Page 182 of Nine-Tenths

"Invitations of that sort must come from the queen," Paulette says. "And we've rather tipped our hand."

"Shit," I say.

"Shit all around," Paulette agrees with me in her crisp accent, and joins Owain as they head up to the bar to fetch a round.

"So what now?"

"We wait for it to blow over," Dav says. "Come back to it when Simcoe thinks we've given up."

"How long will that take?"

"A decade, maybe a bit more," Dav says slowly.

"A decade," I repeat, aghast.

"You'll live to see it," Dav assures me.

"Yeah, but maybe not my Mum. Maybe not myfriends. All thegoodyou could do right now, and we're just supposed to sit around with our thumbs up our asses? Fucking hell."

Dav wraps his arms around me and sticks his face in my neck, soothing. It’s soporific, the heat and the weight of my dragon curled around me, protecting me from the outside world and all its aggravations.

"I don't like it any more than you do," Dav assures me.

"Yeah." I run my palm along his jaw.

He needs a shave.

And maybe to sleep more. His puffy eyes rival Paulette's.

I've been sleeping like a baby. A happy contented full baby, the way I have been every night since Dav and I started having sex. Suddenly, I feel guilty for it. Here I am, getting every advantage of swapping spit with my lover, while every other person I love is dyingby inches and I… I just can't… it's notfair.

"Excuse me," I husk out, and head to the door with no clear thoughts beyond needing a few minutes of fresh air to get my shit back together.

"Good morning,mo leanbh!" Mum's voice trills across the line almost before I realize that I've called her. "How's Cardiff?"

"Damp, Mummers," I tell her honestly.

For a brief millisecond, I consider telling Mum everything. About the enzymes, and the way that Simcoe whipped Dav, and how I'm trapped in a relationship with a man I love but in a structure we resent. About how the dragons who hoard us all could cure her of her need for hearing aids, and knowingly, selfishly, choose not to. About how they probably could have saved Dad—

But it’s not fair to dump it on her.

Ignorance can actually sometimes be bliss.

Instead, I punch the wall until it starts to hurt.

With my right hand, of course.

Wouldn't want to damage my new ring.

"Colin? What was that sound?"

"Nothing—some drunks on the street," I lie as I shake out my hand.

"Tell me about what you're up to,mo leanbh," Mum hedges, not believing me. I tell her about the gardens at St. Ffagan’s, and what little of the castle I can see across the road, rising above a stone wall topping a grassy berm, and Dav's forthcoming sibling.

"Haven't gotten out to see the sights, yet?"

"Dragons aren't big on straying too far from home," I admit. "Though maybe I can convince Dav to show me all the places they filmedDoctor Who."

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