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Hell, I would sleep well after such a long day. “Thank you.”
“Such a polite girl,” my mother cooed. “Phillip, be a dear and inform those worth informing that we are tormenting this girl. I believe we shall stay for a week or so.”
“I’ll spread the word,” the titanium dragon promised. “That’s our cue to leave, Cedrick.”
“Good luck,” the dragon-kin mouthed my way.
If only he knew. I escorted them to the door, promised the pair I had decent chances of survival, and waited until I closed the door to heave a sigh. Using the peep hole, I observed the pair head to the street, where Phillip transformed into a large dragon with a bulky body, leathery wings, stocky chest, long neck, and serpentine tail, crouching enough his son could climb onto his back before flying away. “What are you two up to?”
My parents laughed at me, and my father came over, hugged me, and kissed my cheek. “We have a reputation of being nasty old dragons here. The other dragons will step lightly around you, especially when you start poking your nose where it doesn’t belong. We’re helping.”
“You’re making sure every dragon in this city knows I have the misfortune of knowing you.”
My mother snickered, came over, and dragged me back into my living room. “And everyone will believe we’re making sure you are a suitable caretaker for Garnet. Obviously, you are. They’re blind old dolts, and they aren’t bright enough to realize you’re a beautiful version of your father. They think you’re just a human. That little dragon-kin is a good friend, though. He’s quite concerned you might not survive exposure to us.”
“Well, most dragon-kin are just humans stuck with dragons for parents,” I reminded her. “There isn’t a whole lot that separates us. Cedrick is pretty durable for a dragon-kin, and he’ll be tough once he becomes a dragon.”
“I will be encouraging him to petition,” my mother announced. “I am concerned about the pilgrims, however. While I have some suspicions, proof is a problem.”
“Proof is always a problem,” my father stated, and he went through his suitcase, opened it, and pulled out a box wrapped in blue paper. “This is from Erik. It’s a pair of handcuffs, and he intends on using them on you at the earliest opportunity.”
I raised a brow at that. While handcuffs had been used in our bedroom activities, he didn’t tend to announce that to anyone. “Really, Dad?”
“Okay, it’s not handcuffs. It is from Erik, however. He gave it to us for your birthday in case you showed up.”
Damn it. The last thing I needed was another reason to miss Erik. A worry involving the brothel women stirred. “Is Erik a yellow dragon?”
“No, but he’s from a family of yellows,” my mother said. “He’s a dragon-kin like you, a purebred yellow for seven generations. Beyond that, he’s almost as much of a mutt as you are, although he’s missing a few of the troublesome colors. He hasn’t mentioned his heritage for the same reason you haven’t mentioned yours. To say the least, he was quite surprised when we greeted him as dragons. His mother was so alarmed she shifted and guarded her little baby. It was adorable. And hilarious. She didn’t speak to me for a few weeks. Then she realized I was out to marry him to my daughter. She found that math much to her liking. His father laughed himself hoarse, and then your father went with him for drinks.”
I would have to apologize to Erik.
It was one thing to make a break for it to save his career.
It was another to subject him to my parents at their worst.
I took the box, sat on the floor near Garnet, and checked on the kitten, who admired her collection of stones. I picked up her smoky quartz cluster, placed it in front of her, and patted her. “Just be careful with it, okay?”
Garnet purred, wrapped her paws around the crystal, and snuggled with it.
I took my time opening the box, cracking it open to discover a sea of red, orange, and blue glitter. I narrowed my eyes. Somehow, the bastard would pay. He dared to subject me to glitter? Worse, he did so in my parents’ draconic colors?
I got up, careful to keep from spilling the box, and placed it on the table. “He pays for this,” I announced. “I am keeping this abomination, and should he come into my territory, I will fling this upon his person. That might begin to pay him back for this.”
“Maybe we should have warned him the glitter was a bad idea,” my mother muttered.
“I did warn him. I explicitly told him, repeating myself several times, that glitter of any color was a horrible idea. I think he misinterpreted my warnings as encouragement, my love.”
My mother heaved a sigh, transformed her hand into a dragon’s paw, and dipped two of her claws inside, plucking out another box wrapped in shiny paper. I gave Erik credit: the paper repelled the glitter, resulting in very little escaping onto my table.
I accepted the next gift, which was the size of a jewelry box, and worried about what was held within.
I’d returned the ring he’d given me, as proper, and I’d cried for weeks over my decision to leave. I hadn’t seen a choice then.
“Before you worry, it’s not the ring,” my father informed me in a gentle voice. “He carries that around with him. He fully intends on following you around until you take it—and him—back again. You do take after your mother, though. You simply have to be as difficult as possible.”
“I’d argue, but he’s absolutely right. I enjoy being difficult. That’s his fault. He taught me if I run, he will chase me—and should he chase me, he will make me like the whole being caught part of things. He’s clever like that. You should be thankful your father took the time to explain to Erik that you were born to be difficult. Your father may be responsible for any chasing of your person that might happen once Erik does catch up with you. I recommend you run at least a little. It’s more fun that way.”
“Mother, this isn’t supposed to be fun.”