Page 49 of The Dragon's Mate

“You like her, right?”

“You know I do,” he said.

“Then, maybe you could just…” Elora made ahumping motion with her hips.

“I can’t,” Bren said. “She isn’t actuallyinterested in me, remember? I can’t sleep with her while she’s under the influenceof your grandmother’s damn potion. She’s not thinking straight, and I’m not theguy who takes advantage of a woman like that.”

“I know you’re not,” Elora said “but youmay have no choice. If she doesn’t get what she wants, she may seriously injureyou.”

Kaida looked away from Lilianna’s dark gaze.“I would never hurt the human. He’s my mate and if he is to give me a hatchling,he needs to be well. He can’t put his seed in my belly if he’s injured.”

Elora’s eyes widened and a nervous giggleslipped out of her mouth as Kaida returned to staring at Lilianna.

“You can reverse the potion, right?” Bren said.

“Assuming that Helen tells me what potion sheused, yes, I can reverse it. But not until tomorrow,” Elora said.

“What? Why?” Bren said.

“Because I’ll need to go to the potionsstore, and it’s closed for the night.” Elora shoved her hands into her pocketsand slumped against the wall. “I’m so sorry, Bren.”

“It’s not your fault,” Bren replied.

“I’ll find out from Helen what potion she used.The potion place opens at eight,” Elora said. “I’ll be standing outside thedoor waiting for them to open, I promise. It won’t take me long to make up thereversal potion, so I should have it for you by nine-thirty at the latest. Allyou have to do is keep her distracted until then.”

Bren glanced at the clock. It was almostmidnight and he grimaced. “Right, keep her distracted.”

Elora straightened. “I’ll stay the night withyou guys, help keep her -”

“No.” Kaida had joined them and she slippedher arm around Bren’s waist before glaring at Elora. “You will leave now, littlewitch. I want to be alone with my mate.”

“Do you like card games?” Elora said. “Wecould play cards and -”

“I said leave.” Kaida’s voice had lowered andsounded guttural and inhuman.

Elora made a soft sound of anxiety and tooka step back. Lilianna cawed, the sound loud and jarring in the silence, andflew to her shoulder. The crow stared at Kaida with what Bren swore was angerin her eyes. She cawed a second time, and a low rumbling growl came from Kaida’schest. The air around them suddenly seemed too warm, and Bren armed the sweatoff his face as the crow snapped her beak at Kaida.

Kaida growled again and Bren quicklyslipped his arm around her waist. The heat radiating from her was almost uncomfortablyhot, but he didn’t break his hold.

“It’s fine,” he said quickly. “Go home andget some rest, Elora. We’ll be fine.”

“Are you sure?” Elora said.

Bren nodded. He wasn’t sure, but if Kaida shiftedto her bear form, he didn’t want Elora getting hurt. He briefly consideredwaking Ty and sending him home with Elora before discarding the idea. He didn’twant to confuse or worry his brother and the kid slept like a rock, anyway.Even if Kaida switched to her bear form and tried to murder him, Ty wouldn’thear a damn thing. Besides, call him crazy, but he believed Kaida when she saidshe wouldn’t hurt him, even if he didn’t have sex with her.

“Go home, Elora.” Kaida leveled her gazeat the crow sitting on Elora’s shoulder. “And watch yourself around the bird. It’smore than just a crow.”

“Um, yes, I know. Thanks.” Elora inched herway toward the doorway and smiled faintly at Bren. “I’ll be by in the morningas soon as I have the potion made. Hang in there, okay? If she does change toher bear form, use your gun.”

He frowned at her. “I’m not shooting Kaida.”

“It won’t kill her. Bears are fast healers,”Elora said.

“I’m not shooting her,” he repeated. “Goodnight, Elora.”

He waited until he heard the front doorshut before easing away from Kaida. “Do you want some more tea?”

Kaida shook her head and moved toward him.He backed away, cursing under his breath when his back hit the wall. Shegrinned predatorily at him, her fangs gleaming in the light. He wondered whatwas wrong with him that the sight of those sharp white teeth made his cockstiffen.

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