He was using all of his considerable strength to keep his mind on the business at hand but he could not escape the pull of his mate only a few yards away. Just as he would have dismissed his men, Lance slid past him with Aidan in tow, headed directly for Kyndel’s room. He raced after them and collided with Aidan’s back just as Lance opened her door.
“Rayne, what is going on out there?” He did nothing to stop the smile that crossed his face. His mate was sexy as hell when she was irritated.
He pushed past his men and went to her bedside, passing Siobhan on the way. From the looks of things they were having a little bit of girl talk while he was away. Rayne was glad Kyndel had chosen Siobhan to speak to. She was incredibly wise and well versed in the way of the dragon shifters. She was also incredibly kind and motherly to all that needed it. She had been like another mother to him for all of his years. Not to mention the most accomplished of all the healers from all the clans.
“I was coming to see my beautiful mate when these ruffians bum-rushed their way into your room.” He directed a scowl at Lance and Aidan while they looked completely unrepentant for their abrupt arrival into his beloved’s room.
Kyndel cocked her eyebrow at the offending Guardsmen standing at the end of her bed but just couldn’t stop from laughing, he loved that sound. “You two are incorrigible! You’re just in here to mess with Rayne.” She pointed her finger, “Don’t try to deny it. I can see the guilt in your eyes.” Her reprimand lost most of its effect on his brethren since she could not stop laughing.
He knew something good was about to happen when she schooled her expression and looked straight at Lance, “and you,’ she pointed her finger right at his chest. “What did I hear you call me when you left before?” She continued to stare at him with her eyebrow cocked and he knew she was hoping to intimidate him into repeating the nickname he had used earlier.
Apparently it worked because Lance lowered his eyes and in a voice barely above a whisper he said, “Spitfire.” Then it was as if he regained his composure and punched Aidan in the shoulder, “Come on ‘A’ fess up. Tell her who came up with her new name.”
He was so glad to see his men laugh and joke with his mate. They were getting along so well and his old friend, Aidan was continuing to come back to the man they had all known for all their years together. The almost playful attitude was so much better than the sullen lost man they had dealt with for over six years. He chuckled as he watched Aidan square his shoulders and with a cheeky grin on his face filled with pride, he nodded his head and said, “I did. I came up with that name after I saw how you handled all of us and didn’t lose your cool when the traitor had a knife to your neck.”
The flash of anger and pain at his brother’s betrayal was there and gone in a second. His brethren was well on his way back to the man he had grown up with. Cheeky grin back in place, he chuckled a bit, “Spitfire suits you, almost as well as you suit the Commander.”
He watched in awe as her face completely transformed. She smiled the most beautiful warm and loving smile he had ever witnessed. He could feel how his mate accepted his men and how they unconditionally accepted her. He could not wait to watch as she became comfortable with her new extended family and all the love he knew they would show her. His mate deserved nothing less and now that she was part of their clan she would have it all.
She narrowed her eyes slightly as she reached for his hand. He braced for what she would say to his brethren. Watching her give his men hell warmed his heart as only his gorgeous Kyndel could do. “I guess you’re off the hook then but you better not call me that in public or I’ll show you what happens when a spitfire turns into a wild fire.”
The whole room erupted into laughter. “Now what the heck do I have to do to get to see these dragons y’all keep telling me you can turn into?” Her comment brought on more laughter. It was the best sound he had heard all day.
Even though Siobhan had given Kyndel a glowing bill of health, Rayne carried her to the clearing about a half mile behind the lair. He was not letting his mate go, not now that he had her back in his arms. She complained the whole way which with his dragon speed took all of thirty seconds. Still it made him smile. There would never be a dull moment with her in his life.
He placed her on the blanket Aidan had spread under a tree. His hand slipped and rubbed her perfectly rounded behind that he pinched lightly and jumped away before she could swat his arm. She cocked that precious eyebrow at him and shook her head. He chuckled as he strode away. He made sure she was far enough away that she could still see him transform but he wouldn’t accidentally bump her in any way. He was determined that she not suffer so much as a hang nail ever again.