Page 103 of The Dragon's Mate

“If I leave, reporters will follow me andruin Bishop and Ava’s wedding. I’m not doing that to my friend,” Kaida said.

Cadmus rocked slowly back and forth. “Theremust be a way. We just need to be creative.”

Her phone buzzed in her pocket and she yankedit out, hoping against hope that it was Bren.

“Is it your human?” Cadmus asked.

She shook her head. “No, it’s Bishop.”She read the text before staring at Cadmus. “He has a plan so that I can attendtheir wedding.”

“There, you see,” Cadmus patted her hand, “it’sall about being creative.”

* * *

“Oh for God’s sake.” Mal slammed his handdown on the horn as the reporters crowded around the car. “You literally justsaw us drive in half an hour ago.”

He rolled down the window and glared at thereporter standing closest to him. “Back off, idiot.”

“How do you know the dragons? Are you adragon?” The reporter shouted at him.

“I’m a wolf shifter, you moron.” Mal baredhis fangs at him and the reporter and his camera man shuffled back, giving eachother uneasy looks. “I own a security firm and I was here to speak with thedragons about a job. Not that it’s any of your fucking business.”

“What kind of job?” Another reportershouted.

“What kind of…” Mal stared at Willow indisbelief and she rolled her eyes.

“Obviously it’s a security job,” Mal said. Hecould see a couple of the police officers pushing their way through the crowdof reporters and lookie-loos. “You’re wasting taxpayer dollars because you won’tleave some shifters alone to live their lives in peace. You get that, right?”

“How many dragons are in the clan?” Thereporter said. “Did you know they were dragons before they were outed?”

Mal growled in frustration, and Willowpressed her hand on his arm as she leaned over and peered out the window at thereporter. “Hey, what about me? I’m a human who can see ghosts. Who caresabout the dragons? You should be interested in me, right? Ghosts, people. Isee ghosts!”

The reporter rolled his eyes. “Sure, youcan, lady.”

“I can,” Willow said indignantly.

“Whatever. Ghosts are so five years ago,”the reporter said.

“Get back. Go on now, move out of the way.”A harried looking officer herded the mixture of humans and shifters away from thecar as another opened the barricade.

Mal eased the car through the opening and,once he was clear of the crowd, stepped on the gas. Will clutched at thedashboard as the car rocketed down the dirt road back to the main highway.

“Slow down, honey.”

“What a bunch of idiots,” Mal said but easedup on the gas.

“Well, it’s good that we can help thedragons with security,” Willow said. “How many extra shifters will you have tohire?”

Mal calculated in his head as he drove downthe road. “At least ten. Cadmus wants them all around the perimeter and I don’tblame him for that. Even with the cops there, a few reporters have snuck past andinto the clan’s area.”

“How quickly can you find some extra men?” Willowasked.

“I’m going to make a few calls as soon aswe get back,” Mal said.

“You still need to shower and get dressedfor the wedding,” Willow said.

“I know. It won’t take long to make the calls.Davis and Fenton have a couple of friends looking for work, and Porter saidboth Judd and Hudson wouldn’t mind making a little extra cash. They can do afew morning shifts before they start work at the bar.”

He checked the rear-view mirror. “Think we’refar enough away?”

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