Page 2 of The Mating Magic
“Itis.”
Tristan continued. “The potion is useless to mortals unless one has added other ingredients, specifically luminous water lilies, grown only in the swamp where the girls now are. The amusement park is Swamp World, the same land we have been using for your practice sessions to hone your wizardpowers.”
That land? Terrific. Morecomplications.
“You could have gotten to the point faster,” he toldTristan.
“I like telling a good story.” Tristansmirked.
He growled and snapped his wings. It wasn’t Chase’s fault about the stolen potion, but his own. “I wascareless.”
Tristan nodded. “And now you will take more care to never leave it where mortal hands can obtain it. You are still learning, Drust. The rest of us have had centuries to bewizards.”
He knew of Lacey, but the younger and shorter one was unfamiliar. “The younger one, who isshe?”
The Silver Wizard’s mouth tipped upward in a smile. “Evie isnineteen.”
“And you call them girls?” Drust shook his dragonhead.
“Your race grows to be more than 400 years old. They are girls tome.”
“That’s because you are an old fart,” Drust said, ducking from the bolt of lightning Tristan hurled hisway.
A soft pop in the air and a veil of silver smoke. When it cleared, Xavier, the Crystal Wizard sat on the soft grass besides Tristan with a little girl was in his arms. Cooing, he bounced her on his knee. Drust stared in incredulous disbelief. Always flashy, Xavier wore silver bell bottoms with a silver belt and a silver sequined shirt. The baby wore a onesie that matched her father’s outrageousoutfit.
“You are burning my retinas with your sequins. Must you dress like an old harpie?” Drustgrowled.
“The word is hippie and I’m dressed for the disco, not as a hippie. Get out of the 15thcentury and with the times, dragon,” Xavieradvised.
Xavier threw the baby high into the air to Drust. She laughed and Drust caught her gently in his claws. Sonia looked up at him with large blue eyes, totallyunafraid.
Something in his chest tightened. Such a sweetheart. Living here in Tir Na-nog with the other wizards who had mates and families now reminded him of all his mortallosses.
But he had a long line of descendants. He supposed he should be happy with that. Chase, a younger descendent, had especially proven useful since he’d become an apprentice. Chase aided Drust with patrolling the earth for dragons who broke therules.
Drust grinned at the child, showing rows of sharp, jagged teeth. Sonia laughed and clapped her hands. Truly a child of Tir Na-nog, where an ordinary day was filled with magick and dragons and toys that appeared out ofnowhere.
He flew down to the ground and returned her to her father, and then shifted back into his humanform.
When he was a mortal on earth, he’d had a family of his own, like Xavier and Tristan now did. They were happy and content. He was restless. Oh, his job looking after his people kept him busy, but lately he felt there was something more waiting forhim.
Always keep moving forward, helearned.
Xavier snorted and pointed to the cobalt blue tunic and trousers Drust now wore. “And you say I don’t know how to dress. Have you ever heard of modernclothing?”
“I am old-fashioned,” Drust shot back. “I prefer the clothing I wore when I wasmortal.”
He turned to Tristan. “If these women are trouble, why can I not foresee itmyself?”
The Silver Wizard shrugged. “You are still new to your powers. Do not be so hard on yourself if you miss one or two incidents. Did I not inform you that this is why I’m mentoringyou?”
Xavier bounced the baby on his knee. “Sonia, want to go for a ride with UncleDrust?”
Uncle Drust. He made goo goo eyes with the child. Truly, he was turning soft in his immortality. Drust sighed. He envied Xavier and Tristan their happiness with their mates andbabes.
Then again, he also hadn’t had sex in a long time. Years? He losttrack.
“I don’t have any time for fun,” hemuttered.
