"Mairwen, this is Mr. Ewan Dalton of Skybern," I said, wrapping one arm around my omega, stroking my other hand from the tip of her chin down her throat, the flush increasing at my touch, more perfume blooming eagerly. Mairwen blinked at me, her pupils growing wider, and it took her a moment to tear her stare from mine to notice the stranger.

She leaned back in my arms for a moment, shrinking. Then, as if catching herself, her shoulders and spine straightened, and she offered the dazed man a steady smile.

"How do you do, Mr. Dalton," she greeted, a pristinely creamy and delicate hand raising in offering.

I met Niall's gaze as Ewan stumbled closer, accepting Mairwen's hand and bowing low over her knuckles. Niall's lips twitched, and he nodded to me—a concession.

"Omega Cadogan, an honor," Ewan rasped.

I cleared my throat in warning, and the man jumped back, his legs hitting the seat of his chair. Mairwen looked back up to me, eyebrows slightly raised. I brushed my thumb down the line of her spine, wanting to dismiss Ewan immediately and reward her for…for being her, really.

"Mr. Dalton arrived with news of an impending Flight of Alphas," I explained. Mairwen's eyes widened, and she glanced between us, her breath catching and pressing her breasts to strain against the squared collar of her dress. "I think Mairwen ought to join me at the Flight, don't you, Dalton?"

The man huffed out a laugh, still gazing in shock at my omega. I twisted my arm tighter around her, tugging her chest to lean against me. He'd stared quite enough for my taste.

"I absolutely agree, Lord Cadogan," Ewan said, ducking in respect to me. I swallowed my growl as his gaze darted to Mairwen's round hips.

"I'm going to say something I think you won't like to hear."

My steps scuffed over the stone floor, and I shot an exasperated glare at Niall. We were on our way to dinner, which I had sent word to Mairwen would be in the dining hall, doing my best to ignore my brother's goading look.

"Have you considered not saying it?" I answered dryly.

Niall grinned. "Almost since the beginning."

I sighed and scuffed a hand over my face, wondering if I was about to come to blows with my brother. We'd done it plenty as young men growing up together. My father had even tried to set us against one another, although that had generally failed, for we were never enemies of one another more than we were enemies of him.

"I worry your regard for Mairwen will make her a target," Niall said, hands clasped behind his back, hidden under his tucked wings.

I blinked and continued walking. "Ah."

"I am happy for you, Ronson. And as you know, I said from the start that she was⁠—"

I shoved at Niall's shoulder, and he laughed as he bounced off the wall of the hallway.

"You think I shouldn't have introduced her to Dalton," I said.

"Not exactly. I trust Ewan's interest is in our favor. And I do think it's about time to correct misconceptions about Mairwen's suitability as your omega. But it isn't just tales of her remarkable perfume he's left here with. He'd be a fool to have failed to notice your response to her."

"He seemed awfully busy with his own response," I grumbled.

Niall shrugged. "Perhaps. But if it'd been Gamesby in the room today⁠—"

"I would've made Mairwen a target. Yes, I know," I rasped. We were nearing the stairs down to the dining hall and I slowed, shaking my head. "I wasn't expecting…" It was unfair to admit what I'd thought of Mairwen in the beginning. "She is…"

Niall reached for my shoulders, gripping me by the arms. "What she is to you, brother, is plain to see. All I'm saying is that perhaps you should attempt to make it slightly less so when around men we don't trust."

I frowned. Mairwen deserved to have me making a fool of myself over her in front of all of dragonkin, not just the isle. But Niall was right. I wanted her safe at my side for many years to come, not in the arrow sights of one of Gamesby's plots.

What if there is an heir? What if she didn't drink the tea? What if…

We reached the bottom of the stairs, and I stopped still. Mairwen was smiling, her arm wrapped around Beatrice's, the pair of them laughing softly. She twisted, glancing over her shoulder at me, eyes bright and welcoming, and my entire body lurched in her direction at the rough tug from within my chest.

She is mine.

I would do what I must to keep her that way.

OceanofPDF.com

Chapter Twenty-FiveMAIRWEN

“My lady."

"I have been wondering if perhaps the cream sauce and the souffle won't make the meal too rich after all," I said, chewing on my lip as I hovered over Cook Guinney's great tome. The pages open revealed a shocking collection of scribbles from my edits.

"Omega Cadogan," the older woman snapped.

I flinched and glanced up, and Cook sighed, gently prying her book from my clammy grip.

"There will be no more changes made to tonight's dinner, Omega Cadogan," she said with rare patience.

"I just want⁠—"

"It to be perfect. So you've said." If I wasn't mistaken, there was a hint of a smile on her lips. "And I will do my best for you, Mairwen. But you must leave my kitchen. Please," she added with a roll of her eyes.

I fidgeted, and her eyes narrowed. My lips parted, and the human woman made a not un-dragon-like growl.

"Yes, Cook Guinney," I relented with a sigh.

"Find your alpha, girl," the woman muttered, marching away, and I wasn't sure if she really meant me to hear the words. "Surely he can keep you out of my hair for a few more hours."

My lips twitched, and I twisted and wove through the busy staff of the castle. Her suggestion was not a bad one. Ronson had wrestled me back into bed when I'd tried to rise before the sun, and while Niall had caught him for a quick question earlier, I knew Ronson's aim today had been to soothe my nerves.

Which were rioting.

One would think I was preparing for the Flight of Alphas, not the simple dinner planned for my parents' visit. Except that I knew what to expect from my parents, and that was so much worse than the prospect of the unknown.

"There you are."

My breath caught and I gazed up the stairs to find Ronson at the top, his wings blocking the light from the windows behind them.

"More dresses from Miss Pettyfer arrived. I thought you might⁠—"

"Would you take me flying?" I called up to him.

He was quiet for a moment, and I caught a glimpse of his handsome profile, so strong and sharp. "It's chilly today…but yes, a short one. You wouldn't rather see the dresses?"

I hurried up toward Ronson. I was more used to the excessive climbing and walking this castle took now, but the flights of stairs still left me breathless. He caught my waist before I'd reached the top of the flight, and I laughed as he lifted me the rest of the way, clutching me to his chest.

"There isn't much I'd rather be doing than flying with you, if I'm honest," I said, looping my arms around his neck.

Ronson took me for morning flights when Niall wasn't dragging him to business straight away. I'd grown addicted to the wind against my skin, the view from high above the isle and the water, the touch of morning rays on my cheeks.