Page 11 of The Dragon's Mate

“Tyler, don’t leave me here alone,” Corey said.

“They won’t hurt you. In fact, Kaida hasoffered to teach us how to fight so next time Jeff and his asshole buddiesattack us, we can defend ourselves,” Tyler said.

Corey stared at him in disbelief and Tylersaid, “What? What’s wrong?”

“All right, time for the fox shifter to getsome rest,” Gram said before Corey could reply. She patted Tyler’s arm. “Don’tworry. Your boyfriend will be fine with us. You come by tomorrow morning andyou can spend the day with us.”

“Gram…” Kaida sighed.

Gram ignored her and patted Tyler’s armagain. “I’ll see you tomorrow, boy. All right?”

“Okay.” Tyler leaned forward and kissedCorey’s mouth. “I love you. I’ll see you in the morning.”

Corey was still staring at Kaida with fearin his eyes and Tyler looked uncertainly at Bren. “Maybe I should stay withhim just -”

“No,” Kaida said impatiently. “The foxshifter will be fine. You can come by in the morning.”

“But I -”

“Enough, Tyler,” Bren said. “We’ve imposedon Kaida and her family enough. It’s time to go.”

“Right.” Tyler kissed Corey again beforeresting his forehead against the smaller boy’s. “It’ll be okay, Corey. I’ll seeyou tomorrow.”

* * *

Kaida stirred the soup on the stove beforetasting it. She stirred it again, then turned to look at the fox shifter whowas still lying on the couch. Gram had left half an hour ago and the boyhadn’t said a word since she’d left.

“The soup will be ready in a few moreminutes.”

He didn’t reply.

“Are you hungry?” Kaida asked.

“Not really,” he said.

“You should try and eat.” She frowned athim and could immediately smell his fear rolling off of him in waves. “You donot need to be afraid, little fox. I promise I will not harm you.”

She’d hoped that Corey wouldn’t figure outwhat they were, but she should have known better. Foxes were well known fortheir sense of smell and the way he had looked at her and Gram suggested he atleast had an idea.

It was confirmed when he said, “Your kind issupposed to be extinct.”

“And how do you know what my kind is?” sheasked.

“You smell like smoke and… flame,” hesaid. “One of the foster homes I was staying in, they had a children’s bookabout you. You smell like smoke, it said.”

She didn’t reply and he said timidly,“You’re a dragon. Aren’t you?”

“Yes, little fox. We are dragons.”

“Holy shit,” he said. “Holy shit.”

There was excitement under his fear now.She needed to impress upon him how important it was to keep this to himself. Shebelieved that Cadmus would let the fox shifter live – if she hadn’t, she wouldnever have brought him here – but if the kid didn’t realize how important itwas to keep their clan’s existence a secret and Cadmus picked up on that…

“How many are in your clan?” he asked.

“Twenty-five, but there will be a hatchlingborn soon.”

She spooned some soup into a bowl andhelped Corey sit up before handing him the bowl. He sniffed it gingerly andshe heard his stomach rumble

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