by Liv Rider
“Literally.”
Thomas was too stunned for a moment to react, then snorted with laughter. “That was ridiculous.”
“More ridiculous than shifters.” Joel’s voice was amused, and he turned in Thomas’ arms to look at him.
Thomas kissed him. “Definitely more ridiculous, and more wonderful.”
“I love you.” Joel smiled, looking at their joined hands. “I’m glad we found each other. That you found me twice.”
“I’ll find you as many times as is necessary. This is where we belong. Together.”
“Together.” Joel kissed him.
Epilogue: Joel
Thomas had agreed that introducing Joel to other shifters was something they should take slowly. So far, Joel had met the members of Thomas’ council a few times. Louis had been apologetic every time they talked, although last week he had only apologized once for his involvement in Joel’s kidnapping. The couple of times he’d talked to the council members had been awkward. Joel was constantly second-guessing himself, wondering if he was behaving the way a Keeper’s mate should, and the council members weren’t entirely sure what Joel’s position was, since he wasn’t a shifter. Joel wasn’t sure himself. It was something they’d have to figure out together.
He’d started with his plan to do something for humans who were in relationships with shifters. So far, he had hosted a couple of casual get-togethers at the community center. There had been only five people including himself at that first meeting, but word had spread and two weeks later there were a dozen. Tonight there had been twenty people. He’d have to bring more muffins from work next time.
He hummed to himself as he entered the apartment building. It was still weird to think of it as his home too. He’d moved in with Thomas a few weeks ago, and while the move itself had been stressful and they were still getting the hang of living together, he hadn’t regretted a minute of it. The last few months had been the best of his life.
Thomas had invited Parker and Mitchell over for dinner and Joel looked forward to seeing the other two dragon shifters again. They didn’t treat him any differently from anyone else. At least, they didn’t anymore. The first few times Thomas had invited them over for dinner, Parker and Mitchell had mostly been questioning him. What was it like to be true mates when you weren’t a shifter? What were his plans for the district? What was being human like?
Now that their initial curiosity had been sated, they had settled into a burgeoning friendship, which Joel liked a lot more than having to answer difficult questions. Fortunately, Parker and Mitchell were just as happy to answer any questions Joel had, especially if it meant getting to tell an embarrassing story about Thomas.
He opened the door and could hear Thomas and Mitchell talk in the living room. He hoped they hadn’t started dinner without him. The meeting at the community center had run longer than he had expected, since there’d been a discussion as to whether or not human family members should be included as well.
Joel had argued that they should definitely feel welcome if they wanted to come. After all, his own childhood would’ve been much better if he had known about other kids like himself, who were struggling to fit in with their shifter family. Other people at the meeting had insisted that being in a relationship with a shifter and being related to a shifter were two different issues, and that therefore there should be two different meeting times. They hadn’t reached a decision yet, but had agreed to talk about it again in two weeks.
“Hey,” Parker greeted him, as Joel entered the living room. “Thomas mentioned you had a committee meeting. How did it go?”
“It’s not a committee.” He was pretty sure he’d had this discussion with Parker before. “We get together and talk. Sometimes it’s not even about shifters, just everyday stuff.”
Thomas and Mitchell were in the kitchen, with Thomas having opened the oven already. “You’re just in time!” Thomas said, grinning. “The casserole’s done.”
“It smells great.” Joel went into the kitchen to grab himself a glass of water. “Salmon?”
“Of course.” Thomas pulled it out of the oven. “Your favorite.”
“Everything you make is my favorite,” Joel told him, leaning in to kiss his cheek.
“Aww.” Mitchell smiled at them, then carried the dish over to the table. “You guys are very sweet together.”
“A little too sweet sometimes,” Parker told them. He sat down at the table, eying the casserole hungrily. “Save it for when we’ve left.”
Thomas snorted. “Just wait until you meet your true mate, Parker.”
“I bet he’ll be even sweeter with his mate than the two of us.” He couldn’t imagine business-like Parker being adorable with anyone, but you never knew, especially with true mates.
Parker looked disgusted, but Mitchell laughed. “I’d love to see that.”
“I’m sure you would.” Parker glared at Mitchell. “Anyway, Joel, you still haven’t said how things are with your committee.”
Joel sat down at the table opposite Thomas and next to Parker. “Still not a committee.”
“You have regular meeting times, don’t you?” Parker asked.
“Yes,” Joel replied. He didn’t think that determined whether or not it was a committee. “Every two weeks. But like I said, we just chat. If you want to call it anything, call it a support group.” That still didn’t sound right, but it was a lot better.
Mitchell frowned. “Do they need support? What kind of problems do they have?”
