Page 9 of The Eternal Choice
“Let me guess,” I tell her. “Nario doesn’t like to take orders from anyone.”
Snapping her fingers she points in my direction. “Bingo. He’s the oldest and was born with a double dose of ego. Believe me when I tell you dragons have a healthy dose, but Nario? Man, he’s a self-centered idiot who thinks the world was created for him. Also why he interfered and made promises that weren’t for him to make.” Wincing she adds, “I guess my other brother screwed up as well.”
Leaning in, Cleo inhales and murmurs, “You carry my brother’s scent, so the knocking you up part is correct. A vampire, huh? Wow. Maybe it’s the reason you two were able to conceive since we’ve been dealing with fertility issues over the past few decades. My little niece or nephew will be half dragon, half vampire. Strong combination.”
There is no judgement or resentment in her voice or on her features. Such a stark contrast to all the other dragons I’ve run into over the past two weeks.
It’s why I find myself saying, “He or she might also have a smidge of something else.”
“Oh, the hint of sweet and clean I caught when I checked your scent?” Cleo stops walking and turns to face me.
“I’m Lilliana Calvino, you might have heard about my mother, Sisley–”
“Sisley Carmeline Leone? Are you freaking shitting me? You’re her daughter? Oh, man. Really?”
There’s no time to object or so much as blink when she launches herself at me and wraps me in a bear hug. There’s a burst of warmth in the center of my heart and it flows outward as I return the hug. After being left by myself for two weeks, getting harsh looks from the single dragon women, it’s definitely a good feeling to be accepted. Especially by the sister of Ernestino.
“Oh.” Cleo gasps and pulls back. “Holy shit. I felt as if you gave me an energy boost or something positive, a vibe of sorts just from hugging you.”
I snort and know what she means. Although, I haven’t experienced the feeling I just had before today.
“You sure know how to give a lonely girl a hug,” I tell her, downplaying it, and in an effort to change the subject I ask, “Do you have something to eat? I’m suddenly craving something sweet.”
Her gaze goes down to my belly. “Cravings already? Come on, let’s head into the kitchen. But after you’ve stuffed your face? We’re heading to the library. I want to check something I read about a few decades ago.”
Her excitement is infective. “Okay, never mind the cravings. What do you want to check in the library?”
“I have to check first to be sure, but it can wait. Come on, my dragon doesn’t like the thought of my little niece or nephew growing hungry.” She tugs on my sleeve and gives me no other option than to follow her in the direction of the kitchen.
Cleo wanders in the direction of a cabinet and pulls out a jar of cookies. “What are you craving? These are white chocolate chip, or did you want a brownie?”
I shove a cookie into my mouth and chew vigorously before I can mumble, “You have brownies? And is it really true you guys chat with your dragon? Like there are two of you rolled into one?”
She purses her lips as if she’s thinking about something.
“Sorry,” I mutter and grab another cookie. “I’ve read a lot about different supernaturals and there’s only a fragment of information about you guys. I’ve read all I could find except nothing really mentions specifics. You know, werewolves shift into wolves and basically don’t talk with their wolf because they are one. We work with centaurs, they turn into half a horse and still stay the same. You mentioning what you did just now makes me think there’s a dragon living inside there with you. Then there’s the flashing of the pupils back and forth, it’s really intriguing.”
Cleo turns to grab some brownies and hands me one when she says, “I think this discussion should be with my brother, who is also clan leader. You’re his mate and I’m sure there’s no need to protect certain details, and yet they aren’t mine to share with you.” She winces. “Sorry.”
I shrug. “I guess I would react the same if the tables were turned.” I bite into the brownie. “Damn, this is good.”
The rejection should sting. Maybe it’s the two weeks and everything connected to it which makes me not give a shit. Besides, these brownies are giving me a sugar high, and I bypass Cleo to get to where she got them from.
Cleo chuckles. “I can make more if you want.”
I hold a bite into the air. “You made these?”
She nods. “Sure did. I could give you the recipe if you like.”
The need to get the hell away from here as soon as I can is still something I will do, and yet I find myself saying, “Nah, I’d rather swing by and have some you made instead of baking some myself.”
Her grin is wide and bright, and maybe that’s the reason I said it. She was the first one to be nice and sweet to me. So, maybe I’m just returning the favor.
“Cleo?” A male voice flows through the house.
Cleo’s grin is still in place when she says, “You’re about to meet my mate.”
I turn to the door and am about to say hi when I’m prevented from doing so by the look in the massive guy’s eyes. They are flashing from normal, human eyes, to slits and back. Desire is clear on his face, and it really gets weird when he slowly prowls in her direction.
