Hidden Passions (Hidden, #7)(75)

"Cass," Tony said. "I'm so sorry we ruined your engagement party."

Snow White smiled and shook her head. "Remind me to tell you how boring my life was before I met Rick."

"That bad?"

Dimples appeared in her rosy cheeks. "A few small someones would like to see you before you go."

He thought she meant Ethan and the cubs, but when he turned in the direction she indicated, he saw the dragons clustered together near the French doors. Their mouths were agape and their eyes hopeful. Cass's dad stood with them, his hand resting casually on Auric's golden head.

The brood liked the slightly scary pureblood. Tony supposed he had to mark that as a point in Roald's favor. Rising, he glanced around the dwindling crowd. Chris stood by the shut off barbecue, packing up leftovers--probably because he hadn't felt comfortable standing around unoccupied. Tony caught his eye and waved for him to come over.

The tiger hesitated a second before he moved. As he walked toward Tony, his gaze was unusually serious. Tony realized he was self-conscious. From now on when Chris looked at him, people would be aware they were more than acquaintances.

Tony knew that would take time to get used to.

Chris stopped closer to him than he would have before. "Everything okay?"

"Yes." Tony touched his hand lightly. "Come meet the dragons officially."

Chris looked nervous but followed him. Tony went to his knees to hug each dragon first.

"You were so good tonight," he praised as they bumped up to him. "Smart and brave. I'm really proud of you."

Chris laid his hand on Tony's back.

"Want to meet your other new guardian?" Tony asked. All three dragons looked up at Chris.

"Hello," he said as if they were people. "I hope you'll like working with me too."

Auric uttered a little chirp. Scarlet edged closer and butted Chris on the thigh. Chris smiled and stroked her head. Once she'd accepted his admiration, the others crowded around as well. It wasn't long before he was on his knees, laughing and being pestered for attention.

He wore the same wondering look everyone did when interacting with the dragons for the first time, like he'd discovered Santa Claus was real.

"You're beautiful," he crooned, trying to pet them all at once. "Look at your gorgeous wings!"

"You'll want this back," Roald said quietly to Tony.

He held out the guardian cuff.

"Oh," Tony said. He took it and slid it on. "Thank you."

"I have yours as well, Mr. Savoy."

Chris looked up at him, startled. "Ah. Um, thanks."

When Chris took his bracelet, he slipped it into the pocket of his sport coat. His casualness shocked Tony. This was how he accepted a priceless mystical object? By not even putting it on?

Cass's dad seemed to find his response amusing. His ridiculously handsome mouth twitched at its corners.

Verdi distracted him from the gaffe by cracking his jaw in a noisy yawn.

Chris patted the dragon's side and smiled. "I guess it's your bedtime, huh?" He got to his feet and turned to Tony. "You ready to get out of here?"

He obviously meant together, and hopefully meant all night. That thought warmed Tony. Chris and he were officially a couple. They didn't have to hide anymore.

"You bet," he said, already planning how they could celebrate.





CHAPTER TWELVE


TONY pushed the door to his apartment open, then stopped to look back at Chris.

"Um," he said. "Don't look at the living room. The rest of the place is less of a mess."

"Still working on those dining chairs?" Chris asked, recalling his last visit.

"Those are done. I've started on a sideboard. It might have to go to eBuy. It's a little big for my space."

As he stepped into the entry, Chris wondered how he could tell. Tony's place was stuffed with stuff all over.

"That's leaving," Tony said when Chris clipped his knee on a leather-strapped pirate's chest. "I'm Special Mailing it to a mundane in Oregon."


"You sell to Outsiders?"

"You can as long as you have a permit."

Tony slapped on the hall light and then the one in his bedroom. Plaid sheets clad his unmade bed, the pillows still dented from the last time he'd slept on them. True to his claim that there was less mess here, the worn old floorboards were mostly clear. Tony crossed them and flung a window open to let in the crisp night air. The breeze was cold but felt good.

Watching him do this felt very domestic.

"If you're hungry, I've got part of a chocolate cake my parents baked in the fridge." Tony was looking at him. Chris realized he was supposed to say something.

"You okay?" Tony asked. "You look kind of . . ." He pulled an aack face as he trailed away.

"I think everything is hitting me at once."

"You're out," Tony said with a little smile.

"I'm out," he agreed. "And you're alive, and I'm still my clan's beta."

"A good night, everything considered."

Chris wanted to be serious a moment longer. "Thank you for asking the dragons to save Jonah."

"I knew you'd want me to. I'm just glad they succeeded. Freda said she'd make sure Jonah sticks with the counseling."