Of course Mitchell wanted to know about the problems. No doubt so he could give advice. “That makes it sound a lot more serious than it is. We don’t sit around discussing problems all evening, just… things we’re dealing with. And those can be good things, like being pregnant.”
“Oh, who’s expecting?” Thomas sounded excited.
“That’s up to her to tell you.” Joel smiled at Thomas’ brief look of annoyance. “What happens at the community center, stays at the community center.” It was the only way to get everyone to speak freely. He didn’t want anyone at the meeting to think he was telling Thomas everything. If someone had an issue, they could approach Thomas or a council member themselves. “But I can tell you that the couple is very happy about it.”
“Well, that’s good news.” Thomas stood up to fill everyone’s plates with food. “I’m glad it’s working. How many people were there tonight?”
“Twenty.” Joel held up his plate. “I think we’ll have even more next time.” He nodded at Thomas to let him know he had enough. Thomas still had to get used to Joel’s appetite not being as big as a shifter’s. “Maybe we’ll have to split into two groups if it keeps growing like this. And tonight we had this massive debate over whether or not family members could come as well or if it should just be for humans who are in a relationship with a shifter.” He poked at his food. “We’ll talk about it again next time; give everyone time to think about it.”
“Aha.” Parker looked pleased. “You’ve got regular meetings and an agenda point for next time. You’re definitely a committee. If I were you, I’d get someone to take minutes.”
“We’re not taking minutes!” Joel insisted. “We’re a support group and we’re barely even that.”
“If I might give some advice,” Mitchell said, just as Parker opened his mouth again. “You should ignore what Parker has to say about your group. After all, it’s your group, and you’re not even meeting in Parker’s district.” He gave Parker a cheerful smile as Parker glared at him again.
Joel grinned at Parker. “What Mitchell said.”
Parker simply huffed. “Well, if you do want to get organized with your group, let me know. When you’re just starting out, taking minutes or having a chair to lead the discussion isn’t always necessary.”
“Um.” He had been the one to cut off the discussion over who should be welcome at the group. “I think I might be the chair.”
“Of course you are.” Parker smiled at Thomas. “I’m
keeping an eye on him. In case he does anything that might be useful in my district.”
“I might start something like it in my district,” Mitchell mused, between bites of casserole. “I’ll ask around, see if there’s interest amongst the non-shifters.”
Joel smiled, glad someone besides Thomas thought there was value in what he was doing. “Well, if you want advice on how to run a group like that…”
“Mitchell asking for advice rather than give it? I’d like to see that!” Parker grinned at Mitchell, who studied his food. “I’ll see how things go with Joel’s little support group before I do anything in my district. We’ve got enough groups and committees as it is.”
Joel continued eating while Mitchell asked Parker about his committees. It wasn’t as strange as before to have the other two dragon shifters care about his opinions or actions, but it still gave him satisfaction to have them talk to him as equals, as someone who could contribute and had useful insights. He hoped that sooner rather than later, Thomas’ council members would treat him the same way.
“I don’t go to our book club as often as I’d like,” Thomas said, after Parker had explained his district had a couple of different book clubs, one for kids, one for adults, and a couple for different genres. “Mostly because I never get around to reading the book, and then what’s the point?”
“You don’t need to read the book, though,” Parker said. “You just have to be there every once in a while, show your face. You think I always stay for the entire meeting? Because I often—”
They were interrupted by Joel’s phone ringing in his pocket. “Sorry!” Joel jumped up to grab it. He was about to reject the call when he saw who was calling.
Douglas Robinson.
He looked at Thomas. “It’s Douglas.” He walked away from the table and into the living area when he picked up. His heartbeat sped up. He hadn’t talked much to the older man ever since his kidnapping, except when Douglas had called to ask for clarification a couple of times. “Evening.”
“I hope I’m not disturbing anything?”
Joel looked over at the table. The three dragon shifters were all watching him. “Nothing that can’t wait.” He turned to face one of the windows. “Why are you calling?”
“Well, the council finally finished its discussion of your case today.”
Joel sat down on one of the chairs and stared out at the twinkling city lights. “Oh?” His mouth was suddenly dry. Douglas hadn’t said anything about when the council would be discussing it.
“It took them a couple of meetings. I thought it was best not to tell you about it until it was over and done with. No need to have you fretting needlessly, right?”
Joel couldn’t reply. He simply hummed in agreement. His free hand was resting on the arm of the chair, the fabric scratchy against his palm.
“The good news is that they agreed your father and brothers are guilty of kidnapping you. Not unanimously, but I’ll take a majority.”
He let out a huge breath, sagging back in the chair in relief. “Wow.” He couldn’t believe it. The council agreed his father and brothers had done something wrong. He had to blink a couple of tears away. He’d hoped for that outcome, but it had sounded too much to hope for.
