “Not even dragon-shifters are invincible. And to be honest, you’re easier to work with than many others, so my offer isn’t completely altruistic.”
If Lara wasn’t in the room, Teagan would press for even more time with Trevina to better understand the human female for future negotiations. However, Lara was newer and more ambitious; Teagan wouldn’t do anything to risk Trevina’s reputation for results with dragon-shifters by delaying their more important task of collecting Hugh.
Lara spoke up. “We just need to secure the prisoner and we’ll return to Galway.”
The Irish DDA’s main headquarters was in Dublin, but Galway’s branch handled Glenlough.
Teagan looked to Aaron. Even though all he’d done was touch her leg, his presence had helped her. Still, he deserved to do more. Maybe then Trevina would warm up to the idea of Aaron staying on Glenlough, even without a mating.
Her beast huffed. Let’s hope it doesn’t come to that.
She ignored her dragon and asked Aaron, “Will you take them?” Aaron bobbed his head and Teagan looked back to the human females. “I apologize for not taking you myself, but I’m also recovering from a fever in addition to my wounds. However, call me with any questions that may come up or anything you learn from Hugh.”
Trevina raised a dark eyebrow. “He hasn’t talked to you?”
“Not much. Now that I’m on the mend, I intend to do a full-scale investigation. You’ll be one of the first to know what I find, Vina.”
Aaron stood. He smiled at the women, his teeth flashing, and Teagan wanted to growl. She knew that smile. He was going to flirt with them.
Her dragon spoke up. The DDA could do with a little charming. It means nothing to him.
I know. Jealousy is unlike me. But we just got him back and I want to spend time with him.
We will, soon enough. And once he’s officially our mate, jealousy will fade.
Teagan wasn’t sure it would entirely go away, but it would help. After all, Aaron was a rare dragonman, willing to support a female and not be constantly insecure or try to take over her job. Him supporting her during the meeting had washed away any lingering doubts about him changing or growing tired of her being clan leader.
Her dragon snorted. About time.
A few seconds after Aaron had ushered the DDA females out, the nurse came into the room to wheel her back to the surgery.
However, despite telling Ronan she’d return right after her meeting, there was something she needed to do first. Teagan looked up at Arlanna. “My grandmother should be in my office. I need to see her.”
To her credit, Arlanna changed course without a word and headed toward Teagan’s office.
But Teagan wasn’t anxious to see her gran. No, her ultimate goal was to see her brother.
~~~
Killian O’Shea, or at least that was the name people kept calling him, looked through the pages of photographs in front of him for the tenth time. He was supposed to know everyone he saw.
Yet they all were strangers. Not even the backdrops were familiar. Seeing himself in some of the photos only frustrated him more.
Pushing the binder away, he stood up and paced. Well, he paced as much as his chains allowed.
Waking up and not knowing his identity was one thing, but to have people constantly saying he should know so-and-so and forcing it down his throat was another. And he may not know exactly what kind of man he was, but he knew in his bones he wasn’t the type to sit around and do nothing. Hell, the muscles and scars on his body alone spoke of an active and possibly dangerous lifestyle.
And yet, all the people who supposedly cared about him didn’t seem to mention that fact, let alone allow him out to see the bloody sky again.
He heard the door open and he turned around. The young and somewhat pretty woman with short, dark hair and brown eyes named Brenna stood there. Since she was the only one to accept his amnesia and not keep pushing him to remember her, he was actually glad to see her. Interacting freely may give him a better understanding of himself.
Brenna put down a tray laden with scones, ham sandwiches, and tea and pushed it closer to him. She waved at the offerings. “I brought both sweet and savory. One should please your taste buds.”
He frowned. “I’d like it a hell of a lot more if you took off my chains.”
“I can’t do that, Killian. You know that, so stop asking.” She took a step closer but was still out of his reach. “Besides, you have a visitor.”
“If it’s another fucking person come to tell me how we grew up together or how our bloody dragons would fly together, I’m going to toss a chair at them.”
