A Destiny of Dragons (Tales From Verania 2)

He grimaced. “It was until you made that face. How many times have I told you can’t make that face around other people? They’ll think you’re coming to take their children away.”

“Sam’s sexy face is scary,” Tiggy said to Gary. “Run! It scary Sam!”

“He tries so hard,” Gary said. “Too hard, really.”

“I’m not objectifying you,” I said, even though I totally was. “I respect your autonomy and your right to not have me paddleboat your boobs.”

He snorted. “Bullshit you do.”

Now that we’d gotten that out of the way, I glared at him. “I’m still mad at you.”

“I can tell. I’m still upset with you, if it makes you feel any better.”

It really didn’t. I deflated slightly. “We need to talk.”

“We do.”

And he agreed to that way too easily. “But not like the breakup we need to talk,” I said quickly. “But the we’ve got to talk that means open communication and words and then some really awesome makeup sex. Right?”

He rolled his eyes, but his hand found his way to the back of my neck, squeezing as he pulled me close. My bare chest pressed against his as he leaned in and laid a filthy kiss upon my lips, more tongue than was probably warranted. Not that I was complaining.

“Yes, Sam,” he said, murmuring against me. “That kind of talk.” He kissed me again, slow and sweet.

I sagged against him slightly in relief. “Good. I’m sorry I acted like a douchebag. I love your face. I’ve also got a boner right now that I really don’t know what to do with, seeing as how we’re in public.”

He chuckled. “And I’m sorry I acted like an ass. I love you too. Also, I can feel your boner.”

“I love love,” Tiggy sighed behind us.

“Gods, they’re just sickening,” Gary muttered. “I hate it when people act like that.”

“Seriously,” Kevin rumbled. “I’m so glad we’re broken up now so I don’t have to be a part of a loving couple anymore. I don’t know what I was thinking.”

“Me too,” Gary said. “It’s so much better like this.”

“Right,” Kevin said. “Even if it’s our boy in love that we have to watch.”

“Even if,” Gary said wistfully.

“Maybe they should just rub each other a little bit,” Kevin suggested. “You know? I mean, they’re already there, they might as well, right? Just do it, right? Just start rubbing—”

“And the erection’s gone,” I said, stepping away from Ryan. “That’s much better.”

Ryan did this complicated motion with his eyebrows. “I don’t know if that’s better.”

Gods, he looked awesome when he pouted.

And I was about to tell him as much when a cheer went up over the crowd, rolling through it like a wave. We were stuck somewhere in the middle of it, and I couldn’t help but notice the people of Mashallaha had formed a circle around us, but keeping their distance. I didn’t know if it was fear of us or dismay at the sight of us that kept them as they were. I didn’t know that it mattered. These were the people of Verania, my people for all intents and purposes, yet I’d never felt so far from home before in my life. It was good that I had Ryan next to me. Tiggy and Gary and Kevin at my back. I thought maybe I could do this without them. I just didn’t want to.

But the people weren’t focused on us. They were cheering for Vadoma.

She stood on a raised wooden platform, the eyes of her people all on her. She looked beautiful under the lights, younger than she actually was. I wondered just how old she was and who my mother’s father had been, as my mother had never known. Or so she said. But regardless of what I thought of Vadoma, I could see my mother in her. I could see myself in her. It unsettled me more than I cared to admit.

Ruv, the Wolf, stood at her side.

“Oh,” I said to Ryan in a low voice. “That reminds me. Ruv won’t be trying to get up in my business anymore. He knows you’re my one and only.”

“Or so he says,” Ryan muttered. “For all we know, it