Page 33 of All's Fair in Lion and War
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Col
Col flexed his shoulders and walked toward the sliding front doors of the Jenkins store. Tor and Owen walked a few paces behind him. The scent of the unfamiliar dragon male made his skin itch like he’d rolled in a poisonous weed.
This town. These people. They were his responsibility. Not just his Tribe, but the whole of Mystery. He knew the havoc his kind could bring down on villages and an entire tribe of angry dragons was not something Mystery would survive.
The doors to the Jenkins’ store didn’t slide open.
His fangs descended and he growled low in his chest, rumbling loud enough any Reylean in the area would hear it. Theothermale dragon appeared on the other side of the glass doors.
Their gazes met in a quick challenge, but the Novik turned the lock on the doors quickly and they parted leaving no barrier between them at all.
Novik extended his arm in a typical Reylean greeting.
Col breathed deeply, listening for Henrietta, smelling for blood.
“She is well.” The male’s tone was low and slow, cautious and respectful.
Col clasped the Novik’s forearm in greeting. “Thank you.”
“We should go inside before drawing attention from others in town.”
“Yes.” Col released the other male’s arm and nodded. He and Owen and Tor followed him inside without speaking. The doors slid closed behind them. The faint buzz of the fluorescent ceiling lights greeted his ears like a swarm of insects.
“What the hell is going on, Owen?” Henrietta rushed to Owen’s side. He put an arm around her shoulder and hugged his mate’s mother close.
“All will be well, Henrietta. I’m sorry you were caught in the middle of this.”
“As am I,” Novik spoke to the human woman. “From the scents in the store, I assumed you would know who I was looking for. My calculation was in error. And I apologize for frightening you.”
“I do know everyone in town. You could’ve asked, if you needed to see Col.” Henrietta huffed a little and crossed her arms, showing a much more confidant attitude now that her nearly seven-foot son-in-law was standing next to her.
Col smiled down at the small fiery woman who sounded so much like her daughter at times. “Owen, please take her out to the truck while I speak with Novik.”
“But my store?”
“We will lock it up when we leave.” Col’s voice left no room for questions, but that didn’t stop Henrietta from grilling Owen.
“Why am I leaving?”
Owen allowed her to continue questioning him the whole way out of the store, but he moved her along without any trouble. Within a few moments the store was silent again. Col and Tor were left inside with only Novik.
“I am Col Li’Vhram.”
“Vaaedri.” Novik took a step backward and bowed his head slightly. “Prince of the N’ra Lowlands, I again apologize for entering your territory unannounced. I was—”
“This is a different world, Novik. You were respectful. You did not bring your whole tribe into the town once you knew. You have shown much honor to me and my family.”
“The tiger? And the bear?” Novik raised the question with his eyebrows. “There are wolves in the town as well.”
“Yes, our family is very diverse. We also have two lion males, but we areallTribe and we stand together. Mystery has been our home since the Exodus Day. We protect its people and each other.”
“Lions?” Novik’s lip curled and a growl rattled deep in his chest.
“They are not Ka’lagh. They are from outskirts of the N’ra Lowlands.”
Novik rolled his neck and breathed loudly. “We hunt the Ka’lagh. How will we know which are your people?”
