Page 10 of Always Say Yes to a Dragon

“I want one with fire, not some shrinking, scared thing.” One with fire enough to risk touching a dragon’s money. I wanted someone who understood their worth and demanded their due. Answering fire ignited in my chest at the thought.

The humans on those courting sites looked confident and inviting. Most even knew their worth, demanding thousands for just a meeting, but I’d learned that pictures were deceptive, and even confident humans still feared dragons.

When Niemrin and I first moved to Kilinis, I’d thought meeting City Council in person, with their friendly emails and obvious desire for us to claim Kilinis, would be a breeze, but it had been a disaster of sweaty palms, stuttered words, and dropped gazes.

I never wanted my mate to look at me with fear.

“Shedidtake the money,” Niemrin said. “You’re really planning to court her?”

“Obviously.” We dragons might have been good at finding and hoarding treasure, but compassion and kindness were unheard of. I’d had enough dragon toughness and wanted a little human softness—and I wasn’t about to let a chance with Elle, who’d shown herself to be an alluring combination of soft and bold, slip through my talons.

“Just don’t get too far ahead of yourself.”

“Of course not.” I knew she hadn’t agreed to be my mateyet. Humans moved a little slower than dragons. My friend Movi had taken three months to convince her human to mate her, when a typical dragon courtship lasted only a week or two. But I could be patient. What were three or four months compared to a lifetime?

I hung up on Niemrin before he could give me any more “helpful” advice. Like he knew what humans wanted any more than I did. They only gave hints and vague assurances when talking about anything. “Enough to get the job done,” “until it’s right,” “get everyone’s needs met,” as if I was supposed to know what that meant if no one would specify.

Sweat prickled on my neck. How could I give Elle sufficient courting gifts if she wouldn’t be specific about what she wanted? What if I gave her inadequate gifts and she didn’t tell me—simply turned me down flat?

She’d be rightfully insulted if I didn’t show her I understood a good mate was wortheverything.

No, no, she was confident; her fingers grabbed every single bill out of my wallet yesterday with no hesitation. She’d tell me if I offered too little and negotiate for more. Surely humans wouldn’t let their prudishness around money extend to something so important as choosing amate. Mates were for life, and humans couldn’t smell treasure the way dragons could. Choosing a mate that couldn’t adequately provide would spell disaster.

Since I could easily provide enough gold for both of us, Elle, with her steel spine and compassion for others, would only need to bring herself. My lids grew heavy. I couldn’t wait to drape her in silks and jewels and show off the fine, bold mate I’d found to everyone.

Movi had met Jorge on one of those courtship apps—Arranged, the same one my sister kept sending me. He’d been anaggressive negotiator. Movi had bragged about it the first time I’d met her human.

But she had done so much of her initial negotiating from behind a screen, and I wanted to see that initial spark of interest from Elle. And thatfire. I’d never have seen Elle’s fire for myself if I’d only looked at a picture. She was all big eyes and blonde hair.

I only hoped she enjoyed being spoiled enough to ignore my shortcomings.

As soon as the clock struck noon, I left for lunch. This time, I walked to Norma’s Kitchen rather than fly.

When I stepped inside, the hostess greeted me. “Welcome back.” It was the same dark-haired Asian woman from yesterday, whose name tag read “Jen.” She gave me a warmer smile than last time, though, like most humans, she didn’t even try to pronounce my name. Every time I came in, she seemed a little less nervous.

The first time I’d come to Norma’s Kitchen, I’d recognized Jen’s low voice immediately as one I’d overheard from high above. That interrupted conversation was why I’d started coming to Norma’s Kitchen, despite the average food and kitschy decor.

“Could you seat me in Elle’s section, please?” I gave her my most polite smile.

Her tan skin paled. “Uh, Elle isn’t in today, but please, take your pick of tables and I’ll have someone with you shortly.”

“That’s okay. I’ll come back next time she’s in.”

Jen blinked at me.

“When would that be?” I asked.

“Um. Uh.” Sweat beaded on her forehead. “I’m afraid I can’t give out staff schedules.”

I tilted my head.

“It’s against policy.” Her words tripped over themselves.

“I see.” I didnotsee. I’d return as many times as it took, so why not tell me?

When I encountered a problem, pulling out my wallet usually fixed it. “Will this jog your memory?” I’d seen enough television to know that the move might work.

A dragon would have simply given me a price for the information, but I didn’t expect a human to be so straightforward, so I pulled out what I hoped was the correct amount.

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