Page 2 of No Room at Dragon's Landing

I scanned the paper. We had to make a new menu for the festival week. Not only was it a special time, but every part of our guests’ stay at the Dragon’s Landing B&B had to be memorable—down to the scale-shaped pancakes and the hidden-treasure baked breakfast pockets. “This looks incredible. You’ve done a great job. What about the drinks?”

Our guests expected some kind of spirits with their brunch. We hadn’t had a liquor license at first, but once I realized they wanted some bubbly or maybe a bloody Mary with their eggs Benedict, we got that done.

“Annie is working on the list. She’s got some great ideas but I asked her to pare it down to three specials. We don’t want to overwhelm the staff with too many options.”

“Sounds great. Thanks for all your hard work.”

I strolled the halls, checking some things for myself, for a while. Everything had to be perfect. Sure, we had built up something great, but one negative review, one social media bad experience, and all of that could end up in the toilet.

An hour later, I’d gotten myself worked up about the what-ifs and decided to go to the one place where not a lot of thinking was required.

The laundry area.

“Hey, boss,” Sandra called out over the overpowering hum and buzz of the machines working overtime.

I gave her a smile and a nod of approval. She never grumbled. Worked hard. Arrived early and clocked out when the job was done. Everyone on staff would receive a bonus once the festival was over, success or not. They’d worked their asses off.

Sandra and I fell into a wordless monotony of folding flat sheets and pillowcases together. Meeting at the corners. Hands slapping against the cool metal table.

I didn’t fold fitted sheets. Fitted sheets and their bunched, rounded edges could kiss my whole dragon ass—whole dragon tail.

While we worked, I thought. Sure, there was the ever-present thoughts about my business, but lately my dragon hadbeen restless about another issue—an issue we’d mostly ignored for the last few years.

We craved a mate.

More than our next meal.

More than any treasure or gold.

Almost more than our next breath.

There had to be an omega out there for me and, if I was honest, the reason I’d settled in Dragon’s Landing was because I thought a place full of dragons might hold more than business opportunity—it might be where my mate was.

I believed in Fate and soul mates and would wait for him for however long it took, but I had to admit, my dragon wasn’t as patient. He and I longed for a partner—someone to share a life with, one that went beyond this business.

I wanted what everyone around me seemed to have. A loving mate. An omega to dote on and care for. A family. Hatchlings flittering around, getting into trouble, and making us smile.

All of it.

“Cyrus,” Sandra called out, and I realized the dryers had stopped.

“Yeah?” I asked, putting away the last folded pillowcase.

“Help me get everything out? Or are you done introspecting for the day?” A smile played on her lips. She didn’t judge.

“I’ll help.”

“That’s the spirit. Work makes the day go by faster.” Words of wisdom.

Chapter Two

Boen

I stared at my closed laptop from the kitchen as I sipped on my third cup of lemongrass tea. My agent set up a video call for one this afternoon, so, naturally, I could do nothing that morning but wait for the call.

This was why all my appointments and meetings were first thing in the morning.

Nibbling at a ham and cheese croissant, I groaned wondering what the meeting would be about. Zack knew better than to invite me to a meeting or even a phone call without an agenda or at least a general idea about the subject to be discussed.

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