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“No, you haven’t.”
“And I’ve got a blood nose.”
“Bring out the smallest violin in the world,” Ethan sneered.
“Ethan. Don’t be so cruel to your brother,” Cressida sobbed. “Can’t you see he’s hurting?”
Min didn’t know why, but she suddenly found herself leaning over the balcony. “Could you please stop fighting?” she said in a loud, firm voice. “It’s not at all pleasant to listen to, and you’re both upsetting your mom.”
There was silence except for the crackle of the burning bushes.
Min stared down at the dragon, who was actually quite cute now that he wasn’t throwing flames. He was a lot younger than Ethan, probably still in his teens. She could feel Ethan’s eyes boring into her from the balcony next door, and see Cressida gaping up at her, open-mouthed.
“Who are you?” Beau said finally, squinting up at her.
“I’m… Minerva.”
“Yeah? What are you doing in Ethan’s apartment?”
“I’m… I’m…” Min firmed her voice again. “I’m Ethan’s girlfriend.”
Beau burst out laughing. “You’re a human.”
“So?”
“Humans don’t date dragons.”
“I do.” Min crossed her arms. “I understand you’ve been out late to a concert, and I’m sure you had a great time, but you’ve woken everyone up, Beau. Now, since you are standing up and your wings look fine to me, and you’ve been breathing fire beautifully from both nostrils, blood nose or not, I think maybe we should all get some sleep,” she finished firmly.
Beau stared up at her, his mouth gaping. “Wh?—”
“Do as my girlfriend says,” Ethan growled.
“Not if you say so, butthead,” Beau gritted back.
“Please don’t start up again,” Min said, firm and clear. Where on earth was this coming from? Never in all her life had she felt so in command of a situation. “We all need to get some sleep. And I’m sure you need yours too, Beau.”
Beau huffed, but it sounded good-natured. “A human dating my scaly brother.” He chuckled and, helping his mom up, he put an arm around her shoulders. “Is it true, Mom?”
“Oh yes dear, and she’s an angel,” Cressida said.
“Well, she sure speaks her mind.” Beau chuckled again, his arm still around his mom, and they ambled toward the house. “Night, Minerva. Night, butthead,” he threw over his shoulder.
Min watched them disappear inside, her lips forming a smile; she already sensed she was going to like Beau. But the fact he’d responded so well to her firm words was quite a surprise. As were the words themselves. She’d never addressed anyone in her life like that before.
Taking a breath, she turned to the eyes that she knew were trained on her.
“Good goddess,” breathed Ethan. “Exactly how did you do that?”
“I don’t know.” She shrugged. “It just came over me.” She felt her lips quirking again. “You were both being pig-headed.”
Ethan shook his head and walked over to where their balconies joined. “Thank you. I’m sorry about that. Beau and I are like oil and water. We don’t mix. And Mom just gets hysterical. If you hadn’t been so calm and firm, that would probably have ended in the whole lawn being set alight. Yet again.”
“Oh dear,” Min said, trying to not be affected by the soft smile edging his mouth, the warmth in his gaze. Or his rather glorious chest, green and gold and iridescent in the light from their rooms.
She saw him haul in a breath before he said, his voice husky, “Thank you again. Good night, Min.”
She watched him go, hugging herself, imagining it was his tail wrapped around her, not her own arms.
