Page 96 of Damien’s Mate

“More than the mission?” He smiled down at her, remembering the moment when she’d willingly handed over the artifacts. For him.

“More than anything,” she said, smiling back.

“I love you even more than that. I’d ride into Hell for you.”

They looked around at the crowd. The dragons had landed and Changed, and were mingling with the shifters on the ground. All around them were squeals and excited voices as people greeted each other.

Jaeda was hugging a tall, tattooed man with dark wavy hair and a petite, curvy, well-armed woman. Half a dozen others surrounded them, and Brock was pulled into their circle.

The rest were gathering around Brandon, Kitty and the twins. Damien started for Brandon, to thank him for everything he’d done, but he stopped when he saw him turn and face Flynn. Tension crackled between them.

Flynn was the first to speak. He inclined his head formally and said respectfully to Brandon, “Alpha.”

Brandon inclined his head the exact same amount, acknowledging the greeting. “Alpha.”

They gazed at each other, and then Flynn broke out in a grin, grabbed Brandon, and gave him a huge bear hug. They pounded each other’s backs before they finally let go.

“Thanks for coming,” Brandon said. “And for bringing the whole dragon cavalry.”

Flynn waved his thanks away. “I haven’t threatened anyone but the crew in a long time. Felt good.”

Brandon’s dad also swept him up in a huge hug, then stood back and held Brandon by the shoulders, obvious pride in his face. “Look at you, all alpha-y.”

“Loved the glitter grenade,” Brandon said. “You could have warned me, though. I almost wrecked my badass by busting out laughing.”

“They’ll have glitter in their scales for eons,” Xander said with satisfaction. “Glitter is forever.”

They were jumped on by a slender dark-haired woman with a faint scar on her face, and two twenty-somethings that had to be Brandon’s brother and sister.

Damien and Lila made their way over there, and Brandon introduced them to his family. “I don’t know how to thank you all,” Damien said, shaking hands with Xander. “Lila and I can’t believe it. All these people. We really owe you big time.”

A rumbling voice behind him said, “Nah, we’re family.” He turned to see Flynn standing behind him. “And my crew hasn’t had so much fun in months.”

This close, Damien could feel the lion inside Flynn. Huge. Dominant. His own lion reared up inside him.

Fight! Kill him! We will not submit! Despite his best efforts, Damien felt a growl rumbling in his chest.

Flynn stood, hands on hips, gazing at him. Then he just shook his head, gave a little snort of amusement, and walked off.

Brandon came up to Damien. “What was that?”

“My lion wanted to challenge him.” Maybe we do not, the lion said. He is very scary. Damien added, “For like, ten seconds.”

“Yeah,” Brandon said. “If I were him, I would go with ‘not.’”

Then he raised his voice and bellowed, “Pancakes back at the house. Flynn and I are cooking. Food’s on Damien!”

Colt called out, “Beer’s on Damien, too!”

“Hell, yeah,” Damien yelled. He wrapped his arm around Lila. “Let’s go.”

Chapter 40

Most of the dragons Changed again and flew down to the house. The rest of them had to walk. Damien didn’t mind; he was still coming down from the adrenaline spike of the rescue and the fight, and his lion could use a chance to calm down.

He and Lila walked together, hand in hand, a little apart from the others. After a bit he looked down at her. “Are you okay?” he asked. “I mean, about the Lion Guard and the rebels.”

He knew that must have crushed her, to find out that the dream she’d been chasing her whole life had never existed.