Page 65 of Marked Dragon

Thorn beamed. “Take the one upstairs with the bunk beds.”

“I’ll watch him,” Saphira offered with a smirk. “I’ve wanted to have achatwith him since the first time I heard him speak to Everly.”

“Saphy,” Errol gasped and nodded toward the twins.

“Nah, it’s fine.” Elliott waved a hand. “Just knock Dad out, and I’ll watch him. He’s easier to be around when he’s asleep.”

My eyes widened. Peter had never been very involved with the twins, but he wasn’t rude to them like he was to me. I’d thought he didn’t interact with them much because I was around, but maybe I’d been wrong.

I stopped breathing. Maybe I’d broken my promise to Mom before I even realized it.

Thorn turned to Peter. “All it’ll take is one hateful tone, word, or attack, and Iwillknock your ass out again.” He took my hand. “If you even look at mywifewith a hateful expression, I will end you.”

The jolt sizzled between us, and my heart doubled in size. Mom had always been in my corner, but not even she could match his devotion. I wasn’t sure what I’d done to deserve such a sexy and amazing person, but I wouldn’t complain. With Thorn, I was happier than I’d ever been, even when dealing with constant threats.

Jaw twitching, Peter closed his eyes as his Adam’s apple bobbed. “I got it.”

Saphira snorted. “Are you sure? Because you said that earlier and got knocked out again. I don’t even know why.” She pouted and glanced at Thorn. “What did he do?”

Turning to the side, Thorn lifted his shirt to reveal where Peter had cut him. The cut was just a scab thanks to shifter healing. That healing speed was the only reason I’d survived the fall in the woods when I’d cracked my skull. If Thorn hadn’t accidentally changed me, I would’ve died.

Seeing his injury had my blood boiling. “If he does anything to Thorn again, I’ll kick his ass.”

A huge smile crossed Cassidy’s face. “I’m so glad Thorn found you.”

“I’m not,” Peter grumbled so low he had to think we couldn’t hear him. “If he hadn’t gotten involved, Everly would be with Drake, and none of this would’ve happened. Once again, it’s allherfault.”

A snarl rattled Thorn’s chest, but I tugged him back and wrapped my arms around him—well, as far as they would go. Though Peter was a jerk, he hadn’t meant for us to hear him. When my arms touched Thorn, some of his anger eased as our connection thrummed at full speed.

“Just so you know,” Tyson said as he sat on the couch close to the back door. “Every one of us heard you. Dragons have excellent hearing. Everly is the only reason you didn’t get knocked out again.”

Face blanching, Peter suddenly found the floor very interesting.

“I’m going out for some fresh air.” Eva walked across the den.

Before she could reach the back door, Cassidy shook her head. “I’m sorry, but we all need to stay inside. A dragon could fly overhead, and if the wedding was broadcast, they’ll know your face. I’ll order us pizza, but we are stuck inside.”

“Then it’s a good thing we have this to keep us entertained.” Brenton strolled to the pool table and grabbed a stick. “Come on, Errol. I bet I can still kick your ass.”

Elliott and Eva sat on the couch next to Tyson, and Elliott pulled out the Switch and gave one of the controllers to Eva. Tyson settled in to watch them play, while Cassidy removed her phone from her pocket and headed to a door on the left that led to the kitchen.

“I’ve been sitting enough,” Peter grumbled as he moved to the corner of the room farthest from everyone. “I’ll just stay here.”

“Fine with me.” Saphira sat on the couch closest to us and patted the middle seat. “Come watch something with me, Everly.”

Not wanting to stand around, I led Thorn over and sat down, and Saphira searched for something on TV. I snuggled up with Thorn, relieved to be with him and not in danger. For this moment, the two of us could just be.

The next morning, my body thrummed, and my eyes fluttered open. My body felt rested despite barely having any room on the full-size bed. Thorn took up almost all the space due to his size, but that meant I’d been wrapped in his arms all night.

Last night had been rough. Thorn and I had wound up in the room upstairs with Peter and Elliott, with Cassidy and Vlad in the master bedroom close by. Saphira and Eva had taken the master bedroom downstairs, and Tyson, Brenton, and Errol had stayed in the other room downstairs with a bunk bed and a twin.

After spending some time with his parents, making things right with his dad, Vlad had arrived in better spirits.

A large, warm hand slipped under my shirt and rested on my stomach. My body warmed, and I bit my inner lip, trying to keep my head on straight. Peter and Elliott were right across from us in the bunk bed.

But that didn’t stop the desire from knotting in my stomach. Thorn’s lips were on my neck, and I’d begun to forget why this was a bad idea when there was a loud knock on the front door.

Thorn’s arm tensed around me. Then he released me and jumped to his feet.

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