Page 143 of The Dragon's Mate

“Because it’s a part of who you are, and Iwant to see that specific part. I want to seeallof you.”

She continued to hesitate, and he kissedthe tip of her nose. “Look, I’m not asking to go allDragonRiders of Pernon you here, okay? I just want to see you in your dragon form, and watch youfly. But if you really don’t want me there, I won’t go.”

“I want you there,” she said. “But I’m worriedthat seeing me in my dragon form will…”

“Will what?” he asked.

“At best, kill your attraction for me. At worst,scare the shit out of you,” she said bluntly.

“I think you underestimate how strong myattraction to you is, and I don’t scare easily. You should know that by now.”

She relaxed against him. “You’re the bravesthuman I know.”

He laughed. “Even though you don’t knowthat many humans, I’ll still take it as a compliment.”

She studied him for a moment. “Are youcertain you want to do this, Bren?”

“Yes,” he said with no hesitation.

“All right. Get dressed.”

* * *

His worry that it would be too dark to seeKaida change was unfounded. The moon was out, nearly full and so bright thatthe world shone in cool blue light. He followed Kaida through the trees. Herhand was hotter than normal, he imagined that was from her excitement about flying.He was excited too, the chance to see Kaida in her dragon form making his skintighten with anticipation.

They were deep in the forest now, they’dbeen walking at a steady pace for nearly twenty minutes, and he could hear the rustleof the smaller animals as they passed. Unease settled in his stomach. He’d lefthis gun in Kaida’s cabin and he was regretting that. While he wanted to see Kaidain her dragon form, he also didn’t fancy being a late-night snack for a bear ora wolf.

“What’s wrong?” Kaida was inhaling deeply andshe looked over her shoulder at him. “Have you changed your mind?”

She had smelled his nervousness. He squeezedher hand. “No. But I’m not looking forward to a bear or wolf deciding to tastetest me while you’re out flying.”

She smiled. “The creatures of the forestdo not go near this place.”

“Because of you?”

She started walking again. “Yes. My scentand that of my clan’s is… off-putting to them. You will be safe while I amflying, my mate. I would not leave you alone if I did not believe this to betrue.”

She spoke absently as she picked her waythrough the trees, but his stomach tightened, and he had to swallow the urge togiggle like a little kid. It was the first time that Kaida had called him hermate outside of the bedroom, and –

Not true. She called you her mate thenight they were going to burn you to a crisp and when you were surrounded bythe reporters.

That was true, she had. But both times, hehadn’t thought much of it. He’d been more concerned about the real possibilityof dying the night he met with the council, and of Kaida firebombing the bunchof reporters. Tonight though, he was fully focused on her and being called hermate was a shot of pure happiness. Maybe her feelings for him were growing asstrong as his feelings for her. She had told him earlier that she couldn’t andwouldn’t leave him.

Not entirely accurate. She said herdragon couldn’t leave you. Ever stop to consider that it’s only her dragon who’sreally into you? Kaida’s always insistent that it’s her dragon who calls youher mate, not her, remember? Also, you’ve known each other for less than amonth. Maybe chill out on the ‘we’re gonna be together forever and I want her tohave my babies’ thing.

He cringed inwardly. He was acting a littleon the desperate side, and if it really was only Kaida’s dragon who felt stronglytoward him, his obvious desperation to be with her was going to turn Kaidaoff. She liked him, they had a great connection, and mind-blowing sex, but allthey’d agreed to was trying dating. That didn’t equate to love. Her dragonmight be weirdly attached to him, but he didn’t know who had more control –Kaida or her dragon. He suspected that it was Kaida, and with all the battlestheir relationship was facing – scaring her off by pushing for more was a realpossibility.

Let’s not forget that your own father istrying to force her clan to be branded like animals. Do you really think she’lllet this go on much longer, no matter how attached her dragon is to you?

“Bren? What’s wrong?” Kaida had slowed toa stop and she stared worriedly at him.

He pushed all the questions and the fearsout of his head. This might be his only chance to see Kaida in her dragon formand he wouldn’t waste it by worrying about a future that was too soon to consider.

“Nothing,” he said. “How much further?”

“We’re here.” She led him past a largepine tree, and he stared at the clearing in front of them.

It was obviously man-made and about a hundredand fifty feet long and two hundred feet wide. Stumps dotted the clearing hereand there, but most had been completely removed. Grass seed had obviously beenplanted in the clearing and with no trees to block the sun, it grew in a thicksoft green mat that was calf high.

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