It occurred to Nate that perhaps Harry was right in his theory of Disgraces being every bit as much dragon as human. He felt pretty damn draconic at the thought of his home and family being in any danger.
“I’m not sure what to think. He’s the Topaz legal counsel and the same representative who witnessed Darwin’s hatching. And…”
“There’s more?” Nate exclaimed.
“They also brought an omega with them. He’s somehow involved with Geoffrey and the bronze lawyer. And…” Alistair trailed off again.
Nate shook his head. Maybe he’d fallen asleep with Malory in a patch of sunlight and this was all just a fever dream.
Malory helpfully nipped him on the ear. Nope. He was definitely awake.
“Ow! Yes, Malory, I understand that I’m not dreaming this batshit scenario. And I can say batshit all I want. I’m your parent. Alistair, what else could there possibly be beyond your brother taking up with a bronze dragon and his omega? I’m not even sure what that means, but no doubt it’s against some stupid dragon policy or another. Also, frankly, I’m surprised about the omega. Geoffrey just screams bottom and—”
Alistair choked. “He does what?”
“Bottom,” Nate repeated. “Your brother is a repressed-as-fuck bottom who’s just begging for a good dicking, so I suppose the bronze asshole dragon makes sense.”
“I don’t want to think about my brother and dicking. Ever.” Alistair turned pink. “And I know I’ve told you before that dragons… dick. They are not dicked, as you so charmingly put it.”
Nate was skeptical. “Ever? Seriously? This is the twenty-first century, Alistair. Are you seriously telling me that no dragon haseverthought, ‘Hey. For some reason that only Harry could explain, I have a prostate in human form. Maybe I should find out what being fucked with a huge dick feels like’? I refuse to believe that. Alphas have been getting fucked for millennia. People just don’t like talking about it. I mean, you liked it that one time I—”
“Ah, yes. Quite. But that’s not the point I was trying to make.” Alistair went from pink to dark scarlet.
“Then, sweetheart, just spit it out,” Nate said.
“The omega is your cousin,” Alistair said in a rush.
There was another squeal and honk and crash heard. Along their bond, Chaucer chortled in excited delight. That probably meant something was on fire.
“I think,” Alistair said, “I may need a drink.”
Nate blinked. He had a cousin?
More scratching and clicking on the hardwood floors was followed by the sound of breaking glass, shouting, and a baby dragon’s cries of,again again again!
“I think,” Nate said, “that I might need two.”
* * *
At first, Nate was too busy corralling dragons, omegas, whelps, nestlers, a pig, and a psychotic peacock to study his supposed cousin closely, let alone speak to him. The enclosed sun porch had the most seating capacity of any room in the house, plus it had a magnificent view of their very private back property. Nate shooed Olive, the peacock, and all the whelps except for Abelard out the door. Abelard stayed in Alistair’s sweater, napping. Nate was just about to sit down when the doorbell rang.
He groaned. “Who now?”
Alistair made to rise. “I’ll get it.”
“I’m already up.” Nate made a shooing motion with his hand. He stomped to his front door, which continued to ring like the person pressing the doorbell thought it might be broken. “What?” he snapped as he wrenched it open.
On his front porch were a hulking Sebastian, a very pretty Perry, and eight whelps in various shades of purple. The whelps were arranged in a line from largest to smallest. Nate was impressed and slightly alarmed. The whelps could be seen from the street, and therefore risked detection.
“Good afternoon to you, too,” Perry said with a twinkle. “Can we come in? I know this sounds terribly presumptuous, but Harry invited us.”
Sebastian rolled his eyes, looking put-upon. “This wasn’t my idea, that’s for sure.”
Perry poked Sebastian in his very flat belly. Nate was surprised Perry didn’t hurt his finger doing it. “Hush, darling. This is family. Hugh, Reynard, and Bertram send their regards, by the way. Hugh is off to Frisia—”
Nate gaped at Perry, then said, “Frisia?You mean the Netherlands?”
Perry blinked. “I do apologize. Yes. To me, it’ll always be Frisia, or Friesland, perhaps. It is so hard to give up the habits of one’s childhood, isn’t it? Since Sebastian found me there, Hugh has decided to find his own Friesian Disgrace. I wish him luck, poor dragon.”
