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AUDIENCE WITH HIS MAJESTY
After everyone who tried the Dragon Scepter was found lacking in some way by the magical instrument, the Queen announced that they would reconvene in three months to try again because the monarchs did, indeed, want to get started with learning to golf and snorkel.
Royal duties were such that the King and Queen really could not indulge in such leisure activities. They had important jobs to do, taking care of the clan and the clan’s business, and such frivolities were beneath their dignity, at least until they retired.
Dragons had very high expectations of their monarchs.
Just as Math and his two buddies had reached the front of the line to climb the steps to the turret where they could release their dragons and fly away, King Llywelyn caught up to them. “Your Graces, if you could attend me for a few minutes.”
Math said, “I really have to get back to the office for meetings.”
Arawn said, “There are concerns I need to attend to.”
Cai shook his head. “I need coffee. A lot of it.”
King Llywelyn raised a gray eyebrow at them, shifting his crown slightly on his head. “Come with me.”
He spun on his heel and stalked away.
As Llywelyn was the king, they followed him deeper into the palace, the gorgeous mansion with wide windows that caught the sea breeze blowing off the Pacific. Gauzy curtains flowed as they walked past a long music room, silent but for the ocean waves crashing against the cliffs far below.
He held the door to his office as they filed in. Cai and Arawn sat in the chairs. Math leaned against the wall beside them.
King Llywelyn settled into the chair behind his wide desk and regarded the three of them for a minute before he spoke. “You three will never find mates hanging out in the dragon dens all your lives.”
Math reared back, shocked.
Cai laughed out loud and braced his hands on his knees so he wouldn’t fall out of his chair. “I’m out. This conversation just got too kinky for me.”
Arawn stared at his shoes. “It’s not something that can be forced. You can’t decide to go into mating fever so you can mate on some sort of a timetable or because you think you know better than your biology.”
Math said, “There’s nothing wrong with working in the dens. We’re all busy with our careers and the business of the clan.”
The Dragon King said, “Of course not, but you need to go out into the world and meet other supernatural people, and natural ones, too. There has been too much of dragons marrying dragons the last few generations. It’s not good for anyone. It’s not good politically. It’s not good magically. Clans get inbred, and the magic loses its power.”
Math said, “Look, I’m not going to go out and target a witch or another type of shifter to marry just because it’s good for the dragon population’s magic levels. Besides, I wasn’t even planning on getting married, or at least not yet. I always thought I would work on my career until I was in my late fifties or early seventies—you know, have a life—and then I’d find someone practical to settle down with. I’m only forty-two. I have decades before I’ll even begin to feel the mating fever.”
“The scepter almost chose one of you.”
Arawn said, “Something’s wrong with it.”
“The Dragon Scepter has been losing its luster, but I think it’s good for another few monarchs. Anyway, we don’t have to worry about it for three more months. In the meantime, may I speak to Duke Draco alone? We have some committee business to discuss.”
Cai and Arawn left Math there. Cai left with an apologetic glance. Arawn, with not so much as an eye flicker toward him.
The King said, “I need you to go to Las Vegas.”
When the door closed behind them, Math said, “Seriously, I don’t care how low dragon birth rates have fallen, you’re not putting me out to stud.”
“No, no.” With lines gathering between his brows and a stiff frown, the King looked irritated. “Dragons Den, Inc. has a property in Las Vegas, a casino that should be opening in three months, but there’s a problem. It’s behind schedule, and there’s something wrong with the finances. I need you there. I need you to figure out what the hell is going on. We have a walk-through scheduled for angel investors in a month, and it’s got to look good if we’re going to get the money we need to open on time.”
Math shrugged. “As long as this isn’t a mission to find me a mate.”
“If you want to look for a mate while you’re in Las Vegas,” the King said, shuffling some papers on his desk, “do it after you’ve figured out what’s going on with the finances. Someone is stealing from the clan. And get that place ready for the first round of angel investors that are going to show up in a month.”
