Lienda and Jonathon had already left with Mischa between them. My twin had been chatting away. I hadn’t seen her this animated before. She was positively glowing. The dragon marked energy flowed through her body and she was flying high on the power. I strode across to join Braxton and Louis, who had been waiting for me. We were quiet as we crossed the town toward the mystics building. I walked between them, and while there was no immediate tension, it didn’t exactly feel friendly either.

Braxton was the first to speak. “Explain to me this whole brother-sister thing you two have going on?”

Louis grinned, and I couldn’t help returning it. I let the sorcerer explain, it was his story, and I didn’t know how much of it he wanted other supernaturals to know. He told Braxton pretty much everything – about his lost love, his isolation, the connection he felt when he touched me as a baby. Braxton didn’t interrupt, letting the sorcerer talk as much as he wanted. As I stared between the two of them, it became startlingly clear how similar they were – both commanding, powerful, and unafraid of anything. Louis actually fit in really well with the Compass quads.

We crossed the last of the pebbled path, reaching the building we’d been directed to. A few lower level witches scurried out of our way, leaving the doorway free – yeah, we were badasses.

Just before we entered Braxton faced the sorcerer, his expression neutral. “It’s no secret that males don’t like other males around their mates, and I’m no exception with Jessa. Reality is, dragons are usually the worst of all supernaturals. We guard what is ours with a ferocity that would scare almost everyone … except you – nothing scares you.” I sensed the slightest tone of grudging admiration from Braxton. “I accept what you say is the truth. I will allow this friendship.”

Woah! He did not just say that. “Hang on just one freaking second! Allow … allow the friendship?” I poked my finger directly into Braxton’s chest. “I’ll choose my own friends and no bossy ass dragon is going to change that. You have a problem with any of my friends, you come and talk to me.”

His blue eyes darkened and as usual he enjoyed watching me lose my shit, although he didn’t back down. The next eight hundred years or so were going to be volatile to say the very least. Males were so annoying with their posturing, possessive bullshit.

Louis laughed, distracting us. We didn’t break the stare-off, but some of the tension eased. The slightest of smiles crossed Braxton’s full lips and I got a flash of dimple. I was staying strong though, I would not let his sexiness break me. If he dominated me in decisions like this, he always would. It was in his nature.