Page 34 of Myths and Shifts

For the time being, getting him away from cupcakes and nosy women seemed to be the best course of action. My options were limited, though, and the room was too small. “I think we should talk to a local leader about clearing out some nonessential people first.”

It was packed.

“Someone needs to take charge or I will.” He was definitely trying to sound threatening but it was kind of sexy. That part probably leaked through the bond because he gave me a dry look and raised one eyebrow. “Really?”

I shrugged. “I can’t help that you’re hot when you’re angry.”

He shook his head and sighed, but I could feel the way some of his anger had faded. “My mate is an interesting individual.”

At least I wasn’t the one who seemed to be picturing eating the cupcake people.

“My mate is also an interesting individual.” And it was time to distract him a little. “So interesting, in fact, he’s making me think of questions I should’ve asked sooner.”

His smirk was sexy but it said I was right.

“I think more privacy will be necessary for that conversation, though.” And the smile got wider. “For now you’re going to walk with me over to the deputy sheriff guy who’s human. He has just as much patience with the cupcake nonsense as you do, and then we’re going to find Wren so you can introduce me.”

We’d woken up to hearing giggles coming from the next room and Pierce had spent all of breakfast wondering if Wren’s mother was going to kill him in his sleep.

Dragon families were always interesting and it looked like Wren’s mother wasn’t going to like him finding fun so far from home.

“I think that’s a very good plan.” Daddy looked like he’d decided to ignore everything else, so I focused on a small subtle spell that would basically just make us less interesting. I’d thought it was subtle, but as we started to cross the too small conference room everyone had been jammed into, he looked around. “You’re going to have to tell me what you did later.”

Did he pay more attention to what was going on than the average person or was it being my mate that made him sense something had changed? “Deal.”

We’d trade stories, but I had a feeling his would be more interesting. Most of my spells just came from necessity because I had a large extended family with no understanding of boundaries. He seemed to as well, but that wasn’t what made his reactions so interesting.

“Thank you.” Squeezing my hand, Daddy leaned over and kissed the side of my head. “This is not the environment I thrive in.”

Definitely not.

“We just need someone to take charge and everyone seems to be playing hot potato with it.” Looking around, I could see several people glaring at one another but no one seemed to want to take control of the situation. “I don’t think that’s our problem, though.”

“Agreed.” Back to looking sexy and stern, Daddy weaved us through the crowd and seemed to enjoy the way everyone made room for us without thinking about it. “You are amazing.”

He was cute.

“Thank you, Daddy.” Big. Had to stay big. “Okay, I’m going to leave the spell in place as long as the deputy doesn’t have too difficult a time dealing with it.”

I had a few family members who could charge like a bull through nearly any spell, but I wasn’t sure how he’d react because of the whole human part.

“Thank you for the warning.” Daddy was looking less insane and more relaxed as we approached the deputy, but I was one hundred percent convinced it was fake. “I don’t want him to mistrust us just because of the spell. Or for him to think we’re a weirder variety of alien.”

“Don’t make me laugh.” It probably wouldn’t put the deputy at ease, or at the very least, he’d forget to treat me like an adult. “We’re being professional.”

For the most part, everyone seemed completely at ease with kinks and real life, but I wasn’t trying to send mixed signals.

“Professionals can laugh.” His completely deadpan tone made me roll my eyes. “I’m laughing on the inside.”

He was such a dork.

“I’m ignoring silliness.” Because I didn’t have anywhere near his ability to keep my face blank. “No making me little in here.”

Being around him made it so much harder to stay completely big and ignore my submissive side. It wasn’t a problem when we were on our own, but when we were around everyone else in town, I still had to work at it.

“I will do my best.” Giving my hand another squeeze, he eased back his teasing as we approached the sheriff, who looked like he was ready to pull his hair out too.

Daddy went right into lawyer mode, which had a bit more warmth than his frustrated expression but not much. “Deputy Winslow? Do you have a moment?”

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