“Nothing, man. Just not looking forward to the Revel.”
“Why not? Who are you bringing?”
“Not going. I’m just gonna watch.” His mouth tugs down at the corners, exposing his lower canines.
“You like watching,” I remind him. It always takes him time to warm up in social situations, but sometimes he feels comfortable enough to join in once he watches for a while.
He shrugs. “Depends on the view.”
I slap him on the back. “Let’s make it a good one, then. What should I wear?”
Chapter 3
Zed
Fifteen years ago
On Saturday, I put on my rented, pale-blue tuxedo. It clashes with my red scales, but it’s Cari’s favorite color, so I hope she likes it.
I ignore Gabe’s advice about jerking off, though. I don’t need to nut to have clarity about Cari. She’s it for me. I even tell my mom that I think she might be one.
“A human?” she says, frowning. “She’s a nice girl. I’ve just never heard of a non-dragon alokoi. Plus, you’re a late shifter like your father. There’s nothing wrong with it, of course, but he didn’t find me until well into his thirties. Are you sure she has thatspecialsmell?”
“I don’t know! She smells good. Really good.”
“A lot of humans use scented body products. You could ask her to skip them for a week to get more of her natural aroma, just to be sure. Or lick her between the legs to get her scent from the source. She probably won’t mind.” My mom titters.
Steam rises from my nostrils. She’s so embarrassing sometimes. “I’m not asking her about her bathing habits! Or licking her anywhere! She’ll run away screaming!”
“Oh, she might scream, but I doubt she’d run away.” She smirks at me and then doubles over laughing when I glare back. “Come on now, Zedraak Glisson. You’re a fully grown dragon. I’m allowed to tease you a little.”
A growl is my only answer.
She pats me on the arm and straightens my pale-blue bowtie. “You look very fierce, darling. Be careful with your horns and everything will go well.”
But it doesn’t.
When I get to Cari’s house, corsage box clutched in my claws, her dad is waiting on the porch, arms crossed over his stained work shirt.
I clear my throat as I approach. “Good evening, Mr. Stark. I’m here to pick up Cari for the—”
“I don’t think so, Bubba,” he interrupts, stiff brown mustache bristling under his snub nose. Maybe I should have introduced myself first.
“Nice to finally meet you. My name’s Zed.” I hold out my free hand to shake like humans do when they greet each other, but he sneers at it. Did I misunderstand the custom?
“Your name’s Scram. Skedaddle. Shoo.”
“I thought it was Bubba,” I quip, my smart mouth getting the better of me.
His frown deepens. “I’ll have you know the cops are already on their way. Called ’em as soon as Caroline said a dragon was after her. Up to you whether they find you in one piece or several.”
“Dad! Stop!” Cari yelps from the doorway behind him. I can’t see her through his wide stance, but Radar bounds between her dad’s legs, down the steps, and leaps at me. I have no choice but to drop the corsage and catch him. “Zed’s notafter me. He’s just taking me to a dance. I said he was coming over, not coming to get me.”
Mr. Stark’s eyes narrow as he looks at me again, taking in the ruined flowers on the ground and my tux…not to mention thedog he despises in my arms, who clearly knows me well. “He’s after you one way or another. And either way, I don’t like it.”
“Don’t be such a grump, Dad,” Cari says, and nudges him aside. She takes one graceful step around him, and my brain liquifies.
Her curvy, petite frame is poured into a pale-blue dress that matches my suit. The thin straps holding it up look like they’re made of spiderwebs. Like one wrong flick of a claw and the whole thing might fall off.
