Page 79 of The Dragon's Mate

He shut the bedroom door behind them andhesitated at the side of the bed. “Do you mind if I lose the t-shirt?”

She shook her head, ignoring her dragon’spurring when Bren shucked his shirt and left it on the floor. He had a greatbody. An amazing body, actually, and she was itching to touch the light layer ofhair that covered his chest. He was still wearing a pair of sleep pants andfor a moment she hoped he would lose them as well.

She berated herself internally as Bren climbedinto the bed. She had just told him she wouldn’t do anything to him for God’s sake.

She slid into the bed. His bed was queensized, big enough that there was an empty space between their bodies. That wasa good thing, she told herself.

“Thank you for loaning me a shirt to sleepin.” She smoothed his shirt down as she turned on her side to face him.

“No problem.” He was lying on his back, staringat the ceiling with his arms tucked up under his head.

“Areyou all right, Bren?” she asked.

“I will be. It’s just a lot to… absorb,”he said.

She stared worriedly at him, wondering ifthere was even anything she could say or do to help him.

“Can I ask you a question?”

“Of course,” she said.

“How do you guys survive? I mean, moneywise. None of you work in the city, right?”

“Dragons have done very well withinvestments and stock,” she said. “Each clan has its own financial person whomanages the clan’s investments. The money we earn is split between the membersof the clan depending on size of family. But, if a dragon wants to earn theirown money for additional things, they can get a job.”

“Working online, I assume,” Bren said.

“Yes. Jarvis and a few other clan memberswork in graphic design. Sika does editing and proofing of papers for universitystudents. One of our council elders, Leia, has a surprisingly lucrativebusiness designing and selling cross stitch patterns. Another clan member, Finn,turned his hobby of making leather bracelets and other accessories into a successfulsmall business as well.”

“Interesting,” Bren said.

“Material possessions and wealth mattervery little to dragons.”

“So, no hidden stashes of gold under mountains,huh?”

She was extremely relieved to see the smallsmile on his face as he turned on his side to face her.

“No, dragons liking gold is a myth createdby the humans. We live rather simply compared to most shifters and humans.”

“How many dragons are in your clan?” Brenasked.

“We’re a smaller clan with only twenty-five– twenty-six now – members.”

“Are there other clans close to yours?”

“The closest one is about four hours from here.Their high elder is Avena and they have almost seventy-five members.”

“Have you met any of them before?” heasked.

“Yes. Many times. We have celebrationswith them and occasionally clan members will live with another clan for atime. Before Sika and Jarvis were mated, Jarvis spent two weeks with the Avenaclan. Other times the council members will get together to discuss changes inhow the clans are run or for other reasons.”

She suppressed her shudder. The last timeAvena’s council had been here, it was to destroy one of their own clan members.A dragon who had been banished, gone insane, and was stalking Bishop’s humanmate.

“You okay?” Bren asked.

She nodded, a little thrown by how easily thehuman could read her emotions.

“So, the clans are basically just big happyfamilies.”

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