by Anna Lowe
But all that fled his mind when Jenna turned and beamed. “It’s amazing.” She spread her arms as wide as wings.
He stepped over to hug her while his dragon puffed happy little swirling flames inside.
Do we get to teach her to fly now?
Well, maybe not just yet. The Change could take several weeks, and they sure wouldn’t start at the top of this tall a cliff. But someday…
He tucked his chin over Jenna’s shoulder, sniffing her scent, watching the sun sink lower. He didn’t need to fast-forward to someday. Right now was just as good.
He kissed her near the tiny scar of his mating bite, delighting in the lusty shiver it sent down her spine.
“Mmm,” she cooed, bumping back against him.
He could kiss her — just kiss her — for hours. But they didn’t have hours, not with everyone waiting.
He grinned to himself. Actually, they had a lifetime. But they did have to get to that meeting. So he broke off his next kiss and took her hand.
“Ready to go?”
“Ready.” She said it in a firm, ready for forever kind of way that kept his step light and bouncy all the way across the grounds to the big plantation house.
The closer they drew, the more he wondered what his fate would be, much as he had when he’d arrived on Maui and met Tim at the airport. So much had happened since then. Surely destiny wouldn’t have brought him to his true love, only to have him thrown off the island, out of work and out of luck yet again?
Jenna squeezed his hand, and he stood straighter. She helped his mind stay in the right place. His incredible, dragon-slaying mate. He kissed her knuckles then made the last turn for the house — and stopped abruptly in his tracks.
“Whoa,” Jenna breathed. “What’s that for?”
Two long rows of tiki torches were stuck into the ground along the path that led to the plantation house. A living, dancing lane of fire. Up on the porch, everyone was waiting. His brothers, Dell, Cynthia, and little Joey. Kai was up there too.
Connor’s voice stuck in his throat. He tried explaining, but the words wouldn’t come out.
“Connor?” Jenna asked, touching his shoulder. “What does that mean?”
He took a deep breath. Those torches meant everything was all right. He wasn’t in trouble — well, not big trouble anyway.
“Shifters do that…sometimes, to welcome someone important, like the big boss,” he managed to explain at last. “Other times, they do it for…for…” His tongue tangled with a word he’d never used for himself before. “Heroes.”
She grinned like she’d known that all along. “You.”
He looked at her. “You. Both of us, I guess.”
She laughed. “Well, let’s go find out.”
Only Jenna could stride that casually into a hero’s welcome. Nothing went to her head, and nothing scared her. Which was a damn good thing, because danger was part of the shifter world. He wished he could pretend otherwise, but that was the way it was. Still, they could handle anything together, right?
Right, his dragon growled, leaning closer to her.
He fell into step beside Jenna, expecting to climb the porch steps and get the meeting started. But then another thing happened that blew him away. Kai left his spot at the top of the stairs and descended to meet them at ground level with a firm handshake.
“Connor. Jenna. Good to see you both on your feet again.”
The words weren’t much in themselves, but the gesture meant everything. Shifters were big on hierarchy, and Kai had every right to remain on the top step while Connor came to him. Coming down was the ultimate sign of respect. Connor didn’t know much about dragon society’s rules, but he knew that much.
“Thanks,” he murmured. Another woefully inadequate word.
Kai kissed Jenna on both cheeks and winked. “So, you sure about this guy, huh?”
Jenna didn’t so much as blush. She just looped her arm around Connor’s waist and grinned. “You bet I am.”
Connor could have kissed her right there — but if he started, he wouldn’t be able to stop. So he settled for throwing his arm over Jenna’s shoulders and tugging her closer.
“Well, let’s get started,” Kai said. “We have a lot to talk about.”
“That, we do,” Cynthia said, coming halfway down the stairs.
Connor hid a smile. Halfway was a message too. Cynthia was ready to acknowledge what he and Jenna had accomplished — but she wasn’t about to roll over and let him take the alpha position without a fight.
Which ought to have riled him, but Connor didn’t care anymore. If he was appointed alpha of Koakea, great. He’d be glad to take the job. But if Cynthia got the job — well, okay. Serving his clan would always be his top priority, whatever role he filled.
