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I rolled my eyes fondly. It was mid-morning, and Cassidy and I were on our second cup of coffee. I’d had a restful night’s sleep, all curled up in Steph’s arms. It’d been nice to just sleep after exchanging a few lazy, passionate kisses in the safe haven of his bed. He’d been leaving the house nearly every night for the past few nights, and I was relieved to fall asleep next to him and wake up with him still there.

Initially, I’d been worried about calling Suri for help, but Steph had assured me it was the right choice, and this morning, all my doubts had melted away. First, because Suri had responded to my heartfelt text of thanks with a goofy selfie of him giving a thumbs-up. Second, Steph was like a different man. I’d almost say he had a pep in his step as he moved around the kitchen making breakfast, and it wasn’t only from having slept peacefully. We’d been dealing with Sean for so long, I’d forgotten he could look so carefree.

I liked this look on him. I wanted to see it more often.

But the danger wasn’t gone. Thames was handled, but Sean was still out there.

“Sean’s unpredictable,” Steph said as he scrambled eggs in a pan. “We still have to be careful.”

“I didn’t say we wouldn’t be careful,” Cassidy said. “I just really need to see, like, other people. Humans. I need to walk around a grocery store. Buy a latte. Anything!”

Steph glanced at me, and I shrugged. “We’re both feeling a little like trapped hens.”

“And the fox is still out roaming,” Steph said. “But with Thames out, it’s not quite as dangerous. I think it’s fine for you two to go out during the day, as long as you’ve got enforcers with you. Striker?”

Striker looked up from where he was lounging on the couch and thumbing through a paperback on the couch. As usual, his attention was more on Cassidy than on the book. “I’m happy to go wherever I’m needed.”

“Excellent!” Cassidy jumped to her feet with renewed energy. She was acting more like my son than my adult best friend, and I was totally charmed by it. “I’m getting dressed. We need to go get a coffee and then a pedicure, Harley, likeyesterday.I’m going to change.”

She hurried upstairs.

When Steph finished cooking breakfast, Striker set his book down and joined us in the kitchen.

“So,” I said to Striker as I took a bite of toast, “when are you going to tell her?”

He sighed. “There’s been a lot going on.”

“Understatement,” Steph said with a half-smile. “At this point, though, you’re using that as an excuse.”

“I agree,” I said. “She obviously knows something is going on.”

“I know, but it can wait,” Striker said. “We need to deal with Sean and make sure the whole clan is safe before I tell Cassidy she’s my fated mate.”

“What thefuck?” Cassidy screeched.

The three of us whipped around. Cassidy was standing on the staircase, dressed in jeans and a low-cut tank top instead of her pajamas, her hair tied up in a bun atop her head, and her jaw dropped open in shock. She brandished her forefinger at Striker. “Repeat what you just said.”

“Uh-oh,” I whispered.

Steph and I both took a step back.

Cassidy stormed into the kitchen and stood right in front of Striker with her arms crossed over her chest. She was a head shorter than him and probably only half his weight, yet he still stared wide-eyed down at her like she was the most ferocious thing he’d ever seen.

“Um,” he said.

“Tell me.” Cassidy jabbed her finger into his chest. “Right now.”

“Well, uh,” Striker stammered. “So, for dragons, there’s a certain kind of bond?—”

“I know about mating bonds!” Cassidy gestured at me. “She’s my best friend.”

Striker’s ears turned red. “Well, then you know there’s sort of a… sensation. A feeling, when a dragon meets his fated mate. And, um, well, that’s what I feel. I just know. You’re my fated mate.”

“How long have you known?” Cassidy demanded.

“Since the first moment I saw you,” Striker said. His expression softened, and his voice took on an almost nostalgic quality. “When you barged into the clubhouse and started chewing Ace out.”

“So that’s why you’ve been watching me like a creep this whole time.” She rolled her eyes. “Instead oftellingme exactly what was going on, you decided to just lurk and stare.”