Page 79 of Brock’s Mate

When he was done, magic sparkled in the air all around them, blue with gold streaks like a spiderweb.

Then it faded from sight, but not from their hearts.

Desi opened her eyes. She tried to speak, and coughed. Someone gave her some water. She croaked, “What the hell was that?”

“Kintsugi,” Brock said. He leaned down and kissed her. “We put you back together. Now you’re perfect.”

It took some time to finish the cleanup. The sorcerer/dragon was dead, as were most of the wolves. The survivors had been bound with magic and were awaiting pickup from the Shifter Council, along with the dragon’s body.

Brock sat with his family, Desi’s head in his lap, while Emon talked the dragons of Habakki-ur down from their murderous rage. DB had very intelligently worldwalked off somewhere, and the green dragons were very unhappy about the idea of leaving there without him.

For the first time since before he’d left his job, Brock felt comfortable with his family. He’d felt their love for him while he was healing Desi—deep and unconditional. Maybe they’d never been as disappointed in him as he’d thought.

Maybe it was just his disappointment in himself. He’d forgotten how many people he’d helped—but they’d come here to remind him.

Another crack in his heart healed.

Finally the green dragons left in a huff, and Emon walked over to where they were sitting. As soon as the Habakki-urs’ portal closed, DB opened his own window and reappeared.

“Yeesh,” he said. “That was close.”

Emon turned his intense gaze on him. Everyone got quiet. DB’s eyes went wide as the force of the Darkwing Dragon’s presence bore down on him. Finally he said, “Um, did you want something?”

Emon said, “As the king of the Al-Maddeiri clan—which you are clearly part of—I managed to… ahem… persuade the Habakki-ur to reluctantly agree to bring the matter of your custody before representatives of the Shifter Council and the Draken Council.”

“More like threatened them into it,” Kira murmured.

“Custody?” DB said. “I don’t want to be in anybody’s custody. It’s kind of the point of running away.”

Emon just raised his eyebrows and impaled him with his Dragon King look. “And did you think about what would happen to your friends when the Habakki-ur came after you?”

DB shuffled his feet.

Finally Emon said, “You’re welcome.”

DB muttered. “Thank you.” Then he said, “Do I get to pick who I want to live with?” He glanced over at Brandon.

The Wild Blood alpha gave DB a little smile. “He can come and live with us. Not promising I can keep control over him, but he’s welcome.”

DB broke out in a grin.

“No,” Emon said to DB. “You’re a Draken sorcerer, and you need to learn how to use your powers properly. So I will officially inform the Councils of my claim on you, as one of Al-Maddieri blood. You will be released into my custody.”

Everyone looked disappointed at that.

“What if you lose?” DB asked. “Hell, what if you win? I don’t want to go live somewhere weird with people I don’t know. Why can’t I stay with the Bad Bloods?”

Emon raised an eyebrow. “I don’t lose. I’m a king. If I’m going to lose I change the rules.”

Kira said, “He tries. Don’t let him.”

“I can stop him?” DB muttered.

“No,” Emon said. “On the other hand, you’ll be in a place where the only trouble you’ll get in if you fuck up, is with me. And where I can put up proper safeguards for your learning.” Finally he relented. “But you can come here and visit whenever you want.”

That brightened everyone up. Brock clapped DB on the shoulder.

“The question was really if you could stop him from coming,” Brock said to Emon.