Page 24 of Morel Dilemma

The ogre stepped back. “A dragon.”

“Yes.”

“Dragons are always welcome at the wine conclave.”

Huh. Someone else used that pretentious word to describe the club.

“You’re being extra pompous this evening,” Rylana murmured to Jildarin as Zilek stepped out of the carriage. “Does your brother bring that out in you?”

Jildarin gave her a sidelong squint, then sighed. “We did grow up as rivals in many areas of life.”

“So he vexes you regularly.”

“Especially when he seeks to outperform me. Or manipulate me into something. I’ve yet to forgive him for his attempts to coerce me into mating with those female dragons.”

“I only do so because Mother wishes it,” Zilek said, catching the end of the conversation. “And it’s for the good of the clan.”

Jildarin bared his teeth and growled at him.

Zilek brought out the savage side of Jildarin as well as the pompous side. Since Rylana understood perfectly about having manipulative family members, she couldn’t blame him too much for substandard behavior. She even clasped his hand and said, “I’ll tell you later about my cousin’s visit.”

Jildarin didn’t object to her touch and seemed to understand right away what the words implied. “Your father seeks to use a family member to manipulate you? Into leaving the diner and working for his business?”

“Yeah, but don’t incinerate him, please.”

“It is against the ways of the clan to slay family members,” he said.

“I’ve seen you bite and spew fire at your aunt.”

“But not in an attempt to slay her. I only sought to warn her away from you.”

“I did appreciate that.”

“Yes.” His eyelids drooped, his earlier savagery gone as he smiled slightly. That expression always bestirred her libido, though she knew he didn’t mean it to.

“Two dragons,” the ogre bouncer said.

She’d been diverted momentarily, checking a calligraphy-filled invitation that a well-dressed gnome couple had arrived with, then directing them down the stairs. But now, she looked from Zilek and Jildarin and finally to Rylana. “You have two dragon companions.”

Was that reverence in her voice? Maybe Zalani wasn’t the only adventurous one who thought the brothers looked more like a fun night than a lot of work.

“Do you want one?” Rylana offered, pointing at Zilek.

“Really,” he murmured dryly, then led the way down the stairs.

Apparently familiar with him, the ogre stepped aside and let him pass without further comment. But did she check out his ass? Or was that Rylana’s imagination? No, she also checked out Jildarin’s ass. Goodness.

Rylana followed them down the steps and into a spacious stone-walled cellar, the air a touch chill. No wonder Zilek liked the place. Between the stone walls, flagstone floor, and cool temperature, it had a definite cave vibe. But it was far from dank with the air smelling of sandalwood, leather, and aged wine. Numerous leather sofas and wide inviting chairs demarcated seating areas, and a long wooden bar in the back hosted high chairs, also upholstered with rich leather.

“Is that the dragon chef?” a woman whispered loudly.

Jildarin had paused inside the doorway and stood gazing around, as if searching for threats, but his chin lifted as he looked toward a group of gnomish, elven, and human women. One of the latter had spoken.

“It is,” she continued. A bronze-skinned, black-haired woman in a flowing white dress swept toward Jildarin, an elf and a gnome also coming along. “I’ve heard such wonderful things about your soup, Chef.”

“I’ve had the soup,” the gnome said. “And my male tinkering mate also called it wonderful,” she added with a laugh.

“I’ve had the mushrooms,” the elf female said as the gaggle gathered around Jildarin.