“Does Drago know?”
“Yes. We spoke with him early this morning and he was agreeable to joining their clan. Although I did not speak of this with the other elders, I also felt that given Drago’s constant pressure for you to mate with him, it would be best if he left the clan.”
“I appreciate that, Cadmus, but I can handle Drago and his ridiculous notion that we are to be mates,” Kaida said.
Cadmus smiled. “Yes, I know. Will you mate with Bren now that humans know of our existence?”
“Why did you not overrule the council’s decision to burn him?” Kaida countered.
“I would have,” Cadmus said. “But I wanted to give your dragon a chance to protect her mate. Which she did admirably.”
“Yeah, challenging the biggest and strongest among us was real admirable,” Kaida said.
Cadmus grinned again. “I would have bet money on your dragon to win the challenge, Kaida.”
“You’re a fool, Cadmus.”
He bellowed laughter. “Perhaps. Will you mate with the human?”
“I can’t mate with the human. Even now that they know of our existence, it’s one thing to live peacefully with humans, another to have one join our clan,” she said.
She stared moodily at the cloudy sky. “No one in the clan would accept Bren and I can’t leave the clan, no matter how much I want to be with him.”
“I think you’d be surprised at how many in our clan would accept the human. Especially since he helped Jarvis and Sika’s hatchling be born.”
“Have I mentioned how foolish you talk as of late, Cadmus?”
“A time or two,” he said. “When do you leave for the grizzly’s mating ceremony?”
“I’m not going,” she said. “We need to keep a low profile.”
“You must go. You need to live your life, Kaida.”
“If I leave, reporters will follow me and ruin Bishop and Ava’s wedding. I’m not doing that to my friend,” Kaida said.
Cadmus rocked slowly back and forth. “There must be a way. We just need to be creative.”
Her phone buzzed in her pocket and she yanked it out, hoping against hope that it was Bren.
“Is it your human?” Cadmus asked.
She shook her head. “No, it’s Bishop.” She read the text before staring at Cadmus. “He has a plan so that I can attend their wedding.”
“There, you see,” Cadmus patted her hand, “it’s all about being creative.”
* * *
“Oh for God’s sake.” Mal slammed his hand down on the horn as the reporters crowded around the car. “You literally just saw us drive in half an hour ago.”
He rolled down the window and glared at the reporter standing closest to him. “Back off, idiot.”
“How do you know the dragons? Are you a dragon?” The reporter shouted at him.
“I’m a wolf shifter, you moron.” Mal bared his fangs at him and the reporter and his camera man shuffled back, giving each other uneasy looks. “I own a security firm and I was here to speak with the dragons about a job. Not that it’s any of your fucking business.”
“What kind of job?” Another reporter shouted.
“What kind of…” Mal stared at Willow in disbelief and she rolled her eyes.
“Obviously it’s a security job,” Mal said. He could see a couple of the police officers pushing their way through the crowd of reporters and lookie-loos. “You’re wasting taxpayer dollars because you won’t leave some shifters alone to live their lives in peace. You get that, right?”
“How many dragons are in the clan?” The reporter said. “Did you know they were dragons before they were outed?”
Mal growled in frustration, and Willow pressed her hand on his arm as she leaned over and peered out the window at the reporter. “Hey, what about me? I’m a human who can see ghosts. Who cares about the dragons? You should be interested in me, right? Ghosts, people. I see ghosts!”
The reporter rolled his eyes. “Sure, you can, lady.”
“I can,” Willow said indignantly.
“Whatever. Ghosts are so five years ago,” the reporter said.
“Get back. Go on now, move out of the way.” A harried looking officer herded the mixture of humans and shifters away from the car as another opened the barricade.
Mal eased the car through the opening and, once he was clear of the crowd, stepped on the gas. Will clutched at the dashboard as the car rocketed down the dirt road back to the main highway.
“Slow down, honey.”
“What a bunch of idiots,” Mal said but eased up on the gas.
