Mabon and Urien exchanged glances.
“That’s actually good,” Mabon admitted.
“Until health inspectors shut down whatever restaurant lets a stranger use their kitchen,” Urien said.
“I could buy the restaurant.”
“You’d buy a restaurant for one dinner?”
“I’d buy a restaurant chain if it meant feeding our fated one properly.”
Mabon’s dragon rumbled approval at that sentiment, even as his human brain recognized the absurdity.
“So we all agree my idea’s best,” Rux said.
“Your idea requires permits,” Mabon countered. “And possibly bribing health inspectors.”
“Urien’s idea requires trespassing.”
“Gardening isn’t trespassing if you’re improving the property.”
“Tell that to the police.”
Mabon’s dragon snarled in frustration. “This isn’t getting us anywhere.”
“Because you won’t admit dinner is the only viable option.”
“Dinner is the final option.” Mabon stood, pacing to the window. Sam would be at the Daily Bean by now,probably worried about Basil’s behavior, possibly wondering why three men kept appearing in his life. “We do all three.”
Both his mates went quiet.
“Sequential attempts,” Mabon continued, warming to the strategy. “Urien’s garden first…”
“See, he agrees it’s a good idea.”
“Because it’ll take time to establish. Something visible and growing, but in a public space, not Sam’s garden - that would just get us into trouble. Then my investment account while the garden matures. Clear financial support without strings. Then Rux’s dinner as the culmination. We can have it here, rather than at a restaurant, because we really don’t need another business.” Mabon turned back to face them. “Three gestures. Three of us. Each demonstrating different aspects of what we’re offering.”
Urien unfolded from the floor, nodding slowly. “A progression.Building toward something undeniable.”
“Exactly.”
“And if he still doesn’t understand?” Rux’s expression had turned serious. “What if Sam thinks we’re just eccentric neighbors with boundary issues?”
Mabon’s chest tightened around that possibility.
“Then we tell him everything. I don’t feel we have any choice.”
“The truth?” Urien said.
“All of it. Dragons. Mates. The bond. Why we can’t stop coming to his coffee shop, why we watch his cottage, why his cat attacks us on sight.” Mabon met each of his mates’ eyes in turn. “If three clear romantic gestures don’t make our intentions obvious, then the problem isn’t our approach. It’s that Sam can’t fathom what we actually are.”
“The Council…”
“Can just deal with it. It was them who told us that dragons needed tobe out among humans to find our Treasure in the first place. They had to have foreseen this possibility.” Mabon’s dragon surged in agreement. “We’ve followed human courtship rules. We’ve been patient. But we’re running out of time before this stops being courtship and starts being genuine suffering for all three of us.”
Rux stood, crossing to grip Mabon’s shoulder. “You’re talking about violating secrecy protocols.”
“I’m talking about claiming our mate.”
