Page 91 of Always Say Yes to a Dragon

“Elle let me take her flying a few days ago. You can’t getthatfrom a book.”

Udar’s lips thinned. “I suppose not.”

No description in a book could compare to the wind rushing past my ears, the exhilaration of looking down at trees and grass and people hurrying past. It was indescribable.

“I’m surprised you had the courage. Few humans do.” Udar’s gaze returned to the same spot high on my neck where his parents and sister kept eying.

After that awkward meeting with his parents, I realized they were checking for a mating bite, the same way a human might look for a wedding ring, only somehow more judgmental.

“There arelotsof adventurous humans. We call them ‘adrenaline junkies,’” I said. Az had told me that most dragons barely interacted with each other, much less humans. Maybe reminding Udar that other humans existed would get him to back the fuck off.

“And do you consider yourself an ‘adrenaline junkie’?”

Damn. If anything, his slit-pupiled eyes weremorefocused on me. I glanced at the far end of the table, in the vain hope that Az’s parents would notice what was happening and step in, but they were both leaning toward Tika, whose shoulders were drooping by the minute.

Apparently, only Udar escaped their criticism.

I turned back to him. “Not really.” I’dwantedto try things like skydiving and rock climbing, but rent and work always came first.

“Elle isn’t one of your research papers. Go find your own human to study,” Az said from above my head.

Thank god the servers arrived at that moment, placing salads in front of us, refilling wineglasses. I’d barely touched mine, though.

During dinner, Az and I exchanged a few whispered comments about the food, one of his arms slung over the back of my chair. His wings brushed my back.

I couldn’t suppress a little shot of anxiety as Udar’s eyes tracked every touch, though I tried my best to ignore him.

After long minutes of eating in silence, Udar said, “So, Elle, what’s it like living in a dragon-claimed city?”

I glanced at Az, who was back to glaring at Udar. “A lot of stuff is still in flux, because Az and Niemrin are making so many changes, but I’m eager to see where it goes.” Over the past few weeks, I’d learned how much the two of them were implementing, how careful they were being. I was a lot less nervous about getting pushed by the wayside than I’d once been.

“Are you thinking about claiming a city? You’ll need to find a second dragon. Evenyoucan’t hold a city all by yourself,” Az said, his expression tight.

“The idea has crossed my mind. I’m waiting for the right one. Thebestone.”

I blinked. Didn’t dragons claim cities to improve them? So it wouldn’t be all that great until after he’d claimed it.

Then I caught the direction of Udar’s stare and realized we weren’t talking about cities anymore.

Fuck me, this is not how I expected tonight to go.

Judging by the trail of smoke coming out of Az’s nostrils, he was likewise displeased. I squeezed his thigh under the table.

“It’s good for you to be picky, Udar. The best city for one person—dragon—may not be best for another.”

Udar jerked his head back, and Az suppressed a snort of laughter.

“Surely you understand that ‘best’ is obvious?” Udar rocked back in his chair, wings spread carelessly behind him. “I have the second largest library here. Therefore, it’s the second best.”

“Udar’s library is enormous, and perfectly matched to his treasure hoard. It’s the largestandmost well-balanced among any dragon we know.” Rasonu turned away from her conversation long enough to toss that our way, then turned back to her mate and daughter.

Udar preened. Az curved a wing around his body, away from his parents.

I squeezed his thigh again, knowing how much my dragon responded to a little physical affection. His wing wrapped around my shoulder.

“What about the contents?” I asked Udar. He was so far up his own ass, I felt sure I could diffuse things with a well-placed comment.

Az’s arm, still slung across the back of my chair, tightened around my shoulder.

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