Page 26 of Flight Risk

“Good call. Is an SUV in our budget?” I winced. I really should have a better idea of what sort of budget options we had as a family. Tav must have read my mind.

“There aren’t a lot of things not in the budget, love. I’m a hundred-and-fifty-year-old dragon, I have money. Why don’t we go over it this weekend? I should have your name put on all of our accounts and the home as well. We can talk to the clan accountant team to get the paperwork in order.”

I resisted the urge to balk at that. Though I had done nothing to earn it, I was Tav’s mate, and to deny being a part of his accounts would be insulting. “Thank you,” I said. “It feels weird to put my name on things that are yours.”

“Everything that is mine is yours, love. That’s what being mated means.”

I couldn’t argue with that point, though it didn’t change the fact that it felt weird.

Once we arrived at the restaurant, we exited the car. Tav pulled his jacket closed and slipped his arm into mine.

“Have you met any of the dragon flight team before?” he asked.

“A few times, but it’s been a while. I haven’t had the pleasure of meeting Shane, though. He’s an absolute legend. Is it true he’s one of the oldest dragons?”

“Yes,” Tav replied. “He fought in the wars with the demons.”

“I’m sorry, the what?”

Tav chuckled. “I see you have some dragon history to learn. Maybe we’ll go over that this weekend as well.”

“But wait, did you say demons?”

Before Tav could answer, a familiar voice greeted us. “Hello.”

“Father,” Tav said as we entered the room.

I pasted on a polite smile. “Thank you for delivering the nest so quickly. You’ll have to come see it soon, it looks beautiful.”

“I’m so happy to hear that, Kier. You’re looking well,” Tav’s father said, barely glancing at his son. He pulled me into a hug and kissed my cheek.

Such a simple gesture, but it warmed my heart.

Tav let out an exaggerated sigh. “Now that I’m mated, I’m just chopped liver.”

“Get used to it,” Raoul, a dragon I recognized as the flight trainer thanks to the biographies on the teams I had been studying, said with a grin. “It’s been my experience as well. My parents don’t even know our names anymore.”

He held the hand of another individual who didn’t scent like a full dragon. He must have been Raoul’s human mate, Felix.

“Raoul,” Tav said, holding out a hand. “Tavian. It’s nice to meet you.”

“You as well,” Raoul replied.

“We’ve heard a lot about you and the great things you’ve done for the dragon flight team.”

“Thank you. It’s been an amazing adventure. I’ve truly appreciated the opportunity to make up for past deeds.”

I had no idea what he was referring to, but I wasn’t about to ask.

“And this must be your mate, Felix,” Tav said.

“Yes,” Felix said with a smile. “We understand the two of you are newly mated and expecting as well?”

Felix looked at me. I nodded and placed a hand over my stomach.

“Yes, this is my mate, Kier.”

Felix’s smile widened. “I remember those days. Have you finished nesting? And have your wings come out yet?”

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