Page 114 of The Dragon's Mate

“You’re welcome. Is Bishop’s firm takingover on Monday?”

“Yes.”

Bren took another sip of coffee. Elora wasstaring at him and he almost spit out the coffee when she said, “So, you twoare dating now, huh?”

There was a moment of perfect silence.

“Yes,” Bren said.

“No,” Kaida said.

“We’re not?” Bren could hear the hurt in hisvoice and grimaced inwardly. He thought they’d had a great time last night andhe was anxious to get to know her better. But if Kaida didn’t want to date him,he wasn’t going to beg.

Probably for the best anyway. Once yourfather finds out you’re dating her, the shit will hit the fan.

Like I care what my father thinks.

“Well, this is awkward,” Elora said.

Kaida glanced at Bren. “I like the human,very much, but we can’t date. I can’t leave the clan without being followed byreporters and if Bren’s father saw him with me...”

“I don’t care about that,” Bren said.

“I do,” Kaida replied. “Dating the son ofa man who holds great power and hates shifters isn’t keeping a low profile. Whatdo you think he’d do if he discovered we were dating, Bren?”

He didn’t want to admit it.

“He’d lose his mind,” he said.

“Exactly,” Kaida said. “To be honest, myclan would not be happy about it either. They don’t trust humans and probablynever will.”

“Dating Bren could show them that humanscan be trusted,” Elora said. “He’s the most loyal, trustworthy person I know.Once they get to know him, they’ll see it too.”

He appreciated that Elora had his back, buthe didn’t think it was going to make a difference.

“You’re a good man, Bren Matthews, and I wishthings were different,” Kaida reached out and took his hand, “but the timing isterrible. Yes, humans and shifters know about dragons, but that makes itworse. Perhaps when we are no longer a novelty and the human’s fascinationwith us has worn off, we could try dating?”

The hopeful look she gave him made hischest tight. He squeezed her hand. “I’d like that.”

Kaida smiled with happiness. Bren wantedto be happy too, but he had a feeling it would be months before he and Kaidacould be together. The thought sent depression swirling through his guts.

“That could take forever,” Elora echoed thethought in his head. “Your problem is finding a way for Kaida to sneak out soshe can see you, right?”

“That’s one of the problems,” Bren said.

Elora nodded impatiently. “Yes, yes, youridiot father and the obsessed humans and the clan who will never trust you…but, look, you guys don’t even know if you want anything serious yet, yeah? Imean, you literally just got together last night, right?”

Bren glanced at Kaida, a little amused tosee the blush that graced her cheeks. “Right.”

“Okay, well let’s forget about what yourfather might do if he found out you were dating, or how obsessed the rest ofthe world would be with your sex life if they knew a dragon and a human were boning.Until you guys know you want to get married and have tiny little dragon human hybridbabies together -”

“Our hatchlings would be dragon or human,”Kaida said. “There is no such thing as a hybrid.”

Bren stared at her. Did she want to havehis babies?

Kaida cleared her throat and ignored thelook he was giving her. “Go on, little witch.”

“Until you know it’s serious between you,there’s no point in worrying about the other two problems,” Elora said. “Weneed to concentrate on the problem of Kaida leaving her clan without being followedby the reporters. Wecouldwait until they finally decided to leave ontheir own, but I have a feeling that’ll be atleasta month. Dragonsexisting is the juiciest story to hit the world in years. So, we come up witha way for Kaida to leave the clan without being seen.”

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