He chuckled inside. Perspective. Now that he had a mate, he knew what that meant.
Tessa, Kai’s partner, greeted Connor with a warm smile and one of those two-cheek kisses that made him feel ridiculously proud, like he’d arrived in society or something. But Tim, Chase, and Dell made sure he stayed grounded as they all met him with extra-hard smacks on the back. They’d seen each other over the past couple of days, but not since Connor and Jenna had bonded. Jody and Cruz were also there — Jody beaming like a mom at the sight of her firstborn all grown-up, and Cruz with that guarded expression that fell somewhere between Don’t make me kill you and Life is great when you have the woman you love.
“Hey,” Tim said, all gruff and tough. “Congratulations.”
Connor tried putting everything into one handshake, but it was hard. He’d put a lot at risk for his brothers as well as himself, and yet Tim had stood by him. Tim, who was right up there with Dell when it came to resisting the idea of a mate, if only because his logical bear mind couldn’t quite grasp the concept of loving someone other than immediate family. Connor used to think along the same lines, but now…
Jenna and Jody hugged while Connor studied Tim. Wait — was there a hint of sadness in his smile? The wish for a mate of his own?
Connor made a mental note to pay his brother back somehow. Surely there was a nice woman out there waiting to find a good guy like him.
“Thanks for the torches. Your idea, Tim?”
Tim tilted his head toward Cynthia. “Hers. She said you deserved it.”
Connor’s jaw just about hit the floor. You’re kidding me, right?
His brother waggled his thick eyebrows. Not kidding. It really was her idea.
Like I said, Dell added. She might be all fire and thorns on the outside, but inside, she’s a kitten.
Kitten might have been an exaggeration, but Connor had to agree with the rest.
“Yes, well. Tradition, you know,” Cynthia said, casually downplaying the gesture.
Connor stared for a second longer. Wow. Cynthia definitely got the good sport award.
Then Dell smacked him on the shoulder and grinned broadly. “Anyway, congratulations. Took you long enough to figure out love.”
Connor snorted. “Like you have it all figured out?”
“Yep. I know to keep clear.” Dell laughed then turned to Jenna. “Poor thing. You’re stuck with him now. And even worse, you’re stuck with all of us by extension. Clan is clan, you know.”
Jenna didn’t miss a beat. “Being stuck with Connor? Yes, please. Being stuck hanging around with you guys…” Her eyes twinkled in friendly jest. “We’ll see how bad that turns out to be.”
Chase shook Connor’s hand, flashing a genuine smile. Typical Chase — all action, no words except for a quiet, heartfelt, “Congratulations.”
Connor didn’t have time to reply, what with Dell reaching over and lifting Joey onto the armrest of the couch so he could join the receiving line like a real grown-up.
“Joey, sweetie. It’s not nice to stand on furniture,” Cynthia protested.
“It’s a special occasion,” Dell said, ignoring her hard look. “A man has to be able to look another man in the eye, right?”
Joey stuck out his hand and shook solemnly with Connor. “Congratulations.”
At first, Connor figured that was for finding the love of his life, but of course, Joey’s mind was on other things.
“Did you really kill that bad sea dragon?” the boy asked with wide, hero-worshiping eyes. “Will you tell me about it? Will you? Please?”
Before Connor could answer, Cynthia cut in with another strict frown. “Killing is a bad thing, sweetie.”
Connor held back from sharing his two cents. Cynthia was right. But, hell. He’d been that curious kid once upon a time. He knew how important it was to get answers — and how frustrating it could be not to find out.
“She’s right, you know,” he said. When Cynthia turned away with a satisfied nod, he leaned closer to Joey and whispered, “So how about I tell you about it some other time?”
Joey beamed and winked. Well, he tried, though it came out as a two-eyed squint.
Connor tousled Joey’s hair and made another mental note to himself. Help that boy not be the frustrated kid I used to be.
He shook with Cruz next, who didn’t even squeeze his hand too hard. His eyes did hold a veiled warning, though. Be good to Jenna, or else.
