Chapter 17

SEVENTEEN

“ C at,” Keir interrupted gently, squeezing her hand. “You’re my mate. My family has been waiting centuries for me to find you. Trust me, they’re more than ready.”

A blush crept up Cat’s cheeks. “I keep forgetting about the whole mate thing,” she admitted. “It still feels a bit surreal.”

Keir’s heart clenched. He knew the concept of mates, of a bond that transcended time and space, was foreign to her. Human relationships, even the deepest and most committed, paled in comparison to the connection between dragon mates.

“I know it’s a lot to take in,” he said softly. “But I promise you, Cat, there’s nothing to be nervous about. My family will love you.”

Cat nodded, taking a deep breath. “Okay. So, what should I expect? Any dragon customs I should know about?”

Keir chuckled, relieved by her willingness to embrace his world. “Nothing too outlandish,” he assured her. “Though my mother might try to feed you enough for three people. It’s a dragon thing—we show affection through food.”

“That explains a lot,” Cat teased, gesturing to the elaborate breakfast spread before them.

As they finished eating and began to get ready for work, Keir found himself constantly drawn to Cat’s side. He couldn’t resist stealing kisses as she applied her makeup, or running his hands over her curves as she buttoned up her blouse. His dragon rumbled with satisfaction each time she leaned into his touch.

The workday flew by in a whirlwind of meetings and last-minute preparations for the game launch. Keir marveled at how seamlessly Cat had integrated herself into the team, her brilliant mind and innovative ideas pushing the project to new heights. As they pored over schematics and testing data, he caught himself staring more than once, struck by the fierce concentration in her eyes.

As evening approached, Keir ushered Cat out of the office, ignoring her protests about unfinished tasks. “The work will still be there tomorrow,” he insisted, guiding her to the elevator with a hand on the small of her back. “Tonight is about family.”

Back at the penthouse, Keir changed into a crisp button-down and dark jeans while Cat disappeared into the walk-in closet. When she emerged, his breath caught in his throat. She wore a deep green wrap dress that hugged her curves perfectly, her hair cascading in soft waves around her shoulders.

“You look stunning, kitty cat,” Keir murmured, pulling her close for a kiss.

Cat smiled against his lips. “You clean up pretty well yourself, Mr. Dragon.”

The drive to his parents’ sprawling estate in the countryside north of the city passed quickly, filled with easy conversation and the occasional burst of laughter. As they pulled up to the grand stone mansion, however, Keir sensed Cat’s nervousness returning.

“Hey,” he said softly, cutting the engine. “Remember, they already love you. You’re the woman who tamed the eternal bachelor, remember?”

Cat rolled her eyes, but her smile was genuine. “Right. No pressure or anything.”

Keir led her up the sweeping front steps, his hand a comforting presence on her lower back. Before he could knock, the massive oak door swung open, revealing his mother’s beaming face.

“There you are!” Vivianne exclaimed, pulling them both into a warm embrace. “Come in, come in! Everyone’s waiting to meet you properly, Cat dear.”

As they entered the formal dining room, Keir couldn’t help but grin at Cat’s wide-eyed expression. The long mahogany table was set with fine china and crystal, elaborate floral centerpieces running its length.

“Good lord,” Cat whispered, “did you rob Buckingham Palace?”

Keir chuckled, guiding her to a seat. “Wait till you see the cutlery drawer. We could fund a small country with the silver alone.”

Vivianne, overhearing, laughed as she took her place at the head of the table. “Oh, darling, that’s nothing. You should see the vault downstairs. I swear, half the crown jewels ended up there after a particularly wild night in 1705.”

Cat’s jaw dropped. “You’re joking, right?”

“Of course, she is,” Harris rumbled, winking at Cat. “It was 1706.”

As servers began bringing out the first course, Amelia leaned across the table, her eyes sparkling with mischief. “So, Cat, has my dear brother shown you his baby pictures yet? Because let me tell you, there’s this one of him in the bathtub?—”

“Amelia,” Keir growled, his cheeks flushing.

“Oh come on, Keir,” Cat teased, “I bet you were adorable. All chubby cheeks and tiny claws.”

Harris let out a booming laugh. “Chubby is right! Nearly sank the tub. Took three of us to lift him out.”

“Dad!” Keir protested, but he couldn’t hide his smile.

Vivianne chimed in, her eyes twinkling. “Oh, but you should have seen him when he first tried to fly. Bounced right off the castle walls like a rubber ball. We had to put padding all around the courtyard.”

Cat nearly choked on her wine, giggling. “Please tell me there’s video.”

“Even better,” Amelia grinned, pulling out her phone. “Magical paintings that move. Like in Harry Potter, but way cooler.”

As Amelia pulled up the images, showing a chubby dragon hatchling bouncing comically off stone walls, the table erupted in laughter. Keir buried his face in his hands, but Cat could see the smile he was trying to hide.

