Page 46 of Always Say Yes to a Dragon

“We heard the other humans talking about you.” The male wore an embroidered and bedazzled suit. His scales were a deep, rich, purple.

Around the screeching in my head, I managed to hold out my hand. “Yes. Nice to meet you both.”

The female reached out a copper-scaled hand to touch mine, then dropped it like it might bite her. “I’m Tika. Az’zael’s sister. That’s Udar, our brother.”

I nearly choked on my own spit.

11

Elle

Az’s sister?“He didn’t mention that you’d be here.” I touched the necklace she couldn’t stop looking at. What must she think of me?

“We wanted to surprise him. We didn’t realize he had a surprise of his own.” Her gaze switched to my bracelet. “Do you have the rest of the set?”

I blinked at her. “The set?”

Udar grunted, like his sister’s meaning should have been obvious. “The diamond necklace. Do you have it?”

“Uh.” I drank the dregs of my champagne flute. “The necklace is at home.”

The edges of Tika’s thin lips curled up in obvious approval. “What about the rest of the amethyst set?”

“I didn’t realize it was part of a set.” I grabbed a new glass of champagne off a nearby server’s tray. This seemed worth breaking my one-drink rule for.

“He didn’t offer it to you?” Udar leaned forward. “Don’t tell me our expert little gold-sniffer is acting like afrumser.”

The insult sounded familiar. Something about being cheap? “He just gave me the necklace tonight.” The champagne flute shook in my hands.

Tika pinched Udar’s arm, then sent me a reassuring look. “So he’ll give you the rest later.”

Unlikely. I took a large sip of champagne. “He’s very generous.” Sweat gathered on my palms and the back of my neck.

“I’ve heard humans are quite different from dragons,” Udar said, ignoring Tika’s glare. “Is it true that it can take you years to settle on a mate?” His attention refocused high on the side of my neck, right below my jawline.

“Uh, yes.” Why was he asking?

Udar’s golden eyes glowed. “How long have you been seeing Az? It can’t have been that long. He’s terrible at keeping secrets.”

“Three days?” I cringed and braced for another snide comment from Udar.

“That’s nothing, to you. Why, you’ve probably barely gotten your human mind around dragons in the first place. Why don’t you explore the field a little bit before you settle? That’s what humans call it, right? Settling?” He said this while smoothing one hand down his fitted suit, as if to draw my eye to the fine clothing and its close cut.

I narrowed my eyes at him. What thefuck? Was Az’s brother hitting on me?

Tika elbowed Udar. “Stop it. No one thinks you’re funny.” She turned to me with a strained laugh. “He’s such a joker. Ignore him.”

“Um. Sure.” I slugged back another mouthful of champagne.

“I’m sure Az has showered you with gifts,” Tika said, shooting Udar another pointed look. “I hope you demanded a lot.”

I blinked. “Excuse me?” Did they not get along? Was this Tika’s version of sibling rivalry? Obviously, Udar’s was to try and steal anything Az already had.

“Don’t be so tedious, Tika. Everyone knows humans are too prudish about money to negotiate properly. If you were mine, I wouldn’t even make you ask. I’d simply hand it to you.”

I gaped at him. He wasblatantlytrying to buy me in the middle of a gala while his brother’s back was turned. “That’s exactly what Az did.” Mostly.

Udar’s nostrils flared, releasing a small puff of smoke. He opened his mouth.

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