Page 10 of Overbooked at Dragon's Landing

As a tear coursed down his cheek, the dragon put a hand on his arm and gave it a firm squeeze. “Craig, I’m not just yours. I’m both of yours, and you’re both mine.”

If Craig’s jaw dropped any lower, it was going to hit the floor. The poor guy was going to blow.

“If you choose us, he means,” I added, patting the back of his hand, “Fate has offered us all to one another, but that does not negate free will. If you want us, we are yours.”

Chapter Eight

Craig

“I came here to celebrate my birthday at the Dragon Festival,” I said as if nobody in the room knew that. Of course, Trace probably didn’t. Unless Fate provided that information to potential mates.

“Happy Birthday,” he said. “I’m very glad you came, and sounds like a great way to celebrate.”

“Thank you. I wasn’t hoping for good wishes, though, just trying to center myself.” I sucked in a breath, so aware of the shifters on either side of me, it was hard to think. “I am so confused or maybe overwhelmed.”

“That makes perfect sense.” Trace’s voice was deep with a hoarseness so sexy I didn’t even know where to go with that. Did flames make it that way?

A real dragon is sitting with me.

“Ralph said I can decide whether to accept you both as my mates.”

“That’s right.”

“Do you both have the same rights? Can you reject me?”

Trace put his free hand under my chin and tipped it up so I was looking right in those gorgeous brown eyes with the gold in them. But it wasn’t just flecks. More like tiny flames. Wow. “Craig, why would I do that?”

I melted, my core turning molten at what he said. But I had to be honest. “Because I am just an ordinary human who works in a cubicle and you can turn into a dragon and fly up into the sky, breathe fire, and do all manner of other amazing things.”

The corner of his lips twitched. Nice of him not to actually laugh at me. “Well you covered the amazing things I can do, sothere aren’t many more than that, but why should your job be a reason I wouldn’t want to be your mate?”

“I forgot to mention you’re gorgeous. And so is Ralph.”

“He is, yes.” Trace’s gaze went over my head for a moment then returned to me. “But so are you.”

More overwhelmed every minute, I wasn’t sure whether to stay and accept this gigantic dream was real or pinch myself to try to wake up. I faced the wolf shifter. “I have had a huge crush on you for years.”

“I had no idea.” His grip on my hand grew tighter, almost tight enough to hurt, but I didn’t want him to let go. “Why didn’t you ever say anything?”

“Because of what I just said. I assumed you were waiting for your fated and had never even noticed me as a potential partner. I wanted you to be happy.”

“Oh, Craig.” He must have seen me wince because he eased up a little but still held on. “I never had a clue that you felt that way. I was crushing on you all that time, too.”

“And we could have been together. Did you know I was your mate?”

“No.”

He also wanted me, but he didn’t know I was his mate. I absorbed that and went on. “What changed? You say now that the three of us are mates. But when we got here, you liked liked me. Is that fair to say?”

“I guess that is a good way to say it, yes.”

“And now, an hour or so later, we are fated mates. Like your brother. Like the people in the club. Like…the fairy tales?” I turned my hand over and linked our fingers, wanting more contact. “What changed?”

“I have an idea, but I’m not completely sure.”

“I think I can explain,” Trace put in. “If I’m not stepping out of line?”

“If we’re all mates,” I said, “then I don’t see how you could be stepping out of line.”

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