Page 141 of Nine-Tenths

"Pleased to meet you all," Dav says, charming as fuck and smiling as if his arms weren't cinched around my waist.

I'm guessing he's feeling possessive after thatdisplaydownstairs. It’s fine that he’s re-grounding himself in mypresence. According to Onatah, that's literally what I'm here for. What's less fine is him octopussing in front of my siblings.

"Oh, pleased to meet you, as well, er, your Lordship," Mum says, blushing and giggling, and jeez Mum. I didn't expect her to be the kind of woman who titters about royalty and peerages. Especially when Dav is so far down in the pecking order.

"Dav, please, Mrs. Levesque," my dragon corrects.

"Then it's Helen to you, dear."

"So polite!" Gem says. "See if you can get your manners to rub off on Colin."

"I'm sure there's other things they rub off."

"Stuart!" Mum scolds, while my blush goes nuclear.

Dav grins wider, evidently delighted to be tortured by my brother.

"I'm so glad you called," Mum says. "DespiteStuart. We've been wanting to meet you."

"And I you," Dav says smoothly. Out of frame, Dav slides his hand down my free arm, to brush his fingers along my pulse point. I try not to shiver.

Bastard.

"So, where were you when you vanished?" Gem asks, looking innocent. "Because, like, itwreckedColin. You know that, right?"

And that's my big sister.

Straight for the kill.

"I am aware," Dav says seriously. His hand tightens around my wrist, warm and reassuring. "And I regret that I cannot say."

"But Colin knows?" Stu asks.

"Hey, I'm right here," I protest. "Also, I can fight my own battles."

"Colin knows," Dav confirms. "And it will not happen again."

"That's why I called you," I break in. "We're, uh... shacking up."

"Shacking up?" Mum repeats, and Dav echoes it in the exact same incredulous tone.

"There's formal dragonish words for it and everything," I rush to say, before Dav can add anything. "But basically it amounts to me and Dav, living together."

"I see," Mum says, clearly not seeing at all.

"What about your apartment?" Stu asks.

"Uhhh…"

"Colin is paid out until the end of the year," Dav says. "At which time his roommate should be back with her fiancé, and they will assume full control of the lease."

I'd be mad at him for arranging that behind my back, except that was sorta the plan with Katiya all along.

"Do you need me to come down with Dad's van?" Stu offers.

"I thank you, no," Dav says. "My people will arrange for Colin's things to be packed. I doubt we'll elect to move, ah, the furniture."

"Yeah, no, it's crap," Stu agrees.