Page 56 of The Dragon's Mate

“I do. When she found out that a bear shifterhad ingested the potion, it seemed to really click in how crazy she was acting.She helped me make the reversal potion this morning. It wouldn’t have been as effectiveso quickly if she hadn’t,” Elora said.

“Well, ultimately it’s your decision, but knowthat I won’t be reporting her to the WWC. Family can be,” Kaida paused, “difficultsometimes. Honestly, I would prefer if we pretended this didn’t happen andnever spoke of it again.”

“I can do that.” Elora stood, the crow on hershoulder flapping its wings to keep its balance, and she couldn’t quite hidethe relief on her face. “It was nice to meet you, Kaida. I’m sorry it wasunder these circumstances.”

“Nice to meet you as well,” Kaida replied.

Elora squeezed Bren’s shoulder. He smiledat her and a weird feeling shot through Kaida’s stomach. It was strong enough toobliterate the buzzing in her brain to return to her clan.

Oh shit. Was she… jealous?

Elora had left and Bren was staringsilently at her. She swallowed hard, shame making her cheeks burn hot. “I’dlike to apologize again for last night. What I said and what I did was -”

“Stop,” Bren said. “You don’t need to keepapologizing. You were literally under a spell. I know you didn’t meananything you said or did.”

“Right,” she said. Her legs wouldn’t staystill, and she was starting to feel sick to her stomach.

My clan, herdragon said.I need them.

“Really, I should be apologizing to you,”Bren said.

“It isn’t your fault either.”

“Living across the hall from a crazy witchisn’t nearly as much fun as it sounds,” he said.

She forced a faint smile as he watched her.

My clan. Please.

“Did you want to stay and have breakfast?”Bren asked. “I promise it’s just plain old eggs and bacon, nothing drugged.”

She stood up so abruptly, she almost knockedthe chair over. She grabbed it before it could fall, smiling uneasily at Brenas he stood as well. Sweat was beading along her hairline and her dragon’s insistenceabout returning to the clan was a deep and maddening itch in her brain. Her urgeto shift was very strong and she clenched her hands into fists behind her back.

“Kaida? What’s wrong?”

“Nothing. I – I must return to my clan. I’vebeen gone too long from them and I can’t, I mean… I need my clan.”

She could hear the emotion in her voice. Normallyshe hated displaying weakness in front of anyone, especially a human, but therewas no pity in Bren’s gaze. He stepped back as she almost ran for thedoorway. “All right.”

She paused in the doorway. “I… goodbye,Bren.”

“Bye, Kaida.”

Chapter Ten

“Thanks, Will.” Ava smiled at her bestfriend as Willow wrapped an elastic around the end of the braid and thensmoothed back the sides.

“No problem.” Willow examined Ava’s head.“I’m getting way better at this French braiding thing.”

“You are.” Ava crossed her bedroom to thesmall vanity and checked her makeup as Willow sat on the edge of the bed.

Her feet dangled and she grinned at Ava. “Youguys have the biggest bed ever.”

“You should see Rosalie and Hudson’s bed,” Avasaid absently as she picked through her jewelry box. “It’s even bigger than ours.”

“Uh, how do you know what Rosalie andHudson’s bed looks like?” Willow asked. “Do you and Bishop have some kinkypartner swap thing going on?”

Ava turned bright red. “Willow!”

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