Dagon's Ride [Brac Pack 19] (11 page)

“I know that look,” Tangee teased as he helped Taylor set up the table. “You’re in love.”

Taylor blushed seven kinds of red at Tangee’s words. It was true.

Every time he looked at his mate his heart burst with happiness. “Is it that obvious?”

“Yeah.” Tangee laughed.

Caden and Nero came over and helped them start setting out the food. Taylor placed three stacks of paper plates at the end of each table. Cecil and Blair drug out the refreshments and emptied the cubes of soda into the large barrels that were full of ice, shoving bottles of juice alongside them.

Taylor leaned his head back and sniffed. The smell of meat grilling made his mouth water. “Hey, Taylor.” Oliver nudged Taylor’s shoulder with his. “Need any more help?” Taylor pointed to the huge box of trash bags. “You could line the fifty- five-gallon drums with those bags.”

“O n it.” O liver grabbed the box and walked over to the containers.

How did he end up in charge of getting everything together? The sun said its final farewell as it dipped in the western sky, twilight bringing the lightning bugs out and sending the little ones chasing after them. A slow melody began to play in the background, and Taylor saw that Nero had set up a DJ stand. This was going to be one heck of a party.

“Make way,” George shouted as he and Tank, along with a few more warriors, brought out trays of food. Taylor stepped back and watched as an array of food was placed on the tables.

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Large arms circled him as Dagon kissed his temple. “How you holding up,
cachorro
?”

“Good. Although I’m not sure how I got suckered into organizing everything.”

“You’re a born leader.”

Taylor shook his head. “And you believe that? My middle name is chicken.”

“You sell yourself short, baby.” Dagon pulled Taylor up and tossed him over his shoulder, Taylor grabbing onto the back of his mate’s shirt for dear life.

“Dagon! Put me down,” Taylor yelled.

“You can take a break and help me at the grill.” Dagon lowered him and set him on his feet, leaning in for a kiss. Taylor glanced around and then gave Dagon a quick one.

“Good enough.” Dagon laughed, as if sincerely amused. He picked up the extra set of tongs, handing them to Taylor. “You get the other grill.”

“How is that a break? I’m still working.” He stated the obvious as he flipped a few ribs. Taylor liked this job better though because he got to be next to Dagon. It didn’t seem so much a job with a perk like that.

Taylor dropped the tongs when his eyes began to burn. It felt like they were on fire. “Shit.” The palms of his hands rubbed them as they watered profusely.

“You okay over there? The grill smoke will burn your eyes if you’re not careful.” He could feel Dagon’s hands on his face. “Move your hands and let me see,
cachorro
.” Taylor lowered his hands and blinked a few times, trying his best to open them.

“Your eyes…they’re changing.” Dagon gasped. “They look like Panahasi’s.”

“How? He said I was
half
demon.”
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Lynn Hagen

“This is true, but he also said you would discover yourself as the demon inside of you evolved.”

Taylor wanted his green eyes back. He liked the fact that they matched Dagon’s. He tried rubbing them again, praying he could somehow rub the green back in.

“Stop.” Dagon grabbed his hands. “You may make it worse.”

“By rubbing them?” Taylor was being snarky, but he couldn’t help it.

“Do you know anything about this? I sure as shit don’t. Maybe this is only temporary, just wait and see.” Dagon cupped his hand and poured water into it from a bottle and splashed Taylor’s eyes. “It’s worth a shot.” He shrugged when Taylor pulled the bottom of his shirt up and wiped his eyes.

“See?” Dagon smiled. “They’re back to green.”

“Really?” Taylor poked at his eyes and then thought about what he was doing.
Duh, like I can tell by feeling them.

“We’ll just monitor them to see what happens.” Dagon kissed Taylor and then walked back over to his grill.

Taylor didn’t like the idea of his body changing on him and not having any control over it. Would his life ever even out and run smoothly? It seemed that he had experienced one thing after another lately, and his mind was having a hard time keeping track of all of this.

Taylor jumped when he felt a hand skim down his back and cup his rear end. He was so submerged in thought that he hadn’t seen Dagon approach. He leaned back into the strong muscled chest, enjoying the closeness.

He’s making you gay.

