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She blushes and ducks her head. “Thanks?” she giggles.

I rinse us both off. I put her on a towel and dry her. “Stay. I’m going to get you something to wear.” I grab the first shirt I see.

She watches me carefully as I dress her and take her to the bed. “It’s not nighttime yet.”

“It is for you. You are going to take a nap. The shift is draining under normal circumstances. I want you to rest.” I pull the blankets down. “In.”

She doesn’t put up a fight. I push on her hip encouraging her to lay on her side and I lay at her back.

As I wrap myself around her, she says, “Thank you.”

“You don’t have to thank me. Seeing you take back control from those sick fucks made me so hard.”

“I’m glad?” She laughs softly.

“There isn’t anything you could do that would turn me off.” I squeeze her. “Just be you, Saylor.”

“Okay, Elijah,” she whispers.

She falls asleep quickly. Her whole body loses all the tension it usually holds.

This woman.

How is it possible the universe sent me the perfect partner? I haven’t been around many mated pairs until I moved here to be close to Laken. I didn’t have many examples. Laken and Bishop are the closest to me that are totally dedicated to each other. I didn’t grow up with much dedication.

I lift my head. The dragon is here.

I slowly unwrap myself and leave the bed, making sure to tuck the covers around her. I put on my jeans and shut the door.

I take two beers out to the porch to find Laken sitting on it. My friend is huge. He has shoulder-length golden hair which he has pulled up in a bun. I have given him endless hell over that. I have always scoffed at the men who do that, but it definitely works for him. He is shirt-less as usual. Dragons, like most shifters, run hot. But because of his heritage, and the fact that he breathes fire, he does more than most.

His skin is covered in tattoos. They glow in the dimming light.

I hope he came with information. I discreetly sent him a message asking if he would look into Grant. I don’t want to worry Saylor, or any of the others, but I need to be prepared for his arrival.

I hand him a beer and take a seat.

“How is she?” he asks.

“I assume you heard what happened then?”

“Yes.”

“There are no secrets within this group,” I sigh.

“You’ve been here long enough to know information moves fast.” He takes a drink.

“She is sleeping. We haven’t talked much about it. I was proud of what she did,” I defend.

“Of course you were. I would be, too. Those assholes deserved nothing less,” he agrees.

I should have known he wouldn’t judge her. “It was brutal. They are brutal. Fuck the things they have done. I’m sure there is more. They only admitted to some of it.”

“Penny was distraught. She wanted to come with me. I had to have Bishop stay behind to distract her.” He chuckles.

Bishop probably didn’t put up a fight. “I’m sure he was successful, judging by the sounds I hear coming from your house,” I say, shaking my head.

“Fuck off,” he barks.