“Well, it’s good that we can help the dragons with security,” Willow said. “How many extra shifters will you have to hire?”
Mal calculated in his head as he drove down the road. “At least ten. Cadmus wants them all around the perimeter and I don’t blame him for that. Even with the cops there, a few reporters have snuck past and into the clan’s area.”
“How quickly can you find some extra men?” Willow asked.
“I’m going to make a few calls as soon as we get back,” Mal said.
“You still need to shower and get dressed for the wedding,” Willow said.
“I know. It won’t take long to make the calls. Davis and Fenton have a couple of friends looking for work, and Porter said both Judd and Hudson wouldn’t mind making a little extra cash. They can do a few morning shifts before they start work at the bar.”
He checked the rear-view mirror. “Think we’re far enough away?”
“Yes,” Willow said. “Pull over, honey.”
Mal pulled the car over and shut it off. Willow hopped out of the car and he followed his mate to the back of the vehicle. He popped the trunk, and Willow grinned at the dragoness curled up in the trunk next to a small suitcase.
“You okay, Kaida?”
“I’m good.” Kaida took Mal’s hand and he helped her out of the trunk. “Thank you for your help. It was a good idea to sneak me out in the trunk.”
“You’re welcome.” Mal slammed the trunk shut. “But it wasn’t actually my idea.”
“It was Ava’s,” Willow said. The three of them climbed back into the car. Mal started down the road and Willow twisted around in her seat to smile at Kaida. “Bishop was moping around the house and being a real – well, bear – about you not coming to the wedding, so Ava came up with the plan. It worked brilliantly!”
“It did,” Kaida said with a grin. “Was it also Ava’s idea to have us hire you for security?”
“Nah, that was Bren and Bishop,” Mal said. “Bishop was about to text you about the security thing when Bren called the office.”
“He was the one who sent the officers then?” Kaida said.
“Yeah, but the captain was only doing it as a favour to Bren and it wasn’t going to be a permanent thing, so Bren called us to see if we could help.”
“He’s such a sweet guy, and so handsome, don’t you think?” Willow said to Kaida.
Mal grinned to himself as Kaida, a pink tinge to her cheeks, looked out the window. “Thank you again for helping me attend the wedding.”
“It’s really our pleasure,” Willow said. “And we’ll make sure to find someone to give you a ride home after the reception as well.” She clapped her hands and beamed at Mal. “Our best friends are getting married today! This is going to be the best day ever.”
* * *
Bren parked in the parking lot of the small church. The lot was about half full and he climbed out of the SUV, slamming the door shut and walking briskly toward the church. He pulled his tie out of the pocket of his suit jacket and looped it around his neck.
He wasn’t proud of this, but he’d had to use both the lights and the siren on his car to get to the church in time. He fumbled with the tie as he drew closer to the wide front doors of the church. The case the captain had dumped in his lap Thursday morning had been a real shitshow and he’d worked eighteen hours both Thursday and Friday, as well as most of this morning.<
br />
He'd had less than an hour to get home, shower and shave, and get to the church.
“Shit,” he muttered and stopped outside of the church. He wore a tie on a regular basis and he still couldn’t tie one properly to save his damn life. It was embarrassing. He was about to say, ‘fuck it’ and go without the tie when he heard her low voice.
“Bren?”
He whirled around, staring at Kaida. “Kaida? What are you doing here?”
“I was invited,” she said.
He grimaced. “Sorry, I meant – how did you get here without a bunch of reporters following you?”
A small smile crossed her gorgeous face. “Mal and Willow snuck me out in the trunk of their car this morning.”
“That’s great.” He couldn’t stop staring at her. She wore a form fitting blue dress that matched the streaks of blue in her hair perfectly. Her long dark hair was pulled up on the top of her head with a few tendrils framing her face. He glanced at her breasts and then her hips before clearing his throat. “So, uh, what are you doing out here? The wedding is starting in less than fifteen minutes.”
