Page 63 of The Dragon's Mate

“Be quiet,” she muttered under her breath.“Just because he likes babies doesn’t mean that he wants a baby. Stop actinglike -”

Mine!

Her dragon’s roar was so loud it made herhead hurt. There was a human woman standing with Bren and she had placed herhand on his arm. Her dragon snarled again.

She’s trying to take what is ours!

Her dragon surged forward and with fury andfire licking at her veins, Kaida stalked toward Bren. The woman with him wasabout to discover what happened to females who dared to touch what belonged to Kaida.

“Kaida,” Bren said as she approached them.She barely registered the surprise in his voice or the happiness that immediatelysurrounded him. She knew her eyes were glowing, knew that her body was startingto overheat, but she didn’t care. The female was touching Bren and if she didn’tstop, Kaida would burn her to a fucking crisp.

“Who are you, human?” Her dragon haspushed forward again, and it spat the question out at the little female.

The female dropped her hand from Bren’s arm,it only slightly mollified Kaida’s dragon, and took a step back. Her dragonhissed angrily, and Kaida swallowed down the smoke that wanted to drift from hermouth and nostrils.

“Kaida, this is Bianca. She’s a friend of Ava’s.Bianca, this is Kaida. She and Bishop have been friends for years,” Brensaid.

“It’s nice to meet you.” The woman pushedher eyeglasses up. Kaida could still smell her anxiety but the female met hergaze steadily enough before holding out her hand.

Kaida shook it briefly. The female’s attractionto Bren was still lurking in the air between them and it was driving her dragoncrazy.

“You as well,” she said in a clipped tone.

Show the female he’s ours, her dragon demanded.Kiss him.

She was tempted. God, was she tempted. Instead,she smiled at Bren, making her voice low and intimate. “Sorry I had to leave yourplace so abruptly this morning.”

Bren’s eyes widened and he glanced quicklyat Bianca. “Uh, that’s okay.”

Disappointment coated the human female asKaida’s dragon practically sprinted around like a kid at recess. If Kaida letit, she was pretty sure the damn thing would be shouting “na-na, na-na boo-boo”at the poor woman.

A mixture of satisfaction and shame washedover her when Bianca said to Bren, “It was good to meet you, Bren.”

She walked away and Kaida’s dragon shrank alittle at the look Bren gave her. “What the hell was that about?”

Before Kaida could reply, Bishop joinedthem. She hugged him briefly and kissed his cheek. “Happy Birthday, my bear.”

“Thanks. Do me a favour? Stop scaring myparty guests?” Bishop glanced at Bianca who had joined a group of humans andshifters standing near the patio.

The smug satisfaction drained away completely,leaving only shame in its place. “I’m sorry,” Kaida said. “I will apologizeto the female.”

“It’s fine,” Bishop said. “Just – chill out,okay?” He held his hands out for Lila. “Bren, do you want another beer?”

Bren handed the sleeping baby to Bishop.Lila raised her head, blinking blearily at Bishop and growling. Bishop growledin return, kissing her soft cheek before the baby burrowed her face into histhick neck and made a few sleepy snores.

“I’m good, thanks,” Bren said.

Bishop glanced at Kaida again. “Stop being…weird.”

“I’m sorry,” she repeated.

“Bishop?” Mal called from near thebarbeque. “Come over here for a sec.”

Bishop hesitated, glancing first at Bren andthen at Kaida.

“Go, my bear. Enjoy your party,” Kaida said.“I will behave.”

With a final look at them, Bishop walkedaway. Kaida waited a beat before looking at Bren. “I’m sorry.”

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