Page 17 of Flight Risk

Thorne stuck out his hand, and I shook it. Each of them took their turn clapping me on the back.

“And just think, it’s all because of me and the sacrifice I made. If I hadn’t been so selfless, so altruistic, you would have taken years before working up the courage to ask Kier on a date.” Thorne put a hand over his heart and stared at me with exaggerated pride in his eyes. “My little guy’s all grown up.”

I raised a brow. “I don’t remember it exactly like that.”

James rolled his eyes. “He’s been telling everyone how he orchestrated the whole thing. Acts like he talked to Fate herself and convinced her to bond the two of you.”

“It’s been a great pick-up line. Everyone thinks I’m a die-hard romantic.” Thorne tugged on the lapels of his suit jacket, preening like a peacock.

“It’s true. He got a handful of numbers last night. It was sickening,” Kenneth added.

“I thought you’d end that flight with a dateifyou were lucky. I never imagined you would end up mated already. I assumed you’d take forever to make a proper move.”

I shrugged. He wasn’t wrong. “Kier’s heat may have sped things up.”

The three of them sat down. They were comfortable in my office. We had spent many late nights working over whatever takeout struck our fancy.

“How are things? Eggs on the way?” Kenneth asked.

“Very likely,” I said. “We haven’t confirmed with a doctor.”

“What about his wings?”

“They’ll be coming.”

That was another thing I needed to speak with my mate about. Kier seemed to get nervous at the idea of sprouting wings and flying with the rest of the dragons.

“Kier has always struck me as the loner type,” James said.

I grimaced. “I don’t think he is, per se. He’s just been that way out of necessity. He’s part of the clan now.”

“Of course he is! I’m surprised your father hasn’t thrown a party to welcome him,” Thorne said.

I winced. “He’s tried to talk me into it, but Kier is resistant. He worries that he won’t be accepted. I want to give him more time. A lot has happened since our trip.”

“Nonsense. He was already one of us before you claimed it. This just makes it extra official. Why wouldn’t anyone be excited that you’ve found your mate?” Kenneth asked.

“I don’t know,” I admitted.

“Let us at least take you out to lunch to celebrate. We want to get to know your mate, so we’d like Kier to come.” Thorne stood, like we had already decided to leave. I wasn’t going to argue. My dragon and I had spent enough time away from my mate. I ached to see him.

“That sounds like a great idea.”

It was near enough to lunchtime then that we could go. I didn’t have a strict schedule, but technically Kier was supposed to be at his desk until noon and back there by one. I doubted that rule was enforced, but he did need to be around to check people in.

The four of us piled into the elevator, chatting a bit about work that we needed to catch up on now that we had all returned from our travels. The bank of elevators opened up into the lobby.

Angry voices echoed through the open space.

“You think because you’re mated to one of the clan members now that you can just mess things up like this?” The angry voice echoed through the open space.

“Sir, there was nothing messed up. I have explained to you that your appointment had to be rescheduled—”

A fist slammed down on the marble counter of the reception desk. The clap echoed through the space like a crack of thunder. “Unacceptable, wolf. Fix this now before I speak with your boss. He’s not going to care that you’re—”

I didn’t give him a chance to finish before I had him by the throat. My eyes flashed, seeing a vibrant range of colors that my human eyes couldn’t take in. Scales erupted over my arms.

“You dare speak to my mate that way?” I snarled.

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