Page 1 of Dragon’s Golden Mate (Shifter Nation: Enchanted Over Forty #2)

Maeve Wright inhaled deeply and tried to focus on the gentle, pulsing music coming from her speakers.

She made time for meditation every day and rarely had trouble relaxing her mind.

Today, though, she felt a persistent pull, as though something was constantly bringing her back to the present moment.

“Ah, well,” she said, giving up and stubbing out her incense. “It’s probably just because it’s a busy day.”

She emerged from the peace of her altar room to find the covenstead in utter chaos.

Chelsea, her oldest, was checking off a list on a clipboard.

“Let’s see. We’ve got the balloons and the streamers.

I picked up a few party hats, too. I know not everyone will want to wear one, but Corbin liked them. ”

“I’ll wear one,” Tina volunteered.

“He’ll appreciate that. Do you think we need to worry about entertainment of some sort?” Chelsea tapped the end of her pen on her chin.

Kristy, Maeve’s middle child, picked up her ever-present tarot deck from the coffee table and gave it a quick, one-handed shuffle. “I have a few tricks up my sleeve if you’re really desperate.”

“Maybe. I’m not sure. I keep thinking I’m forgetting something.” Now, Chelsea was tapping the pen against her teeth.

“Cake?” the birthday boy asked.

Maeve swooped him up into her arms and kissed his little cheeks. “Don’t you worry about cake! Lilith is bringing over your favorite one.”

“Chocolate!” Corbin squirmed, and she set him back down so he could work off some of his excitement.

“Now, let’s see.” Maeve turned to her daughter. She stepped forward and took the clipboard out of Chelsea’s hands. “Ah, yes. I know what you forgot.”

“What?” Chelsea asked desperately.

“To have fun,” Maeve insisted. “I thought that was the whole point of this shindig. We’ll celebrate Corbin’s third birthday, and you were all excited about our coven and Beck’s clan officially being introduced to each other.”

“I know.” Chelsea sat down on the edge of a chair, hugging her arms around her waist. “I was excited. I mean, this is the perfect opportunity. Corbin is the one thing all of us have in common. I’m just freaking out a little about making sure it all goes right.”

“It’s going to be fine, and I’m not just saying that,” she added quickly. “Some of us have already met, and we got along wonderfully enough to take down that evil jerk and keep both of our families safe. I think that’s saying something. Getting together for a party is merely a formality.”

“I guess,” Chelsea hedged.

“You’ve been living at the Alexander clanhouse for a while now,” Maeve pointed out. “Have they given you any reason to believe they’d be judgmental?”

Chelsea bobbed her head from side to side, making her bright red curls bounce. “No, I guess not.”

“All right, then.” Maeve patted her daughter’s knee. “I know you want things to be perfect, but sometimes you just have to trust that they’re going to be good enough. Corbin will enjoy the party much more if you’re not stressing out.”

“I can’t argue with that.” Chelsea stiffened as the sound of car doors came in through the open windows. “They’re here!”

“Do what you need to do, and I’ll get the door.

” Maeve had rarely seen Chelsea get this tense and would do everything she could to make it better.

That included not telling her that she also had an odd feeling about the day.

Maeve couldn’t quite explain it, but she’d been off ever since she’d woken up.

That strange feeling had grown as she’d attempted her meditation.

They’d all feel better when this was behind them.

She opened the door, expecting to see Chelsea's mate, Beck. Instead, she saw a tall man with broad shoulders and muscular arms. His hair was gray, shot through with finer traces of light silver. His dark eyes locked onto hers. “Am I too early?”

Maeve tried to respond, but her inner wolf was reacting so strongly that she almost forgot what he’d asked her. “Right on time,” she finally managed, thoroughly flustered. “Come in. You can put the gift right over there on the coffee table.”

“Thank you.” The red gift bag looked delicate in his large hands as he set it down and turned back to her. “I’m Kendrick Alexander, Beck’s uncle.” He held out his hand.

“I thought you might be. Beck told me a bit about you, but he never said you were so handsome.” She slipped her fingers through his, and her breath suddenly seemed to be too expansive for her lungs.

Her wolf clamored inside her. Her eyes had to be shining as she looked up at him, but she had no clue how to control them.

Kendrick laughed, a deep, hearty sound that sent a frisson down her spine. “I highly doubt he sees an old man like me that way!”

Her lashes fluttered. “You can’t be that old.”

“Only eight hundred and forty years young,” he replied.

Eight hundred and forty! Maeve knew he was a dragon, but she hadn’t been thinking about their lifespan when she’d been wondering just how close in age the two of them might be. “I don’t believe it. You don’t look a day over six hundred.”

“You flatter me, but I’m not complaining.”

“You must have seen some things,” she remarked, still reeling over trying to imagine spending that much time on Earth.

“I have, but not a woman as lovely as you.” He was still holding her hand, as they hadn’t yet managed to disentangle themselves from their handshake, and now he brought it up and brushed his lips across the back of it.

When had it gotten so hot in here? “Now who’s the flatterer?”

A snicker from the couch had Maeve suddenly remembering that they weren’t the only ones in the room.

“Kendrick, you already know Chelsea. These are my other daughters, Kristy and Tina. My niece Amanda is here, and her sister Jamie will be along soon. This is my sister Lucille and her mate, Arthur.” Lucille and Arthur must’ve come in from the kitchen, and she hadn’t even noticed them.

