Chapter Twenty-Four #2
Except I was. Because apparently dragons have these things called heart stones that appear when they find their Treasure (that’s me, which is still completely insane), and Rux’s appeared the second he spotted me through the window.
Then he chased me through town like some kind of ginger-haired stalker, except he was actually just panicking because dragons are terrible at modern social interaction.
Sam paused, smiling as he imagined Rux describing the scene the night before.
Then they staked out the coffee shop in a Range Rover, for twenty-five minutes, hiding behind an upside-down newspaper, until the police made them leave.
The words poured out faster than he could think. Every ridiculous, impossible moment. The anonymous gifts, Maya’s insistence that someone was courting him, Basil’s violent protection, and Rux’s six coffees and terrible conversation about laminate flooring.
Mabon tried to neg me. He read about it on some pickup artist website, apparently, so he called my maple latte “basic.” Then he panicked when I looked hurt, before throwing money at me and fleeing the café.
Urien planted me a garden, spelling out my name in flowers. Because he’s a dragon, it was only visible from the air, and apparently, he forgot humans can’t fly.
Then they invited me to dinner, and cooked enough food for a wedding reception, served it on beautiful porcelain fit for royalty, and then watched me eat like my opinion on risotto would determine the fate of nations.
Sam stopped typing, flexing his fingers, and then rubbing his chin.
When I accused them of making fun of me - because why else would three gorgeous, powerful beings want someone like me - they looked devastated, as if the idea that I didn’t believe they wanted me was the worst thing I could’ve said.
Then they showed me their heart stones, glowing in their chests, pulsing in sync.
Then they shifted into dragons.
Then they told me I could refuse the bond and they’d love me anyway, for however long I’d let them.
His hands shook slightly on the keys.
I don’t know what I’m doing. I don’t know if this is real or if I’m having some kind of breakdown. But I hugged them, all three of them, and I promised to try.
Because maybe - just maybe - someone finally chose me. Three someones, actually… Who happen to be dragons.
Sam saved the document and closed his laptop.
/~/~/~/~/
The overflowing laundry basket wasn’t going to empty itself. Dragons or no dragons, socks still needed washing.
Sam hauled the basket downstairs, Basil weaving between his ankles like he was determined to cause a fatal accident. Apparently, surviving three fantastical predators wasn’t enough - Sam’s cat still wanted him dead.
“You’re lucky you’re cute,” Sam muttered, dumping clothes into the machine. Basil chirped and headbutted his shin.
Sam measured detergent, started the cycle, and immediately forgot what he was doing because his brain decided now was the right time to replay Rux’s dragon form - the size of him and the way his scales caught the moonlight.
Sam grabbed the broom and swept the kitchen floor. Except then he kept thinking about Mabon’s darker scales, the way they’d rippled when he moved, and how his dragon eyes had stayed focused on Sam the entire time. So patient and kind.
The dustpan clattered to the floor.
“Get it together,” Sam told himself as he picked it up.
The dishes weren’t going to wash themselves either, and as it was a perfectly simple, mundane chore, Sam felt he could handle it.
Except Sam’s hands kept pausing mid-scrub because he kept remembering Urien’s silver-blue dragon purring under his touch, the sound vibrating through Sam’s entire body like thunder, only so much gentler.
Sighing, drying the last plate, Sam put it away.
He made his bed, which took three attempts because Sam kept wondering what their estate looked like during the day.
If Urien’s garden was as extensive as his skill suggested, if Mabon’s library was actually full of first editions, and if Rux’s kitchen had one of those fancy ranges that Sam had drooled over in magazine spreads.
He vacuumed the sitting room while Basil supervised from the sofa, judging Sam’s technique as he always did. Basil wasn’t a fan of the vacuum cleaner.
“Did I mention they’re dragons?” Sam made sure the vacuum didn’t get too close to Basil’s tail. “Ancient, powerful, magical dragons who can shift forms and have lived longer than you or I could imagine, and can you believe it? They want me.”
Basil yawned.
“You’re being super helpful as always, thanks.”
Sam emptied the vacuum, folded the throw blanket, and straightened the cushions. Normal everyday human chores. Except nothing felt normal anymore because yesterday morning, he’d been ordinary Sam Brown, and now he was apparently a Treasure with a capital T.
His phone buzzed, and Sam fumbled as he grabbed it, almost dropping it.
Rux: Coffee tomorrow after you finish your shift? An actual date this time. We promise not to order seventeen drinks. Or maybe we will. We’re still figuring this out. All three of us want to be there. If that’s okay?
Sam’s heart did a double flip, and his thumbs moved before he could overthink it.
Sam: It’s a date. All three of you. But maybe just order one coffee each this time
Three thumbs-up emojis appeared immediately.
Then a second text from Rux. We’ll try, but no promises. Mabon’s already planning to order two to make the date last longer
Sam grinned at his phone like an idiot.
Basil jumped down from the sofa and wound around Sam’s ankles again, purring louder as if to attract his attention.
“Yeah,” Sam said softly. “I know, it’s insane, but I have a date after work tomorrow.”
The cat’s purr grew louder. Sam was going to take that as a ringing endorsement of the idea.