Deven and the Dragon - Eliot Grayson Page 0,77

Ana and Lord Luca stood in the dining-room door halfway down the hall, draped in bright silks in a variety of colors — and God only knew what his aunt would think of that. At least the dragons were clothed.

Phina and George were wearing their best, as befitted visiting a dragon’s castle, but they looked drab and shabby next to their counterparts. Phina would be embarrassed. And fuck, Fiora hadn’t even met them yet.

Deven remembered shouting to his aunt that he’d be back later.

Well, apparently later had come and gone. Fuck.

“It won’t be so bad,” Fiora crooned, imitating Deven’s voice. Badly, too, the little bastard. Deven did not sound like that. “How bad can it be? Deven? Hmm?”

“I hate you almost as much as I love you right now.”

Fiora patted his arm. “I don’t believe you.”

“You’re right,” Deven grumbled, and he took a deep breath, pulling Fiora along down the hall. “Aunt Phina, Uncle George,” he called. “What are you doing here?”

Five heads swiveled in unison, and all five pairs of eyes were glaring in lesser or greater measure. “What am I doing here?” Phina demanded. “What am I doing here? You ran off yesterday as if you were being chased by a pack of rabid wolves, didn’t send word, and didn’t come back. Where else do you think I’d be?”

“At home minding your own — Phina, I’m sorry,” Deven corrected himself quickly. “Fiora wasn’t well. I’d have sent you a note this afternoon.”

Lord Luca was starting to chuckle, damn him, and Lady Ana was looking…interested. “These must be your aunt and uncle, Mr. Clifton,” she said. “I see they are also not so pleased with you.”

Phina looked to Lady Ana, frowning. “Also not so pleased? What has he done now?”

“Aunt Phina —”

“Thank you so much for calling on me,” Fiora put in — loudly. He tugged Deven forward, lifting his chin and instantly transforming, to Deven’s amazement and slight arousal, from Deven’s teasing lover into the lord of the manor. “I am honored to meet Deven’s family.”

Phina tore her eyes away from Lady Ana. “Likewise,” she said after a moment. “I mean, thank you.”

The next few minutes passed in a blur. At Fiora’s not-so-subtly hissed prompt of, “Well, Deven?” he introduced his aunt and uncle. Fiora smiled and shook their hands and made George laugh. Fiora’s parents glowered at Deven, but they were as courteous to his family as if they’d been a duke and duchess.

Andrei had made himself scarce, but he reappeared a few moments later and announced lunch, just as though Deven’s aunt and uncle had been expected guests. They all trailed into the dining room after him.

Lady Ana swept to the head of the table as if no one could doubt her right to it, her many layers of silk rustling, and Lord Luca caught Fiora by the sleeve, separating him from Deven and pulling him into a seat beside Lord Luca’s own place at the foot. Andrei chivvied Deven down the other side of the table before he could protest. This left Deven beside Lady Ana, to his horror, with Fiora across from him and all the way at the other end by his father. Phina and George were across from Deven and Andrei.

Fred and another footman brought in a ham and a great many salads, plates were filled, and then a strange silence fell. Fiora was staring at his plate and toying with a bit of cucumber. Well, there wouldn’t be any help there. Apparently he’d used up his courage in the hall. Deven dared to take a bite of ham. He was starving.

“This is a lovely meal,” Aunt Phina said from across the table. She shot Deven a look he couldn’t quite interpret, but that could have ranged from What have you gotten us into to You wait until I get you alone, Deven.

“You’re most welcome,” Lady Ana said graciously. “We are charmed to have your company in our castle.”

Fiora rolled his eyes and let out a soft snort — a tactical error, since his mother’s attention immediately snapped to him.

“Do you not appreciate the opportunity to entertain your…lover’s family, Fiora?” she asked sweetly.

“I think the lad’s pointing out that it’s his castle, not yours,” George put in, and Deven nearly spat out a mouthful of radish. “And lover? Really? What the hell have I miss— Ow! Deven, don’t kick me!”

“That was me,” Phina said. “And you deserved it. Lover?” she added. “Deven, you’re going to be explaining yourself! Lord Fiora was your