A Destiny of Dragons (Tales From Verania #2)(36)

But I didn’t know if there were limits to me.




AND NOW I stood with my arms crossed, glaring at Morgan. He leaned against a stone counter in the labs, a far-off look on his face. Ryan was next to me, twitching like he wanted to stab the problem to death. Which, honestly, I didn’t blame him for. The others were upstairs after Vadoma’s announcement had dissolved the tense conversation into utter chaos, with Gary asking if he had to choke a bitch, Tiggy threatening to smash everything in sight, Kevin suggesting all the men in the room solve their problems with an orgy, my mother having to be held back by my father, Justin looking supremely annoyed (which, in retrospect, wasn’t really any different), and the King proclaiming no one would come into his castle and tell his wizard (Apprentice, Gary had coughed obnoxiously) what to do.

Morgan, however, had gotten the same look on his face that he had right now. Like he was thinking back on all the mistakes in his life that had led to this point and was getting ready to apologize for everything he’d done so we could hug it out like bros and move past this.

“I’m not apologizing for anything,” he said, “if that’s what you’re thinking.”

“What?” I said, sufficiently outraged. “I wasn’t thinking that at all. And why not? You totally owe me! You practically had me wedded off to someone I don’t even know! Did you sell me for some chickens? I swear to the gods, Morgan, if you didn’t hold off for at least a goat, we’re going to have a fucking problem here.”

“Really, Sam?” Ryan growled. “A goat? That’s going to be the problem here?”

“Relax, babe,” I said, relaxing my scowl so I could kiss Ryan on the cheek. “You know you’re my one and only. I don’t care if it was two goats. You’re stuck with me forever.”

“It’d better at least been two goats and a pig or something,” Ryan mumbled. “You’re worth at least that much.”

“Wow,” I said. “I don’t know how I feel about that at all.”

Morgan sighed. “Can we focus here? Please? If that’s not too much to ask.”

I glared at him again. “Right. Because you’re in so much trouble, you don’t even know. What the hell was she talking about? I don’t have another cornerstone. And even if I did, I choose Ryan. I will always choose Ryan.”

“Damn right,” Ryan said. “Because I’m awesome. I don’t stand and pose like that asshole—”

“Not the best argument,” I muttered to him under my breath. “You do that all the time.”

“—I mean call myself the Wolf. You know who does that? Jackasses do that.”

“Fist-pound me,” I demanded.

Ryan didn’t even hesitate. Like a boss.

We were a godsdamned united front against the tyranny of outside forces who wanted to do nothing more than to break our epic love apart. Well, we wouldn’t stand for it! We would rise up against—

“You’re narrating in your head, aren’t you?” Morgan asked.

“What? No. Of course not. Who does that? That’s stupid. But enough about me, let’s get back to you and how much trouble you’re in. After, of course, you tell me everything and why you sold me for chickens and not two goats and a pig like I’m obviously worth.”

“I’ve never hidden from you what a cornerstone is, Sam,” Morgan said. “Not once. You knew from the very beginning that there was the potential for there to be more than one. Fate doesn’t deal in absolutes. There is always going to be some obscurity behind it.”

“Gods,” I muttered. “I hate it when you get philosophical.”

“But even if that’s the case,” Ryan said, “it doesn’t matter. I’m Sam’s cornerstone. He felt drawn to me. He didn’t feel anything for Ruv, which, by the way, who names their child Ruv?”

“Gypsies do, babe,” I said. “It’s actually a pretty common name.”

“Oh. Right. Well. Okay, then.”

“Also,” I said, wincing slightly. “I don’t know that it’s completely accurate that I didn’t feel anything when he came into the room.”

“What,” Ryan said without any inflection to signify punctuation, which made it that much worse.

“Yeah, um. See? So. Maybe. My magic? Might have jumped. Just a little.”

“Your magic jumped,” Ryan repeated in that same flat tone.

“Just a little,” I reassured him, giving him the best smile I could.

“Okay,” Ryan said.

“Okay?” That was easier than I thought it would be. I was sure he’d—

“Okay,” Ryan said. “I’m going to go stab him with my sword.”

And there it was.

He started to unsheathe his weapon and turned toward the door before I snagged him by the arm, pulling him back. “You can’t murder him just because you feel like it.”

“He made your magic jump,” Ryan argued. “That’s how it starts. First it’s your magic, and then it’s your dick, and then you’re staring at me, wondering why I don’t make your magic or dick jump anymore. And then you’ll get really bitter toward me and wonder why I can’t bend and touch my foot to the back of my head like he can, and then you’ll run away with Ruv—seriously, what is up with that name?—and get married and have little gypsy babies or some shit.”