Dagon's Ride [Brac Pack 19] by Lynn Hagen Page B

anyone. He walked numbly next to his mate, wishing everyone would stop fucking staring at him. He was embarrassed enough without the unwanted attention.
    Dagon guided him by the elbow, taking him through the kitchen door and pulling a chair from the table, and helped him sit. “I did that.” Taylor looked up at Dagon, his mouth opening and closing like a fish.
    “It’s okay, Taylor. You didn’t do anything wrong.” 88
    Lynn Hagen

    * * * *
    Dagon knelt in front of Taylor, wondering why he didn’t feel as stunned as he should have been. It could be the fact that, with everything going on around them lately, he was getting used to the weird crap.
    Dagon brushed the hair from Taylor’s forehead and then rubbed his ear with his thumb and forefinger. “It’ll be okay, cachorro .” Taylor quietly sighed and stared outside. “I know. It just seems like as soon as I get used to the idea of something, another thing pops up, and it’s not small things either.” That was very true. His mate had dealt with more shit in the past couple of weeks than most dealt with in a lifetime. “You’re strong.
    You can handle it. I know you can.”
    “Can I borrow some of that optimism?” Taylor smiled and leaned in to kiss Dagon’s lips.
    “Anytime you need it.” Dagon straightened and held his hand out, Taylor grabbing it as they walked back outside.
    “I don’t think it’s safe for me to man the grill,” Taylor said as they walked back over to the large, smoking units. Dagon wasn’t going to have his mate running from who he was.
    “You’ll do just fine. I have confidence in you.” He picked the tongs up and handed them to Taylor. “Show everyone you got this under control.” Dagon winked at his mate.
    “I feel better knowing you’re behind me in this.” Taylor accepted the tongs.
    “You doing okay?” Maverick asked as he walked up to Taylor with Melonee and Cecil right by his side.
    “I don’t plan on making the grill leave the ground again.” Dagon took the tongs from Taylor and turned the meat over, hearing the hissing sound as the fat dripped onto the charcoals. The Dagon’s Ride
    89
    breeze that wafted by felt good on his skin as he turned his attention back to the people standing close to his mate.
    “I knew you were cool.” Melonee smiled at Taylor.
    “Like I’ve said before, it makes being human seem boring.” Cecil laughed. “You supernaturals are outranking us here.”
    “I’m still human,” Taylor said.
    “Yeah, and so am I.” Melonee giggled.
    Dagon chuckled as he grabbed a few juices from the drum and handed one to Taylor. He unscrewed the cap, taking a long drink before turning to Maverick. “I hear you have an announcement tonight.”
    “After dinner.” Maverick held his hand out for Cecil as he walked away.
    “Don’t you just hate that?” Melonee shook her head. “He’s always so cryptic.” She raced off when she spotted her brother, Tangee.
    “This has got to be one of the strangest families I’ve ever met.” Taylor looked over the crowd in the backyard.
    “But any one of these people would stand up and fight for you.” Dagon chuckled as one of Heaven and Murdock’s twins walked over to them. “Well, almost everyone.”
    Taylor bent at the waist, hauling the little one into his arms. “I bet he would try.” He tickled Maddox’s stomach, and the toddler squealed with delight.
    Dagon chuckled as he took another drink of juice, wondering how he had gotten so damn lucky with Taylor.
    He plated the meat and carried it over to the table. Dagon walked back to the grill and closed it before declaring to everyone that the food was ready.
    They had six long picnic tables set up, six or seven people to a table as everyone formed a line at the buffet tables. Dagon wasn’t sure what he wanted to eat. It all looked good.
    He carried his and Taylor’s plates as his mate carried their bottled drinks and silverware.

    90
    Lynn Hagen
    “Damn this is good,” Dagon said as he