“I hate you all,” he muttered, but there was no heat in it.

“No, you don’t,” Cat said, patting his arm. “You love us. Especially me, because I now have excellent blackmail material.”

As the laughter died down, Vivianne turned to Cat with a warm smile. “Now, dear, tell us more about your work. Keir says you’re absolutely brilliant with technology.”

Cat blushed, but before she could respond, Keir jumped in. “Brilliant doesn’t even begin to cover it. You should see her code. It’s like... like...”

“Poetry?” Harris suggested.

“A symphony?” Amelia offered.

“The Sistine Chapel ceiling, but with ones and zeros,” Keir finished proudly.

Cat rolled her eyes, but she was smiling. “Great, now I’m going to have performance anxiety every time I open my laptop.”

“Don’t worry, dear,” Harris said, raising his glass. “In this family, we appreciate all forms of art. Even the kind that makes computers do the cha-cha.”

As the main course arrived—a veritable feast of traditional Scottish dishes—Cat eyed the food warily. “So, do I need to sign a waiver before eating this, or...”

Keir laughed, serving her a small portion. “It’s not as scary as it looks. Think of it as... Scottish sausage surprise.”

“The surprise being that it’s actually delicious,” Amelia added, already digging in.

Cat took a tentative bite, her eyebrows rising in surprise. “Huh. Not bad. Kinda like a spicy oatmeal.”

“That’s my girl,” Vivianne beamed. “Now, who wants to tell Cat about the time Keir accidentally set fire to his own kilt during the Highland games?”

Keir groaned. “Mother, please?—”

But it was too late. The story came out, complete with wild hand gestures from Amelia and sound effects from Harris. By the end, Cat was laughing so hard, tears streamed down her face.

“I can’t believe you singed off your own eyebrows,” she gasped between giggles.

Keir shrugged, a rueful smile on his face. “What can I say? I was a late bloomer when it came to fire control. Took me a century to master it.”

“A century?” Cat’s eyes widened. “And here I thought learning to code was time-consuming.”

As dessert—an enormous sticky toffee pudding—was served, Vivianne leaned forward, her expression suddenly serious. “Now, Cat dear, there’s something very important we need to discuss.”

Cat straightened, nervousness flashing across her face. “Yes?”

“When can we expect grandchildren?”

“Mother!” Keir exclaimed, nearly choking on his pudding.

Cat’s face turned bright red, but she recovered quickly. “Well,” she said, a mischievous glint in her eye, “that depends. How long does dragon gestation last? Because if it’s anything like your lifespans, I might need to clear my schedule for the next decade or two.”

The table erupted in laughter once more, Vivianne clapping her hands in delight. “Oh, I do like her, Keir. She’s quick.”

As the evening wound down, filled with more stories, laughter, and an obscene amount of food, Keir found himself overwhelmed with happiness. Watching Cat fit so seamlessly into his family, trading quips with Amelia and earnestly discussing history with his father, he knew he’d made the right choice in bringing her into his world.

When they finally said their good-byes, amid hugs and promises of future visits, Amelia pulled Cat aside for one last sisterly chat.

“Just remember,” she whispered conspiratorially, “if he ever gets too high and mighty, remind him of the Great Kilt Incident of 1850. Works every time.”

Cat grinned, linking her arm through Keir’s as they walked to the car. “Oh, don’t worry. I’ve got plenty of ammunition now.”

Keir groaned dramatically, but he couldn’t keep the smile off his face. “I’ve created a monster,” he lamented.

“Nope,” Cat replied cheerfully. “You’ve created a Sharpe. And from what I’ve seen tonight, that’s a far more terrifying prospect.”

As they drove home under the starry sky, Keir’s heart felt full to bursting.

They settled in for the night after getting back to his penthouse, curled together on the couch with a bowl of popcorn and a romantic comedy playing on the massive TV screen, Keir found himself only half-watching the movie. His attention was captured by Cat’s reactions—the way she laughed at the cheesy jokes, the soft “aww” she let out at particularly sweet moments.

“I thought you didn’t like rom-coms,” he teased, pressing a kiss to her temple.

Cat snuggled closer, not taking her eyes off the screen. “I have no idea what you’re talking about,” she insisted. “I’m only watching this for your benefit.”

Keir chuckled, tightening his arm around her. As the movie’s predictable plot unfolded, his mind wandered to the days ahead. The game launch loomed large, bringing with it a mix of excitement and anxiety. He knew the threats from Obsidian Tech were far from over, and the thought of Cat in danger made his dragon snarl with protective rage.

But for now, in this moment, with his mate safe in his arms and the warmth of family surrounding them, Keir allowed himself to simply be content. Whatever challenges lay ahead, they would face them together. And that, he realized, made all the difference in the world.