Page 83 of Connor and the Dragons

“You were talking to your brother and you had no reason to lie to him. And you have been very kind to me since, and you were kind to me before, and I have decided not to hold either against you.”

That made me laugh, because he had just said the stupidest thing I had ever heard come out of a person. “You are being silly.”

“Oallian,” Connor admonished.

“No. He’s not thinking things through.” I tilted my head. “Although he was off shooting icicles at Harrowgate when I opened up the floor, so perhaps he didn’t see everything.” I leaned closer, kissing Kessrin’s jaw, his cheek, kissing the tears from beneath his eyes. “Do you know where Connor was when I first put my claw through?”

Kessrin did not say anything, he just sniffled and wrapped his arms tighter around both of us.

“He wasn’t by the mirror. He was halfway up the stairs, running towards two dragons who did not need assistance from a puny human—”

“Hey! I have skills,” Connor said, narrowing his eyes at me over Kessrin’s shoulder.

“Punish me later if you must, I said what I said. You’re puny, and we were shooting fire and ice. It was like a tiny ant ready to throw breadcrumbs to help a lion.”

Connor growled.

“So that’s what you missed, ice-breath. This romantic, wonderful, beautiful dumbass tried to leave the mirror behind so that he could rescue us. Rescue us. Two dragons. I mean, come on. We were rescuing ourselves.”

“But he was throwing silver on a pile,” Kessrin said. “Guiding us to the mirror.”

“Why were you throwing silver on the pile, Connor?” I asked.

Connor bit his bottom lip, eyes darting to Kessrin.

“Tell him.”

“I thought Vyranthos took over, and thought he might be doing something to you, Kessrin.”

“Never!” I gasped. “Vyranthos is invested in our relationship.”

Connor blinked, then shook his head. “Anyway, there was a lot of screaming and roaring and I panicked. I was going to lure Vyranthos with a hoard, because you said he liked a hoard, so I could try and reach Oallian and make sure you both were okay.”

“Oh,” Kessrin whispered. “I suppose that was somewhat logical. But what about the mirror?”

“Fuck the mirror,” Connor said. “I mean, yeah, I want to get word to my family because I love them. But when you guys were in trouble, all I cared about was getting out of there safe. I was yelling at you to leave the fucking thing behind so we could get out safe. Didn’t you hear that?”

Kessrin’s eyes darted to me, then back to Connor. “There was a lot going on.”

“Also your heat is making you emotional,” I said.

Kessrin blinked, rearing back. “It is not. I mean, I’m not in heat. I don’t think.”

“It absolutely is. And you absolutely are.” I looked him over. He was filthy and he was gray and he was shaking a little, and I could smell it on him. “Do you need to be fucked? I am asking practically. We can go behind the tents.” I looked around. “Or right here, I mean we’re naked already and this grass is pretty tall.”

“Back up. Why does everyone keep saying heat?” Connor said.

“Who else said it?” Kessrin asked.

“The Queen said you were in heat. Oallian said it in the carriage. He said you needed to be protected.”

“Exactly,” I said. “I was protecting him. Like we discussed! Besides, how do you not know what a dragon heat is? You spend all of your free time fucking dragons. This is key information.”

“There aren’t dragons where I’m from. Remember?” Connor narrowed his eyes at me.

“Oh. Well,” I said. “It is the reproductive cycle.”

Connor tilted his head like he was trying to work out a math problem. “But we’re all guys.”