Page 56 of Ashes and Lilies
“Tell her what you like,” I answered Bianca’s question. I handed her the phone as I tried to ignore the unfamiliar feeling in my stomach at the sight of the many heart emojis Bianca had already placed into the reply slot.
“She won’t judge you,” I told her. “So there’s no need to pretend to be someone you’re not.” For all her complaints, Maria never once made fun of me for my collections.
In fact, she also liked small, cute things. Things that needed protection. One of the marks of an Officer was their instinctual need to defend those weaker than themselves—and that included the fae.
Which was probably why she’d latched on to Bianca.
Bianca’s face was beaming with joy—and there was nothing I wouldn’t do to protect that smile. Besides, if Maria spent more time with Bianca, the lioness would have less time to bother me.
“Good job.” Julian, having already regained his composure, was speaking to Bianca. I glanced at him. It was clear that he, too, realized the benefits of her having such connections. He met my eyes and grimaced.
It would be extremely annoying to have Maria even more involved in our daily lives, even if her focus were elsewhere. But in the end, it would be worth it.
Bianca POV
I finished responding to Maria as we walked back into the living room. “What do you think we’ll do?” I asked, sitting back on the couch. I’d left the options for the evening entirely up to her.
“Probably the usual,” Damen mused. The boys—or at least Titus, Julian, and Damen—had seemingly gotten over their strange reaction to my budding friendship and looked at each other in weird ways instead.
But that wasn’t important.
My finger froze over the send button. “What’s the usual?”
“I hate my life,” Miles grumbled, slumping into the seat beside me.
Titus settled in on my other side, but I was watching the witch. “What’s wrong?” I asked. Could it be this was about Maria? “Should I not talk to her?”
I would be sad, but if my friendship with her made them that uncomfortable…
“No.” Damen rubbed his temples. “It’s not a big deal, baby girl. Don’t worry about it. Maria doesn’t make friends easily. But once you’ve managed to get in, there’s no one more loyal and caring than her.”
“Is she your friend?” I prodded. I knew she was an Officer, but could they be friends too? I hadn’t even thought to ask.
“She’s my cousin,” Titus told me, although he had no way of knowing that I was already aware. “Our fathers are brothers.”
Well, I already knew Titus was a dragon. “Your dad is a lion? How does that work?”
Titus tensed and glanced down as he put his arm on the chair behind me. “My mother was a gazelle, and my father is a lion. He’s also a Proxy Officer—my Paragon Er Bashou. My mother was my Paragon Tongjun, but she is dead. Normally, Shifter forms are passed on paternally. However, the Xing’s shifter form is predefined regardless of genetics.”
Titus was avoiding my question. Why was he so afraid?
“So…” I began.
“I’m a dragon.” He looked away from me, at the ceiling, and finally confessed. “There’s no reason to be afraid,” he said. “It doesn’t change anything.”
When on earth had he gotten so dramatic?
“Okay,” I replied. I mean, even when Maria told me, I wasn’t that surprised. The evidence had been more than overwhelming. First, there was my instinctual fear of him back when we first metand his overbearing, possessive mannerisms. Plus, I was pretty sure dragons liked to collect things. Cute things had to count.
Perhaps he had a secret horde of wealth somewhere. But since he was a dragon, he probably wouldn’t tell me anyway. Smaug had been testy when Bilbo stumbled upon his treasure.
I would learn so much in my research.
“That’s cool.” I smiled at him, petting his arm. How sweet, he’d been so nervous. Perhaps I’d ask him to shift later. It might be fun to compare the physiology of a dragon to other more well-known reptiles.
Sure, I’d never be able to publish my findings. But knowledge was knowledge.
Titus appeared dumbfounded. Meanwhile, the others exchanged unreadable looks. Finally, Julian and Miles nodded at Damen, who turned toward me in confusion. “You’re rather accepting of this. Aren’t you scared?”
