Page 84 of Cast By Flames (Dragon's Breath)
“Thanks.” She smiled at him.
Since returning to Oklahoma, I’d noticed he was much more relaxed around his wife than years ago. I couldn’t say if it was age or the responsibility of being a parent to three kids, but he’d learned to let the small stuff go. Except during training, when he went into full soldier mode. That was perfectly fine, though. He and Miles had created an impressive fighting force that surprised me today with their discipline and skills. Their tactics weren’t traditional by modern standards but perfect for facing an onslaught of evil Kandoran.
Earl leaned against a porch post, chewing on a toothpick. He’d finished the tobacco I brought him from North Carolina and taken to other habits. “It’s nice to see them kids havin’ a good time. It’s hard to believe they don’t know any world ‘cept this one.”
I agreed. “Yeah.”
“Oh, the cookies!” Trish said, hopping up. “They should be cooled off by now.”
I’d forgotten she’d baked them before we came outside, and her husband had pulled them to cool a while ago.
“They’re ready,” Justin said, a sheepish smile crossing his face. “I might have checked while I was in there.”
She slapped him in the chest. “You better not have eaten more than two.”
“Of course.” He put his hands up in surrender. “I value my life.”
She shook her head and hurried inside.
Rayna sat at the end of the porch, having acquired a romance novel Trish gave her. The slayer looked up, and her nose twitched. “Did someone say cookies?”
“She’s bringing them in a minute,” Justin said, rubbing a hand through his short brown hair. It was still cut to military standards.
The slayer grinned. “Good. I’ve had a serious sugar craving since training earlier.”
I totally understood that since battles made me hungry for sweets, too—though I’d take any food to quell the hunger. Cookies were just better.
Conrad snickered from where he sat on the porch steps. “The girl barely talks unless you give her food or books.”
Freya lifted her brows. “She talks just fine when Galadon is around.”
“Only because he’s in desperate need of harassment,” Rayna mumbled, briefly lifting her gaze from the book. “Among other things.”
The female shifter shook her head. “I keep wondering if he’s going to give in to your taunts or kill you for them.”
“Maybe both,” Conrad said with a wry smile. “My bet is two silver coins that they’ll do the tango within the next month.”
“Ha! I’m not taking that bet,” Freya said, laughing.
Rayna rolled her eyes. “You guys are nuts if you think that dragon will give in to his urges. Hell would freeze over first.”
“Do you want him to?” I asked, curious.
She shrugged, not meeting my gaze. “It could be fun.”
There was more to it than that, but something told me she wouldn’t elaborate further.
“Who wants cookies?” Trish said, carrying a tray through the door. The weather was mild enough that she didn’t need to run the air conditioner and could open up the house instead.
I leaped out of Aidan’s arms and pushed through the crowd that formed. First, I grabbed two for Orion, handing them over through a sea of bodies before grabbing four more. I handed my mate his fair share. Despite supplies being more accessible than a few years ago, we rarely got baked desserts.
Taking a bite, I found my cookie was still warm and a little mushy—perfect. “Thanks, Trish.”
She took the last three and set the tray on a small porch table. Of course, she got one extra since she had baked. Justin did, too, because he’d helped. We could hardly complain.
The children finished their treat in record time and began chasing each other around the yard. The sugar high was in full force. I had just settled into Aidan’s arms again when a shot of pain went through my head. My mate stiffened and grumbled about hurting as well.
“Fuck! What was that?” Conrad asked.
