Page 154 of The Dragon's Mate

Kaida followed Bones to the SUV. “Bones, canyou not talk him out of this?”

“I tried,” the large dragon said. “He’sdetermined.”

“Shit. This is a really bad idea,” Kaida said.

“Probably,” Bones replied. “But he is ourhigh elder.”

“Do the other council members know he’sdoing this?”

“I don’t think so,” Bones said.

“Come, you two,” Cadmus called cheerfully.“We do not want to be late.”

“Javee,” Kaida looked over her shoulder atthe dragoness, “can you find Bren’s cell number? Call him and tell him what’shappening and give him Bones’s number. Tell him my cell is dead. Okay?”

Javee nodded and Kaida, her stomach churning,climbed into the cargo area of the SUV with Bones.

* * *

“You still haven’t heard from your father?”Mal sat down on the couch next to Bren.

Bren shook his head. “No. When I went tohis office this morning, they said he was out. When I went back thisafternoon, he was in meetings all afternoon. When I went back just beforefive, he’d left for the day.”

He was pretty sure his blood pressure was atstroke levels. He made himself take a few deep breaths. “He knows exactly whyI want to talk to him.

“Maybe he really does want to talk aboutpeace,” Willow said. She was sitting cross-legged on the floor, holding Lila.

“He doesn’t,” Bren said.

He rubbed at his forehead as he scanned hisphone. When he’d arrived at Mara and Roland’s, Mal and Willow as well as Bishopand Ava were there for dinner. He’d quickly filled them in on the detailssurrounding his father’s request.

He could hear Tyler and Corey, as well asMal’s youngest sister, Becky, in the dining room down the hall. They were jokingand teasing each other as they set the table.

“And you haven’t talked to Kaida at all today?”Ava said from her spot next to Bishop on the love seat.

“No,” Bren scanned his phone again, “nothing.I’ve sent multiple texts and I’ve called her. It goes straight to voicemail.”

“I tried her earlier,” Bishop said, “and Igot her voicemail as well.”

“Can you try someone else in the clan?”Willow suggested.

“No, I don’t know anyone else’s number.”He could hear the frustration in his voice as he glanced at Bishop. “Do you haveanyone else’s number in the clan?”

The big grizzly shifter shook his head. “No,sorry.”

Bren’s phone buzzed in his hand. He staredat the unfamiliar number before answering. “Hello?”

“Bren, it’s Javee.”

The anxiety in the dragoness’s voice made Bren’sscalp tighten and dread seep into his chest. “Hey. What’s wrong?”

“You’re a hard guy to get a hold of,” Javeesaid. “It took me forever to find your cell number.”

“A cop’s personal number is usually more difficultto track down, even for a hacker like you. What’s going on? Have you talkedto Kaida today? She isn’t answering her phone.”

“Her cell died,” Javee said. “It’s why I’mcalling. Cadmus is meeting with your father tonight and he took Bones and Kaidawith him.”

“What?” Bren exploded up off the couch andpaced the living room as the others quit talking and stared at him. “When? Where?”

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