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My father, arguably the more sensible of my parents, handed over a ring with numerous keys, including three pairs of car fobs. I eyed the driveway, wondering how we’d fit four vehicles in a space designed for two.
Why had I felt it was a wise idea to leave my parents unattended? “What did you do, Dad?”
“We were bored, so we went shopping.”
“For cars?”
“We were really bored.”
“And you left the Bentley outside?”
Erik laughed, came over, and investigated the keys in my hands. He pointed at one set. “That brand specializes in modern versions of classic cars.”
On second thought, I would permit my parents to live despite their poor judgment on how the Bentley should be stored. I pulled off one of each fob and handed them over to Erik before separating out one of each other key, offering them. “How do we get into the garage?”
“There is a clicker in each of the vehicles.” My mother bounced to the Bentley, opened the door, reached inside, and pressed something on the dashboard.
The garage opened, revealing a ramp leading down.
Well, that would solve the problem of where to park the cars. I pointed at the Bentley. “You should remove your clothes and take her to a safe haven while I drive the old dragons away.”
“No.” Erik raised a brow, pulled out his keys, and went to his car. “I’ll move her into the garage, though.”
I pouted. “But what if I want you to remove your clothes?”
“Maybe later.”
I wrinkled my nose at his refusal, waited for him to get the engine started, and listened to the car’s growl. She should have purred, but I understood the poor baby still needed work and love to get into good operating condition. Erik eased her down the ramp, and I followed after him with my parents.
“I thought it took weeks for concrete to cure enough to drive on,” I commented while easing my way down the ramp, which was angled enough I worried about the Bentley stalling when we tried to get her out.
“Magic,” my mother replied, and she patted my shoulder. “Do relax, Kinsley. It’s a tradition. Doting dragons give their offspring a home to help their hatchlings start their new lives. Erik’s family helped with the work. And they fronted a lot of it so only the observant will realize you’re our hatchling. Of course, firing a shot across our bow with just reclaiming your last name after testing was bold. Clearly, we’re going to have to shadow you because of that stunt and publicly profess admiration over your boldness. Then everyone will assume we’re adopting you anyway.”
“And the idiots will continue to refuse to acknowledge how beautiful I would be if only I’d been born a girl,” my father said, and he snickered.
Peridot jumped off his shoulder, transformed into his wisp form, and bobbed around Garnet, who squeaked before joining the other kitten. They chased each other while we headed into the dimly lit garage.
“So, Peridot decided to sleep on your foot, and that was it, Dad?”
“Yep. At that point, he was mine. I may have given a single territorial growl to indicate this little one is my child now.”
“He’s suffering severely from empty nest syndrome,” my mother informed me. “Now that you’re properly settled, we’ll discuss another singlet. We will not be having a clutch. I will use every scrap of magic at my disposal to secure a singlet.”
My father pouted.
“If you have two of me at once, you might not survive, Dad,” I reminded him.
“But the chaos two of you would bring forth into the world. It would be marvelous.”
I rolled my eyes and continued down the ramp, which curved and opened into a parking lot sufficient for at least fifteen vehicles. Erik parked the Bentley beside a modernized Lamborghini. I whistled at the cherry red beauty, grateful the modernized versions came with sane repair bills as long as we kept her off the track and drove her sensibly. “Which one of you bastards did that?”
My mother giggled and raised her hand. “It’s a two seater, and when you and Erik go on your honeymoon, we are volunteering to watch over your household while you’re gone. We have plans to take the kittens rock hunting in the mountains. They’ll have a great time, and they won’t feel punished while you’re sharing some quality time with your new husband.”
“Erik gets a chance to do his gaudy proposal first, Mom.”
“But when he finally executes his gaudy proposal, your getaway vehicle will be ready to go.”
Hm. “Erik, that’s our honeymoon getaway vehicle, apparently.”