Page 126 of The Dragon's Mate

“Haveyou?” he asked. “You barelyspend any time with the clan now. You are with the human all night and whenyou are here, you’re distant. The human is not your clan, Kaida. We are. Ifyou think he can replace us, you are mistaken.”

“I know exactly who my clan is,” Kaida said.“And it’s not you. You are not my mate nor my friend, nor my clan member. Youare nothing to me, Drago and I’m tired of your insistence that I’ll be yourmate. I will never mate with you and you’d be wise to stop insisting that Ido. Both my dragon and I are weary of your attention.”

“You’re making a mistake,” Drago said assmoke drifted from his nose and nostrils. “You think the clan will accept the humanas your mate? They won’t. You’ll spend the rest of your life alone. You willnever have a mate or a hatchling.”

“Leave, Drago,” she said. “I wish you wellon your journey to Belinda’s clan.”

He glared at her, the sparks practicallyspitting from his mouth and his golden eyes glowing brightly. She crossed herarms across her chest and stared pointedly at the door.

“You will regret turning down my offer tobe your mate,” Drago said before yanking open the door. With a low growl, heleft her cabin, slamming the door behind him.

* * *

Kaida tasted the sauce before stirring itagain and adding a bit more onion powder. She placed the lid on the pot andchecked the time. Bren would be home soon, and she drained the pasta and leftit at the back of the stove before placing the garlic bread in the oven.

She was reaching for the pasta bowls in thecupboard when she heard the door open. She smelled Elora’s scent and herdragon purred happily. It liked the little witch, and it made another low purras Elora walked into the kitchen.

“Oh my God, Bren, that smells delicious. Tellme you made enough for me – oh, hey, Kaida. Sorry, I should have knocked.”

“It’s fine,” Kaida said. “How are you,Elora?”

Elora dropped into a kitchen chair. “Good.Is Bren home yet?”

“Not yet. Do you need to speak with him?”

Elora picked at her nail. “No, not really.Helen is at her monthly poker night and I was feeling bored.”

“Would you like to have dinner with us?” Kaidaasked.

“I don’t want to intrude,” Elora said.

“You’re not.”

“In that case, I’ll gladly accept thedinner invitation,” Elora said. “What can I do to help?”

“You can finish setting the table,” Kaida said.She stirred the sauce again as Elora placed the pasta bowls on the table.

“Where is your crow shadow?” Kaida asked.

Elora laughed. “Lilianna was sleeping andshe’s a real dick if you wake her up. I left her at home. I’m really glad youand Bren are dating. I don’t think I’ve ever seen him this happy.”

“Well, it’s only possible because of you andyour potion,” Kaida said. “So, thank you.”

“Not a problem. Do you need some more?”

“It’s getting a bit low,” Kaida said. “Do youmind?”

“Nope. But I will need more of your hairand another scale,” Elora said. “Remind me to grab them from you before I leave.”

She added silverware to the table before rootingthrough the cupboard for napkins. “Did you hear about the big rally thisafternoon in Hyde Park?”

“I watched a bit of it online,” Kaida said.

Elora rolled her eyes. “I was at the potionsstore and it’s only a few blocks away, so I went to it. It was so ridiculous.Bren’s father is an asshole. He was working the crowd up into a frenzy. Hehas no idea how much damage he’s causing by trying to pit humans againstparanormals.”

Kaida didn’t reply, and Elora patted herarm comfortingly. “Don’t stress about it though, okay? There have been plentyof pro-dragon/paranormal rallies the last two weeks to counter the negativeones.”

“I know,” Kaida said. “My friend Willow –her mother-in-law organized one two days ago. Willow invited my clan to go. Thecouncil thought it better if we didn’t go, but Willow said there were lots ofhumans and paranormals there in support of allowing us to just… live our lives.”

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