A Destiny of Dragons (Tales From Verania #2)(25)

Like now.

“Did you?” I said to Morgan. “I could have sworn you said to let our young love fly free.”

“Sam got kissy face,” Tiggy whispered to Gary.

“Of course he does, kitten,” Gary said. “That’s what happens when you’re a slut.”

“You get that too.”

“Well, yes,” Gary said patiently. “Because I’m a slut.”

“Oh,” Tiggy said. “Tiggy no slut. I love my flower.”

“Of course you do. And one day, you’ll meet a nice boy or girl giant and there will probably be a lot of grunting and monosyllabic wordplay and then your flower will be shredded.”

“Or I can have more brooms,” Tiggy said.

“Or that,” Gary agreed. “Because all that matters is that you’re happy and that Sam’s a slut.”

Mom and Dad stood off next to Justin’s smaller throne. Mom looked rather stricken, Dad’s arm still firmly around her, holding her close. I squeezed Ryan’s hand before letting it go and walking over to them. Mom’s dark eyes were trained on me, watching every step I took. She made the smallest of sounds as I hugged her, like she was surprised. Her arms came up and around my back, clutching tightly. She was strong, this woman I adored, even if she only came up to my chin. She was the fiercest of people, who loved with her whole heart. She was kind and good and never had a cross word for anyone. I couldn’t stand the look on her face.

“We’re going to be okay,” I murmured as my dad rubbed a hand up and down her back. “I promise.”

She sighed and nodded against my chest. I held on for a moment longer before pulling away. She had steel in her eyes when she looked back up at me. “She’s good,” she said. “She’s a good phuro. A firm hand when she needs to be, the softest of touches when she doesn’t. But that was long ago. I do not know who she is now or why she’s come here. She is my mamia, but you are my son. I don’t know what she wants, but if it’s not something you’re willing to give, then don’t. Do you understand?”

I nodded, unsure of what else to say.

She gave a small smile. “I know you do.”

I kissed her forehead and took my place next to Morgan on the right side of the King, Ryan on my other side, with Gary and Tiggy a step or two down the raised dais where the throne sat.

“Sam,” Gary hissed up at me. “Sam.”

“What?”

“Hi.”

“Hi, Gary.”

“I’ve decided on my pose when I meet the queen of the gypsies.”

“That’s nice, Gary.”

“Yeah. Just thought you should know.”

“Kind of serious here, Gary.”

“Is it? Is that why you all look so dour?”

“Probably, Gary. Family business and all that.”

“Ah. That’s a good reason.”

“Exactly.”

“Why are you still talking to me, Sam? This is serious. I can’t believe that you’d—”

And that’s when the window near the dais burst open and a dragon stuck his head inside.

“My love!” Kevin cried. “You are safe because I have saved you!”

“It’s like it never ends,” Justin muttered, sinking down in his seat.

“This is how you know you’re having fun,” the King said, patting his hand.

“Saved me from what?” Gary asked, prancing over to Kevin, tail swishing back and forth.

“And he calls me a slut,” I said to Ryan. “Look at him. Tail all up in the air like he wants everyone to see his business.”

“There are things I can’t unsee when you say them aloud,” Ryan said with a grimace. “Why would you do that to me?”

“The most ferocious of creatures,” Kevin said, preening under the attention. “They snapped and they snarled. They had wings and teeth the size of my face! They came here with the sole intention of stealing my loves away from me, but I rose against them in battle with a mighty roar. They squeaked when they saw just how big my… wingspan was.” He scrunched up his face and raised his voice, in approximation of exactly what, I had no idea. “Oh no! It is the fearsome Beast from the East! We didn’t know he was here! Retreat, retreat!” His voice lowered to his usual grumble. “But did I allow them to flee? Of course not. I said, ‘You came here to steal the most magnificent of creatures who climbs upon my junk and take said creature away from me? How dare you.’ And then I said, ‘You have made a mistake this day, one that will echo into eternity.’”

“Oh my gods,” Gary said. “I’m swooning. Sam. Sam, are you hearing this?”

“I don’t know if that’s exactly what happened,” I said slowly.

Gary snapped his head toward me and glared. “Shut up. Just because my man went out and took on an entire army of evil while yours just stood there posing with his sword—”

“Hey! I don’t pose—”

“—doesn’t give you the right to try and emasculate our savior.”

“Yeah,” Kevin said. “Don’t immaculate me. And he’s exactly right. There was an entire army of evil that I vanquished so no one could take Gary away from me. They also might have wanted Sam and Justin and Ryan too, but I told them there was too much sexual tension there that I was waiting to see if it would combust into a ménage of sexual thrusting, just this wild and crazy orgiastic—sorry, what was that?”