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Had I realized most of the test would be ethical questions designed to determine if someone had the appropriate morality to be deemed suitable for life in Dragon Heights, I would have taken the test long ago. The knowledge portion of the test had been easy enough.
Being a book dragon with a studying habit had something to do with that. My time working as a cop had helped, too.
“Kinsley,” the test administrator called.
I got up, grabbed my backpack, and headed over. I passed the others testing in, a group of twenty-five all fleeing their old life for some reason or another. I wondered how many would fail the morality test.
New starts burdened with hard challenges often put morality to the side for the sake of survival.
I’d been one of the lucky ones.
The administrator led me into one of the hotel’s conference rooms, a small one meant for a group no larger than ten to fifteen. “You can have a seat.”
I picked the chair closest to me, set my bag down, and sat, thumping onto the cushion. “Thank you.”
Being polite wouldn’t change anything. If I failed, I’d play my parents as my final card, gain access to equality that way, and suffer through being bitter over the whole thing for years to come.
“You passed.”
I allowed myself a satisfied smile. “Thank you.”
“What are your plans for work in Dragon Heights?”
“Forensic accounting,” I announced, unable to keep the pride out of my voice. “I’ll also work as a private investigator. I already have my license for that; the police force has been disclosed on my past history. I’ll contract with local law enforcement for the accounting work as part of my PI business.”
The man blinked. “Most people spend a few minutes mulling over their answer.”
“I’m not most people, I guess. I’ve known what I’ve wanted to do in Dragon Heights since deciding I would test in. Some parts of my plan have changed. I was going to start off as a secretary before moving into something like forensic accounting. Most of it hasn’t. Contract work is hard, but it’s no harder than Friday bounty hauls. I’m not worried about that. Erik is prepared to deal with me freeloading if I need to.”
“Ah, yes. You’re in a relationship with someone here.”
I raised a brow at his disapproving tone. “Don’t let any of the Millsons hear you complain about that. If you want to piss off a dragon, you upset their hatchling. Personally, I don’t care what you think of me, but those yellows don’t take kindly to people screwing around with people they view to be part of their family. As I’m marrying into the family and you’re not, you’re not going to be winning that fight. So, I recommend packing the disapproval and hiding it under your dirty laundry. I’ve heard about what Mrs. Millson does to people who bother those in her family, and it’s a bloody mess. I’m very glad I didn’t see it, frankly.”
I’d found out it had taken over a week for the blood and gore to be cleaned out of Death Mile.
She’d spread the mercury dragon’s remains a rather startling distance before she’d finished with him.
“I see you are not shy.”
I shrugged. “I’m a hatchling. I’m testing in because I want to, not because I need to. You could fail me right now, and it wouldn’t change anything for me. I just like proving I can make it on my own. If I let every crabby dragon who crossed my path bully me, I’d never get anything done.”
The test administrator chuckled at that. “Good. Normally, we have those who pass select a familial name for themselves, but as you’re marrying into the Millson family, you can opt to continue without a family name should you please.”
With a wicked smile, I replied, “How about Ramons? If I have to put up with them, they might as well be useful.”
With a howl of laughter, the gold dragon fled into the hallway, where he was reduced to roaring his mirth. Once he regained his composure, he returned to the room. “I’m so sorry about that, but most who have to put up with those two try to run for the hills, not steal their last name and encourage them.”
“They’re babysitting Garnet and Tourmaline right now. I have the best protected little ones in the entire city.”
“That you do. As there are no rules barring you from doing just that, you can if you’d like.”
“I would like.” I wouldn’t have to change anything at all for tax purposes, which suited me just fine. “Thank you.”
“Then I’ll get to work processing the name addition. It’ll take about twenty minutes to file. I am aware you have a familiar and a carbunclo. Who else lives in your household?”
“A yellow dragon and his carbunclo.”
“There’s a yellow dragon with a carbunclo?” The gold dragon narrowed his eyes. “When did another carbunclo come into Dragon Heights?”