Page 40 of The Dragon's Mate

“Leave,” Tyler said. “My brother is a copand if you touch us again, he’ll arrest you.”

Jeff bellowed laughter. “You think I’mafraid of a cop? My dad is a lawyer, asshole. He can get me out of anything.”

“Maybe, but,” Tyler glanced at Jeff’s friends,“your friends won’t be as lucky. You really want to take that chance, dickheads?”

Jeff’s friends glanced at each other and Jeffsnarled out, “Don’t listen to the fucking faggot. Besides, he isn’t gonna saya word to anyone. What do you think will happen if your dad finds out who you’redating, queer boy?”

Tyler’s stomach dropped to his feet andCorey squeezed his hand.

“That’s right,” Jeff said. “You think Idon’t know who your old man is? The world finds out you’re dating a shifter and‘poof’ there goes his career.”

“I can’t get in trouble with the copsagain, man,” one of the boys said. “My old man will beat my ass if I do. Hethreatened to send me to military school last time.”

“Shut the fuck up,” Jeff snarled. “Nothingis going to happen.” He glanced behind him. “Grab those two faggots. We’regoing -”

“I suggest you listen to your friend, you snivelinglittle shit goblin.”

All of them turned toward the sound of theman’s voice. Relief swept through Tyler. He had no idea who the guy with the tattooswas, but he was as tall as Jeff and his friends and while he might have beenleaner than the bulky football players, his body was ripped. He silently thankedGod for the Good Samaritan as the man leaned against a parked car with his armscrossed and raised one pierced eyebrow.

“Go on. Take your little gang of wanna-bethugs and head on home.”

“Get lost, old man,” Jeff said.

“Old?” The man straightened and stared athis reflection in the car window. He poked at the faint lines around his eyesbefore muttering, “Jesus, I gotta start using moisturizer or something.”

“I said get lost before we fuck you up.”Jeff glanced at his friends who all raised their fists.

The tattooed man laughed. “Oh my God, you guysare cute. Look at you with your tiny fists. Humans are so adorable.”

Jeff stiffened and glanced at Corey. “Youget a shifter friend to help you out, you little pussy?”

“Actually, I’m a friend of Tyler’sbrother. You have a problem with shifters?” The tattooed man said.

“You think you’re tough, because you’re awhat? Wolf shifter? Or maybe you’re just a little fox like that faggot.”Jeff jerked his chin in Corey’s direction. “We’re not afraid of you.”

“Me? Oh, I’m just a bird shifter,” the mansaid.

Tyler’s confidence waned. What could a birdshifter do against four football players?

Jeff laughed and Tyler was reminded of adonkey braying. “A bird shifter? What a loser.”

“C’mon now, don’t be a big old meanie,” theman said. “We gotta have something in common, right? You guys like Celine Dion?”

“Who?” The biggest of Jeff’s friends said.

“Are you serious?” The man lookedpersonally attacked. “Celine Dion. French Canadian songbird with the pipes ofan angel and seven Grammys?”

The boys stared at him blankly and he heaveda sigh of exasperation. “Come on. Celine Dion! She won an Oscar, you guys.My Heart Will Go On? It was the number one song fromTitanic.”

“That movie with that old guy? Leo something?My mom has, like, the biggest crush on that guy. It’s gross.” Jeff’s friendsaid.

“Old… are you kidding me right now?” Theman made another harsh sigh of exasperation. “Okay, look, I don’t know whatthe hell kind of music youyouthare listening to today, but I have aCeline Dion CD in the car. Follow me and I’ll play you some of her hits andyou can hear for yourself how amazing she is.”

“CD?” Another of Jeff’s friends said. “Dude,seriously, how old are you?”

He was nudged by the biggest boy. “Oldenough to break a hip banging your mom.”

“Shut up, Dillon!”

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