“I like to try,” Jules replied between bites, “but Moira thinks cooking is beneath me.”
“Beneath you?” Moira grew stranger and stranger with each telling of her antics. However, dragon guardians were usually beta warriors. Of course, she’d think cooking beneath an omega from a royal house.
A flash of alarm flickered across Jules’s face. “I mean, she likes to take care of everyone. Wants to do all the cooking.”
Elouan had also been told countless times that certain tasks were beneath him. He’d never paid much attention, taking royal privileges as his due. But what made him better than anyone else who had to feed themselves to survive? Father certainly hadn’t balked at menial tasks.
Another item on Elouan’s to-do list. He’d learn to cook after mastering being nicer to Curtis and working harder to be a better friend, even after he’d moved out. Living six miles away couldn’t end their friendship. Seeing Jules’s brilliant smile as often as possible was the first item on the list, however.
The roast beef sandwiches weren’t anything extraordinary, but the potato salad more than made up for any lack. They rounded off their meal with chocolate chip cookies.
Jules patted his stomach. “That was delicious. Chocolate chip is my favorite.”
“Mine too.” Elouan missed the apple pastries the cook back home used to make, but the cookies were exceptional. A fullstomach and a warm day made Elouan lazy. If in dragon form, he’d sun himself. He leaned back against a tree, more content than he’d been in a long time, quietly watching Jules. Would he give anything away? Seeing him here, Elouan could almost put his suspicions aside, believe Jules to be purely human.
Jules settled on the blanket with his violin. He played a few ditties before launching into the Game of Thrones theme song.
Jules didn’t play like an amateur, eyes closed, face rapturous as he lost himself in the music. His fingers danced over the strings, every movement precise. While Elouan didn’t know many violinists, he’d watched enough performances on TV to recognize Jules’s incredible gift.
The melody lulled Elouan almost to sleep.
His eyes flew open when he finally realized why the next song sounded familiar. He sat up, staring in disbelief at Jules, who continued to play. He added the words in his head.
When the storm rages,
Nestle close to my side,
Do not fear, little hatchling,
Under my wing, you can hide.
He hummed along with the rest, unable to recall all the words. Once the song ended, a frisson of alarm trailed up his spine. “What is that song? Where did you learn it?”
Jules shrugged. “It’s something Moira hums around the house.”
Elouan had sniffed Jules earlier, catching a whiff of his clothes and violin case. He smelled of soap and shampoo as usual, but with everything else and all the questions, Elouan still felt like there should be a natural scent.
Without a dragon, how did Jules know an old dragon lullaby Mother used to sing? Well, dragons came into the human world sometimes. Perhaps the song had grown popular in Terra, too.
The song. The dance.
There was so much at play here. Alphas possessed the keenest sense of smell of any dragon. If there were any traces on Jules, he’d know. Wouldn’t he? Could this mysterious Moira possibly know dragons? She’d been here a while, according to Jules. It was possible she’d made dragon friends, though most saw humans as inferior.
Elouan’s dragon clearly conveyed the message,You’re an idiot.
Jules stopped playing, looking expectantly at Elouan. “What do you think?”
Elouan pulled himself out of his thoughts enough to answer. “I love your playing.”
Jules ducked his head. “Having access to YouTube on my phone lets me watch other violinists. Some even teach techniques. But you’re just being nice.”
Elouan gave a mock scowl. “Don’t even start that rumor. You play very well. I wouldn’t lie to you.”
“Okay.” Jules didn’t appear convinced, though a hint of pink tinted his cheeks.
“Can I ask you something?” Elouan braced for potential fallout.
“Sure, anything.”