She placed her hands on her hips. “Do that and you’ll never go free. Use your common sense.”
He growled. “Why can’t everyone let me be?”
Brenna whispered, “Because you’re too important.”
Before he could reply to that, someone knocked on the door. Brenna opened it to reveal a dark-haired woman in a wheelchair. She had one of those tattoos on her bicep that everyone seemed to have.
Like the one that he’d seen on his own arm in one of the pictures, but it had apparently been lasered off his arm.
Not wanting to think about how that probably verified the stories he’d heard, he studied the new arrival. Unlike most of his visitors, her eyes were neutral and assessing him. She also radiated confidence and a posture that said not to fuck with her. The wheelchair didn’t diminish her power one bit.
He had to admit he was curious to see what she said about him.
As silence stretched, he grunted. “I would ask who you are, but the answer won’t mean anything to me. So, what do you want?”
Something flickered in the woman’s eyes but quickly disappeared. She shrugged. “I just came to see how you’re doing. You might want to be nice to me, though. I’m the person who says where you stay and also decides what happens to you.”
He moved as far as his chains would allow, but the woman was out of reach by several meters. “Then tell me this: when can I go free?” He shook his chains. “I’m not an animal to be chained.”
“It’s for your own protection more than anything.”
He growled. “Don’t give me that bullshit reason. If I were a threat, you’d have killed me already. You also wouldn’t be showing me pictures of your people. From what I gather, this is a type of close-knit community. Therefore, you must trust me.”
“For someone who doesn’t remember his former self, you’re fairly perceptive,” the female said. “I wasn’t expecting that.”
Not wanting to hear memories that meant nothing to him, he leaned forward. “Either tell me what’s going to happen to me or get out. I’m in no mood for humor.”
The woman studied him a second before saying, “Call me Teagan. And I’m going to move you to a secure cottage, complete with security and guards. You’ll have free roam of the house, but if you try to escape, you’ll be sedated or detained at any cost.”
“If you’re waiting for me to weep and thank you for the bread crumbs, it’s not going to happen.”
She raised her brows. “I didn’t ask for anything, did I? Now, are you going to let me finish? Otherwise you can rot in here for a few more days. Then we’ll see what mood you’re in. I’m sure you’ll be pretty fucking grateful then.”
Well, it seemed he had another female to add to his list of not completely hating. Her honesty was better than pity or hope.
He motioned with his hand for her to continue and she said, “As for your release, even you should realize it’s dangerous to let an amnesiac run around. My people will look after you until the doctor thinks you can survive on your own.”
“I’m not a fucking child,” he spat out.
“No, you’re not. But what you may not realize is that you’re a walking target, probably with a bounty on your head. I know you don’t know why at the moment, but you’ll find out in time. It’d be pointless and time-consuming to explain it now. If necessary, you’ll be briefed when I give the word.” Teagan looked to Brenna. “I’ll leave you in charge of securing an empty cottage and devising its security. Once the basics are in place, find me. We need to talk.”
Brenna frowned. “I don’t like the sound of that, Teagan. What’s going on?”
Teagan’s eyes darted to him and back to Brenna. “Not here.”
He clenched his fingers. More fucking secrets. How was he supposed to try to remember anything if no one told him anything important?
With a nod, Teagan wheeled herself out of the room. He looked to Brenna. “I guess that means I’m beholden to your whims.”
The corner of her mouth ticked up. “I suppose so. Behave, and I won’t move you to the old dungeons inside the great hall.”
He fought the urge to tease her. The female’s smile was infectious.
Instead, Killian grunted. “Just go. The sooner you have everything ready, the sooner I can leave this blasted room.”
After another beat, Brenna left with a wave.
Killian sat back down at the table and flipped through the pages inside the binder again until he found the picture of the woman named Teagan. She stood in the picture, dressed in a flowing dress tied over one shoulder. Something was familiar about her, but he couldn’t place it.
He closed the binder and tossed it against the far wall.