Taylor had had about enough of his mom’s intrusive voice. It was starting to really piss him off. He was finally happy now, and she was ruining it! If only there was some way to turn that damn switch off!

“
Cachorro
?”

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Taylor was seething as he turned toward Dagon. “What?” he snapped. His mate pointed at the grill. Taylor gasped when he saw it levitate a few inches from the ground. Holy shit! Had he done that?

“I think your anger is doing it.” Dagon stepped closer, embracing Taylor as he talked soothingly in his ear. “Calm down. Whatever is making you angry isn’t worth it.”

“She won’t shut up,” Taylor replied.

“Who?”

“My mom. All I can hear are her critical words. They won’t stop.” He beat at his temple, making the grill hover higher.

“She’s not here.” The Alpha walked over, talking in a low tone.

“You are with Dagon, the man you love. Her opinion doesn’t matter, Taylor.” He blinked a few times and then nodded at the Alpha. Taylor couldn’t understand why he had allowed himself to get so damn mad.

As soon as he calmed down, the grill hit the ground with a loud thud. That brought Taylor’s attention around. He stared it for a moment, watching the fire hiss and then smoke as the fat dripped from the steaks.

Taylor grabbed the tongs, flipping the meat over before setting them down and then stared at the ground. He had done that, had made the grill leave the ground. Taylor stole a quick glance at the crowd gathering around him and then back at the ground. He didn’t care for all the attention on him now.

“Do you want to go inside?” Dagon asked.

Taylor nodded, keeping his eyes from making contact with anyone. He walked numbly next to his mate, wishing everyone would stop fucking staring at him. He was embarrassed enough without the unwanted attention.

Dagon guided him by the elbow, taking him through the kitchen door and pulling a chair from the table, and helped him sit. “I did that.” Taylor looked up at Dagon, his mouth opening and closing like a fish.

“It’s okay, Taylor. You didn’t do anything wrong.”
88

Lynn Hagen

* * * *

Dagon knelt in front of Taylor, wondering why he didn’t feel as stunned as he should have been. It could be the fact that, with everything going on around them lately, he was getting used to the weird crap.

Dagon brushed the hair from Taylor’s forehead and then rubbed his ear with his thumb and forefinger. “It’ll be okay,
cachorro
.” Taylor quietly sighed and stared outside. “I know. It just seems like as soon as I get used to the idea of something, another thing pops up, and it’s not small things either.” That was very true. His mate had dealt with more shit in the past couple of weeks than most dealt with in a lifetime. “You’re strong.

You can handle it. I know you can.”

“Can I borrow some of that optimism?” Taylor smiled and leaned in to kiss Dagon’s lips.

“Anytime you need it.” Dagon straightened and held his hand out, Taylor grabbing it as they walked back outside.

“I don’t think it’s safe for me to man the grill,” Taylor said as they walked back over to the large, smoking units. Dagon wasn’t going to have his mate running from who he was.

“You’ll do just fine. I have confidence in you.” He picked the tongs up and handed them to Taylor. “Show everyone you got this under control.” Dagon winked at his mate.

“I feel better knowing you’re behind me in this.” Taylor accepted the tongs.

“You doing okay?” Maverick asked as he walked up to Taylor with Melonee and Cecil right by his side.

“I don’t plan on making the grill leave the ground again.” Dagon took the tongs from Taylor and turned the meat over, hearing the hissing sound as the fat dripped onto the charcoals. The
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breeze that wafted by felt good on his skin as he turned his attention back to the people standing close to his mate.

“I knew you were cool.” Melonee smiled at Taylor.

“Like I’ve said before, it makes being human seem boring.” Cecil laughed. “You supernaturals are outranking us here.”

“I’m still human,” Taylor said.

“Yeah, and so am I.” Melonee giggled.

Dagon chuckled as he grabbed a few juices from the drum and handed one to Taylor. He unscrewed the cap, taking a long drink before turning to Maverick. “I hear you have an announcement tonight.”

“After dinner.” Maverick held his hand out for Cecil as he walked away.

“Don’t you just hate that?” Melonee shook her head. “He’s always so cryptic.” She raced off when she spotted her brother, Tangee.