“I needed some fresh air.” She glanced at the church. “Sometimes I get a little claustrophobic, and I’m used to keeping as far away from others as I can. The realization that I don’t have to hide who I am around shifters and humans is still settling in.”
There was an awkward silence and finally, he said, “You look beautiful.”
The flush to her cheeks made him think of how she looked when they were kissing. “Thank you. You look very handsome as well.”
“Thanks. Can’t get the damn tie right.” He pointed to the tie draped around his neck.
“I can help you,” she said.
“I’d appreciate that.”
She stepped closer and he inhaled deeply as she went to work on his tie. She always smelled like - he smiled a little - vanilla and smoke, and he found it weirdly hot.
When she was finished with his tie, he took her hand before she could step away. “I’m really glad you’re here.”
“Are you?”
He held tight when she tried to tug her hand free. “What’s that supposed to mean?”
She sighed and stared at their feet. “Why would you be glad to see me? My family tried to burn you alive. I know why you’re avoiding me, I do, and I promise I’ll leave you alone. But I wanted to say how sorry I am for -”
She made a low sound of surprise when Bren put his arm around her waist and tugged her up against his body. He pressed a chaste kiss against her mouth. “I’m not avoiding you.”
“You haven’t texted or -”
“I know and I’m sorry. I should have texted you, but I had a case dropped in my lap on Thursday and I’ve been working crazy hours since then. I’m running late because I was working this morning.”
“You don’t have to use work as an excuse,” she said. “I get it, okay?”
“It’s not an excuse.” He pressed his forehead against hers. “Yeah, it’s been mostly work, but I thought maybe I should give you a bit of space as well. There are a lot of changes happening in your world and I assumed you wanted to be with your clan. I didn’t want to intrude.”
“You should hate me,” she said in a low voice.
“You didn’t want to burn me alive,” he said. “In fact, I seem to remember you challenging the biggest, scariest looking dude in the room just to keep me safe. Thank you for that, by the way.”
“You’re not angry with me?” she said.
He shook his head. “Nope. Not even a little.”
She cupped his face and the fierce look in her eyes made his dick stir in his pants. “I would never let my clan or any other hurt you.”
Jesus, did it make him weird to find her sexy as hell when she acted like he was hers to protect?
“I know,” he said. “And for the record – I’ve got your back as well.”
A smile crossed her face and he grinned at her. “Yeah, yeah, I know. I’m a weak-ass human pretending a dragoness could need protection from him. I get how stupid I sound.”
The smile dropped from her face and she gave him another one of those fierce looks. “You are not stupid. You’re one of the bravest humans I’ve ever met, Bren. It would be an honour to have you fight by my side.”
When he kissed her, she parted her lips immediately. He tasted the sweetness of her mouth, one hand sliding down to squeeze her ass. She pressed herself against him, the kiss turning hungrier…needier.
With a low groan, he broke the kiss. Kaida’s eyes were glowing and he could see the tips of her fangs between her parted lips. When she tried to kiss him again, he rasped, “Wait.”
Her nostrils flaring, she took a deep breath. “I’m sorry.”
“I’m not. But we’re supposed to be attending our friends’ wedding that starts in,” he glanced at his watch, “six minutes and I’m going to need at least two minutes before we go into the church.”
She stepped away, tugging at her dress as he took a quick look around and then readjusted his aching dick. His erection was obvious against his suit pants and when Kaida stared hungrily at his crotch, he made a low groan. “You keep staring at my dick like that and it’s never gonna go down.”
Her smile was both wicked and wanton. With another groan, he looked away and thought about the least sexy things he could imagine – changing his furnace filter, working on his taxes, catching up on the never-ending paperwork for his job.
After a couple of minutes, he turned back to her and held out his arm.
Kaida grinned. “Houston, we no longer have a problem?”
He laughed. “The mission is a go. Would you like to sit with me for the ceremony?”
Kaida slid her hand around his arm. “I’d love to.”
