Page 27 of Dragon’s Golden Mate (Shifter Nation: Enchanted Over Forty #2)

“They’re here!” Zoe announced. “I’ve got the door!”

Maeve came rushing down the stairs, ready to greet the Alexander clan as they entered the covenstead. Kendrick was first, carrying a box in his arms. He stopped and kissed Maeve gently. “Where should I put this?”

“I’ll tell you where you can put something,” she murmured, kissing him again.

“Eww,” Zoe complained, wrinkling her nose and smiling. “Get a room!”

“Technically, we already have one, and that’s precisely where all your stuff needs to go.

Come on.” Maeve led the way up the stairs and down the hall to the right.

Kendrick already knew exactly where her bedroom—about to be their bedroom—was, but it felt right to officially ask him to bring his belongings in.

“You can put it right here for now,” she told him, indicating an open spot on the floor.

A veritable parade of helpers streamed into the room after them. Beck, Griffin, Ewan, and Lilith each carried a box that they added to the pile. Even Walt and Chain had been recruited to help. Walt brought up a floor lamp.

Chain set down a heavy tote with a thump. “Damn, dude. What’s in here? Bricks?”

“Books,” Kendrick corrected. “I think just one more run should do it.”

“You can stay here and get settled. There’s not much left,” Beck told him. “We’ve got this.”

When they were alone again, Kendrick looked around. “You’ve changed things.”

“Of course, I did. I had to make room for you, didn’t I?” She wrapped her arms around one of his. “I cleared off those shelves over there, and half of the closet is available.”

His brow crinkled slightly.

“I’m sure we’ll need to make some more adjustments as we go, but it’s not a problem,” she said softly. It amused her that this hulking man could be so soft and vulnerable inside.

“I don’t really have that much,” he said, “and I’m sure you’re right. We can make it all work out. It’s just that I never really had to move into someone else’s space. As the Alpha of the clan, I was always bringing people into a space I’d been managing.”

“I hope you won’t miss the clanhouse too much.

” It’d become obvious shortly after they’d gotten together that living in two separate households simply wouldn’t work for them.

They wanted to be together as much as possible.

Since Maeve was still running the Sisterhood, it only made sense for Kendrick to move into the covenstead.

“It’ll be a bit of an adjustment,” he admitted, “but I know I’m leaving it in good hands. They’re not far, so I can visit whenever I want. Besides, my dragon is very pleased to be so close to you.” He turned and nestled her in his arms.

Maeve pulled in a deep breath, taking in the smell of his woodsy soap and the feel of his wide chest against her cheek. Just being next to him like this made her whole body relax.

Footsteps on the stairs reminded them that they weren’t alone just yet. The dragons brought in the final load of boxes. Lilith carried a moving bag with Kendrick’s clothes, and she took the liberty of hanging them directly in the closet.

“This is a lovely space,” she gushed. “It’s so light and airy. I love it!”

“Thank you.” The more Maeve got to know the small but close-knit Alexander clan, the more she liked them. They were now a part of her family, too.

“We’ll leave you two to get unpacked,” Beck told them. “I’m going to get back downstairs. Walt and Chain are a little distracted by Iris and Zoe right now.”

Maeve laughed. “Make sure they know they’re welcome to stick around for dinner. The other ladies are cooking up a storm in the kitchen, and we’ll need those boys to help us eat it all.”

Soon, they were truly left alone in the room. Maeve looked up at Kendrick. “I suppose we’d better get started.”

He pulled her toward him once again. “I thought you’d never ask.” Kendrick bent his head and nuzzled the side of her neck, nipping her gently with his teeth.

She squealed and pulled away. “There’ll be plenty of time for that later. I meant we should find a place to put all your stuff. Otherwise, we’ll never get it done.”

“You’re right,” he agreed as he opened up the tote full of books. “If I never had to be responsible, I’d probably just lie in bed with you all day.”

“Hmm, maybe we can find a day to do just that.” She bent to help him, scooping up a handful of books. “Do you have a certain way you’d like to organize these?”

“I’m only worried about getting them on the shelf for now. It doesn’t matter much. I can always change things later.” He moved to the shelves over on the side of the room.

“Are you always this easygoing?” Maeve handed him several leather-bound tomes.

“Only when I’m happy.” Kendrick put the books in place and then kissed her forehead. “And right now, I’m over the moon.”

They spent some time together, moving easily through the room as his toiletries were put in the attached bathroom, his folded clothes were arranged in the drawers Maeve had cleared out for him, and a few knick-knacks were incorporated into Maeve’s décor.

Kendrick laid a hand on the heavy bronze lamp with its stained-glass shade. “I’m really not sure where to put this.”

“How about right here?” Maeve moved over to a reading chair in the corner of the room. She bent and unplugged the lamp that currently stood next to it.

“But you already have a lamp there,” he protested.

“One that I don’t like very much. It’s just an inexpensive one, and I can put it elsewhere in the house. Yours is much prettier. It’s got that Tiffany look to it, which I’ve always admired.” She picked up her lamp and set it over by the door.

“Well, it is a Tiffany, actually,” Kendrick said, looking slightly embarrassed.

“Then you damn well better put it over there by the chair,” she told him. “I’ll be sure to put it to good use!”

