Ottis scooped her up, lifting her to eye level. “Hon. You’re not supposed to go digging everywhere in Doc’s backyard,” he chided gently. “That grass wasn’t for digging!”
“Well, I guess it is now,” Doc said, lifting a shoulder.
“I’m sorry anyway,” Ottis mumbled.
Doc leaned in and gave him a quick nuzzle, the lace catching between their faces.
When Marcie wriggled again, Ottis set her back on the ground. She shifted back into a human baby and crawled over to Doc, reaching out to him with a handful of dirt.
Ottis could’ve melted. Doc sucked in a slow breath. When he opened his hand, palm facing up, Marcie dropped her handful of dirt into his hand.
“That is too adorable,” Ottis said, clutching his chest.
“Thank you, little one,” Doc murmured, closing his hand over the dirt.
Marcie picked up another handful and offered it to him. Doc accepted it with his dirt-filled hand; Marcie gave him more. This kept going on, until dirt piled up and trickled between Doc’s fingers onto his knee. Neither of them stopped Marcie, though. She was having too much fun.
Ottis looked at the hole-covered ground and sighed. “Your gardener is going to be so mad at me.”
“Nah. I’ve known him for a while. He’ll appreciate a challenge.”
“All of my previous alphas would’ve beaten me for something like this. I would’ve hit them back, but then I would’ve had to pack up and run immediately.”
Doc narrowed his eyes, his shoulders growing stiff. “Well, that won’t be the case here. Your other alphas were all pieces of shit.”
“They were.” Ottis sighed. “I wish I could’ve gone back in time and told my past self to choose more wisely, but maybe then I wouldn’t have ended up here.”
“Who knows? At least you’re not with them now.” Doc brushed off his hands and pulled Ottis into a hug.
“I mean... There’s still Sevrian.”
Doc growled. “There’s that. I’ve been wondering if he’s linked to that attack the other day.”
Ottis stiffened. “What if he is?”
“I’ve got this place secured with spells.” Doc sighed. “But...”
“But spells can still be broken, if someone knew how.” Ottis’ stomach sank like a rock. “And it’s going to destroy your lair.”
25
RESTING BEACH FACE
The second thosewords left his mouth, Ottis regretted it.
Stupid!he told himself.Now he’s going to throw us out.
Or maybe he would just throw Ottis out, since Marcie was also a dragonet and maybe Doc wanted her for himself.
No, Doc wouldn’t do that to them. But...
Large hands grasped his shoulders, squeezing him lightly. “Sweetheart.” Doc looked deep into his eyes. “Everything is going to be fine.”
“You can’t just say that! You can’t promise things like that,” Ottis said, his shoulders sagging. “Sevrian hates me. What if he brings enough firepower to level your mansion? What if he hurts you and all your friends? What if—”
Doc’s masked face drew closer and closer. Red fabric moved.
Soft lips pressed against his.
