Page 16 of The Dragon's Mate

“Tyler can be persuasive when he wants tobe.”

“Don’t I know it,” Elora sighed. “He’s thereason I have a four-leaf clover tattooed on my calf.”

Bren laughed. “At least you don’t have a skulltattoo on your shoulder. Talk about a cliché. Why we keep letting a seventeen-year-oldboy pick out tattoos for us, is beyond me.”

Elora grinned at him. “You’d think adetective and a witch would know better. Anyway, so this Kaida is going toteach them how to fight, and you’re gonna hire Bishop to keep an eye on them aswell.”

“Yeah.”

“Think he’ll do it? He still believes youhave a thing for his girlfriend, right?”

Bren rubbed at the scruff on his jaw.About six months ago, he’d gone for drinks with Elora, had a little too much whiskeyand told her about his short-lived crush on Ava and about Bishop and the restof the shifters at the BKF Securities company. “Yeah, but I don’t. That shiphas sailed. They have a kid and they’re living together. Hell, I knew I didn’thave a chance the day I asked Ava out at the coffee shop and she turned medown. She wasn’t even technically dating Bishop yet and she still had no interestin me.”

“Man, it’s so weird to even hear about agrizzly mating and having babies with anyone, let alone a human,” Elora said. “They’reusually loners.”

“Bishop’s different, I guess. Anyway, if hesays no, I’ll talk to Mal or Kat about it. Bishop isn’t the sole owner of the company.”

“It’s gonna be expensive, yeah? I mean, Idon’t know a lot about personal security, but it can’t be cheap.”

“I don’t have much choice. The kid who attackedhim, Jeff, is a football player and twice the size of Ty. He could seriouslyhurt him and if the beating Kaida gave Jeff was as bad as Tyler said it was, I’msure he’ll be looking for revenge against Tyler and Corey,” Bren said.

“Are you going to speak to Jeff’s parents?”

“Tyler doesn’t want me to.”

“Yeah, but Tyler is seventeen, Bren,” Elorasaid gently.

“I know, but I think he might be right inthat it’ll make things worse. Kids like Jeff – they don’t give a shit about anytype of authority.” Bren set his bottle down on the table. “Fuck, I hate thatTyler is going through this. He shouldn’t be bullied for who he loves.”

“Life isn’t fair,” Elora said. “Honestly, I’mmore worried that this Jeff kid will tell your father that Tyler is gay and datinga shifter.”

Bren ran his hand through his hair. “Ididn’t say anything to Tyler, but I’m concerned about it too. Tyler’s worried enoughabout Corey, I didn’t want to freak him out even more by mentioning Dad.”

“What did he say when you took Tyler home?”

“He wasn’t home. He was at some charityevent.”

“If he does find out about Tyler…”

“Dad will kick him out,” Bren said bluntly.“And then Tyler will have no choice but to live with me.”

“It bothers you that he won’t live with younow, doesn’t it?” Elora said.

“Yeah. I understand why – he wants tobelieve that Dad is a good guy, he really does, but I worry about him livingthere. Dad doesn’t give a shit about him. It’s all about public image for ourfather and having a gay son who’s dating a shifter? Dad will disown Tyler.”

“I’m sorry,” Elora said.

“Me too,” Bren replied.

They sat in comfortable silence for aminute or two before Elora stood, Lilianna clinging tightly to her shoulder. “Ishould go. It’s getting late.” She leaned down and pressed a kiss againstBren’s forehead. “I’m sorry you’ve had such a bitch of a day, buddy.”

“Thanks, Elora. And thanks for listening.”

“Anytime. If you or Tyler need me, textme. And remember,” she ruffled his hair affectionately, “don’t eat anything mygrandmother gives you.”

Chapter Four

They hadn’t walked five feet toward the communitycabin before Drago turned to her. “What the hell were you thinking, Kaida?”

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