Page 53 of The Mating Quest

Kid? Ethan smirked, tempted to tell Beefy he was more than 120 yearsold.

“Outside, please,” the bartender pleaded. “I just restocked thebar.”

But before Ethan could agree, Beefy slugged him hard in the face. Grunting, Ethan fisted his hands and hit him back. Ilana jumped on the drunkSkin.

The fight was on. He let the Skin get in a few punches, his anger abated in the joy of the fight. Damn he hadn’t had a good fight in a long time. Even with a Skin, it felt great to release all thistension.

“So what playlist is going through your head now?” he shouted toIlana.

Grinning, she ran, did an amazing backflip and kicked a Skin in the stomach who wielded a broken bottle. “Serious Black!Tonight I am ready tofight.”

The grizzly shifters got pounced as the elk shifters took matters into their hands, and soon the room was filled with everyone fighting. Tables knocked over, glasses smashed over heads. Blood trickled down his face and Ethan grinned, loving it. Ilana right beside him, kicking ass, hell, they made a goodteam…

“ENOUGH!”

Caderyn’s voice reverberated through the room with such power, it knocked everyone to thefloor.

He took Ethan by the shirt, lifting him, and Ilana and banged their headstogether.

“Ow,” shecomplained.

“I cannot leave you alone for a nanosecond without you getting into trouble, Ilana?” The Shadow Wizard growled. “I will deal with cleanup. Go home and sleep or I will give you a trueheadache.”

Ethan took Ilana’s wrist and guided her outside as she started to protest. An Uber waited for them in the parking lot, a sleek black Mercedes SUV. He recognized the Lupine shifter in the driver’s seat from thebar.

The male sprang out, opened the door. “Hop in. Tristan sent me. I’m Ryan, from one of the local packs here. Otherwise known as your ride safelyhome.”

At first he didn’t want to trust the guy, but Ryan rolled up his sleeve and showed a silver wolf tattoo. “See? I’ve got hismark.”

That ink was special, given only to Others in service to the wizards. Ethan herded Ilana into thevehicle.

He settled back, grinned at her as he wiped blood off his lip. She flexed her hand, the knucklesbruising.

“That was a hell of good punch,Mage.”

“Yeah, you’re not so bad yourself, wolf.” She grinned back. “That wasfun.”

It had been fun. Put him in a goodhumor.

“Say, that was a terrific punch. Both of you. Saw the whole thing from the door before Tristan hauled my ass to the car and told me transport your sisters.” He eyed Ethan in the rear view mirror, his nostrilsflaring.

“You’re Lupine, like me, Ethan. But you smell a little different… Changelingshifter?”

Stiffening, he narrowed his eyes. Damnit, he’d forgotten to cloak his scent, which he did without thinking, except he’d been so absorbed in themelee…

“What of it? Got a problem?” hegrowled.

“Nope. Not at all. Your sister, Dakota…” Ryan cleared his throat. “Is she seeinganyone?”

Ethan growled low. Ilana elbowed his arm. “Nope. She’s free and clear, but she has work todo.”

“Yeah, Tristan told me. Gideon’s fairy wing. He also wants me to be your backup for anything you need to obtain the dragon’s scale. Whatever you need. Groceries, runs to the store, or even a spare pair of fists or paws.” Ryan’s eyes flashed gold in the rear view mirror. “Tristan trusts some of those dragons, but notall.”

Ryan flicked on the brights as they headed up toward the mountains. “Tristan wants me to go with you tomorrow to the cave. Not to enter, but hang around outside. He says you’ll be safe tonight, before the action starts in thecave.”

Sounded good. At least Ryan was trustworthy. Because if he wasn’t Tristan would turn him into a wolfpelt.

They reached the condo, and Ryan went to get out. Ethan waved aside the offer of help. “Thanks wolf. See youtomorrow.”