Possibly three. I have to find Orion so he can watch the babies.
“He’s not a dragon.”
“Well, thanks for letting me know, Mom. I would never have figured it out without your help.” Evander might not be a dragon, but Corbin was half of one. While his power to grow things came from his mother’s side, his ability to grow things at will— that was his dad.
The scent of hyacinths filled the air, his window boxes responding immediately along with the honeysuckle that began to climb the walls, searching out chinks to cling to.
“Control yourself, son.”
Oh, she did not just say that. “Let me remind you, Mother, that this is my house, my home, and I am the guardian here.” She might be royalty where she was from in her own realm, but here, he and his brothers were the final and only line of defense.
Her nose wrinkled. “I should have never allowed you to leave the Land of Summer.”
“That was never an option for you. If you remember correctly, none of us asked permission. Nor did we need it. Of all of the beings that I have met in this world that weren’t pure evil, you are the only one who isn’t proud of us. I wonder what that means…”
Her hand shot out, and she slapped him across the face. The action was fierce and stinging, leaving a line of fire, but he refused to look away.
“Enough.” That sound was a roar, and it shook the very foundations of the house, but it wasn’t a dragon sound.
It wasn’t a unicorn sound.
That sound was Evander who stood there, peach fuzz covering his face, huge horns crowning his head, his eyes blazing.
It was the single most glorious thing Corbin had ever seen in his entire life.
Mother stood, seeming to grow six inches taller. “You do not have my permission to mate my son.”
“I didn’t ask. He is fully grown and utterly within his rights to consent. I am not your minion, lady, and my place is as equal as yours. My domain is as powerful.”
Okay, that’s incredibly hot.Cosmo stood at the door with his brother.Like, whoa.
Completely. You can totally have him. But he’s welcome. You’re not allowed to leave, though, and go to his realm forever. Fair?
Of course, it’s fair. We’re going to be here, amazingly happy. But we’ve got to get Mother out of here before somebody eats her. Me. I’m that somebody.He felt his dragon self trying to take over, his teeth snapping.
“I will not allow it.”
It was Cosmo who stepped in between them. “Hey, guys. Mom. You don’t get to pick. It sucks to be you, but you gotto choose a dragon. You did your thing. You don’t get to say whether or not Evander and Corbin do the deed. So be nice. Otherwise, when they have babies, you’re never going to get to see them, and that would suck.”
“You approve of this?” she demanded. “Both of you?”
“Well, it doesn’t really matter if we approve of it or not, Mom.” Cullen shrugged, little question marks exploding around him. “I mean, seriously. Corbin gets to pick his mate, that’s how this works. You choose your mate; your mom doesn’t choose him for you. Maybe that happens in the fae world; we don’t know because we’re kind of on the outside of it. It’s been a while, but you know I have a unicorn.”
“I have a dragon. A big old dragon. And all the kids have met Evander. He saved Tisi. Saved him!”
“And regardless, I love him, and I choose him. You don’t have to approve.”
Corbin could feel little tingles of magic beginning to build inside of her, and he tilted his head because this wasn’t her place. This was their place, their home, their lives. Their families. And he was not going to allow this nonsense to?—
Evander held up one hand, and there were claws on the end. Just little ones. “No.”
Then suddenly she was gone. She hadn’t gone far. The window was open. He could see her out in the sunlight screaming her full head off, but she wasn’t in here.
And she won’t be until you choose it, mate.
Thank you.He couldn’t believe Evander had just done that. Not because he was offended or anything, but because he hadn’t known that Evander was that powerful. And wow, just wholeheartedly wow.
You’re very welcome, and I’m sorry. She does not care for me, and that makes her unhappy with you. Our two factions among the Seelie Court are considered diametrically opposed.The Flower Mound people consider us barbaric.Evander smiled just slightly, his horns shrinking down a little.But this way she has the opportunity to miss you. And remember that she is not the only voice this world needs to hear.
