Page 21 of The Dragon's Mate

Drago’s eyes flashed with angry light, but he returned tohis seat.

“Kaida, do you believe that we are in danger from thesehumans?” Cadmus asked.

“No, Cadmus,” Kaida replied. “You are right in that theyare not very bright. They will not discover our true nature in the short timeit will take me to teach the yearlings to defend themselves.”

“Cadmus, you cannot -”

“Hush, Collette,” Cadmus said. “I can and I will. Kaidawill train the yearling human and the fox to defend themselves. Will the adulthuman be joining them?”

Kaida’s stomach clenched. “Some, I would imagine. He isthe yearling’s brother and they seem close.”

Both Oben and Ryul snorted in disgust but Cadmus ignoredthem. “Very well. They are allowed in the training circle and Kaida’s cabin only.I trust you will keep watch over them at all times, Kaida.”

“Yes, Cadmus.” She hesitated. “Will the council stillrequire a meeting with the fox in the morning?”

“Yes.” Cadmus smiled at her before heaving himself to hisfeet. “I cannot abolish every single rule in one night, can I?” He looked outat the crowd of dragons. “The meeting is done, return to your homes, my clan.”

Chapter Five

“What did Dad say about your hand?” Brenturned off the highway and headed down the two-lane road that led toward thebear clan’s land.

“He didn’t even notice.” Tyler staredmorosely out the window. “I could have been wearing a cast and he wouldn’thave noticed.”

Bren reached across and squeezed Tyler’sshoulder. He wanted to ask Ty about moving in with him again, but he knew whathis brother’s answer would be. Tyler craved their father’s attention andaffection, despite being rejected time and time again, and it killed Bren towatch him be disappointed repeatedly.

“Tyler, maybe you should -”

“Corey texted me this morning,” Tylersaid. “He’s feeling better, he said.”

“That’s good news. Maybe he’ll be able togo home today.”

Tyler snorted and stared out the windowagain. “It’s not a home. His foster parents didn’t even text him last night.They don’t give a shit. All they care about is getting their money. I toldhim he could stay with me.”

“That’s not a good idea,” Bren said. “IfDad finds out he’s a shifter -”

“He won’t,” Tyler said. “I’m dating Coreyand I didn’t even know. He’s really good at hiding it.”

“He shouldn’t have to hide it though, andif he lives with you and Dad, he will have to,” Bren said.

“He hides it at his foster home,” Tylersaid. “What’s the difference?”

Bren turned right onto the narrow dirt road.Tyler had a point, but it was still too dangerous for Corey to live with him.“If it came out that Dad had a shifter living in his home, it would ruin himpolitically. If that happens…”

“Yeah, yeah, he’d disown me,” Tyler said. “Iknow Dad’s career is more important to him than me. You don’t have to keepreminding me.”

The road was growing bumpier and narrower andBren gripped the steering wheel a little tighter. As they crested the hill rightbefore Kaida’s home, his stomach made a funny little lurch that had nothing todo with the potholes they were driving over.

He followed the road – it was more like adirt path at this point – past three of the cabins and parked in front of Kaida’s.He shut the car off as Tyler unlatched his seatbelt.

“Ty, wait a minute.”

“What?” Tyler stared impatiently at him.

“I’m not so sure that having Kaida teachyou and Corey how to fight is a good idea.”

A scowl crossed Tyler’s face. “It is,Bren. We need to know how to protect ourselves.”

“I can show you some self-defence moves,and we can sign you and Corey up for some boxing classes at -”

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