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.
"Why are you all hogging my husband?" Apollo demanded, and instead of sitting on the bench beside Lachlan, he sat in his lap.
"Your husband?" Lachlan put an arm around him. "I don't remember you proposing?"
"Must have slipped my mind when I was railing you so hard, you were speaking in tongues," Apollo replied, causing uproar from his brothers.
"I would like to know more," Owain said.
Bridget held up a hand. "Me too."
"Not while I'm in earshot," Bas grabbed her hand and kissed it.
Apollo leaned forward and rested his arms on the table. "So, Val, have you decided if you are going to Faerie to see Caelan?"
"I want to, but they haven't given me a reply," Valentine said, his dark eyes showing a flicker of annoyance.
"Probably won't for a few days either," Owain replied and had another drink.
Valentine raised a dark brow. "And why is that?"
"Because Yelena has gone off on a mission with Avallach and a bunch of other fae. It's why she was sent home, not to be your pen pal," Owain replied. His eyes went wide. "Oh...that it...is, I mean..."
"Caelan is Yelena?" Apollo gasped, his smile lighting up.
Lachlan gave his leg a warning squeeze. Crimson threads were dancing around Valentine's hands.
"Why didn't anybody bother to tell me this?" Valentine asked in a low and dangerous voice.
Taranis must have sensed the change of magic in the air because he was suddenly behind Valentine, his hands coming down on his shoulders to hold him in the chair.
"Because you have been an ass to her since you met," he said, not letting Valentine go.
"She is the one who acted like I was going to become some dark sorcerer!"
"Only in the beginning, lad," Owain said with a shake of his head. "She was actually really curious about you, and Yelena doesn't get curious about anyone. I think you know what that's like. She knew you two started out on the wrong foot and didn't know how to get you to give her a chance."
Valentine's eyes flashed a brilliant crimson. "And she thought the best idea was to give me a fake name and start writing to me?"
