In a Dragon’s Dream by Riley Storm Page 0,71

seeing Lara glance at Kayb yet again out of the corner of her eye.

What a dolt.

“There’s no way for you to finish this,” Sache said quietly as he closed. “Why do you keep fighting?”

“Don’t believe in giving up,” Rakell said back.

He was also fighting because he knew this had to be good for Sache. The other shifter had been almost catatonic ever since he’d come back from a dark phase that had even seen him fall in with the Cado for a little while. Rakell was assuming that Sache simply didn’t feel welcome anymore, which is why he’d been so withdrawn from the rest of the clan.

So when he’d asked to come fight and train, Rakell had said yes immediately. Anything to help him re-integrate with his clan, to realize they harbored no ill will against him. The longer Rakell could keep the fighting going on, the longer Sache had to interact with them all.

So he ducked, shuffled and rolled away from him; Rakell the physically wounded, Sache the mentally hurting.

“Crap,” Rakell muttered as his leg gave out from under him when he tried to get back up, the muscles not quite healed from the brutal kick Sache had landed earlier.

“Yield,” Sache said as he got position on Rakell’s back and locked an arm around his neck.

Rakell gave a few good kidney back-shots, just to let Sache know he was still there, then he reluctantly tapped out.

“Good fight,” he said, accepting the offer of assistance to get to his feet, making sure to put most of the weight on his right this time.

“Good fight,” Sache echoed. “And, thank you.”

Rakell bowed his head in acknowledgment. “It’s my pleasure. We train every morning at this time. Be there.”

Sache tilted his head in query. “I thought it was team training time.”

“It is,” Rakell agreed, in his element now. The team had been his home for decades. Although Blede might be the leader, Rakell knew it the best, knew what it needed. They were often rotating fresh bodies in and out, with backups and more.

“I don’t want to intrude,” Sache said graciously. “But thank you anyway.”

“It’s not intruding,” Rakell said. “At all. It’s an order.”

Sache stiffened, realizing what Rakell was doing.

“I understand. I’ll be here, tomorrow.”

Rakell bowed his head once more as Sache took his leave. Although he technically couldn’t offer Sache the spot on the team, only Blede could, he felt confident the other shifter would follow his lead. He was a good leader like that.

Stretching, he glanced at the clock. Almost eight. Laura would be getting up around now, preparing to start her day. The last day she was going to spend up in the compound before they went back to her house.

If he hurried, he could still get back in time to have her coffee ready before she truly got out of bed.

Perfect.

He passed Lara and Kayb on the way out as they were stripping to shorts and tank tops in preparation for their bout.

“Have fun,” he taunted at Lara as he neared, letting her know that he was well aware she was going to get her ass kicked.

Not that Lara was a slouch of course. Kayb was just…Kayb.

“Screw you,” Lara said, sticking out her tongue.

Rakell threw his head back and laughed heartily. Yes, he loved this team. It’s what had given him purpose for so many years.

He thought of Laura, who awaited him, and hurried out of the gym, taking the stairs two at a time in his excitement to get back to his quarters.

Light as could be he snuck in, the door barely squeaking as he eased it closed. Laura was still in the shower. He could hear the water running. Although the urge to join her was strong, he made a beeline to their little kitchenette.

Although there were a trio of kitchens throughout the compound, most of the dragons’ rooms had a little counter with a sink, a couple of cabinets and, in Sache’s, a coffee-maker.

He set it up the way she liked and waited for it to start gurgling and doing its thing.

“Gah, how does she like this stuff?” he said, gagging on the stench. “So nasty.”

“You’re nasty.”

He spun to see Laura, wrapped up in a towel, emerging from the bathroom.

“Good morning my mate,” he said, giddy at seeing her face, as always.

“Hello my love. Have a good practice?” she asked, looking him up and down, frowning at the slight limp as he made his way over to her.

“I did, but nothing is as good as right