Page 14 of Don't Fae With Dragons

Max snorts, but Port nods enthusiastically. “It’s true,” Port says, “I would never challenge you. Especially not now.” He elbows Max under the table, trying in vain to hide the gesture from me, and Max all but rolls his eyes yet again – but does nod.

“To be clear, I don’t mind a challenge, as long as it’s in good sport. And as long as you’re both fine with losing.”

Again, Max rolls his eyes (can he express himself in any other way). “You’ve only fought us today, and you should know Cory that neither of us have been training.”

“Well, why in the Realm haven’t you been?” I ask, daring him to debate me.

Instead, though, Max and Port exchange a small, somber glance. Max looks at me, opens his mouth to speak, but nothing comes out. He settles for a shrug, and Port sighs.

“I think,” Port says, “Max means to say that we’re not exactly sure if it’s safe for us to train right now.”

I frown quietly. “Why wouldn’t it be?”

“Did you miss the part where we’re running away from assassins?” Max scoffs.

“Max!” Port exclaims.

He’s treading on thin ice, speaking so carelessly to me, but I’ll give him a chance to turn it around before I snap. I sigh heavily, keeping my composure, and shake my head. “I didn’t miss that, no,” I say. “I didn’t ever hear from you two, though, how much danger you’re actually in.”

“We’re cursed, is how much danger we’re in,” Max grumbles.

I turn to Port for confirmation, and he nods quietly before staring down at the table.

“Well, that won’t do.”

“Yeah, you don’t say!” Max cries out, angrily.

At that outburst, I jump up at my seat and send my chair flying back. “Enough!” my voice booms. “I have welcomed you both heregraciously. I have been patient while you shoot your snarky comments at me, Max. I let you offeasyinour fight earlier. And you repay me, what, with hostility and ungratefulness?”

Port’s eyes are wide, but Max stares silently down at the table.

“Well? Speak!” I shout at Max.

His head flies up to face me, and I see terror gathering in his eyes. I waver for a second, a moment of genuine concern flying through my senses, before I harden again –they don’t need weakness right now, neither of them. They need a leader, and if I’m the most godsdamned irritating leader they’ve encountered, so be it. At least they’ll be protected if I am strong.

“Max,” I say, voice still as stone. “Don’t wrong me, and I will ensure your safety. Yours and Port’s. I swear to the Realm, I will protect you. Let mehelpyou, damn it!”

He takes a sharp breath and Port pats his back quietly, but he pulls away, rejecting any comfort from his best friend. But then he takes another deep breath in, albeit shakily, and eventually nods. “I’m not used to needing anyone,” he says “other than Port.”

“Well, get used to it,” I say, cracking a tentative smile. “A true alpha leader will do anything to protect others, be strong so you don’t have to be, be there to fight your daemons with you, not judge you for it.”

Max shakes his head, but a hint of a smile appears on his lips. Port’s eyes are shiny with relief – or gratefulness, I’m not sure –and he claps Max on the back again, heartily this time.

I look at both of them appraisingly before turning to Port and holding out a hand to him. “Pack?” I say.

Port looks, eyes wide, at Max. Max seems as shocked as him, though, and after a moment Port turns away from him. He takes my hand, his own shaking slightly, and says, “Pack.”

I turn to Max, then, smiling gladly. “Pack?” I ask again.

Max’s eyes are full of some indiscernible emotion, but he quickly masks it with a casual aloofness. He smirks at me, takes my hand, and says, “Alright, pack.”

“Say it well, now,” I instruct him.

He sighs, but finally says firmly, “Pack.”

“Now to each other,” I tell them.

Port laughs and faces a now-smiling Max, and they clasp each others’ hands. “Pack?” I ask them once more. “Pack!” they reply in unison. I stand up from the table and move around to them, clapping them both on the back as they laugh broadly. Port clasps me tightly, eyes sparkling with secret emotion. Max shakes my hand firmly, and nods to cement the new bond.

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