The Sea Dragon's Lion (Fire & Rescue Shifters: Friends and Family) by Zoe Chant

Author:Zoe Chant [Chant, Zoe]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2021-03-27T16:00:00+00:00

Chapter 8

“This is all your fault,” John growled. He clanked at Reiner’s heels, armor rattling with every stride. It was rather like being followed by an angry cutlery rack. “On my honor, if any harm has come to my sister—”

“I’m telling you, she’s fine,” Reiner snapped, not for the first time. He could feel it, as surely as the beat of his own heart. “I’m her mate. If she was in trouble, I’d know.”

“You cannot be certain of that, since you are not yet fully mated. And you do not know my sister. She is an innocent and delicate—”

“Fully grown sea dragon,” Reiner finished for him. “For pity’s sake, what could possibly threaten her? A mugger in an assault tank?”

John rumbled like a particularly cranky thunderstorm. “I do not speak of physical dangers. She is naïve. She knows nothing of the land. Or humans. She is a helpless minnow swimming unaware into shark-filled seas.”

“And whose fault is that?” Reiner swung round to glare up at him. “Mine, or the person who should have taught her about life outside Atlantis? Told her what to expect, explained to her about money and human customs and all the other things she needs to know in order to be able to stand on her own two feet. Or were you just thinking that she’d live her whole life under your roof, totally dependent on your charity?”

John matched his glare. Reiner was certain that if he’d been wearing his sword, it would have been in his hand by now. “I planned to look after her until she found her mate. I assumed he would be a man of honor, able to provide equal shelter and care.”

“I see. So you were going to treat her like a child until you could hand her over to another man, in the expectation that at that point he would take total responsibility for her?”

“I…” Reiner had the rare delight of seeing John look taken aback. “Yes?”

“How positively medieval.” Reiner cast a pointed look at John’s armored forearms. “Then again, given the outfit, I suppose I shouldn’t be surprised.”

“Gentlemen, gentlemen!” Chase inserted himself between them, pushing them apart. “Let’s not fight. Remember, you are practically brothers!”

John looked physically pained.

In Reiner’s experience, brothers fought tooth and nail until someone was belly up and bleeding. But he took a deep breath, forcing his lion to settle. Chase was right. He doubted that he and John would ever exchange friendship bracelets, but they were going to have to learn to get along with at least a bare minimum of politeness.

He hoped.

“I’m sorry, John,” he gritted out. “That wasn’t fair of me. This situation is mostly my fault. I’m worried about Jane too, but I shouldn’t take that out on you.”

John’s jaw clenched, but he managed a stiff and exceedingly grudging nod. “For my sister’s sake alone, I accept your apology.”

“There! Was that so hard?” Chase clapped them both on the shoulder, beaming. “Come on, bring it in. Let’s hug it out.”

They turned identical glares on him.

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