His mate skidded to a stop beside them, holding out the rock for them to see. “Look,” Sawyer gasped.
“It’s lovely,” Dalinda said. “My mate has such a great talent.”
“He said you hadn’t seen this one yet. Can you believe it? He said I could have it.”
She smiled and Draco’s anger eased even further. “He rarely gifts his creations. You have been honored, my boy.”
“I know,” Sawyer gasped once more. “I’m going to figure out a great place for it. I’ll talk to Cecil. I want it in a place of honor, because oh my god, it’s so beautiful. Can Draco do this? Draco? Can you do this?”
Draco arched a brow at him.
“Yeah, probably not. You don’t have the patience. But that’s okay, you’re great at melting marshmallows and you know that’s more important to me.” Sawyer leaned into him, then turned wide eyes back to his parents. “I mean, I will treasure this but, oh goddess, I’m sorry.”
His mother’s bright, booming laugh quieted them all. “You remind me of Draco’s sister. Such a delight.”
Sawyer shrugged. “Well, I mean, I’m just me.”
“Indeed you are. Come, young man, let me show you the appropriate way to show my mate thanks. I don’t believe my son has shown you the proper ways to interact with dragons.”
Draco groaned and his father chuckled behind him.
“You got off easy that time, son,” Blaise said. “And you need to be sure to thank your father for his quick thinking.”
Draco looked across the yard to where Joash stood with Augustus. He nodded and his father smiled before returning his attention to the conversation with Eduard’s father.
“She’s terrifying,” Eduard gasped. “Absolutely wonderfully terrifying.”
Blaise chuckled before wrapping an arm around them both. “And that, boys, is the true power of being mated to a dragon. Have you not found it to be true yourself?”
Eduard glanced at Draco and nodded. “It’s intense. No one messes with us.”
“Exactly. And his mother is feeling antsy. Her son and his mates are in danger and she finds herself unable to simply resolve the problem by terrifying someone into submission.”
“She’s no delicate snowflake,” Draco grumbled.
“No, she is not.”
“I will find a home for you all,” Eduard said. “I’m sorry I caused—”
“No,” Blaise said gently. “You protect your mates by keeping any newcomers away for the time being. It is a good plan. Excellent tactics, Eduard.”
“Well, we have a lot of vampires to house, and I thought it would be a good idea to have them spread out in their down time. Not keep everyone grouped together. And, well, it just…”
“It’s smart. There is a human adage, keep your friends close, but your enemies closer.”
“Yes,” Eduard said. “I have heard it.”
“And if you are as wise as I think you are, you know that it is foolish.”
Eduard nodded. “Not in our world.”
Blaise tightened his hold on them both. “Keep your friends close, and slay your enemies before they get a chance to inflict harm on you and yours.”
Draco grinned and Eduard groaned. “That’s where you got your bloodthirstiness. And here I thought it was your mom.”
“Nope,” Draco said. He looked proudly at his father. “He’s a lot scarier than she is. Just don’t tell her that.”
Blaise laughed and his arm around Draco tightened. “Yes, please don’t. I worry what would become of me if it got out that she wasn’t the scariest of us all.”