“Mom?” Chelsea’s voice came from down the hall and through the open doorway. “We’ve got dinner ready.”

“Unca Kennick!” Corbin came racing into the room, plowing straight into Kendrick’s legs.

He let out a big, booming laugh that Maeve loved so much and swooped the boy into his arms.

Chelsea stepped into the doorway. “I told him he had to stay out of the way while you guys got things arranged, but it was just killing him to know you were here! This looks nice, by the way. It’s a real blending of the two of you.”

“You live here now?” Corbin asked his great uncle.

“I do, but you’re still going to see me all the time,” Kendrick promised.

They made their way downstairs into the busy kitchen.

All the leaves had been put into the dining table so that everyone could fit.

Jamie had command of the stove and was directing everyone else on when to put out what dishes so they’d be served at the right temperature.

Walt and Chain were mostly in the way, trying too hard to be helpful while also showing off for their love interests.

Gavin had arrived, having just gotten off his shift at his part-time job, and he and Nia had been sure to grab seats next to each other.

The clattering of plates and silverware filled the air, and drinks were being poured all around.

“You two are right over here,” Lucille directed, guiding Kendrick and Maeve to the head of the table. “I’m going to say a few words before we get started.”

“You didn’t have to make such a fuss,” Kendrick told her.

Lucille puckered her mouth slightly. “I’ll fuss whenever I want to, and you can’t stop me.”

Maeve shrugged. “It’s easier to just go with it.”

Soon, when they were all seated or at least close to it, Lucille clinked her fork against her glass. “Thank you all for joining us. I’m thrilled that we have almost the entire coven here tonight, as well as the Alexander clan and our other special guests.”

Walt and Chain looked particularly excited to be recognized.

“I know you’re all eager to dive into your meal, and I promised Jamie I wouldn’t yammer on too long and let it get cold, but I wanted to take this opportunity to formally welcome Kendrick into our home.

We look forward to many happy years here with you as a part of our family.

” She raised her glass high. “So shall it be!”

“So shall it be!” the rest of the company echoed.

Serving plates were passed. Forks were dropped, retrieved, and replaced. Drinks were refilled, and plenty of napkins were passed around.

Tina turned to Kendrick. “Hey, you’re good at building stuff. I was wondering if you might be able to help me build some new shelves for the shop. The ones I have are just the cheapies that I bought when I started the place, but I want to scale everything up a bit.”

“You beat me to it,” Kristy said. “I was going to ask him if he knew how to build a small trunk to carry all my tarot supplies in.”

“Ladies, ladies, he doesn’t have time for any of that,” Maeve told her daughters. “I need him to check some spots in the roof!”

Kendrick laughed. “Don’t worry. I’m sure I can make all of that happen.”

When dinner was finished, they’d all had a generous helping of Jamie’s delicious raspberry cheesecake, and all their guests had gone home for the night, Maeve brought Kendrick back up to their room.

“I wanted to show you one of my favorite places to go after dinner,” she explained. “It’s the perfect spot to unwind after a big meal.”

Maeve opened the French doors and led him out onto the terrace. Fresh, cool air blew in from the sea. With the covenstead situated on a slight rise, it felt as though they were above the rest of Salem. “What do you think?”

“I think it’s just big enough.” He was scratching the side of his face as he turned from side to side, measuring the area with his mind.

“For what?”

“For this.” He let his dragon loose. His deep green scales shimmered darkly in the starlight, and his tail scraped as he moved it across the deck boards. “My favorite way to work off a big meal is with a nice flight.”

“Let me just get my broom,” she joked.

He tipped his head. “You can leave it at home this time.”

Carefully, Maeve situated herself across his shoulders, just behind his long neck and in front of his wings. “Is that all right? I don’t want to hurt you.”

His laugh was deeper in his dragon form. “You’d have to work pretty hard to hurt me, Maeve. Are you ready?”

“As ready as I’ll ever be.”

His great body rose beneath her and swayed forward as he approached the edge.

Her stomach dipped with anticipation as he stepped up onto the railing, and she felt the vibration of his wings as they prepared for takeoff.

Maeve held on tightly. It wasn’t the first time she’d been on a dragon’s back, but that didn’t mean she was used to it.

“Here we go.” Kendrick plunged over the railing. The dip was short, and a quick beat of his wings leveled them out.

Maeve watched as all the buildings she was so familiar with passed by beneath them.

They rose higher over the city, flying over places new and old, seeing new angles that simply couldn’t be enjoyed from the ground.

They swooped over woods and parks, houses and businesses.

Eventually, they made it out over the bay, where the boats bobbed like toys in the water.

“You know, if Tina and Kristy are asking too much of you, you don’t have to work on those projects for them,” Maeve told him, thinking about dinner. “For that matter, you don’t have to look at the roof, either. We’re just excited to have you around.”

His laugh made his chest expand, wiggling her around slightly on his back. “I don’t mind at all. In fact, it’s nice to know I’m needed.”

She stroked his scaled neck, letting her fingers glide slowly over each ridge. “You definitely are.”

THE END

If you enjoyed Maeve and Kendrick’s story, read on for a preview of Tina and Dex’s story, Wolves’ Midlife Reunion!