As I relaxedon the leather couch in the downstairs living room, Crimson approached me. He wore a grave expression, as if about to deliver horrific news.
“Jade,” he said somberly. “I have to tell you something.”
I raised a brow. Despite his solemn tone, there was no urgency about him whatsoever. I had a feeling whatever he was about to say wasn’t actually serious.
Nevertheless, I’d play along. I set aside my book and replied, “Yes, Crimson?”
Crimson closed his eyes and let out a deep sigh. He struggled to get the words out. “Your clothes... are absolutely covered in cat hair,” he croaked, almost breaking into a sob.
Alaric groaned in my lap. He was currently curled around our egg, keeping it safe and warm. It was due to hatch any day now. Underneath my mate and egg was Taylor’s quilt. Alaric had barely let it out of his sight since Taylor gave it to him.
“For gods’ sake,” Alaric complained. “We cannot have this many drama kings in the family.”
Oh, this was going to be fun. I leaned back and watched in silent amusement as the scene unfolded.
“I’m not being dramatic,” Crimson argued, putting a hand to his chest. “Do you know how difficult it is to remove cat hair from a wool jacket?”
Alaric flattened his ears and flicked his tail irritably. “All right, lizard. What do you suggest? Shaving off all my fur?”
“No, but...” Crimson pulled a lint roller out of his back pocket and flashed Jade a pleading glance. “Maybe you’ll consider taking this with you.”
Alaric glared viciously at the lint roller. “Do not take that thing, Jade.”
“Why?” Crimson cried. “It’s for the sake of keeping his clothes clean. It’s no moral judgment about you, Alaric. It’s just that—”
Alaric lashed his tail. “It’s just thatwhat?”
Suddenly, Crimson was at a loss for words. “Erm...”
Before my brother could salvage his crumbling campaign, Alaric yowled, “TAYLOR!”
The tiger shifter strolled in nonchalantly from the kitchen. Ruby followed at his heels. The little striped dragonet was already surprisingly mobile. Soon he’d start talking, and the real fun would begin.
“No, no, no,” Crimson muttered under his breath. “Please, don’t—”
Unfortunately for my brother, his fruitless begging didn’t escape Taylor’s sharp ears.
“Don’t what?” Taylor asked with a suspicious grunt. Turning to my mate with a slightly softer expression, he asked, “What’s wrong, Alaric?”
Alaric stuck out his chin. “Youralphais offending me.”
“Big news,” Taylor said, deadpan. “What’d he do this time?”
“I didn’t do anything!” Crimson insisted. “I merelysuggestedthat—”
Alaric interrupted him. “First of all, I’m not done speaking. Second, your uncouth comments about my fur won’t go unpunished.”
When Taylor raised an interrogating brow at his mate, Crimson scoffed.
“It wasn’t about the fur on his pelt, but the fur he leaves behind,” Crimson argued. “You understand, don’t you?”
Taylor’s brow inched higher. “Understand what, my love?” he asked in a warning tone.
I withheld a smirk so as not to betray my amusement. I was having far too much fun watching this.
Crimson cleared his throat nervously. “Well, it’s a known fact that... er...”
“Spit it out,” Alaric demanded.