“The bad news is about the punishment. The Lewiston bans weren’t a problem, by the way, they all agreed to that. They’ll be in touch with the three Lewiston councils to work out the details soon.”
“Then what’s the bad news?” The council was on his side and he wouldn’t ever have to see his father and brothers again if he didn’t want to.
“They’re only banned from shifting for a month.” Douglas’ tone made it clear what he thought about that. “I was pushing for a year for your brothers and two years for your dad, since he masterminded the whole thing, but the council disagreed. They felt that being found guilty and the humiliating treatment from the rest of Barnhill would be punishment enough. A lot of neighbors heard you yelling. I’ll keep an eye on that, though. I don’t want things to escalate again. That town needs to let this go so everyone can move on.”
“That’s probably for the best.” He wouldn’t mind his father being humiliated for a little longer, though, just so he’d get a taste of what things had been like for Joel. But Douglas was right. Barnhill did need to move on. If its inhabitants had, his father might never have thought kidnapping Joel was the only way to improve his reputation. “Thanks. For everything.”
“No problem. Thing is…”
Joel waited in silence, wondering what else the Keeper had to say.
“Thing is, I need to make changes in all the towns. I’ve been—I haven’t been the best Keeper. Seven towns is too many. I’ll try and split up the district, and find some other Keeper to take three or four towns off my hands. That’ll take a while, though. Dragon shifters are rare enough; never mind one who’d make a good Keeper.”
“Good luck with your search.” Joel was glad Douglas was making changes. “Don’t give up.”
“You too. Things still good with your mate?”
Joel looked over at the dinner table, where if anything the three dragon shifters were regarding him with even more interest than before. “Yes. Very good. Great, even. Make sure you tell my dad that next time you see him.”
He heard Douglas laugh. “He’ll love that. Good evening, Joel. Give my best to Thomas.”
“Thanks. You have a good evening too.”
He hung up, staring at his phone for a moment and trying to process what he had just been told.
Of course, with three Keepers of the Peace, one of them his mate, the silence didn’t last long.
“Well?” Parker demanded.
“What did he say?” Thomas got up.
“You’ll feel better if you talk about it,” Mitchell said.
Joel stood up and walked back to the table. “The council discussed my case. They agree my family was in the wrong, but—”
He was interrupted by Thomas pulling him into a big hug and Parker and Mitchell giving each other a high give. “I’m so happy for you.”
Joel leaned into the embrace. He wished he could stay like that for longer, but he pulled back so he could finish explaining everything. “They’ll be banned from Lewiston, so your councils will get contacted soon. And they’re banned from shifting for a month.”
“A month?” Thomas frowned. “That’s nothing. It should’ve been two years at least.”
“Douglas did the best he could,” Joel replied. Thomas didn’t know the council over there, or the town. “I’m just pleased most of the council found my father and brothers guilty.”
“Most?” Parker asked. “What, not even all of them?”
“We don’t have all the details,” Mitchell reminded him.
Thomas looked Joel in the eye while Parker and Mitchell argued about councils and Joel’s case. “You really are satisfied with the outcome?”
Joel nodded. “It’s the best I could’ve hoped for. Just… just knowing the council found them guilty is already a relief, you know? They won’t be able to harm me again. Maybe things will get better for Barnhill, slowly but surely.”
Thomas pulled him into another hug. “If you’re happy, then I’m happy.”
Joel smiled against his chest. “Thank you.”
Thomas released him. “Now then, shall we celebrate your good news by having an amazing dinner?” He grinned as he gestured at the table. “Look, salmon casserole. Your favorite.”
Joel laughed. “What a great idea.” He kissed Thomas.
He couldn’t think of the last time he had looked forward to what the future would bring this much. Whenever he had considered his future, the fear of his parents and of other shifters had always been in the back of his mind. But now, he didn’t need to be afraid of that anymore. He was free, had the best boyfriend he could’ve ever hoped for, and was in a position to improve things for kids just like him.
The future was going to be wonderful.
A note from Liv Rider<
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Thank you for reading my book! I hope you enjoyed it. If you’d like to be emailed when I release my next book, please click here to be added to my mailing list.
Please review Protector Dragon, even if you only write a line or two. I love hearing what my readers think! You can also email me at [email protected], and find me at Facebook, Twitter, and livrider.com.
The cover of Protector Dragon was designed by Camberion.
More M/M Paranormal Romance by Liv Rider
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Hunter Omega. Hunting werewolves is hard. Falling in love with one is harder.
The Sun Dragon’s Mate (Dragon Sun + The Sun Dragon's Flight). He never believed he was destined to find a true mate—until one touch changed everything.
Wild City Life. One apocalypse was enough—can two rival shifters work together before all is lost again?
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