Page 60 of The Dragon's Mate

“Yes.”

“So, you’re Kaida’s keeper. Is that whatyou’re saying?”

Bishop rolled his eyes. “It’s for your ownsafety, human.”

Bren took a sip of beer. “You know I’m a grownman, right? A grown man who is proficient with a gun?”

That earned him a grunt of irritation from Bishop.“Kaida is dangerous. Stay away from her.”

“I thought she was your friend,” Bren said.

“She is. And as her friend, I’m tellingyou to stay away from her. She won’t mean to hurt you, but…”

Bren grinned at Bishop. “Aw, I didn’t knowyou cared so much about my emotional state, big guy.”

Bishop huffed out another grunt. “That isn’twhat I’m talking about. Look, I’m not trying to say you’re weak or something,but Kaida is a very powerful shifter.”

“Stronger than you?” Bren said.

“Yes.”

“Interesting. I know female bear shifters arestrong but didn’t think they were more powerful than a fully-grown male grizzlyshifter.”

Bishop scowled. “She’s not a … can you stopbeing an idiot human for two seconds and listen to what I’m saying. Stay awayfrom Kaida.”

“I heard you the first three times and I’lltake your suggestion under advisement,” Bren said.

“It’s for your own safety,” Bishop said.

“So you keep saying. Hello, Ava.”

Ava stopped next to Bishop. Lila was onher hip and the baby made a low sound in the back of her throat that soundedremarkably like a growl. Bishop immediately responded with his own growl and thebaby giggled.

“Honey, Amos is looking for you.” Ava pointedto an older man sitting near the food table. “He wants to have a drink withyou.”

Bishop hesitated and Ava patted his chest.“Go on, my love.”

The big grizzly shifter walked away, and Avasmiled at Bren. “I’m so glad you made it to the party, Bren.”

“Me too. Thanks for the invite,” Bren said.

Lila stared at him and made another growl.Bren laughed. “Did your baby growl at me?”

Ava kissed Lila’s head. “Yes. Sorry.”

“I thought she was human,” Bren said.

“Oh, she is,” Ava said. “But Bishop growlsto her a lot and she started mimicking him about a week ago. Much to Bishop’sdelight.”

The baby growled a third time and Bren laughedagain. “That is adorable.”

He leaned forward and tugged lightly on Lila’ssock-covered foot. “Hi, sweetie.”

“Would you like to hold her?” Ava asked.

“Yes, if that’s okay?” Bren said.

“Of course, it is.” Ava handed Lila to himand he held the chubby baby in the crook of his arm. She studied him solemnlyand when she growled, he growled back.

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