“It’s very nice to meet all of you,” Kendrick said graciously, finally letting go of Maeve’s hand. “Is the birthday boy around?”

Right on cue, Corbin came running into the room. “Unca Kennick!” he cried, holding his arms out wide.

Kendrick laughed as he swept him up off the ground and perched the boy on his shoulder. “Happy Birthday! Are you excited to be three?”

“Yes!” Corbin cried.

“Did you know that three is one of my favorite numbers?” Kendrick asked him.

“No.”

“It is,” he insisted.

Though Maeve was far past having any more children of her own, she truly enjoyed watching Kendrick interact with his great-nephew.

She knew the two of them probably saw each other every day, considering they all lived in the same clanhouse, but the boy was so excited, you’d think they only got to visit a couple of times a year.

Beck walked in just then, holding the door open for Lilith behind him. “The cake is here!”

“Cake!” That had become Corbin’s favorite battle cry.

Ewan came in behind her. “I brought the candles. Does that count?”

Griffin stepped in next, his hands full of gifts. “It only proves that you can count to three.”

Now that everyone had arrived, Chelsea began encouraging everyone toward the kitchen so they could start with cake and ice cream. Lucille took advantage of the moment to pull her sister aside. “Um, what was that?”

“What was what?” Maeve asked innocently.

Lucille snorted. “Please! I’ve known you my whole life. I’ve seen you get doe-eyed over a man before.”

“I mean, you have to admit he’s handsome,” Maeve said casually, pretending to fiddle with the streamers on the banister.

“Uh huh. And that Scottish accent,” Lucille pushed.

Maeve straightened. “You shouldn’t be talking like that with your husband in the next room,” she replied, pretending to be offended.

“I didn’t say I was doe-eyed. I said you were.” Lucille poked her in the arm.

“Well, maybe so,” Maeve relented, poking her little sister back. “I haven’t felt like that since…well, for a long time.”

It really had been a hell of a long time since a man had stirred her up so much and could take one look at her, leaving her breathless.

Maeve didn’t mind the fact that she was no longer a young woman.

At seventy, she could look back at all she’d accomplished and be proud.

But she’d thought she was past the point of acting like a fool just because a good-looking guy came along and gave her a wink.

Lucille offered her a sympathetic smile, but it quickly turned to a wicked grin. “At your age, you have to be concerned that a man is too young for you. You won’t have to worry about that with him.”

“You’re the same little hellion you always were, Luce.”

“Mom?” Tina poked her head through the kitchen door. “Ah, there you are. You guys need to come in here to do the cake. I think Chelsea’s head is going to explode if we don’t get started.”

“I didn’t say that!” Chelsea called out.

“Let’s go then,” Maeve said as she and Lucille moved toward the kitchen. “Just don’t say anything to anyone, okay?”

“I won’t,” Lucille promised before adding, “but it’s not like they don’t already know.”

She shot her sister one last look as they stepped into the kitchen.

Maeve instantly felt like she was on display, but she quickly reminded herself that Corbin was the star of the show, seated at the head of the table with his chocolate cake in front of him.

Lilith had gone all out with sprinkles and fancy piping.

Three candles had been arranged on the side closest to him.

Everyone was taking pictures, getting Chelsea and Beck to pose on either side of their son.

It was beautiful, and it did Maeve’s heart good to see it.

Chelsea and Beck had been forced apart for a while, causing them to miss out on family moments like this.

Now that they were together again, they were soaking up every moment they could.

It was no wonder that Chelsea wanted the whole family together.

It was Corbin’s birthday, but it was also the first one that Chelsea and Beck were both there for. It was truly a milestone.

“Granny!” Corbin called when he spotted Maeve. “Light the candles!”

Honored, Maeve took the box of matches from an upper shelf and stepped forward.

“No,” he said when he saw what was in her hand. “With your fingers!”

“Oh, I see.” Now, Maeve knew everyone was paying attention to her, but at least it was only because they were going to see a bit of magic and not because they were wondering what she thought of Kendrick.

Hopefully. Taking a moment to control her breath, she felt her energy rise until it tickled her palms. She pulled her sleeve back so it wouldn’t drape in the frosting and snapped her fingers over the first candle.

Nothing happened.

“Hm.” She tried again, but it still didn’t work. Maeve cleared her throat. She’d known something was off today, but this was much worse than she’d imagined. Her magic rarely failed her. Even when she’d had that awful cold a few years ago, she’d still managed to do a few simple magical tasks.

“What's wrong, Granny?” Corbin asked.

“I don’t know, honey,” she admitted, her cheeks flushing. Everyone was watching, but even worse, she was letting her grandson down. If Chelsea’s panic was contagious, she was starting to catch it.

“Would you like some help?” Kendrick asked quietly as he stepped up behind her.

“Yes, thank you.” Dear Goddess! She had to go through all this and deal with standing so close to him? She moved slightly to the side.

Kendrick pulled in a breath, pursed his lips, and sent a small stream of fire shooting out to the candles. Unlike her magic, his worked perfectly.

“Yay!” Corbin exclaimed.

Maeve eyed Kendrick as everyone began singing to the birthday boy. She added her own voice to the tune, and she felt the vibrations of his deep baritone.

He might have lit the candles, but he’d also started a fire within her.