As my Dragons were seen to, I spoke to the crowd still gathered at the gates. “And to you, people of Renris, I give my heartfelt thanks for that spectacular greeting. This is the first time most of these Dragons have visited our city, and you have made them feel more welcome than I could have. Special treats will be distributed here, at the castle gates, tonight at eight o'clock with my gratitude.”
Mossemas, off to my left, directing servants, spun to stare at me with wide eyes. It was awful of me to add to his work, but I couldn't help grinning at him. He sighed and bowed, all while the people of Renris cheered. Yes, he'd be getting a pay increase.
I left Mossemas to his work and motioned my parents, Ellas, and Aras into the keep. “Let's get out of the way.”
As we strode through the castle, my mother made appreciative sounds. My father and Ellas just lifted their brows, but for them, it was akin to gasps of awe.
“I'll give you a tour later,” I said. “I've had the staff prepare rooms in the royal apartments for the three of you.”
“Oooh I get to stay with the King?” Ellas teased. “Wait until all your beautiful courtesans hear how important I am. I'm going to be knee-deep in pussy—” he drew the word out when he saw my mother's lifted brow, making it into, “—willows.”
“You'll be knee-deep in pussy willows?” Aras asked.
My mother just shook her head.
“It was all I could think of,” Ellas whispered to my mate. In a normal volume, he added, “I should tell you about all the pussy willow adventures I had with Lyran back when we were young.”
“Lyran?” Aras looked at me. “Is that what your friends call you?”
“Yes,” I said.
“You don't let him call you Lyran?” Ellas grimaced at me.
“I call him Ly,” Aras said.
Ellas hooted. “Now, that's even better. Suits him. There was this one time when we went camping—”
“Do try to show me a measure of respect in front of my lover,” I drawled, cutting Ellas off. “He's going to think I'm a barbarian.”
My best friend burst out laughing, then smacked Aras on the shoulder. “You know exactly who he is, don't you, Hulfrin?”
I looked over and met Aras's stare.
He grinned, or smirked, rather, and said, “I do. And I count myself lucky for it.”
“Aw, fuck,” Ellas groaned. “Romance. Goddess save me.”
“One day you will have to deal with it whether you like it or not.” I teased him, then realized how close I'd come to revealing who Aras was. I sped up, leaving Aras and Ellas behind.
Ellas went on as if he hadn't noticed. “If the Goddess is kind—which we all know is only about twenty-five percent of the time—she'll wait another few centuries before sending me my mate.”
“You don't want a mate?” Aras asked, a strange note in his voice.
Oh, fuck. No, don't start talking about mates.
“Oh, I do,” Ellas said. “Or I will, rather. I'm sure. When she arrives. But for now, I'm having too much fun looking for her.”
I glanced back just in time to see Ellas wink at Aras.
Aras, of course, was baffled.
“He doesn't know about all of that,” I said.
Ellas lifted his brows, then a look of comprehension came over him. “Oh. Right. Well, you see, the easiest way for a Dragon to find their mate is through sex. Our beasts are roused when we get aroused and it's through them that the mating bond comes. So, most of us go around screwing everyone we find attractive in the hopes that they're our mate.”
“And, uh.” Aras cleared his throat. “Do you know immediately?”
I shot Ellas a warning look.