“This has got to be one of the strangest families I’ve ever met.” Taylor looked over the crowd in the backyard.

“But any one of these people would stand up and fight for you.” Dagon chuckled as one of Heaven and Murdock’s twins walked over to them. “Well, almost everyone.”

Taylor bent at the waist, hauling the little one into his arms. “I bet he would try.” He tickled Maddox’s stomach, and the toddler squealed with delight.

Dagon chuckled as he took another drink of juice, wondering how he had gotten so damn lucky with Taylor.

He plated the meat and carried it over to the table. Dagon walked back to the grill and closed it before declaring to everyone that the food was ready.

They had six long picnic tables set up, six or seven people to a table as everyone formed a line at the buffet tables. Dagon wasn’t sure what he wanted to eat. It all looked good.

He carried his and Taylor’s plates as his mate carried their bottled drinks and silverware.

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Lynn Hagen

“Damn this is good,” Dagon said as he licked the barbeque sauce from his fingers. “Whoever made the potato salad needs an award.”

“That would be me,” Heaven called out from the next table over.

“Thanks.”

Dagon held his potato- filled spoon up at Heaven and then opened his mouth to enjoy the flavors bursting on his tongue.

The conversations were lively and laughter was heard all around.

Taylor smashed two plates of food. Where did his mate put all of it? He was skinny as hell but ate like he had two stomachs. Dagon grinned when Taylor dropped four rib bones onto his plate. “I thought you looked like you needed more.”

“Ah, you know me too well.”

“I’m going to get more before he eats all of them.” Law got up and made his way around the tables.

“Bring me some back,” Tryck yelled.

Dagon watched the mate, Nero, lay a few napkins on the bench and then sit. His mate, Gunnar, laid napkins on the table before setting the plate in front of Nero. The short mate snapped on a pair of blue gloves and then smiled up at Gunnar before eating.

He chuckled at the blue-gloved mate as he thanked his lucky stars he didn’t have any hang-ups.

Once everyone had full bellies and was sitting back talking with each other, Maverick stood and cleared his throat.

“I have an announcement to make, so I thought this picnic would be a good place, considering everyone is here.” The Alpha’s deep timbre voice boomed across the backyard.

“You’re handing the reins over to me,” Tryck shouted.

“In your dreams,” Maverick snorted. “As I was saying.” He shot a glare at Tryck before continuing. “I’ve decided that some expansion is needed.”

“You and Cecil having a baby?” Montana called out.

“Not in this lifetime,” Cecil shouted back as he grabbed Melonee’s hand. “I’m not talking about you.” He smiled.

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“Can I finish before you guys toss in your two cents?” Maverick pulled at his soul patch as he glanced at the tables. “Thank you. It’s been a quite a few years since the first mate has walked into our lives.

A lot has happened since then. O ur family has grown to a large size.

The Den can accommodate all of you, but I am aware some of you wish to have your own homes.”

Dagon knew the Alpha was talking about the couples with children. It wasn’t a hidden fact that Heaven wanted a small home for his and Murdock’s twins to grow up in, along with the child on the way.

“I’ve thought long and hard about this. What I propose is that a few cottages be built on Brac land, behind the Den, so that any couple who decide they want a place of their own are still close by. I also want to expand on the town, build more businesses to help the community with their financial troubles.” Everyone began to clap as cheers went up at the news. Maverick held his hands up until the crowd quieted. “I already have a long list of townspeople qualified to get the job done. A few are interested in owning some of those businesses. If any of you want a business to call your own, by all means, let me know.” Dagon knew that Heaven owned a barbershop, Murphy owned a bookstore, Mark owned a garage, and Cody was half owner of the diner. It would be good to see more pack-run businesses. He sat there and thought long and hard about becoming a business owner.

What would he do?

“If anyone has any questions, you know where my office is.” Maverick took a seat and began to talk quietly with Cecil.

“Can I own one?” Taylor turned to Dagon and asked.

“I don’t see why we can’t go into business together. But what would we do?”

“Sell motorcycles.” Taylor laughed. “What else?”

“Santiago Cycles. I like that.” Tryck smiled.

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Lynn Hagen

“You want all of us to go into business together?” Dagon looked at his brothers.