Since it was merely his sister, he blurted, "Do you know something about Mum that I don't?"
She turned toward him and scowled. He knew that look as well—I'm not going to answer. She said, "Just watch her, aye? If she starts slipping into depression again, like after Dad died and when the doctors said she was dying, ring me straightaway, and I'll talk with her."
Aye, his sister was most definitely hiding something. "Anything else?"
"Ensure she eats enough and doesn't work too hard. That should help her loads."
Both man and beast wondered if their mother was sicker than before or not. Connor had never been good at emotion-filled conversations, though.
But he probably would have to find a time to ask her.
His dragon grunted. I have my own suspicions, but I'm waiting to see if she tells you first.
Wait, what? Now you're keeping secrets from me?
Mum is a far more private person than anyone else in the family. Unless it threatens her life, I'm going to let her determine when to share.
Now his bloody dragon was trying to protect him. I'm nearly twenty-five years old. I can handle whatever it is.
Just be patient. We and our siblings bulldoze to get information. That doesn't work with everyone. You should know that, given how Aimee is.
He did, but it didn't mean he liked it when it came to his own mother.
However, his dragon fell silent, and he finally replied to Cat, "I'll watch her. But if anything bad is about to happen, tell me, aye?"
Cat nodded. "Of course I will."
Rather than think about how strange it was not to have Cat at home and taking charge when needed, he decided to change the subject and focus on his sister and her human to lighten the mood. He elbowed her in the side. "Broken any more beds lately?"
Her cheeks turned red. "How did you hear about that?"
He grinned. "I'm friends with the bloke who carted off the old one and replaced it."
She looked up toward the sky with a sigh. "I swear, Lochguard is one big gossip mill."
He shrugged. "Just try not to make it a habit, or not only will everyone tease you about your dragon trying to break your human, you two will go broke fairly quickly from buying so many new beds."
She glared, and he laughed, the tension clearly broken.
It's what Connor loved to do—lighten the mood and make people laugh.
And he was determined to hear Aimee laugh at least once if it killed him.
Chapter Fifteen
It was the week before the human and dragon-shifter artists were due to arrive when Cat first jumped out of bed in the morning and raced to the bathroom.
At first, Lachlan had wondered what was wrong. But as the sounds of vomiting filled his ears, he grimaced.
Since they'd eaten the same meal the night before—not to mention he'd shared Cat's late-night snack—he had a feeling it was morning sickness.
Which was, of course, his fault.
He rose and knocked at the door.
Cat shouted, "Go away."
He knocked again. "Not until you tell me if there's anything I can do."
"You've done enough already," she got out before some more heaving sounds came from the other side of the door.
He fully expected shame and guilt to wash through him. But unlike with the damage he'd caused with his friends and family more than ten years ago, this was different.
Aye, she wouldn't be pregnant without him, but he couldn't be sorry about her carrying his child.
Over the weeks, Lachlan had grown used to the idea. And as he'd watched the other parents with young children on Lochguard, he'd started to wonder if he could make silly noises and faces or play peekaboo with the same joy as the others.
And while it was still hard for him to hope he could be a good father, he didn't instantly dismiss the notion anymore.
He waited until Cat eventually emerged. Before she could do more than glare, he took her hand and kissed her fingers. "I'm sorry but not sorry at the same time."
Her glare slipped, and she leaned against his chest. Lachlan's arms instantly went around her.
They stood like that for a few beats before Cat finally said, "I know. I'm not sorry either. But I still get to blame you for all pregnancy-related matters. It's only fair."
He laid his cheek against the top of her head. "Blame away. I owe you so much already, and I'll do anything to repay it."
She leaned back and frowned. "What are you talking about?"
He brushed some of her hair behind her ear. "If not for you, I would be in a cottage by myself, keeping my distance and obsessing over the past. Instead, I'm here with a beautiful woman in my arms who carries my child, making me think I can have more than I ever imagined."
She placed a hand on his cheek. "Lachlan."
"It's true. Maybe some would think the last weeks were boring, what with us both getting things ready for the collective, not to mention helping your family and the other tasks we do for the clan. But to me, it's been heaven, Cat. You've made a lonely man not so lonely anymore."
She shook her head. "It's not just me. We're a team, so we help each other. Having you to lean on whenever I get frustrated, or irritated, or any multitude of adjectives I use about my family has been a lifesaver."
As he stared into her eyes, he knew he loved this woman with his whole heart.
But Lachlan being Lachlan, he was far too cautious to say it until he was more certain things would go right. Maybe it was selfish or unfair to Cat, but so much could still go wrong, and he didn't want to hurt her even a little if they did.
So instead of words, he leaned down and kissed her cheek. He murmured something he never would've dared before meeting Cat. "I'd kiss you, but I'm not sure if you brushed your teeth."
She lightly hit his chest. "Of course I did, although maybe I shouldn't next time just to keep you guessing."
He smiled against her cheek. "That just means you'll have to deal with the nasty taste yourself, and you'd hate that."
She sighed. "You're right. I'll just have to come up with something else."
"And I look forward to it."
He kissed her, taking his time to tease her lips and the corners of her mouth before he slid his tongue inside.
She groaned into his mouth and pressed her breasts against his bare chest.
And even though he'd had her more times than he could count by now, his cock hardened, and he needed to claim her again.
Lachlan broke the kiss to scoop her into his arms. However, he'd barely taken a step when Cat said, "Put me down."
Her face was pale, and he did as she asked.
Cat took a second, steadying herself against him, before murmuring, "I think sex is going to have to wait this morning."
He took her hand and held it over his heart. "Do you want to lie down? Or try eating or drinking something simple to settle your stomach?"
She smiled at him, and it was as if the sun broke through the clouds.
Cat motioned toward the door. "Some toast might help. Just walk slowly, aye? No sudden movements right now. Even if my stomach's empty, I'd rather not dry heave if I can help it."
They made their way to the kitchen, and as Lachlan went about making some hot chocolate and toast for Cat, he hummed the whole time. When he'd been a child, he'd hated being forced to take care of his mother and sister. Because each time, it only reminded him of the power his father had over them all.