“Not really. Officially, I’ve absconded with Noel. The cops will be after me. My grandmother will insist on it. I have to make this work. Your parents have to like me.”
“No, I mean we have options here. We can make our home base on Perfume Isle, or Martinos and Cherry offered us a place on Smoking Isle. Our decision need not come right away. We have the luxury of time to make our choice. Maybe once your friend discovers what’s going on with your grandmother, we can return to Bamburgh. I’m sure we can help the dragons on Dragon Isle and earn a living too.”
“God,” Max said, relief pulsing through him at her reasonable tone and suggestions. “My past girlfriends would’ve had a tantrum by now. You’re so calm and logical.”
“Not always,” Sasha said, her tone dry. “Ask my family.”
Max grasped her hand and gave it a quick squeeze. “I can’t see it myself, but I’ll take your word for it.”
“Are you ready to go?” Blaze asked.
“No,” Max said.
Griffith laughed. “I don’t know what Sasha told you, but our parents are reasonable dragons. They won’t burn you at first sight. Second maybe.” His eyes twinkled with mirth, and Sasha slapped him on the arm.
“Knock it off. I know they can’t stop us being together because we’re mates, but their support means something to me. Would you rather have Bruceous as part of the family?” Sasha asked, her tone tart.
Noel tugged on Max’s shirt. “Can I ride with Blaze?”
“Not today, buddy. You need to grow bigger and stronger before you can ride on your own.”
“How?” Noel’s voice came close to a moan.
“You know those vegetables you refused to eat last night,” Sasha said.
“Yes.” Noel stared at Max and Sasha as he waited for an explanation.
“Eating your vegetables is the best way to stay strong,” she shared.
Griffith let out a guffaw, and Blaze joined in the hilarity.
“Stop laughing,” Sasha muttered. “A healthy diet is important to grow. Liza told Joanna the same thing last night.”
“Do you know who you sound like?” Blaze asked.
Griffith continued to chortle and shake his head.
Sasha groaned. “I sound like a parent. That’s because I am a parent. Max and I need to make sure Noel grows up with values and is hale and hearty. Laugh all you want, but I care for Max and for Noel. That means I act like a mature dragon.”
“I love you,” Max said, the words bursting from him.
Sasha grinned and threw herself at him. He kissed her, despite their audience. Like everything, Sasha gave the kiss her all, and they were both breathing hard when their lips parted.
“I wanna see,” Noel protested and peeled Griffith’s hands away from his eyes.
Blaze pulled a face. “Let’s fly, otherwise it will be late by the time we arrive. I wanted to give Max a tour of the estate and maybe take him to House of Ghan to meet Rafael.”
“Your other brother?” Max asked.
“Yes.” Sasha stepped away from him and started stripping while her brothers did the same.
Max crouched in front of Noel and fastened his jacket. He placed a warm hat on his brother’s head and wound a scarf around his neck. Max donned warm clothes too before scooping up the discarded ones and packing them in a fabric bag.
Soon, they were flying across the monastery land and over the sea beyond. The flight went way too fast for Max’s liking, and even though he was certain of Sasha, he stressed about her parents’ reaction to her mating with a human. Blaze and Griffith seemed to have accepted him already, but that didn’t stop trepidation from marching through Max and slapping around his confidence.
“How are you and Noel doing?”Sasha asked through their private channel.
“We’re good. It’s cold, but flying has Noel enthralled. He won’t want to travel any other way.”
