Apollo grinned at him. "No hug from you, Uncle Taran?"
"You can get a hug when you apologize for frightening everyone, shifting, and going on a rampage in another country," Taranis replied.
Apollo stuck out his bottom lip and looked so sad. "I'm sowwy."
Lachlan snorted. No way Taranis was going to fall for that act...annnnd he was hugging Apollo. He shouldn't have been surprised because he always got his own way with everyone.
My mate. The thought still struck him hard at unexpected times. His biggest fear had been losing Apollo to some mystical, magical mate. He'd had no clue it would be him. Apollo apologized a lot for not telling him, and Lachlan knew the reasons and fears that had stopped him, but it still made Lachlan feel like a…
"Hey, dumbass, you're staring into space."
"You're right. I have been a dumbass," Lachlan murmured before shaking himself.
Ciara was waving a hand in front of his face. "You okay? Or did Apollo fuck the last of your brain cells out?"
"He did, and I'm hungry," Lachlan replied with a bashful grin.
Ciara rolled her eyes. "I'm sure you are. Come on. Let's get some food into you, poor little hunter."
The boozy feast turned into a mating party, and Lachlan was hugged, scolded, and congratulated in turn. Both Lachlan and Apollo squeezed Layla for a long time.
"We couldn't have gotten through that so easily without your help, Lay Lay. You're the best cousin I could ever ask for," Lachlan said and kissed her forehead.
"Well, I couldn't leave you guys to do it on your own. Who knows what trouble you could get in without supervision?" Layla teased and pinched Apollo's chin. "And you can make it up to me by making me more of my face oil because I'm almost out."
"Deal! I'll even throw in some of my shampoo," Apollo promised and crossed his heart.
The prisoners they had rescued from the alchemists were recovering slowly, though it would be a long journey with plenty of therapy that Elise and Chrissy were organizing.
"Apollo has to have some too," Elise insisted, kissing the man in question on top of the head. He opened his mouth to argue, but Elise held up a hand. "No arguments. I'm a princess, you know."
"And I'm a queen, so you'll do as I say," Chrissy added.
Apollo pulled on one of her tiny black braids. "Don't use that tone on me."
"You're getting this therapy thing if I have to tie you down myself," Oberon said and put an arm around Chrissy and kissed her brown cheek. "My queen gets what she wants."
Chrissy grinned like a fiend. "Hell yeah, she does."
Lachlan finally made it to where Bas and Bridget were drinking with Valentine, Reeve, and Owain. The big dragon knight slapped Lachlan hard enough on the back to make his eyes water.
"I'm happy you finally sealed that deal. Well done, lad," he boomed. He pointed over at a beaming Apollo. "That right there is one satisfied-looking dragon."
Lachlan blushed. "Thanks."
"Ew, that's my brother," Bas said and pulled a face.
Bridget only winked at Lachlan and held out a fist. "Once you go dragon, am I right?"
Lachlan bumped his fist against hers and sat down beside her. Valentine was watching him with a curious grin. "Spit it out, Val."
"It's nothing. You just looked really relaxed for once," he replied, lifting his ale mug to his mouth.
Reeve rolled his eyes at Valentine. "Yeah, Lachie, it's weird that you're happy on your mating day."
"Your brother makes me really happy, and I'm going to do everything I can to keep him safe and make him happy too," Lachlan stammered a little, making the Greatdrakes boys grin in perfect unison.
"You really are so whipped," Bridget said, making them all laugh.
