Page 80 of The Dragons' Healing Mate

“Heya,” I whispered, beaming at him. “I’m sorry to disturb you, but I just wanted to let you know that I’ve got to leave for a few days.”

His eyes snapped wide, and he stood up straight, holding me tight as his touch grew possessive, making my chest pinch as I heard the truth ringing in my head.

“Where are you going?” he asked, unmistakable panic in his eyes.

“I’m just going over to the East Lake Horde to deliver some salves and poultices and check in on a pregnancy there. They reached out to me, and I want to help them. No need to worry.”

“We’ll go with you,” he said, already moving.

“No, no. Don’t worry. I’ve already spoken to Griffin. He’s going with me. In fact, he’s going to drive my SUV. It could do with a little use.” I chuckled lightly, shrugging like this was nothing, like this wasn’t enormous and slowly driving me insane. “You guys have important work to do here. I don’t want to pull you away. I promise to be back as soon as I can. It’s just a quick work trip.”

“Nothingis more important than you.” Orsen’s voice was reverent as he tucked a strand of my hair behind my ear. “This isn’t because of last night?”

My face flushed. “Last night was amazing. No regrets,” I said honestly.

Orsen sighed, kissing the top of my head. “Keep in touch? Just so we don’t go climbing the walls with worry?”

“Thank you.” I leaned in to kiss him gently. “It’ll only be a few days. I’ll be back before you know it. I’m not leaving for good, Ipromise.”

I smiled, the relief on his face sinking into me like warm water. The tension in his muscles eased somewhat, and I forced myself not to think about the nausea swirling in my stomach.

“I don’t like it. I want to insist you stay here, but I know you’d hate me for that.” Orsen frowned, laughing at himself after a second.

“I would,” I agreed, lightly patting his cheek. “I promise you, I’m coming back. Griff refuses to lose his best friend again.”

Orsen chuckled, cupping my cheek. “Be safe, andpleasecome home soon.”

“I will, don’t you worry,” I said, kissing him lightly before pulling away from him, and even if I didn’t want to admit it, I was just as eager to get back there… To get backhome.

Nix

“One of us should have gone with her!” I whined, flopping onto the couch. When I learned that, after possibly thebestnight ever, Rowan had left on a healing job, I was thoroughly disappointed. Hell, I could admit it: I was downright heartbroken. I wanted more of that precious time with her.

And not just because it’d been filled with orgasms.

Still, she’d seemed perfectly content after everything we’d done, so I doubted she was running. I was finally starting to grow on her, Orsen and Grey, too. It was impossible to miss the attachment. I knew our mate well enough to understand that she simply wanted to help people and would do that no matter what, even if it made me pout somewhat.

Orsen grimaced, sitting on the couch next to me. We’d all decided to gather in one of the meeting rooms in the den to discussAlphathings. Unfortunately, we couldn’t just wallow while Rowan was traveling. We had work that needed to be done.

“I agree, but the last thing I wanted was to smother her. She’s only going to the East Lake Horde to provide some medicationsand help with a pregnancy. Griffin is with her. We need to trust her.”

Our mate had been gone fortwo days, and I was missing her terribly. Hell, we all were.

“The fact he’s with her is the only reason I’m not chasing after her right now,” I said pointedly. “Don’t you fucking hate this?” I lifted my head from sulking to look at him questioningly.

Orsen sighed and shrugged. “Of course I do, but if werefusedto let her leave, she would feel trapped. We want her to be here because shewantsto be here. She’s her own person. We’re not her prison guards.”

After what we’d done the night of the horde dinner, well, I was somehow even more of a goner for her, but I was starting to get the impression that she also had those feelings for us. For the first time in years, everything was starting to feel right, and I wassurethat was because of Rowan. Yes, Bastian needed a kick up the ass, but I was sure our mate would rise to the challenge.

Eventually.

“She’s always going to travel to help other hordes, given how good a healer she is,” Bastian pointed out, taking a bite of his protein bar. “Anyway, aren’t we supposed to be discussing cabin distribution this morning?”

That had been why we’d planned to meet over breakfast. For the first time in a long while, our horde was starting to grow. All the cabins had been allowed to sit untouched for so long, and they needed refreshing. The space that Baby Rowan’s family had wasn’t good for an infant long-term. Celia was pregnant, too, and apparently doing very well, meaning that, in the future, she and Tanner would definitely need a bigger cabin as well.

The result? We hada lotof work to do.

“Well, now that we aren’t paying through the teeth for expenses, thanks to Jenkins, we can put more money into rebuilding,” Greylen suggested. “Rowan has assured me sheneeds a fraction of what we gave him. That’ll free up quite a bit of funds.”