Page 35 of The Dragon's Mate

“Man,” Tyler twisted back around in hisseat and resumed playing some game on his phone, “I would kill to have healingpowers. My hand is still a little sore.”

He glanced at Bren. “Don’t tell Kaida Isaid that. It’s not too sore for training.”

Bren took a quick look at Tyler’s hand. “Yousure about that?”

“Yeah. It’s not swollen or anything. Juststill tender.”

“So, Jeff and his friends haven’t tried anythingbefore or after school?” Bren said.

Tyler grunted. “Yeah, I already told youthat. Jeff talked some shit to me in the locker room before PE yesterday, but consideringhis face still looked like roadkill, it was kind of funny. Wasn’t it, Corey?”

“A little,” Corey said.

“I wonder what he and his asshole friendstold their parents about why they came home busted up so bad?” Tyler said.

“Language,” Bren said.

Tyler rolled his eyes. “Okay,Mom.Asshole is, like, barely a curse. Anyway, they haven’t tried anything yet, butI know they’re gonna.”

“He hasn’t said anything to your otherclassmates about you and Corey dating?” Bren asked.

“No,” Corey said. “It’s weird.”

“It is weird, but me and Corey decided we don’tcare if he tells the school. Right?” Tyler’s gaze met Corey’s in the rear-viewmirror.

Corey smiled. “That’s right.”

“Anyway, he hasn’t said anything about Coreybeing a shifter or about us dating. He and his friends are telling the otherkids that they got into a fight with some college frat boys over some hot girlswho wanted to date Jeff and his friends.” Tyler rolled his eyes. “Like collegegirls would have anything to do with those idiots.”

He glanced again at Corey. “I wanted totell them the truth – that they got their asses kicked by a woman, but Coreysaid I shouldn’t.”

“No, you definitely shouldn’t,” Bren said.“If parents or teachers find out, then most likely authorities will want tospeak to Kaida, and she and her clan want to be left alone. Don’t say anythingto anyone, Tyler.”

“I won’t,” Tyler said. “I said I wanted to– not that I was gonna.”

They were turning onto the road off the highwaythat led to Kaida’s place and Tyler crammed his phone into his pocket. His bodywas vibrating with excitement and while Bren wanted to tell him to relax, hedidn’t. He was vibrating a little himself.

Yeah, but from lust not excitement.

He ignored his inner voice. His desire tosee Kaida had only grown over the last couple of days. Seeing her on Mondayhad been a happy surprise and he wondered if Kaida being there was what madeBishop so agreeable to helping him.

Probably. The bear shifter still thoughthe had a thing for Ava. Probably always would.

When you and Kaida start dating, he’ll figureit out.

Bren took a right onto the dirt road leadingto the clan’s cabins. He was getting ahead of himself. Sure, he planned onasking Kaida out tonight, but that hardly qualified as them dating.

If she even says yes.

She would. He wasn’t blind, and he’d caughtthe occasional look she’d given his mouth and his crotch. She was interestedin him, and he’d be an idiot not to ask her out.

The cabins came into view and he drove to Kaida’sand parked in front of it. Tyler was hopping out of the SUV before Bren hadeven shut it off. Corey followed more slowly. The door to Kaida’s cabinopened and Bren caught his breath.

She was wearing tight yoga pants and a longt-shirt, and her dark hair was pulled into a ponytail. She looked sexy as helland he pulled at the crotch of his jeans. The constant semi he sported wheneverhe was around Kaida was starting to get annoying.

He stepped out of the SUV and locked it beforemeeting Kaida and the boys in front of her cabin. “Hey,” he said.

“Hello.” She smiled briefly at him beforeturning her attention to the boys. Just that brief smile was enough to send a boltof awareness to his dick. “You guys ready?”

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