Page 30 of The Dragon's Mate

“Hi, Ava. It’s nice to see you again.”Bren kissed Ava’s cheek.

Her dragon protested immediately, the purrturning to a growl, as Bishop’s jealousy coated him in a thick scent. Her dragonhissed at Ava, and Kaida stiffened.

Stop it, shesnapped.

Keep her away from the human. He’sours!

Oh my God, he’s not ours. Besides, youknow as well as I do that Ava is Bishop’s mate.Herdragon was losing its mind.

“How do you know Kaida?” Bishop repeated.

“It’s a long story and partially the reasonI’m here,” Bren said. “Why are you here, Kaida?”

“Oh, um, I was in the city and stopped byto see Bishop,” Kaida replied.

“Happy coincidence then,” Bren said. Hisgaze turned to Lila and Kaida’s dragon purred again when his eyes softened, andmore happiness drifted from his skin. “Hi, Lila. You’re looking more and morelike your mama every time I see you.”

“Thank God,” Willow said.

Bishop growled at her and Willow laughed. “Hey,you literally said that to me yesterday.”

Bren reached out to Lila and the babygrabbed his hand. She examined his finger before trying to put it in her mouthand he gently tugged his hand free before smiling at Kaida. Her cheeks flushedagain – oh my God, she reallywasacting like a yearling with her firstcrush – and she looked away.

She groaned inwardly when Ava looked at herand then Bren. Bishop’s mate couldn’t smell her and Bren’s mutual attraction,but she was clever for a human. “I got your RSVP for the wedding, Bren. I’m soglad you could make it.”

“Me too.” Bren was still staring at Kaida andshe thanked God she was holding Lila. If she wasn’t, the temptation to simplygrab the human by the arm, take him outside to her car, and bang him until theache in her pussy was finally gone, might have been too strong to resist.

The way he was looking at her – like he wouldbe more than happy to join her for a quickie in her car, was doing things toher insides.

Yes! Please? Her dragon whined.

“You know,” Ava smiled at Bren, “I realizedthat I forgot to email you your invitation to Bishop’s birthday party thisSaturday. It’s short notice, but any chance you can come? We’re having it atthe house. Nothing too fancy, just a barbeque – if the warmish weather holdsout – and a few friends and family.”

“Oh, uh…” Bren glanced at Bishop.

The big grizzly shifter was staring at Avawith undisguised shock, and Kaida almost laughed.

“Kaida will be there. Right?” Ava said.

Lila sat up and leaned forward with hermouth open and pressed it against Kaida’s cheek. She licked and gnawed as Avasighed. “Lila, no licking. Sorry, Kaida. This is something new she starteddoing a few days ago.

Lila giggled, and Kaida grinned at herbefore kissing the top of her head. “I don’t mind. And, yes, I’ll be at Bishop’sbirthday party.”

“You have to come,” Ava said to Bren. “Right,Willow?”

“Oh, totally,” Willow said. “It’s not aparty if the cops don’t show up.”

Bren laughed. “Sure. I’ll be there. Whatshould I bring?”

“Just yourself,” Ava said. “Mara andRoland are bringing enough food to feed an army. I’ll text you the address. We’reeating around six but feel free to come by any time after five. Speaking ofwhich,” she glanced at her watch, “I need to get going. My shift starts soon, andI need to get Lila over to Mara.”

Kaida handed Lila to Ava. The curvy human smiledat her and then Bren. “We’ll see you both on Saturday.”

She left the office and as Willow returnedto the reception desk, Kaida said, “I’d better go so you can meet with Bishop.”

“Actually,” Bren said, “if you have time,why don’t you stay? You were kind of a part of this and can give Bishop a betteridea of what they did.”

“Sure,” she said before she could stopherself.

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