Page 88 of Lion Conquers All
“Oh. They really are pretty young, aren’t they?”
“Yeah, about eighteen or nineteen, maybe twenty. We’re not really sure. That wasn’t something the pack tracked carefully.” Ryder took Ava’s hand and she and Aarav followed them back into the picnic area away from the cars.
Multiple people called her name and waved.
She waved back.
No-one rushed her.
They weren’t all asking her questions.
It was nice and the tenseness in her shoulders started to loosen just a little.
“See. They’re just happy to see you up and healthy.” Aarav leaned over and whispered into her ear.
“You told them not to crowd me, didn’t you?” She glanced up and met Aarav’s gaze.
His eyes glittered with a little gold. “It’s my job to take care of you,shuarra.”
Tears welled in her eyes, blurring her vision just a little. A few people stopped what they were doing and looked toward them.
Naomi and Col approached. Ava and Ryder moved away.
“We’re so glad you came tonight, Connie. We’ve missed you desperately. We want you to know that this is your home. We are your home. Anything you ever need, even if it’s just to talk or laugh with people whogetit.” Naomi held out her arms, offering a hug— a hug Connie did want. Which surprised her.
She closed the gap between herself and the smaller woman, who smelled very strongly offire.That really was the best way to describe it. Col did too. And she knew they were both dragons. But the smelling thing was new. And they were another new scent.
Naomi’s arms closed around her shoulders, and she hugged her tight. “Welcome to the family, sweetheart. You already were. You know that, right? Now it’s just super official.”
A tear rolled down Connie’s cheek.
“Thanks. I know you guys tolerated me cause Iknewthings, but—”
“We care very much about you Connie.” Col’s rumbly deep voice caught Connie off-guard. “Naomi is correct. You were already family. The difference now is thatyourecognize it and want it.”
Connie released Naomi and stepped back into Aarav’s side. “Thank you. I really appreciate you saying it. I do. You don’t know how much it means to me. I don’t really have anyone else. I just had this town and I tried to take care of everyone.”
Naomi smiled. “And you did. The town loves you, Connie. But now we get to take care of you. Aarav gets to take care of you. Which he is quite pleased about, I might add.”
Connie coughed out a laugh. Heat warmed her face again.
Aarav squeezed her into a side hug.
“It’s good to be home. Unless…the town…is…”
Naomi shook her head. “Except for our newly sworn-to-secrecy humans. Everything is fine. The Roberts smoothed everything out, explained everything away. We’re not going anywhere. The Hardisty’s are surprisingly very chill. They don’t really have any family either, so I think us taking them into the group really meant a lot to the two of them. And…”
Naomi’s smile grew even larger. “Aarav is the new sheriff. The Roberts pulled some strings and Sarah got her brother removed and sent off to a rehab down in Washington somewhere. And there’s a new Reylean in town from the Seattle Tribe who’s stepping into the deputy position.”
“What?” Connie turned and looked up at Aarav’s face. He had a huge grin splitting his face. “Why didn’t you tell me. And what guy? The Seattle tribe was all a bunch of dragons.”
Everyone was silent.
A dragon.
Another dragon in Mystery. Cause two weren’t enough?
Connie breathed deeply. It was fine, right. If the tribe wasn’t worried, she shouldn’t be either.
