Page 18 of The Monster at the End of This Courtship

"I'm happy to see you, too, Mom."

"We've been so worried." Dad patted my back, and then I was sandwiched between them. They were both shorter than me, but their hugs were still some of the best things on Earth.

"I'm fine," I said. "I'm going back to Ignitas with Lark, but I'll come visit you sometimes." I met Lark's gaze over my mom's shoulder, and he nodded. "If you want?"

"That would be great," Dad said. "Maybe you can come watch the Cowboys play, like old times."

"Or you could stop by for movie night on my birthday," Mom countered.

"How about both?" I wiggled free of their embrace, and they both wiped their eyes with the backs of their hands.

"Both," Mom said. "I'll hold you to that."

"Time is a little bit different on Ignitas," Lark said. "We might not get the exact dates and times, but we'll do our best."

"How are things there?" Mom asked. "Will our boy be happy?"

"Things have improved," Lark said, "At least, we hope. It was a bit of a surprise to have all changelings returned to us at once, but our chances of survival are much better."

"I am happy," I reassured her. "I think I've found my mate."

"Oh!" She pulled me into yet another hug, this time smearing mascara on my shirt. "That's wonderful, dear. Maybe you can bring her to meet us?"

I swallowed hard. "Him." If they were going to reject me for being gay, it was better to know now.

"Right." Mom nodded. "I forgot. That was in the original paperwork. You confused the hell out of us when you liked girls."

I blinked. Had they expected me to be gay? "You never said anything!"

My dad laughed. "We knew you'd figure it out eventually." He slapped my shoulder and turned me around to face him for a hug. "I don't suppose you can stay for dinner?"

"No, we should be getting back," Lark said.

In true southern fashion, it took another half-hour to leave their house, after several more repetitions of "happy to see you" and "stop by again soon."

"Your parents are a fucking delight," Lark said, wiping at his eyes once we were back in the van. He whipped out his phone and sent a quick text. "They reminded me I haven't checked in with my own adoptive parents in too long."

"You haven't taken Punky and the kids to meet them?"

Lark frowned. "At this point, I think it would be easier to transport them to Ignitas, at least, until the kids are older. Are you up for babysitting some night? I should bring Punky to see them."

"Babysitting? Me?" I was probably even more in shock now than I had been when we'd first arrived. "Yeah, sure. I mean?—"

"They're free next Saturday." He glanced at his phone again. "Like I said, time is a little strange, and I'll have to check with Punky first."

I felt guilty for suggesting he should introduce Punky to his adoptive parents. I couldn't back out now. "Sure."

After we stopped at the fast-food joint for more takeout, we traveled home in a flash. I closed my eyes in the darkness and opened them to Ignitas's setting suns. A murky orange faded to purple above our heads.

I wished I'd had more time to contemplate my life choices. How had I gone from thinking I was about to be a father to agreeing to babysit a clutch of baby kobolds in the span of a few hours?

Chapter 7

Tuft

Axel brought me takeout from Earth when he returned. I was surprised to get his text, and even more surprised when he suggested meeting me in my room. I was still stuffing clothes in my hamper when he arrived, not even five minutes after he texted.

I had always been a clothes horse. Now that I had all these gorgeous muscles, I spent even longer before the mirror each morning. The new yellow tint to my stripes also begged to be matched and complemented in ways I hadn't tried yet. Needless to say, I had clothes scattered everywhere in my rooms, from the kitchen counter to my bed, which was still hopelessly covered when I ran to answer the knock on the door.

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