Page 32 of Tempting Her Dragons

This is important. These people are important. I have to have them accept my mates. I want King and Mav to feel at home. I won’t be able to give them up even if it goes bad. It would kill me to have to choose.

King starts up the stairs, and Mav is at my heels, his palm pressing against my ass. I have to smile; his possessiveness and worry over my dress pleases me.

King turns at the top and lifts a brow. “Third room down,” I inform him. He continues over the balcony walkway in front of the open-style rooms. I hear Sally’s laughter, and it puts me at ease. I know I have my friend on my side.

“Holy shit,” she squeals as she spots us. “Saph, your men are fine.” She sprints over, wrapping her arms around my waist and hugging me tight. I can’t squeeze back since my mates won’t release my hands.

“Hey, Sally.” She pulls back, her hands patting my hips.

“I love this dress,” she says. “You look like fire.” I look over my shoulder at Mav, and he smirks. “You said the shorts were too short.” I roll my eyes.

“You want to let them in the room?” Laken grumbles, and it’s Sally’s turn for an eye roll.

“Of course, big man,” she says, sliding away.

Everyone is here. I mean everyone. The room is open, with three long couches along the walls and a round table in the middle filled with food. The guys face them, guiding me between them.

“I will say this once,” I say, glaring. “This is Kingston and Maverick.” I pull up our joined hands with their names. “Be nice. No grilling them. If they want to volunteer information, they will. They are my mates, so I expect good behavior from all of you.”

“I was nice,” Ryker says dryly.

“I didn’t kill them,” Laken says, his arm wrapped around Penny’s waist.

“Laken,” Penny warns. “You will be nice.” I love Penny; she has become a sister.

“It was a close call,” Bishop says seriously, but his eyes crinkle.

Micah is stretched out in his seat, Daisy perched on his thigh, silent.

“What about you?” I ask, my eyes narrowed.

“They’re alive, aren’t they,” he says, and Daisy shakes her head, leaving his lap.

“Can I hug my friend?” she asks my mates.

“Of course,” King says, and they release my hands.

“You look gorgeous,” Daisy says, pulling me close.

“Thanks.” I hold her close. We started off roughly. She didn’t like my relationship with Micah but was recently mated and territorial. She still is, but she knows I would never do anything to threaten her bond. Plus, Micah is a father figure. It took some time, but we became incredibly close.

“You didn’t wear any jewelry,” she teases as she steps back. Daisy is the best pickpocket. Sometimes, she can’t help doing it, even with the family. We humor her, and Micah replaces what she takes.

“Not tonight,” I laugh. “Nothing went with the dress.”

“You shine bright enough,” King says quietly. I hear the resounding sigh of delight from all the women. The men grumble, knowing they will have to step up their game.

“Thanks, King,” I say, leaning in and kissing his lips.

“Are we going to eat?” River asks, but his hand is gripping a taco.

“Wolf, you’ve been eating for ten minutes,” Bash says. River is a wolf shifter, and he magically has food in his hands at all times. I think he’s hilarious. Bash is constantly annoyed with him.

“I haven’t taken a bite.” He motions with his taco. “I was being polite.”

“Polite,” Bash snorts.

“Let’s eat,” Harmony says. She has long black hair and a killer body. She was the beginning of our family. She mated threebrothers, and it snowballed from there. I don’t spend much time with her, but she is gracious and tough.

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