Page 27

Milo

“We’re saved!!!” Milo called from Ethel’s doorway, having gotten a text that they were all eating dinner at her place.

The tiny, condemned building might have been crumbling at the edges, barely upright and violating however many codes, but they’d managed to make a home of it. Milo in one apartment on the top floor. Ethel and Shelly each with a tiny one-bedroom on the second floor, and the boys sharing one large three-bedroom on the first floor. Well, it hadn’t been a three-bedroom to start with. The wall had caved in at one point and they’d just decided to keep it.

When he said they had, he meant their funds had decided. There was no way they could have afforded renovations. So the dudes got a frat house. Busted walls and all.

So, sure, the loan for the new place would probably be impossible to get, he might need to sell an organ or two, but for the first time there was a real, tangible plan that just might work. So if Milo had to work another three jobs to save their place, he would.

“In here!” Shelly called, the distinct scent of sage and incense filling the air. It was so strong Milo couldn’t even begin to guess what Ethel had made for dinner.

For all he knew they were eating leaves and ash.

He sprinted down the blip of Ethel’s hallway, every inch of the wall covered in framed cross-stitches Ethel had made, most of them vulgar and/or pornographic in nature. She had a true talent. He turned right at the end of the hallway, entering the tiny kitchen slash dining room to find his people—HIS HOARD, apparently—sitting around the table. There was so much food on it that the legs looked bent under the weight. The mismatched plates held all of Milo’s favorites, which…while sweet, was very suspicious.

Milo frowned as his eyes landed on Ray sitting among his people, green eyes kind as he looked at Milo. He was dressed in his usual soft knitted vest over a button-down shirt, his salt and pepper hair making him look distinguished. He was only slightly older than Milo, but he looked so much more put together and in control of…well, everything in his life.

“Come sit down,” he said and Milo forgot all about his previous excitement. He counted the wrinkly gray heads quickly and found them all accounted for. Ray was clearly okay too, so Milo didn’t understand the somber atmosphere.

“Who died?” Milo asked, lowering himself into the remaining free chair, squished between Conrad and Shelly, immediately getting covered in glitter from where she brushed her hand over his shoulder.

“Everyone’s alive and okay, love,” she said. “And will continue to be so for the foreseeable future. The cards have been kind.”

“But the brains have not,” Ethel said to her.

“I love trains,” Conrad said.

Ethel rolled her eyes. “You came in late last night and we didn’t get a chance to talk. How are you holding up?”

Milo frowned. “What? I’m perfectly fine. Why wouldn’t I be fine? Especially because—”

“Milo,” Ray said, “you just had a pretty serious perspective shift thrust upon you. It’s to be expected…”

“Yes, yes, whatever,” Milo said. “Apparently I’m a dragon. Shock. Gasp. OMG. Hashtag unexpected. But it’s the best thing ever.”

“It is?” Clarence tilted his head, rubbing the little gold cross he wore around his neck.

“Yes!” Milo exclaimed, reaching for a deep-fried drumstick.

“Explain,” Ethel said.

“Planes are nice too.” Conrad nodded decisively.

Milo swallowed a mouthful of chicken. “Okay, so, the universe keeps throwing Rowan my way.” Shelly gasped and clutched the blouse over her heart. “He came into the coffeeshop this morning and we got to talking.”

“You didn’t bite him again, did you?” Ray asked.

Milo shook his head. “He was actually useful this time, so I didn’t have to.”

“You never have to bite—”

“Shhhh.” Ethel threw a napkin at Ray.

“Long story short,” Milo said, “the building he plans to build after this one is torn down is a dragon hoard exhibition gallery type thing. Something.”

“A what?” Clarence asked.

“It’s basically where rich dragons will display whatever trinkets they collect so other dragons can come and oooh and aaaah over them.”