Page 10 of The Loneliest Dragon at Christmas
Avery rested his hands in his lap. Lady Isabelle’s wedding would indeed be lovely. Every party and dinner that his father’s family hosted always was spectacular.
At least, that was what Avery had heard from his father and the gossip papers.
Avery didn’t feel disappointed at not being included. He’d have been shocked if he was. It was a family event.
Avery was not family.
Avery was a mistake. He had no illusions about that.
The duke’s mated wife and Avery’s half-siblings didn’t even know he existed. But he’d seen them in town, sometimes with Duke Azer. Of course, his father never acknowledged Avery in public. That went beyond his duty. He turned his back on Avery if he saw him in public and pretended not to know him.
Avery was his natural child after all. An illegitimate bastard.
Duke Azer had met his mother long before he met, married, and mated the now duchess. The duke made sure Avery understood that.
A mated bond was sacred. To a dragon, mating was more important than marriage. One did not cheat on their mated partner. Never.
Unlike with some other races, a dragon’s mate was ultimately chosen. Whilst a dragon had the ability to sense someone who would be a suitable mate, it was still a choice to bind yourself to someone for life. The bond would be irreversible.
To have a child outside a mated dragon relationship was considered abhorrent by dragon morals. Especially because dragons could not unintentionally have children. Sometimes Avery wondered if his father had panicked during the fifty-year war and decided to have an offspring in case he died during the fighting. Avery had never been brave enough to ask his father for details. So he was just left wondering.
The duke had bought his mother these apartments. No doubt because it was his duty to provide for the mother and offspring. Then she had died within a couple of years after Avery had hatched. After his mother’s death, the ownership of the apartments had been transferred to Avery. His father gave him an allowance and covered his living costs. The duke had paid for nannies, tutors, and staff. The duke had been an excellent provider for Avery. Avery wanted for nothing.
“Do you have any plans for Christmas Day?” Avery asked.
“I assume the usual fanfare. The duchess takes care of all that.” He placed the teacup on the table.
Avery stared at it. Once he’d been foolish enough as a child to ask if he could join his father on Christmas. That had been long ago before the duke met and mated the duchess.
It had been a stupid request. His father had made that clear. Thankfully, he’d grown out of such ridiculously needy behaviour.
And now his father had a real family to look after. Avery was just a by-blow. He was lucky his father provided for him as he did.
“Are your finances in order?”
“Yes,” Avery said. “I have everything I need. Thank you.” Avery was grateful to Duke Azer. His father came by two or three times a month for tea and to check in on him.
“Good. Good.” Duke Azer stood. “I’ll take my leave of you, then. I have a dinner with Isabelle’s future in-laws.” He shook his head. “My daughter has these ideas of us all being one big happy family for Christmas.”
Avery ignored the twinge in his chest.One big happy family.“How lovely.”
The duke grimaced. “Apparently, they’ve all got nephews and nieces and cousins and an excessive number of grandchildren in that family. It will be chaos.”
A lump formed in Avery’s throat as he followed his father to the front door. The butler, Daniel, handed the duke his coat, hat, and walking stick. Then Daniel opened the door. His father stepped out.
“Merry Christmas, Father,” Avery said.
“Yes, yes. You too.” And with that, his father disappeared into the snow without even a backwards glance or a proper goodbye for his son.
CHAPTER 6
Avery stared at the door through which his father had just walked out.
One big happy family.
Duke Azer, the duchess, their children, and now their in-laws, with nieces, nephews, cousins, and grandchildren.
One big happy family.
