Page 141 of The Dragon's Mate

“Hey,” he said. “Look at me.”

She stared at him, her dragon purringexcitedly when Bren put his arm around her waist.

“If you were in my place, you wouldn’twhat? Wouldn’t want to keep dating me? Wouldn’t want to stick around?” heasked.

She shook her head. “No. My dragon can’t –won’t – leave you.”

A soft smile crossed his face. “Then don’tact like I can leave you. Because I can’t, Kaida. I want to be with you nomatter what. My…interestin you will never wane. Never stop. Ever.”

He kissed her and she breathed in the scentof her mate, her body trembling with the sheer volume of how much she lovedhim.

Yes. Love.Herdragon purred happily at her acceptance of her true feelings.We love ourmate. Tell him.

Before she could, Tyler rushed back intothe kitchen. “Bren, you gotta talk to Corey’s social worker. He called and Corey’strying to tell him what’s going on but… please, can you talk to him?”

“Yes.” Bren kissed Kaida’s temple. “Giveme five minutes and then we’ll leave.”

* * *

“You okay, human?” Sika asked.

“Yes. Eating dinner with a couple dozen dragonswho may or may not be contemplating setting me on fire is my favourite way tospend a Tuesday evening,” Bren said.

Bones snorted laughter. “The human isfunnier than I expected. Javee, pass the salad, would you?”

Javee passed him the salad as Sika saidearnestly, “We won’t set you on fire, human. Cadmus has overruled the council’sdecision.”

“Not to mention,” Kaida’s grandmother wassitting to his left and she gave him a toothy grin, “the smell of burnt humanis a bitch to get out of our clothes.”

“Gram!” Kaida was on his right and she staredin horror at her grandmother as Bren burst into laughter.

“Relax, mostoirín, the human knows I’m onlykidding.” Gram patted Bren’s hand before eating a bite of potatoes. “Cadmusmade it clear to all of the clan that we are to treat you with respect, andthat you and your brother are welcome to stay with us for as long as you need.”

“That’s very kind of Cadmus and your clan,”Bren said. “Thank you.”

“I still think if the council would let usdo interviews with the press, it would get them to back off,” Jarvis said. “It’sworked for Avena’s clan.”

“What do you mean?” Bren said.

Jarvis was holding Kova and he shifted the sleepingbaby to his left arm before saying, “Avena’s clan in New York allowed areporter into their home. They gave an interview and explained a bunch ofstuff about dragons, how our clans work, that sort of shit. They even switchedto their dragon forms and flew for them.”

“What? When?” Bren said.

“This morning,” Bones said. “They’ve beenplaying the interview on loop all over television and the internet since then.”

“There are rumours that Belinda’s clan andMakeda’s clan are going to do the same,” Javee said.

“The reporters have already stopped surroundingAvena’s clan,” Jarvis said. “If we do the same -”

“The press may be backing off but there arestill plenty of humans gawking and trying to get onto Avena’s land,” Bones said.“It will take more than an interview and some pictures to ease their curiosity.”

“But it could help a little,” Jarvis continueddoggedly. “If the reporters left, then maybe the humans would grow tired of -”

Bones slammed his fist down on the table.The hum and flow of conversation stopped and the rest of the dragons sitting ingroups around the half dozen long tables, all stared at Bones.

“I will not be a monkey in a cage for thehumans’ amusement,” Bones growled. Smoke curled from his nose and Bren couldsee the tips of his fangs protruding from between his lips. “We are not zooanimals for them to look at and marvel over our uniqueness, Jarvis.”

Javee placed her hand on his arm. “Becalm, my love.”

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