Oh, he’d be good, all right. Every day to the end of his life.
“Oh my gosh, that looks so good,” Jenna said of the hors d’oeuvres set out on the table. “Could I take one?”
Kai waved a hand. “Help yourself. Tessa’s treat.”
“I’ve kind of taken over the kitchen for tonight,” Tessa said. “I hope you don’t mind.”
“You can take over the kitchen any night,” Dell called. “Especially on Tim’s nights to cook.”
Jenna took three sushi rolls and wolfed them down with an apologetic look. “I’m a little hungry. Sorry.”
Dell chuckled. “It’s all that — ahem — recovering you’ve been doing.”
Connor growled under his breath until Dell cast his eyes down in a sign of respect. But Dell was Dell, and nothing would wipe that knowing smile off his face.
Just think of the payback you could get someday, Tim said, shooting his thoughts into Connor’s mind.
What do you mean?
Tim grinned. Imagine Dell finally settling down with someone. Imagine all the ammunition we’d have to tease him with.
Connor cracked into a smile. That would be fun. But Dell settling down was about as likely as an iceberg hitting their little strip of beach. Plus, Connor had more important things to do these days, like protecting his mate and his clan.
“So, to business,” Kai said as if he’d read Connor’s mind.
Everyone took a seat — including Joey, who slid into his mother’s lap. Chase was the only one who remained standing. He prowled around the perimeter silently, taking in everything, saying nothing.
Connor made another mental note. Find a good woman for Chase. Someone to anchor his brother the way Jenna anchored him.
“First of all, Draig,” Kai started with a deep scowl. “One of the last of a long, respected line of dragon shifters.”
Connor refused to look down. Even if Kai lectured him on all the trouble he and Jenna had brought down by killing the old coot, he had no regrets.
Kai looked around with a weary expression then locked eyes with Tessa. “The Draigs are one of the oldest, richest dragon clans. Old and established enough to have fooled me.”
Connor held his breath, wondering what Kai would say next.
Kai let a long, torturous pause go by until he frowned and continued. “I had no idea he was a sea dragon.”
“Nobody did,” Cynthia said. “It’s a rare, recessive gene that only comes out every few generations or so. Like red hair.” She grinned, running her fingers over her son’s head. “But red hair is beautiful, while that sea dragon…” Her smile turned into a scowl. “Well, he guarded his secret carefully.”
“Are all sea dragons bad, Mommy?” Joey asked.
“No, sweetie. There were some famous sea dragons who did good deeds, too. Berwyn Reese, Elfion Rhydderick…”
“There was even a great sea dragoness in my family tree somewhere,” Kai added.
Cynthia nodded. “Manon Llewellyn, who died in 1793.”
Connor stared. Did dragon clans go around memorizing family lines? Well, he wasn’t surprised. But the fact that Cynthia knew them even better than Kai confirmed his hunch that Brown was an alias of some kind. Who was Cynthia, really? What was she hiding from?
Tessa winked at Jenna. “Oh, I like the idea of that. A kick-ass she-dragon who can fly and swim.”
Cynthia crinkled her nose. “I’m not sure kick-ass is the term the history books used but, yes. Manon was a force to be reckoned with.”
Connor looked at Jenna. She already was a force to be reckoned with. And when she learned to shift… His heart thumped a little faster at the thought of Jenna adding flying to her long list of skills.
“In any case, I underestimated him,” Kai admitted as Tessa placed her hand over his. “When I interrogated the members of his crew, they said Draig had developed an interest in Jenna weeks ago, ever since her picture made the newspaper with that mermaid caption.”
“Stupid LA Times,” Jenna muttered.
Jody gave a tiny smile. “Maybe not so stupid, because the mermaid part was true.”
Kai nodded. “Somehow, Draig figured that out and decided Jenna would make a perfect mate.”
Jenna snorted, and Connor growled out loud, bristling at the thought of any man lusting after a woman who wasn’t interested — especially his woman.
Kai nodded. “I know how you feel. Apparently, he was interested in Tessa too.”
Tessa made a face. “He definitely had a thing for redheads.”
