Page 74 of Always Say Yes to a Dragon

As Jasmine turned to go, I stopped her. “I’m sorry about my siblings. They wanted to surprise me, but they haven’t spent much time around humans, and it didn’t go according to plan.”

Jasmine shot me a thin smile. “Do they do that a lot?”

My wingtips twisted restlessly. “My sister knows better now.” A public set-down and another private conversation this morning had made sure of that. “But my brother…” I took a deep breath and a chance. “He’d like Kilinis for his own. I don’t intend to let that happen.”

Jasmine tilted her head. “Our contract is with you and Niemrin. We can’t simply replace you.”

I pressed my lips together. “If anyone could find a way, he could. But I trust you’ll tell me if he starts sniffing around.” Jasmine didn’t care for sneaks, although sometimes I felt like she was watching me, waiting for me to fuck up.

She studied me for a long moment. “He sent City Council a few messages when you first moved in, but we didn’t entertain him. Bringing in you and Niemrin was controversial enough. I don’t think any of us want to risk adding a third dragon to the mix.”

On that note, Jasmine left. Later that afternoon, she sent over a handful of other interesting proposals that hadn’t had enough “political will” to get off the ground.

I started making plans.

I adjusted my tie. Tonight, Elle would introduce me to her family. Her mother and her mother’s potential mate. It had taken several days for Elle and her mother to agree on Sunday night.

“They’ll like the restaurant?” I asked for the third time.

“The Lighthouse is Mama’s favorite.” Elle turned her back to me, and I zipped up her sundress. As much as I disliked putting clothesonmy mate, the intimacy ignited something warm in my chest.

“But it’s not even fancy,” I said. “They’ll think I don’t value their time or their presence in your life.”

“I promise, they will be more uncomfortable if we go to some fine-dining establishment.” She tugged me toward the door.

I grumbled. “We could always host them here. Or your apartment, if you prefer.”

Elle glanced around my living room. “I don’t know if that’s a great idea either. Your decorations can be a bit much.”

“I have impeccable taste.” Gold and jewels and paintings decorated every available inch.

“Um, sure. It’s just not what they’re used to.”

Elle curled into me on the drive to the restaurant, her shoulders tense, one hand fiddling with the pearl necklace she’d insisted on wearing instead of the rest of the amethyst set I’d given her yesterday.

I continued giving her jewelry, over her objections that I’d already paid for her time in information. She enjoyed this new gift idea she’d come up with, and while I loved seeing her face light up every time I told her something—no one had ever wantedknowledgefrom me—I still wanted to drape her in treasure.

In the car, she fidgeted, and I didn’t like seeing her so subdued. She didn’t look as vibrant as a proper dragon mate should. What if her family thought I was mistreating her? They’d no doubt tell her she could find someone better.

“Her potential mate is joining us as well?” I asked. Elle hadn’t told me much about her mother’s almost-mate, but I wanted to get on both of their good sides.

Elle grimaced. “Please don’t call him that. He’s her boyfriend.”

“But that’s a step to mating, right? You called me your boyfriend yesterday.”

“It can be, but Mama swore off marriage, so not in her case.”

Outside the restaurant, a woman with Elle’s delicate bone structure but none of her height rushed forward to hug Elle. A tall human man with salt-and-pepper hair hung back, eyeing Elle’s clothes, then mine, and finally me.

My shoulders went back, pleased to know someone in Elle’s life was looking out for her.

Both of them wore well-cared-for but mid-tier, off-the-rack clothing. I wondered if they’d be more receptive to suggestions about better places to shop than Diego had been.

After the older woman released Elle, she turned to me. “You must be Az-Az’z—” She paused, took a breath. “Az’zael.” She mangled my name despite her efforts, running the two Z’s together instead of pronouncing them separately. “I’m Betty.”

“Please, call me Az.” I pulled her into a brief hug. Elle had informed me that this was common and expected behavior, although it felt too intimate for a virtual stranger.

“Az. That’s a nice name.” She turned to the man behind her, who was still eying me. “This is Dwayne.”

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