"We are going to be fine, Dad. Don't worry about it. Lachlan is doing the hunting and logistics things, Valentine is taking care of the magical espionage, and I will mix up something in case of emergency. I'm brewing a spray and some droppers to corrupt my DNA as we speak. We can handle it," Apollo reassured him.
"And what are you going to corrupt it with?" Cosimo asked because he couldn't help being a teacher as well as a father.
Apollo grinned. "Madame Alarie's Persian cat. You know the one that lives in the building across from us?"
"The one that pisses on everyone's balconies?" Cosimo asked, laughing loudly.
"The very one. I bribed it with some cheese and stole some of its fur."
Still laughing, Cosimo asked, "And how is Lachlan? He was quite inconsolable last time I saw him."
Apollo twisted a lock of his hair nervously. "He was?"
"You were kidnapped in front of him, Apollo. Of course he was."
"I didn't think he cared."
Cosimo snorted. "Don't be dense. That boy is so in love with you, he flew to Paris and rescued you against everyone's orders."
Apollo swallowed hard. "You think he's in love with me? Because I'm pretty sure he's a hump-them-and-dump-them kind of guy."
"Come now, we all know something is going on."
"Dad? He's... He's my mate," Apollo admitted. He hadn't told Cosimo what had happened on Midsummer.
"I know," his father replied. "How long have you known?"
"A while? Maybe a part of me knew when we first met? But definitely since Midsummer." Apollo pulled a pillow over his face. "I don't know what to do. The dragon is driving me crazy and doesn't understand human courtship at all. I may have also hooked up with Lachlan just a tiny bit this morning. I know he's not the kind of guy to mate for life like dragons, but maybe I can keep him just for a little bit?"
"Are you asking for my advice, or do you just want to talk it out?"
"Advise me, old man. That's your job as my parent."
Cosimo laughed softly. "Talk to him, and tell him how you feel."
"Okay, I'm going to need better advice than that."
"There is no better advice. Can I ask why you are hesitating at all? He's one of the best men I've ever met. He clearly would go to any length to protect you as well."
Apollo growled in frustration. "Because he's a big old man whore, that's why. I can't mate with him and have him decide in a month that I'm too much for him to handle full-time and dump me. He's human! He can just walk away."
Cosimo made a thoughtful sound. "I don't know about that. Bridget is fully human, and she got very possessive of Bas quickly. It was like some dragon instinct rubbed off on her."
"That's not all that..."
"Don't say it," Cosimo interrupted. "I'm being serious, Apollonius. The mating bond goes both ways and changes humans in small ways. I didn't notice such things with your mother, but the magic and my dragon weren't as strong as they are now. Want to hear my hypothesis?"
"Yes, professor," Apollo chimed.
"I think that the magic of the mating bond attaches itself to the human. It's like…a recognition. They can feel it, maybe notas intensely, but they are drawn to their partners right from the beginning. Bridget and Charlotte have confirmed that they felt something strong when meeting your brothers. Bridget said she thought it was her neurodiversity imprinting on Bas like a baby duck.
"Lachlan has been mooning over you, and your ridiculous games of cock blocking each other over the years prove that you both are possessive of each other. This is why you need to talk to him, son. You might be surprised by his answer."
Apollo pushed the pillow off his face again. "Or he might be like, 'I'd like to fuck you, but I'm not going to settle down.' I don't think my dragon or my ego could handle that kind of rejection."
"Fine. Don't tell him." Cosmio clicked his tongue in irritation. "But what makes you think you will be able to hook up with him and let him go afterward? Maybe think about that before you let things go any further."
Apollo hung up a short time later and stared at the fancy moldings and chandelier above him. Could he walk away from Lachlan? Even now? He hadn't had any dates for gods knew how long and couldn't handle the thought of anyone else touching him.
