“Later,” Rux interrupted. “Right now, I just want to stand here and remember what he felt like in my arms.”
Urien’s arm was heavy on his shoulder as he hummed in agreement. “Our Treasure. Finally.”
“Finally,” Rux echoed.
Chapter Twenty-Four
Sam
By the fates, I’m freaking shaking.Sam tightened his hands on the steering wheel as his brain churned, still desperately trying to come to terms with his new reality.
Dragons…dragons were real...he’d touched real dragons…three naked men…I didn’t touch them, should I have touched them… Probably not.Sam shook his head. That would be taking things far too quickly. But three amazing men had stones on their chests, all beating for him.How did this happen?
He had a desperate urge to call someone – Maya, Emma, or his therapist, if he still had one. Because that wasn’t possible, Sam started laughing instead.
The whole situation was completely insane. He’d walked into dinner thinking maybe - just maybe - three attractive men were interested in him romantically, which already seemed impossible enough.
Instead, he got actual dragons, who could shift forms, who had lived for centuries, and who had hoards and magic and ancient courtship traditions that they’d bungled spectacularly because they didn’t understand how to buy a single coffee or leave vegetables on doorsteps like normal people.
Sam’s chest felt warm and full…giddy, that was the word he was looking for. He felt giddy. Three dragons wanted him and had wanted him from the first moment they’d seen him.How many people could say that?
“I’m their Treasure,” Sam said aloud, testing the words, as he glanced in his reflection in the rearview mirror. He still looked the same, and aside from feeling as though he was filled with bubbles, he knew he was still the same person.
And yet, they want me anyway. They think I’m worth everything… just like mom.
In that moment, Sam wished his mom were still alive. He already knew what she would’ve said if he’d gottenhome in the early hours of the morning after being out all night. She’d have sat him down in their kitchen, made him a pot of tea and some toast, and then listened as Sam explained about the dragons, the heart stones, and what they meant in relation to him.
She would tell me to go for it.Sam blinked away a few tears.She always believed I was meant for a wonderful life… although she’d also demand to meet them as quickly as possible, so she could lay down a few ground rules of her own.
His mom had always been his greatest strength and strongest protector. Somehow, even though Sam hadn’t believed he deserved more for the longest time, his mom had inevitably been right.
Sam’s throat tightened as he accepted how happy his mom would be for him, and truthfully, if he could ever share the truth, Maya and Emma would be happy for him, too – not that he could ever tell his friends, but he never had secrets from his mom.
Blinking rapidly, Sam focused on the road.I need to sleep, and then I need time to process all this, so I can work out how to date three people at the same time.Not an easy thing to do for someone who’d had one forgettable coffee date in his entire life.
But underneath the overwhelm, the lingering shock, and the practical concerns, was something brighter - Hope.
He wanted to try figuring out how someone like him fit with three ageless dragons who hoarded books, plants, and recipes, and apparently, him.
His phone buzzed in the cup holder. Probably Maya, wondering why he hadn’t texted after last night’s mysterious dinner plans. Or Emma. Or…
He glanced at the screen.
Rux: You got home safe?
Sam’s heart gave an extra flutter as he smiled. They’d watched him driveaway less than ten minutes ago, but of course, Rux was already worrying.
At the next red light, Sam typed back:Almost there. Still processing that my life is a paranormal romance novel now
Three dots appeared immediately.
Rux: Better than the ones you write?
Sam laughed.
Sam: TBD. My vampires never tried to buy the coffee shop
Rux: They should’ve done. Mabon’s very thorough when he commits to something
