Page 106 of The Dragon's Mate

“It was a beautiful ceremony, wasn’t it?”Maggie, a human who – Kaida thought – might be mated to Mal’s brother Porter, saidwith a tentative smile.

“It really was. Ava was gorgeous and Bishopwas very handsome,” Kaida said.

Bren was sitting next to her and he leanedforward to grin at Maggie. “He also looked incredibly nervous.”

Maggie laughed. “Yes, he was definitelynervous.”

Porter joined them, holding a beer in eachhand, and sat in the chair next to Maggie. “Here you go, darlin’.”

“Thanks, honey.” She took the beer from him.“We were just talking about how lovely the ceremony was.”

“It was nice. Food was fantastic.” Porterpatted his lean abdomen. “Shouldn’t have been surprised though, B was incharge of the food and he loves to eat.”

Maggie took a sip of her beer. “I likedthe church and the reception venue. We should talk to Ava and Bishop about whothey booked through.”

“Sure,” Porter said.

“Are you getting married?” Kaida said.

Maggie’s shy smile widened, and she held outher left hand. “We are. We got engaged last week.”

“Congratulations. That’s a beautiful ring,”Kaida said as Bren shook Porter’s hand and then Maggie’s.

“I’m happy for you two,” he said.

“Thanks, man. It wouldn’t have happened ifit wasn’t for you. So, expect an invitation to the wedding,” Porter said.

Bren tipped his beer to him. “I lookforward to it.”

Kaida glanced curiously at Bren. Whatexactly did the wolf shifter mean? Was Bren a secret matchmaker in his sparetime?

A slow and familiar song filled the receptionhall, and Porter groaned. “Oh my God, what do you want to bet Ronin asked theDJ to play Celine Dion?”

Maggie laughed. “He did. I overheard himtalking to Rosalie and Hudson about it.”

Porter stood and held out his hand. “C’mon,darlin’. Let’s dance.”

Maggie took his hand and they joined theother couples who were starting to slow dance. Kaida could see Bishop and Avaswaying in the middle of the dance floor. Bishop held Lila in one beefy arm,the other was wrapped around Ava’s waist.

Bren stood. “Would you like to dance?”

“Yes.” She took Bren’s hand and he led herto the edge of the dance floor. He put his arm around her waist and pulled herin tight against him. Her dragon purred loudly, and her skin prickled withawareness. God, she wanted the human so much.

“What did the wolf shifter mean if it hadn’tbeen for you, they wouldn’t be getting married?” she asked.

“Maggie was being stalked by a hyena shifterwho was also a cop,” Bren said. “He kidnapped her, and I helped Porter and theothers get her back.”

She blinked at him. “I saw something aboutthat on the news. The guy who kidnapped her was the hero cop who saved yourfather from the assassination attempt a few years back. Right?”

He nodded, a grim look passing over hisface. “Yeah, that’s the one. He regretted saving my father. He thought itwas the mayor the guy was after, not my dad.”

“I remember reading about the cop beingkilled.” Her eyes widened and she searched the dance floor until her gazelanded on Porter and Maggie. “I can’t believe Maggie was the woman hekidnapped.”

Bren didn’t reply and she stared at him insudden horror. “Oh my God, you were the cop who killed him.”

“I was,” Bren said. “I didn’t have a choice.”

“I’m sorry,” she said.

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