Page 140 of The Dragon's Mate

“Hey. Good job with the driving.”

“Thanks!” She beamed at him and hopped up fromher chair so Mal could sit down in the crowded kitchen. He pulled her into hislap, and she draped her arms over his shoulders as Bishop leaned against thecounter.

“What’s the situation like at my apartment?”Bren asked.

Bishop grimaced. “Reporters camped out everywhere.Doesn’t look like they’re gonna go anywhere for a while. I wouldn’t go backfor a few days.”

Bren rubbed wearily at the back of his neck.“Shit. Okay, looks like a hotel it is.”

“Nonsense,” Mara said. “We have plenty ofspace. You can bunk down with us until this blows over.’

“That’s incredibly kind of you,” Bren said,“but I don’t want to intrude and -”

“You aren’t.” Mara reached out and tookTyler’s hand and Corey’s hand. “We’re happy to have you stay with us.”

Tyler and Corey were staring at Mara withsomething already a little close to love. “Can we, Bren? Please?” Tylerasked.

Before Bren could reply, Kaida said, “Cadmusis asking that you come back to the clan with me, Bren.”

“Sweet,” Tyler said. “Do you think we cansee you in your dragon form when we’re there?”

“You’re not going,” Bren said.

“What? Why not?” Tyler said.

Bren glanced at Kaida. “You’re stayinghere with Mara and Roland.”

“But -”

“No arguing, Ty,” Bren said.

“Come, my loves,” Mara said. “Let me showyou to your rooms. Grab your stuff.”

She herded Tyler and Corey out of the kitchen.Kaida cleared her throat. “Will you come with me, Bren?”

“Do I have a choice?”

There was no anger in Bren’s voice, but shewinced like he’d shouted the question. “You always have a choice, my ma -”

She cut herself off abruptly, glancing at Bishop.She wanted to speak to Bren alone, but she didn’t know how to say it withoutbeing rude. She turned her gaze to Willow, hoping against hope that the littlehuman would pick up on her request.

Relief filled her when Willow immediately slidfrom Mal’s lap. “C’mon, guys. Let’s give them some privacy.”

She tugged Mal to his feet and led him tothe doorway before making a ‘come here’ motion to Bishop. “Bishop, come withus.”

The big grizzly crossed the kitchen. Hepaused in the doorway. “If you want me to go with you to Kaida’s clan, I will.”

A grin cracked Bren’s face. “You offering toprotect me, Bishop? Because I appreciate the offer but unless you promise to,at some point, pick me up in your arms and carry me awayBodyguardstyle, I’ll have to pass.”

Bishop rolled his eyes, but a small smilecrossed his face. “You’ve got balls of steel, Matthews.”

“My clan isn’t going to hurt him, my bear,”Kaida said.

Bishop shrugged. “Let me know when you’reready to go and I’ll drive you back to your clan.” He followed Mal and Willow outof the kitchen.

Kaida stood and paced back and forth, staringat the floor as she spoke rapidly. “You don’t have to come with me, Bren. Cadmusis requesting your presence, not demanding it. I know that with what’s happened,your interest in me has…waned, and I get that, I do. If I were in your place,I wouldn’t -”

Her brisk pacing faltered when Bren stoodin front of her.

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