Fire Maidens Scotland (Billionaires & Bodyguards #6) - Anna Lowe Page 0,35

her made the act feel less like an intrusion and more like… Well, a natural progression. As if the torch had been passed, and another generation had been welcomed to take its place.

Wishful thinking, his dragon sighed. Neither he nor Holly would inherit the property. They were just visitors — most likely, for the very last time.

Holly looked around with eyes that shone with tears. Was she thinking the same thing?

Lachlan ran his hand slowly along the edge of Trevor’s desk.

“Neat as a pin.” Holly forced a smile. “You should see the state I leave my place in.” Then she looked around, frowning. “I wonder if Trevor knew he was leaving for good.”

Lachlan let out a long, slow breath. “Perhaps,” was all he trusted himself to say.

Holly swiveled Trevor’s chair slowly, then shook her head and headed to the sofa facing the fireplace. There, she plopped down, staring at the fire Mrs. Killin had kindled while they’d had their tea. The embers were quietly glowing, casting golden light over her face.

So beautiful, even when she’s sad, Lachlan’s dragon murmured.

She pointed to one of the pictures over the fireplace. “Trevor with some Guardian buddies? I think they were at the reading of the will.”

Lachlan glanced at the photo then back at Holly. She was procrastinating the inevitable, wasn’t she?

Then again, he was happy to do the same. He looked at the photo of Trevor in formal wear with two other men outside Dunwellen Castle, the Guardians’ meeting hall.

“The one on the left is Fergus MacGregor, and the one on the right is his brother Angus — both unicorns. Trevor worked closely with them before he retired.”

Holly nodded slowly. “Fergus seemed okay. The other guy seemed surly.”

He shrugged. “For years, dragons and unicorns have shared power in Scotland. And most want to keep it that way. But Angus has a bit of a bee in his bonnet about dragons threatening to outnumber unicorns on the Council of Guardians.” He waved a hand. “But that’s how it is. There’s always one doomsayer. Angus is already vetting unicorns to take my father’s seat when he retires. No one pays much attention, though.”

“I thought your father already retired.”

Lachlan snorted. “He’ll retire when he dies. But he never attends meetings. He prefers to keep an eye on things here in the Highlands.”

She didn’t say anything, but he could tell the gears were turning in her mind. An open seat on the Council of Guardians…

She looked at him. Really looked, asking an unspoken question. What about you?

Being a Guardian was his dream. His goal ever since he was a child.

Then he frowned, looking at another picture — one of his parents with Trevor and Ava, taken decades earlier.

Our goal or his goal? his dragon murmured as he stared at the image of his father.

Then Lachlan’s eyes flicked away, landing on his mother. Immediately, softer, kinder memories came to his mind. Faint, but still there.

Love. Life. Something told him his mother would have agreed with Trevor on those things.

Holly let out a long breath, bringing his attention back to the present. “Okay, Trevor. We’re in the study. What now?” she whispered, opening the envelope.

Lachlan watched her eyes move over the letter. As she did, her expression went from expectant to surprised, touched, and finally…sad?

“Typical Trevor,” she murmured with a bittersweet smile.

Lachlan waited, burning to hear what other little tidbits of wisdom Trevor might share.

“Mostly business,” Holly finally said, holding the letter out to show him. Then she turned it back and read aloud.

Dear Holly,

Thank you for visiting Creag Aerden yet again. You and your family always brought cheer and life to this otherwise empty place. Even in your absence, the memories of your laughter, smiles, and stories kept me good company.

Holly stopped and gazed around. “Poor Trevor. So alone…”

Lachlan clenched his jaw, picturing himself as an old man, puttering around the echoing halls of his ancestral home. A big, empty place that didn’t harbor any fond memories. Was that his destiny?

Mungo leaned against Holly’s leg, and she petted him absently as she read on.

This letter, alas, is all business. I must ask for your help with three small but important tasks, please. First, Mungo.

The dog’s ears perked, and Holly smiled at him. “Yes, you, Mungo. Good boy.” She tickled his ears before continuing on.

I know I can trust you to find him a good home.

Lachlan hid a smile. Holly had all but adopted the dog already. Then he darkened, picturing her leaving Scotland with only the dog as