Page 44

Cosmo shrugged. “It’s always summer. It’s always beautiful. The sun always shines and the flowers bloom. Everyone is beautiful. Perfect. To be honest, it’s kind of boring. I mean it’s not as…pat as all that, but it is peaceful and simple. You are born in the class that you’re born in. You stay there. You have education, and you learn the things that you’re supposed to learn. I can’t even say that I was isolated, because I had my brothers—so while there might only be three dragon-fae mixes in the summer land, there were three of us. And my father doesn’t seem too unhappy.”

“No?” Hawk was intrigued. “So he went there to be with her?”

“He did. He couldn’t bear the idea of losing his lover, and he couldn’t stand the idea of not seeing his children grow up.” Cosmo leaned hard into him, sipping his tea. “She was out here in this world when she got pregnant. I think she’d come to give Dad some sort of a warning? You know, watch out, the mountain’s gonna explode. Vesuvius was a little tricksy inthose day, you know. But instead of going back home, she stuck around, I guess.”

“Oh my. That’s fascinating. Also, she was pregnant when she went home?”

Cosmo nodded. “Yeah. And then, when they wouldn’t let Dad come, she went to him and threatened to stay in the human world forever and raise her babies. So they changed the rules and let him in.”

“Is he happy?”

“He seems to be pretty satisfied. He makes things, and he takes care of Mom and gardens and lets her boss him around. It’s kind of adorable. Sweet.”

“And they never had any more children.”

Cosmo shook his head. “No. They never came back out into the human world, and I guess that’s how that works. When they come out into this place where the magic is wild and untamed, they can do that thing, and then, boom. You get us.”

And thank goodness for that. “I can’t think of anything I’d want more.”

Cosmo widened his eyes. “Hey, now. Cullen and Corbin and I are practically perfect in every?—”

“Yes, yes. That line, I know.” He handed Cosmo a sandwich. “I just mean that your brothers are very protective. I’m not sure I would wish to contend with even more of that.” He gave Cosmo a warm look. “You, I adore.”

“As you should,” Cosmo said promptly, then flushed again, laughing. “I’m just giving you shit.”

“What on earth would I want with shit?” He tried, and failed, to keep a straight face.

“Don’t make me beat you.” Cosmo popped a piece of sandwich into his mouth, effectively shutting him up. “At some point, I’m sure that my mother will pop out and see us. Dadnever leaves anymore. He used to, but I haven’t seen him do it in forever.”

Curious. “No? Why?”

“Politics. What if they decide once he leaves that they wouldn’t let him come back? He and Mom are a thing. They couldn’t do without each other. Like I said, he’s pretty happy. He makes his wood creatures and potters around in the garden, and… They make each other laugh.”

“We should all hope for something so wonderful.”

“Well, fortunately for you, you have it.” Cosmo threw his arms open with a happy laugh, wrinkling his nose playfully. “I am hilarious.”

“You’re beautiful, and I want to get all dragony with you and wallow in the sand.” Hawk craved it, even.

“I can do that. First, though, let me polish your scales. It’s going to feel so good.”

They put the food away carefully, and both stripped down, heading into the sand, the black dust sliding under their feet. It was perfectly smooth, silken as they walked.

“It gets warmer toward the middle,” he warned. “In fact, in the very center, it’s almost hot.”

Cosmo hummed and nodded. “Noted. Good for scales, not so good for skins, is that what you’re saying?”

“Exactly.”

Cosmo took a kiss, hand sliding down his back, and then they both knelt on the sand. It was so tempting just to stop here and make love.

But honestly, in their human form, sand did get into the most inconvenient places, and that could chafe. Not only that, they always could make love afterward.

He was aching to resume his true form again.

“Ready?” he asked, not wanting to startle Cosmo.

“I am.”