Connor nodded, remembering the female crewmembers aboard the yacht. Hopefully, they would find a better boss in their next job.
Kai squeezed Tessa’s hand. “That too. But you being a fire maiden also must have fit that bastard’s bill. I guess he figured Jenna was the softer target, though.”
Jody snorted. “Ha. Soft target. I guess Draig’s the one who underestimated her.”
He sure did, Connor’s dragon hissed.
“Well, Draig paid the price,” Jenna said, totally matter-of-fact, as if she were commenting on the tenth or twentieth dragon-slaying in a long, illustrious career.
“So you’re okay with that?” Connor asked, looking at Kai. Waiting for the other shoe to drop. Surely there were repercussions to deal with.
Kai nodded firmly. “No way will we tolerate an enemy shifter on our turf, targeting one of our own. Silas and I agree one hundred percent, and the couple of old-timers who started raging about their old buddy being killed have already been set straight. I’ve met with a few, and Silas called meetings in London and New York to make that perfectly clear.”
Connor exhaled slowly. “Eliminating him doesn’t bring trouble here?”
Kai snorted. “In a way, it’s done the opposite. The more shifters who know we are not to be fucked with, the better.”
Tessa elbowed him as Cynthia covered Joey’s ears.
“Sorry, kiddo,” Kai said quickly. “But I mean it. Would I be happier if Draig had never turned up on Maui? Of course. But what’s done is done, and Draig is the one who instigated the fight. Draig is the one who acted without honor, and he got what he deserved. And as for you two…”
Connor held perfectly still, gripping Jenna’s hand under the table. Now what?
“There is the matter of Draig’s wealth. To the victor go the spoils, you know,” Kai said.
Connor tilted his head. What exactly was Kai saying?
“Spoils?” Jenna asked.
Kai laughed aloud, looking at Connor. “You didn’t know? It’s tradition.”
“Tradition,” Connor sighed. No, he didn’t have a clue. What exactly was Kai getting at?
“The winner of a fair fight gets the loser’s holdings. In Draig’s case, that means—”
Dell’s eyebrows
shot up. “Holy shit. The yacht? Connor and Jenna get a yacht?”
“The yacht, the properties, and whatever loot Draig has in his lairs,” Kai said.
Connor would have tipped off his chair if Jenna hadn’t been holding his arm. Rich? Him? “Wait. What about that idiot nephew of his — Anton? Or some other relatives?”
Kai laughed so loud, a pair of birds took flight from the roof of the porch. “That’s the best part. Draig was such a selfish bastard, he wrote everyone out of his will. His dragon will, I mean. The one that really counts, because it includes everything humans don’t know about — the hidden treasure troves, the centuries-old deeds. Anton might get the scraps on the surface, but the rest is all yours.”
Jenna’s jaw dropped. “Ours?”
Connor knew he was supposed to be excited about that, but it felt wrong somehow. “That would be dirty money, right?”
Kai tilted his head in a way that said, maybe yes, maybe no. “A lot of Draig’s wealth dates back hundreds of years. So I guess it would be hard to say.”
Connor had always considered all wealth dirty, in a way. And right now, it was definitely too much to process. He’d never had much money, and never felt the need for more than enough to get by.
He looked at Jenna, and she nodded back, already reading his mind. “Not sure we want it, either way.”
Connor cut in. “Well, maybe apart from enough to get Jenna and Jody’s business off the ground.”
Jenna grinned, and Jody gave her a high five. “I’d call that a fair way to spend the — what did you call them? — spoils.”
“Hell, if you don’t want the rest, I’ll take it. Starting with that yacht.” Dell grinned.
Connor’s mind spun. That kind of money could help Tim build the construction company he’d always talked about, too, and it would make sprucing up the house easier. Hell, everyone could spruce up their houses. Maybe even buy halfway decent cars…
But the train of thought petered out quickly, and all he felt was annoyed. He didn’t want any of that stuff. He just wanted Jenna.
When he glanced at Jenna, her eyes shone with pride, not dollar signs. So, whew. They really were cut from the same cloth, him and her.
“Well, I’ll believe it when I see it,” he decided.
