Page 13 of The Dragon's Mate

“Thanks.”

The old woman hobbled forward. One hand carrieda foil covered plate, the other held her elaborately carved cane. The cane bangedrhythmically against the floor. “Bad night at work?”

“No, I was off today. There was a bit of troublewith Tyler.”

Her eyebrows rose in alarm. “Ty? Is he okay?”

“Yes, he’s having some problems with a fewkids at school.”

Helen thumped a little closer. “You tellTy to come see me if he needs a little spell to put those assholes in theirplace.”

How bad was it that Bren was actually consideringwhether the old woman’s offer could be a viable solution?

He smiled at her. “That’s kind of you tooffer, but there’s some pretty firm no shifting, spell using, or blood sucking rulesat Tyler’s school.”

“Humans and their rules.” Helen snorted andglanced behind her at her apartment. “Why don’t you come in for a visit.Elora is finishing up her shower, but the two of you can have a few beers and…visit.”

“Thanks, but I’ll take a rain check. It’sbeen a long day.”

A scowl flitted across her face before sheshoved the foil-covered plate at him. “All right then. Take these muffins. They’rebanana – you’re favourite. I baked them especially for you.”

He took the muffins. “Thank you, Helen.”

“Make sure you eat one tonight,” she said, “you’relooking a bit thin.”

“I will. Thanks again. Good night.”

“Night.”

He stepped into his apartment, closing thedoor behind him. He rubbed at his forehead and walked into the kitchen, flickingon the light. He peeled off the foil from the plate and stared at the twobanana muffins on the plate before opening the garbage can and dumping them in.

He set the plate on the counter and grabbeda beer from the fridge, twisting off the top and pitching the cap into the garbagebefore taking a long drink. He leaned against the counter and closed hiseyes. Immediately, Kaida’s face popped into his mind - her pale skin, the fullcurve of her bottom lip and those oddly appealing golden-coloured eyes withtheir blue flecks. Where did someone get contacts like that? Online, maybe?

He wondered what the real colour of hereyes were. Not that it mattered, she’d be sexy as hell no matter what colourher eyes were. Just the sound of her voice had made it difficult for him toconcentrate. Low and raspy with a slight accent that he couldn’t place. How wouldshe sound when he had his face buried between her legs?

What the fuck, man? Since when did youstart imagining going down on a woman you just met?

Since now, apparently. But could you blamehim? Kaida pushed all of his buttons and he was definitely looking forward toseeing her again tomorrow. His dick twitched, and he reached down and adjustedhimself roughly.

His brother was in trouble, was now reallythe time for getting his rocks off over a weirdly hot bear shifter who lived inthe middle of the damn woods? He needed to be figuring out how to keep Tylerand Corey safe, not wondering what Kaida’s body looked like under that cloak orhow her pussy would taste.

He took another swig of beer as someone poundedon his front door. “Bren!”

“It’s open,” he shouted.

The door flew open, he heard it slam shutand then the hurried thud of footsteps down the hallway. Elora ran into thekitchen, her light brown hair soaking wet, her face free of makeup, and her t-shirton inside out. A large crow, it’s midnight black feathers also dripping wet,was clinging to her shoulder.

“Don’t eat the muffins!” she shouted.

Bren grinned at her and took another drinkof beer. “I didn’t. They’re already in the garbage.”

“Oh, thank God.” Elora grimaced beforeopening the fridge and grabbing a beer. She twisted off the cap, tossed itinto the garbage to join the muffins, and drank some beer before collapsing inone of the kitchen chairs. The crow flapped its wings, spraying a fine mistinto Bren’s face before settling on Elora’s shoulder again.

“What’s in them this time?” Bren asked.

Elora made a face. “Another love potion.”

Bren sighed. A year ago, Helen and Elorahad moved into the apartment across from his. Bren had helped Helen carry somegroceries into her apartment about a week after they moved in, and from thatmoment on, she’d been trying to make a romance happen between him and Elora.

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