Page 116 of The Dragon's Mate

Your clan is going to freak out. They’llnever accept him as your mate.

She ignored her inner voice and squeezedBren’s hand again. “Unless,” God, she hoped he wasn’t changing his mind, “youdon’t want to try dating?”

“I want to,” he said immediately.

“Then we’re good.” She smiled at him, warmthflooding her belly when Bren returned her smile.

Elora waved the scissors and a clear plasticbaggie in the air and slammed a drawer shut. “Got them. This is going to be sogreat for you two.”

She stood next to Kaida and snipped off asmall lock of her hair before placing it in a plastic baggie. “I’ve beenwatching a ton of the dragon stuff online and on television and the good newsis, I haven’t seen Kaida once, so you guys should be able to go out and docouple stuff without people realizing you’re a dragon.”

Kaida scowled. “How often have they shown myclan members on TV?”

“Not that often,” Elora assured her. “Itmostly happened before the police set up the barricade and even then, the dragonsweren’t that clear because the damn vultures were trying to record you through thewindows of your houses. God, people suck.”

She smiled tentatively at Kaida. “Okay, soI’ll need a dragon scale now.”

Kaida held out her arm and concentrated.She heard Bren’s sharp intake of breath when the scales appeared on her forearm.Hoping he wasn’t freaking out, she plucked a scale out – her dragon grumbled acomplaint – and handed it to Elora.

Elora held the shimmery blue scale up tothe light. “It’s beautiful. I would kill to see you in your dragon form.” Shestared hopefully at Kaida.

“I can’t,” Kaida glanced around thekitchen. “I am much bigger in my dragon form and I’m pretty sure Bren doesn’twant his apartment destroyed.”

“Definitely wouldn’t get my security depositback after that,” Bren said.

Elora laughed. “Yeah, okay.” She droppedthe scale into the plastic baggie next to the hair. “Lilianna, let’s go.”

“How long will it take to make the potion?”Bren asked.

Lilianna flew back into the kitchen and landedon Elora’s shoulder. She preened Elora’s hair before cocking her head and staringat the bag with the scale in it.

“Not that long,” Elora said. “I should haveit done by tonight.”

Bren glanced at Kaida. “Can you stay thatlong?”

“I think so,” she said.

We stay with our mate, her dragon growled.

“You sure?”

“Yes. I’ll let you know if it changes,”she said.

“Okay. I’ll text you when I’m done.”Elora, her body nearly vibrating with excitement, left the kitchen.

Kaida and Bren stared silently at eachother before Bren leaned forward and pressed a kiss against her mouth. “Hi.”

“Hi.” She had a big stupid grin on herface that was matched by the one on Bren’s.

“I had a great time last night,” Bren said.

“I did too.”

“Are you hungry? A muffin isn’t much forbreakfast.” He stood and opened the fridge door. “I could make us some pancakesor eggs and toast.”

She joined him at the fridge, sliding herarm around his waist and kissing his neck. “I’m not hungry. Not for food.”

“Oh yeah?” He wiggled his eyebrows at her.“What are you hungry for?”

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