A Dragon for December (Wiccan-Were-Bear Book 11) by R. E. Butler Page B

I’m sorry you were kidnapped and drugged, but
I’m thankful you’re safe now,” Arissa said.
    Before Deci could answer, a young dragon male
rushed by, calling Arissa’s name and leaping into her arms.
    “My lady!” the little boy said, laughing
happily as Arissa swung him in a circle.
    “Hello, Sang! How is my fierce warrior?”
Arissa put him down and knelt in front of him.
    “Good. Can I visit soon?”
    “Of course. Where’s your papa?”
    “He’s resting. He healed our future
queen.”
    Arissa met Deci’s gaze and smiled. “He’s a
wonderful healer. Did you get a tattoo?”
    “Um, no?” Deci said, looking to Tosh in
confusion.
    “When Dae healed Arissa, she was near death,
so the healing imprinted a tattoo of a dragon on her back. It made
her a part of our nest in a way that is wholly unique. She became,
in essence, a member of Dae’s family. She was already Sang’s kore , which is the person he has vowed to protect with his
life,” Tosh explained.
    Arissa hugged Sang tightly and kissed his
cheek. “I’m very lucky to have such a fierce protector.”
    “Is there anything you dragons can’t do?”
Deci whispered to Tosh with a smile.
    He wanted to tell her that no, there wasn’t
anything he couldn’t do – wouldn’t do for her – but he’d already
failed to keep her safe only days after they’d met. He would never
forget the sense of utter loss when their connection had been
severed.
    Arissa kissed Sang on the cheek and he moved
away into the crowd, and then she and Brone said their goodbyes and
left.
    Alli hugged Deci briefly and said, “Are you
still going to be queen? What’s happening?”
    “We will deal with the traitors according to
our laws, and then Deci and I will be mated and crowned. I’m
abolishing the laws regarding the timing of the coronation,” Tosh
said.
    The nest erupted into cheers, and Deci said,
“Where is Jun? She’s my historical encyclopedia.”
    “Right here, my lady,” Jun said. The female
had been drugged with a poison that had scarred her badly on her
shoulder where Meiling had used her claws on her. When Jun had
awoken from the effects of the drugs, she’d insisted on being at
the sacred grove to help in any way possible. “Liu and I will help
you get ready for the ceremony after the traitors have been dealt
with.”
    “Fan-fucking-tastic,” Alli said, cracking her
knuckles. “Can I kick them in their soft bits for a while? I feel
the need to inflict some pain for being drugged and left naked on a
table.”
    Deci covered her mouth, but Tosh could still
hear her laugh. He kissed her and said, “Now, my mate, I’ll show
you how the king handles traitors and usurpers.”
    “I’ve got your back, my king.”
     

Chapter 12

    Deci stood next to Tosh as he addressed the
nest. Just behind her stood Alli, Jun, and Liu. She decided there
wasn’t anyone else she’d want more at her back during this time –
when her mate was facing decisions that would alter the nest
forever. Deci felt thankful for Liu, with her hundreds of years of
service to the royal family, and Jun, with her knowledge of all
things related to the nest and its laws, and Alli, who was always
ready to throw down on behalf of her friends.
    She glanced over her shoulder and saw that
just behind the women were her guards, looking worse for the wear.
They were alive, though, and that’s what mattered. She nodded at
Zhen and Tai, and they returned the gesture; then they looked past
her to where Tosh stood in the center of the clearing.
    It bummed her out that the flower petals
strewn over the clearing for their ceremonies had been ruined, but
she was thankful to be alive and to have made it through the
harrowing situation relatively unharmed.
    She was glad that the wolves who had been in
the room with her hadn’t raped her, but she knew just how close it
had been. She’d lost almost all the strength to fight them off. If
Tosh hadn’t shown up when he did, she didn’t want to think