* * *
“It was a beautiful ceremony, wasn’t it?” Maggie, a human who – Kaida thought – might be mated to Mal’s brother Porter, said with a tentative smile.
“It really was. Ava was gorgeous and Bishop was very handsome,” Kaida said.
Bren was sitting next to her and he leaned forward to grin at Maggie. “He also looked incredibly nervous.”
Maggie laughed. “Yes, he was definitely nervous.”
Porter joined them, holding a beer in each hand, and sat in the chair next to Maggie. “Here you go, darlin’.”
“Thanks, honey.” She took the beer from him. “We were just talking about how lovely the ceremony was.”
“It was nice. Food was fantastic.” Porter patted his lean abdomen. “Shouldn’t have been surprised though, B was in charge of the food and he loves to eat.”
Maggie took a sip of her beer. “I liked the church and the reception venue. We should talk to Ava and Bishop about who they booked through.”
“Sure,” Porter said.
“Are you getting married?” Kaida said.
Maggie’s shy smile widened, and she held out her left hand. “We are. We got engaged last week.”
“Congratulations. That’s a beautiful ring,” Kaida said as Bren shook Porter’s hand and then Maggie’s.
“I’m happy for you two,” he said.
“Thanks, man. It wouldn’t have happened if it wasn’t for you. So, expect an invitation to the wedding,” Porter said.
Bren tipped his beer to him. “I look forward to it.”
Kaida glanced curiously at Bren. What exactly did the wolf shifter mean? Was Bren a secret matchmaker in his spare time?
A slow and familiar song filled the reception hall, and Porter groaned. “Oh my God, what do you want to bet Ronin asked the DJ to play Celine Dion?”
Maggie laughed. “He did. I overheard him talking to Rosalie and Hudson about it.”
Porter stood and held out his hand. “C’mon, darlin’. Let’s dance.”
Maggie took his hand and they joined the other couples who were starting to slow dance. Kaida could see Bishop and Ava swaying in the middle of the dance floor. Bishop held Lila in one beefy arm, the other was wrapped a
round Ava’s waist.
Bren stood. “Would you like to dance?”
“Yes.” She took Bren’s hand and he led her to the edge of the dance floor. He put his arm around her waist and pulled her in tight against him. Her dragon purred loudly, and her skin prickled with awareness. God, she wanted the human so much.
“What did the wolf shifter mean if it hadn’t been for you, they wouldn’t be getting married?” she asked.
“Maggie was being stalked by a hyena shifter who was also a cop,” Bren said. “He kidnapped her, and I helped Porter and the others get her back.”
She blinked at him. “I saw something about that on the news. The guy who kidnapped her was the hero cop who saved your father from the assassination attempt a few years back. Right?”
He nodded, a grim look passing over his face. “Yeah, that’s the one. He regretted saving my father. He thought it was the mayor the guy was after, not my dad.”
“I remember reading about the cop being killed.” Her eyes widened and she searched the dance floor until her gaze landed on Porter and Maggie. “I can’t believe Maggie was the woman he kidnapped.”
Bren didn’t reply and she stared at him in sudden horror. “Oh my God, you were the cop who killed him.”
“I was,” Bren said. “I didn’t have a choice.”
“I’m sorry,” she said.
“Me too.” He laughed bitterly. “My father did a fantastic job of keeping the name of the cop who killed Vaughn, hush-hush. He had to grease a lot of palms, but he got it done. My name was never released to the public and they buried the story as quick as they could.”
They danced silently for a few minutes before, in an obvious attempt to change the subject, Bren said, “So, I know they’re Ava’s parents,” he pointed with his chin at a redheaded man dancing with a curvy brunette, “but I didn’t see Bishop’s parents.”
“Bishop’s father died when he was still a yearling and his mother is,” Kaida hesitated, “difficult. She and Bishop have always had a strained relationship. She didn’t approve of Ava and made Bishop choose between her and Ava. Bishop chose Ava, obviously.”
The Dragon's Mate (Book Seven) Page 22