Page 52 of The Alliance

“Besides,” I added, “Edith wants Georgie protected. She trusts you to protect her clan.”

It was like some kind of magic. I watched Glimmer’s expression change as he almost radiated protection and love. Georgie was the Hoskins medic, and she’d arranged to go with Glenwise so she could work in their hospital for a while.

“I’ll keep them all safe,” said Glimmer.

Kingsley shot me a look that might have been exasperation. “Don’t set him off, Blaze. Just get him out the door.”

Glimmer turned to his mate in outrage but Kingsley stooped down and grabbed Glimmeraround the waist, scooping him up and over his shoulder. He walked out of the front door with his mate while Alfie and I burst into helpless laughter. I reached for my mate, leaning on him as my knees wobbled and I clutched Alfie for support.

Glimmer protested, “I’m theGuardian; this is not dignified.”

Alfie and I just laughed harder.

Either Glenwise didn’t want to risk the Guardian leaving without them, or he’d already made sure that everyone had wished Rhod goodbye, because he moved his mate out the door and stood on the driveway with the others. He steered Rhod further round the side of the house, where we couldn’t see him, and I whispered to Alfie, “Why are they shifting round there?”

Alfie whispered back, “I don’t think Glenwise likes anyone else seeing his mate naked.”

I nodded. That was fair enough.

There was a sudden sound at the end of the corridor and I turned in time to see Edith Hoskins walking the corridor and everyone in her path parting to let her through. She was carrying a sword in her hands.

Edith was tiny, especially compared to the large sword in a scabbard that lay balanced across the palms of both her hands. She walked upright and proud, through the front doors. Glimmer was already in dragon form and I could tell from the way his body lowered to the ground, coiled ready, that he wasn’t happy about having an armed elder near his mate.

Edith held out her hands, showing that she wasn’t wielding the sword, only carrying it, like a ceremony.

“A dragon warrior needs a dragon’s sword. I’d like you to have this, Kingsley Somerville.”

She proffered the sword and Kingsley stepped slowly forward to take it.

As soon as he had the sword in his hand, Edith stepped back and Kingsley drew the blade. I heard the whisper of the steel as it emerged into the sunlight. He gave a few practice strokes, moving the blade in a sort of dance. Even I had to admit, he looked strong and fierce and mesmerising.

“It’s perfectly balanced,” he said. He bowed to Edith. “Thank you.”

The four dragons took to the sky, Glenwise in the lead. Rhod was behind and to his side, wherehe could follow Glenwise but his mate could still see him in his peripheral vision. Georgie followed behind them and Glimmer brought up the rear. He liked to keep the rest of them in his sights. Sitting on Glimmer’s back was Kingsley, looking like a knight upon a steed.

When they were out of sight, I turned to Alfie. “What do you want to do now, my darling?”

“Um, Nadia said she wanted me to help clear out her sock drawer. Apparently she’s got loads of socks that aren’t hers and she needs me to find out who they belong to. I’ve told her my bonds don’t work that way – socks don’t have bonds with anyone – but she asked me to try anyway. Morgan said he’d help me sort them out and bring them downstairs. I don’t want Nadia over-exerting herself.”

I resisted the urge to snigger. Nadia might be pregnant, but she was a dragon. She could carry a whole drawer of socks downstairs so their rightful owners could reclaim them, and she wouldn’t do a jot of damage to herself or the foetus.

I suspected that she wanted to spend time with Alfie, since he was so special to Morgan. And Ididn’t mind that.

Leaning up to peck him on the cheek, I said, “Have a good afternoon, my darling.”

“What willyoudo?”

“I thought I’d go into the lounge where they have a fire. It’s nice and warm in there.”

John had been keeping it burning for me, even though I could tell the rest of the Hoskins clan were overly warm.

Alfie walked me to the lounge and then went off to fuss round Nadia, and I settled into one of the large armchairs opposite John and beside Evangeline, who’d settled herself there and basically hadn’t left. The chairs were huge to accommodate the larger Hoskins bodies, and I curled up, knowing I wouldn’t be perfectly comfortable without Alfie there to sit on. I had become incredibly spoiled about that.

John smiled at me. We’d grown close, and I could tell he was especially fond of me. It was in his eyes.

“Did they get away without a fuss?”

“Yes, thank you. Edith gifted Kingsley a sword.”

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