Page 163 of The Dragon's Mate

“Fine,” he said with a dismissive shrug. “Healedin a couple of hours. Can the three of you shift again?”

“Yes. The suppressant wore off by midmorning yesterday. There seems to be no lingering side effects for me, Bones,or Cadmus.”

Bishop muttered a curse. “I can’t believethe fucking humans. To think they can control us by suppressing our ability toshift. This is so bad, Kaida. Really fucking bad.”

“I know,” she said. “Did they find Martin?”

Bishop shook his head. “No, he’s gone.They already have someone new in charge of the HAPI group and they’re denying anyknowledge or involvement with the drug Martin was trying to create. It’s completebullshit, they’re lying through their goddamn teeth, but there’s no proof thatany of them knew. Bren had a search warrant by Saturday afternoon for theorganization, but if they had anything on their computers or in their office,they’d already gotten rid of everything. They said they haven’t heard from or seenMartin or any of the members who ran on Friday night.”

Kaida rubbed at her forehead. “Jesus, whata mess. Bren’s captain came by this morning. He met with Bones and Cadmus andme and we went over everything that happened again. Gave more official statements,as he put it. He said that the senator is insisting that he had no idea theHAPI group had created the suppressant and that he really did think they were meetingto talk peace with us.”

Bishop snorted angrily. “Does he reallythink he can get away with the lies? He basically confessed everything to thethree of you.”

Kaida traced her finger along the grain ofthe wood table. “Yeah. Morales said if he’s smart, he’ll admit to hisinvolvement and try to get a plea bargain out of it. If he isn’t, the three ofus will have to testify in court.”

“That won’t be for a while, if it evenhappens,” Bishop said.

They lapsed into silence for a few minutesbefore Bishop said, “What does Bren say about all of this?”

“I don’t know. I haven’t spoken to himsince Friday night.”

Bishop sat forward in his chair, shock writtenon his face. “You what?”

“Why would he, my bear? He was forced to killone man and shoot his father because of me,” Kaida said.

“The guy was going to kill you and it’sBren’s job to stop people from killing each other,” Bishop said. “And as far ashis father – hebarelyshot him.”

Kaida scowled at him. “Not helping, mybear.”

“It’s true,” Bishop said. “The bullet wentright through. He didn’t even need surgery for fuck’s sake. Bren was freakingout when he realized you were at that meeting with his father. He’s into you.Hell, he might even love you.”

“My clan will never accept him,” Kaida said.

“Bullshit,” Bishop replied. “He saved yourlife, Bones’s life, and the life of your freaking high elder. What more doeshe have to do to prove to your clan that he’s worthy? Fuck your goddamn clan,Kaida. You deserve to be happy and if your clan doesn’t see that being withBren makes you happy, then tell them to go fuck themselves and live your life withBren.”

She laughed bitterly. “It’s not that simple,my bear, and you know it. I cannot live without my clan.”

“But you can live without Bren?” Bishopsaid.

The tears fell, hot and painful as her dragonmade another heartrending wail of suffering.

“No,” she whispered. “I cannot live withoutmy mate either.”

Bishop reached across the table to grab herhand. “Kaida, you have -”

The knock on the door made them both jump.She squeezed Bishop’s hand before wiping her cheeks and crossing the room toopen the door.

Bren was standing on the porch and her dragonpurred with a sweet and joyful pleasure that couldn’t be contained. A smallsmile crossed Bren’s face at the sound. “Hello, Kaida.”

“Hello, Bren.”

“Can I come in?”

She stepped back, holding back her urge tothrow her arms around him, as he stepped inside her cabin. “Hello, Bishop.”

“Hey.” Bishop stood and shook Bren’shand. “Good to see you.”

“I never did say thanks for your help onFriday night,” Bren said.

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