Page 99
“Exactly like Milo’s,” Rowan said.
“Wait…” Troy glared at them. “What is Milo’s hoard?”
“We are!” Ethel called from her chair. “Well…not Ray, but me. And the other seniors living in the old building.”
“You’re…” Troy pointed to her. Frowned. Then his eyebrows flew up. “Milo is the super-secret client with an eccentric hoard who asked for the project to be amended?”
“Aw, I sound so cool!” Milo said.
“Yeah,” Rowan said. “He told me when we first met that I wasn’t allowed to tear the building down and…”
“And so you did everything you could to stall because you can’t deny your mate’s direct command,” Troy finished for him. “Why not just tell us that, man?!”
“Because he’s dumb as fuck and he didn’t know?” Ruben said.
“And Milo didn’t know he was a dragon,” Ray added helpfully.
“There’s no shortage of dumb there,” Ruben said, and Milo caught the way his eyes scanned Ray’s body. Ew. “They can both be dumb.”
“So you want to handle smaller, unique hoards, and Milo’s will be your first project.” Rowan’s mom’s voice was already softer and sweeter than it had been so far.
“I just need a bit more time,” Milo said. “I need to find more work and then register at the Dragonarium. Hopefully it’ll be easier to get a loan as a dragon than as a human.”
“A loan…” Rupert said.
“Why the hell do you need a loan?” Troy asked.
“To pay for the apartments,” Milo said, confused. “I worked it all out with Rowan, so you don’t have to worry about it. I doubt I’ll be able to pay you all at once, but…maybe a payment plan or—”
“Or being mated to the literal owner of the building?” Troy suggested. “Let’s be honest, Rowan was never going to make you pay.”
Rowan shifted suspiciously.
Milo blinked. “I don’t…”
“Milo,” Rowan’s mom said, “honey, you’re family now. And dragons take care of their families. Your hoard will be taken care of. In that building or in any other you fancy. You just say the word.”
“But I can’t—”
“You can,” Raina said. “And you will. You’re Rowan’s. And that means you’re ours too.”
Milo’s eyes watered. He blinked against the assault of tears and looked up at Rowan.
“They’re right,” Rowan said. “You’re mine. Forever. My love. My mate. My family.”
“I’ve never had a family like this,” Milo whispered.
“You do now.”
“And we’ll make sure you regret that fact in five seconds flat!” Ruben said, making them all laugh.
The conversation broke down into smaller ones. Milo watched Ethel chat to Rowan’s mom. He watched Troy and Raina raid Rowan’s snack cupboard. He watched Ruben pull his phone out and type Ray’s number in.
He saw it all.
From the safety of his mate’s arms.
Where he belonged.
