Page 64 of The Loneliest Dragon at Christmas
His father didn’t blink. Didn’t move. He just stared at Avery. The air seemed thick and alive with tension. Avery had never stood up to his father before. He didn’t really know what to do next.
After a few moments, his father asked, “Have you mated with him?”
Avery swallowed. “No.”
His father let out a breath.
Avery took a step towards his father. “Not yet. But I plan to ask him. I’d be proud to be Jack’s mate.”
His father sneered. “A dragon and a dirty witch.” He laughed, a malicious sound. He shook his head in disgust.
Avery took another step towards his father. He could feel his dragon prowling in the back of his head, snarling and snapping. “Don’t insult Jack. He is mine.”
“And what if I refuse to let my son be mated to a baker?”
“What will you do? Disown me? Deny me in public?” Avery almost wanted to laugh. “You’ve never acknowledged me. In fact, I don’t see what the big deal is. It’s not like anyone would know that your bastard son is mated with a witch.”
“You are still my son,” the duke said, voice low and level. “You are a dragon.”
But Avery didn’t back down. “I won’t leave him. He is mine.” The urge to shift surged. He wanted to pounce. He wanted to fight. Even if his father would surely destroy him.
“What if I stopped giving you an allowance and paying for your living expenses? What would you do without me supporting you?”
Avery had no idea. He had no money except that which the duke gave him. He’d have to let Daniel and Cook go. But he’d still have the apartments, since they belonged to him.
And even if he lost everything, he’d still have Jack. And that was all that mattered. “I’ll be fine without it. I choose Jack.”
His father didn’t speak for several seconds. “What if I find another way to stop you?” The threat lingered in his father’s words.
The fire exploded inside him. “You will not harm him!” Avery roared. The walls shook. His claws sprouted. With every ounce of strength, Avery held back his shift.
His father stared at him. His eyes regarded him steadily. “Interesting,” he whispered.
Avery snarled.
The duke looked away from Avery towards the door as if he really didn’t find his raging son a threat. “Was that the servant at the door?”
“What?”
“Giles!” his father snapped.
Daniel appeared a second later.
“Was that servant at the door Jack Berry?” the duke asked.
Daniel glanced to Avery. “Yes, Your Grace.”
“He was here?” Avery looked at his father. “What did you do?”
His father raised a brow. “I sent him away. I thought he was a servant delivering a package.”
Closing his eyes, Avery tried to calm himself. “Where is he now?”
“He left after Giles took the packages,” the duke said.
Without looking at his father, Avery began to strip.
“What are you doing now?” Duke Azer asked.
