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Gods, didn’t he know that? Just like his issue now with the human Council of Towns. How easily they’d dragged the rug from under him, showing no regard for how long he’d been working on those airport plans. He patted her hand, smoothed the green skin, soft and warm. That was something dragons seemed to have inherited from their shifting past: blood that was warm, and soft skin. People didn’t often realize this about dragon skin. Even their scales were surprisingly soft to the touch.
Until a dragon got riled or angry. Then they hardened.
But right now, Mom was limp and tired, and her skin was like velvet. He kept patting her hand rhythmically until he sensed her breathing slowing.
“I have some news to cheer you up,” he said, and she eyed him hopefully.
Ethan took a deep breath. He hated lying to her, but he hated her being unhappy more.
“I’m seeing a human.” Gods, he hadn’t even met her yet. Adina had simply mentioned that she’d found him a suitable match.
Cressida sat upright, all her scales spiking. “As in, dating?”
He gulped, then nodded, wishing he hadn’t brought it up.
“Oh, my oh my oh my. Ethan. Truly. You’re dating a human?” He nodded again, and she clasped her hands to her ample chest. “Oh, my goddess, there’s hope for our race. Oh, Ethan, you realize if… if…”
“Mom, stop jumping the gun please. It’s very early days. But if our relationship does progress, then… we will have a lot better chance of fulfilling Dad’s dream to build the new airport on human lands.”
“And reviving shifting again. With your hatchlings.”
Ethan cringed inwardly. “Mom, that is just hearsay—rumor. Let’s stay with the facts, shall we?”
Yeah, the fact you are lying through your fangs.
By now Cressida was bouncing on the bed. “Oh darling, I am so happy for you. I must meet her—very soon, I hope? Let me plan a party. Dinner? Whatever. Oh, my green goddess I am so excited. Is she pretty?”
Ethan couldn’t say, because he had no freakin’ idea. Nor did he really care. His mother’s superficiality as far as pretty things went was so dragon. He’d escaped the worst of it. He didn’t hoard, didn’t get taken in by glitter and glitz. He had a small box of precious things in his study, but his only piece of bling was an antique, jewel-encrusted dragon egg that his parents had given him on his twenty-first birthday.
But for the sake of a quiet life, he hoped this human was at least passable looking.
“Well, it’s early days, but the chemistry between us is…” May the good gods forgive him. “Is definitely strong.’
“Oh darling. If you have half the love your father and I had…”
“Yes—well.” Ethan smirked tightly and stood, trying to close the gate on his mom’s enthusiasm. “I will keep you informed.”
His mother sprawled back on the pillows, hugging herself, a huge smile showing off her pearly white fangs. “Darling boy, you have made your mama so happy. Now, I must rest. I’m exhausted.”
Just at that moment a pounding bass beat started up somewhere in the house and his mother’s whole body went rigid. She let out a plaintive whine. “Oh goodness, Beau’s playing that awful rap music again. Please tell him to stop, it gives me such a headache.”
Ethan sighed. “Yes, Mother.”
“And Ethan, ask Mrs Green to send up one of my special soothing teas. And a fruit scone. No, make that two, with lashings of butter and strawberry jam.”
“Yes, Mother.”
Stalking out of the room, he made his way down the corridor toward the sound of the music. By the time he got to the door it was literally vibrating in its frame.
He knocked.
There was no answer. Ethan pounded harder and then after another moment, exasperated, he shoved the door open with his shoulder.
Striding over to the flashing electronic bar on the wall, he turned down the music and looked around for Beau in the messy den. He finally located him posturing in front of the mirror in a leather jacket.
And—Gods be damned, he was fucking smoking.
“Put that thing out.” Ethan went and yanked the cigarette out of his brother’s mouth. “You breathe enough fire as it is, you don’t need to add this shit into the mix.”
