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“Of course.” He touched a lock of her hair, sliding the silky strands between thumb and finger. “A dragon child. Tara and Devon’s.”
“Devon is a dragon too?”
“Yes, we’re an unusual couple. Dragons are so rare these days, and mating with each other is somewhat … well, rare. When you and Ivor have children, you’ll give birth normally and the child won’t shift until its fifth birthday, when we take it for a ceremony at Merlin’s Cave.”
“Us? Have children. Me and Ivor.” Her eyes widened. “We’ve only just met.” She laughed nervously.
“You will.” Tara shrugged as though it wasn’t up for debate. “Now eat, please, the lamb is from the valley beside the castle. You won’t get anything more delicious on your plate.”
“Too true.” Ivor retrieved two bowls and filled them with steaming cawl. “Here, Nisha. Our first dinner date.”
“Thank you.”
“Sit, please.” He pulled out a chair at the large oak table.
“So, how was your first ride on a dragon?” Tara asked. “I’m guessing that’s how you got here as I didn’t hear a vehicle.”
“Yes, and it was … exhilarating, high … something I never thought I’d do.”
Ivor smiled at her, full of pride. “You were so brave. With everything, seeing me shift, climbing on board, the landing is pretty scary too the first time.”
“I enjoyed it. It was fun.”
He grinned and shoveled in a chunk of lamb, savoring the rich flavor.
“I’ve got to have all the fun I can before—”
“We said we wouldn’t talk about him.” Ivor frowned.
“About who?” Tara asked, carefully rolling the egg an inch to the right.
“No one. I don’t want his name mentioned in my home.”For some reason, Ivor felt Rishi would infect the stone walls, pollute the air. He didn’t like the guy one bit, and there was no way he was getting anywhere near his woman ever again.
“Okay, sorry.” Nisha smiled at him. “So, tell me about Merlin’s Cave. What goes on there?”
“It’s a sacred place,” Ivor said, smiling at the memory of his first sighting of the ethereal statue of Merlin. “On their fifth birthday, our children, whether born as dragons or children, go there for a solemn ritual. They are supported by family and the great Merlin as they go through their first shift. It’s frightening for them, painful too sometimes.”
“More uncomfortable than painful,” Tara said. “At least it was for me.”
“Were you born human or dragon?” Nisha asked.
“Both myself and my two brothers were born human. Only our father is a dragon.” She smiled and helped herself to the broth. “What I found the most uncomfortable was shifting back naked—not fun in front of your entire family.” She gave a small huff. “Thank goodness that was fixed.”
“How?” Nisha dunked bread into her dinner, coating it in silky liquid.
“Magic.” Ivor laughed. “That’s the only way to describe it. The great Merlin gives us one wish, and for many centuries now, most of us choose to be clothed when we shift. It’s always the same clothes.” He tugged his t-shirt. “But it does create less of a scene than if we were naked.”
“Gosh, yes, imagine if last night when you’d suddenly appeared outside of my apartment you’d been naked.”
“My point exactly.” He nodded.
“Weapons in hand used to be the most popular wish,” Tara said. “But we don’t need that here in Wales these days, not now we have a truce with the English.”
“Except for rugby.” Nisha laughed.
Oh, how Ivor adored the sound of her laugh. It was a delicate tinkle yet it held such genuineness. He wanted to hear it every day for the rest of his life.
“This is really good.” Nisha continued eating, and when she’d finished, she set down her spoon. “Thank you.”
