"And just like that," Rymar said, "all my problems have been handled. That means I can work out the details later."
"And sleep, too?" I asked. "I know Drozel and Lessa get silly when they don't sleep enough. I'll make sure you have food, then you can use my room if you'd like?"
Rymar gave me a sweet - and proud - smile. "Thank you, Meri, but I'm good. I'm going to make your girlfriend let me use hers." He jerked his chin at Drozel. "No offense or anything, but my house is empty, and I won't get any sleep there."
"Anything you need," Drozel said, pushing to his feet. "Jerlis, when will Meri be official?"
"In about five minutes, why?"
Drozel beamed down at me in a way that made my stomach flip. "Because my little friend is a Dragon. I think having her announce that over the meal my partner's working on might inspire my... captive."
"Better make sure that's his kink first," Rymar joked.
"What's a kink?" I asked.
"Nothing," Drozel said quickly. "Meri, that's a question for Lessa, and I'll chop off Rymar's tail if he keeps talking about it."
Chuckling at the joke I clearly didn't understand, Rymar stood. I did as well, getting the feeling we were done here and about to leave, but Jerlis lifted a finger.
"I just have one question, Drozel. Where's your Mole's gun?"
"My closet," Drozel said. "Well, a few of them. We've been using them for training. Why?"
"Because they always have guns," Jerlis said. "I want to make sure he isn't playing the long game and going to turn on us when we least expect it. I may be hopeful, but I'm not stupid."
"No, it's secure," Drozel promised. "Meri doesn't even know where they are. Ommy likes to keep things locked up, so we're safe."
"Good." And Jerlis flicked his hand. "Meri, don't rush to pick a sign. It'll be with you for the rest of your life. Think about it, because you deserve a good one."
"I have some ideas," I admitted, "but thank you."
"C'mon, little Dragon," Drozel said, curling his arm around my back as he turned me to the door. "Keep up, Rymar. I'm babysitting you tonight too."
"One second," Rymar said, lagging behind.
But Drozel kept me walking at his side.Rightat his side. I could feel his waist against my arm, and his arm was wrapped around me. Barely, but I was still aware of it.
It was a simple gesture, and a casual one, but the touch made me hyper-aware of every spot where his skin brushed against mine. For so long, I'd dreamed of a husband who'd want to touch me like this. I'd thought it would be Gideon, but I'd been wrong.
Instead, my "enemy" did it. Drozel, Omden, and definitely Lessa. They held me without even realizing it. They caressed and cuddled. They acted like all these little bits of contact were good things, and it made me want to lean into them. To ask for more. To close my eyes and pretend I finally had the big strong man I'd thought would make my life perfect.
"Meri?" Drozel asked, pausing outside the mayor's office. "You okay? You just got quiet."
"No, I'm fine," I hurried to assure him, all too aware he'd pulled away. "I just..." And I waved it off. "It's silly."
"What?" he begged.
"I used to daydream about my future," I admitted. "I thought I'd find the right man, be a good wife, and it would get me what I wanted. It didn't. Coming here did, and the mayor just said it's permanent."
"Yeah," Drozel said, opening his arms so I could step in for a hug. "You, little sparrow, are a real Dragon now."
I took the invitation, wrapping my arms around his thick, solid waist and pressing my face against his massively broad chest. "Like a dream come true," I whispered as his arms closed around my back in the perfect hug.
But this dream wasn't one I'd known I wanted. It was more like the stepping stone for all the rest. For finding myself. For finally being able to be happy - and I was. These people made me so happy. That was what made it easy to fight for them, even if the only fighting I could do was with my words.
Seventy
Meri
