Aurum yawned as he sprawled on the table. "Did somebody die?"
Jade pushed up his glasses and gazed around the room with keen emerald eyes. "Clearly not. We're all accounted for."
"Then why'd you wake me up from my nap?" Aurum grumbled.
I leaned back in my chair, crossing my arms. "Because your twin has a grand announcement to make."
Aurum and Saffron were physically identical except for the shade of their hair. Aurum's matched his name, gleaming with a golden hue, while Saffron's hair was the color of sunshine.
Aurum heard the snark in my voice and raised a brow. "Hey, his opinions have nothing to do with me. Unless they're good opinions."
Saffron smirked. "It's good, bro. Trust me."
The two shared an elaborate fist-bump.
I groaned. "The sooner we finish discussing this matter, the better."
Jade heard my disgruntled tone, too. He smirked at me over the horned rims of his glasses. "That bad, is it?"
"Awful," I muttered, ignoring Saffron's glare.
Jade chuckled. "I'm curious to hear what has you in such a sour mood."
"I'm glad my misery entertains you."
Thystle sighed in frustration, cutting us off. "Can we get on with this? Unlike some of you, I'm busy. Not all of us spend all day napping," he snapped, looking at Aurum.
Aurum smiled pleasantly, ignoring the bait. "Yeah, let's get on with it before Thystle has an aneurysm."
Thystle glared like hewasabout to have an aneurysm.
"Cobalt, please," I said. "For the love of Holy Drake, tell us why we're here."
Everyone quieted down. When Cobalt spoke, we listened—unlike with some of our other brothers. With his large form and stoic vibe, he had a powerful presence, like the pull of gravity.
"Earlier today, Saffron proposed a strange idea," Cobalt began.
I sat straighter in my chair, preparing to smirk in Saffron's direction.Strangewas definitely how I'd describe it.
"But before I relay it, I'd like to remind everyone of one critical fact," Cobalt said. "None of us have mates."
An uncomfortable silence fell across the hall. Saffron and Aurum fidgeted in their seats. Jade sighed. Thystle frowned so hard I was surprised his face didn't fall off. Meanwhile, I rolled my eyes. I already knew what Cobalt was going to say, and it wouldn't help our plight at all.
The only one who didn't react was Viol. Unmoving and unblinking, he watched Cobalt with the same intensity he applied to everything. He was so still that the black-purple iridescent sheen in his hair didn't shimmer as it usually did.
Viol was my beloved brother, but gods, he was unnerving.
"This can't go on," Cobalt said. "It's bad enough that humans don't believe in dragons, but now shifters are losing faith in us."
Aurum snorted, kicking his boots up on the table. "Who cares? They're just jealoustheyaren't dragons."
For once, I was inclined to side with him. Dragons were a special breed, after all.
"Are you stupid or something?" Thystle shot at him. "We're literally related to all shifters, dragon or not. Don't shit-talk them."
Aurum smiled fake-sweetly at him. "How are you the most inclusive dragon in the world, and yet still the biggest asshole?"
The gold dragons and Thystle glared at each other.
