Page 25 of Dragon Rivals of New York

Mate. Such a primal word. Less civilized than wife. Less casual than girlfriend or fiancee. And with a deeply seated connotation of procreation. A mate isn’t a woman in her own right. A mate is a womb to bear your young.

The room is quietly loud. Loud with heavy breaths and deep frowns. Loud with uncertainty and hurt. Maybe even fear. I don’t want to hurt them. I really, really don’t. But… mate? Yeah, no.

I wish there wasn’t so much riding on this decision. I wish my choice one way or the other didn’t have consequences for them. But I guess every choice has consequences. We’re all too connected to not affect each other with our decisions.

But why does it always feel like it’s my needs or the other person’s? Always at odds.

If I honor myself by not rushing into a relationship—a throuple, no less—then I’m hurting them and being selfish. But if I choose to be with them, I’m setting aside the commitment I made to myself when I got divorced, I’m ignoring what I need, and swallowing my priorities for another again. How do I know that once we “mate” they won’t turn out just like Manny? Demeaning, demanding, abusive.

“I should go,” Kyro finally says. He looks at Jethro. “Take care of her. Make sure she gets bandaged up and gets some sleep. I’ll pick her up here Monday morning.”

“Pick me up for what?” Not that I’ve decided I’m going to stay here yet.

“It’s my day.” Kyro changes to a dragon in a blink, much faster than last time, and lifts into the air.

“What did he mean?”

“He wanted to divide up the days this week,” Jethro’s sigh lets me know he was not in favor of this idea. “We each get three days to convince you to choose us.”

“I don’t want to choose between you.”

“I know, lovely. And you shouldn’t have to, not when the goddess gave you to both of us.”

“Gave me? As if I have no agency in the matter? No say? Asif I’m nothing but property, a womb to be handed over and filled?”

“No, no.” Jethro’s palms go up as if I have a gun aimed at him.

I do feel pretty murderous. I’m not sure where it came from so suddenly, but I’m exhausted, overwhelmed, tired of the fucking patriarchal thinking that apparently permeates dragon culture just as much as human culture, even if they ascribe it to a goddess.

“I didn’t mean it that way,” Jethro says. “I only meant that I see you as a gift. And I know Kyro does too. Not a gift we deserve or earned, just knowing you is a gift. Whether or not you choose us.”

My shoulders drop, a little of the tension seeping out. “I don’t want to be backed into a corner.”

“I know, lovely, I know.” With slow, intentional movements, he wraps me in his arms. “You don’t have to decide anything right now. Just let us show you that it doesn’t have to be how it was with your ex.”

I nod, unable to speak.

He pulls back, giving me a soft smile. “Let me draw you a bath.”

I return his smile, but the weight of the decision I need tomake pulls down the edges. He picks me up and carries me upstairs.

At the end of the wide hall, there’s a set of massive double doors, half open. He kicks one of them to the side, sending it banging against the wall as he brings me into a bedroom that feels entirely appropriate for the man holding me.

The one time we were intimate was at my house, and despite having been to his apartment since then with Finley and Cyrus, this is the first time I’ve been in his room.

It’s a stunning mix of styles and textures. Modern floor to ceiling sliding doors cover one wall, allowing me to see a view of the sun rising over the city. Delicate florals decorate the ceiling, and a gold chandelier hangs over the bed, which has to be custom made. It’s big enough for at least five people. I wonder if he sometimes sleeps in his dragon form. It’s covered in a dark comforter that looks incredibly soft, with an intricately woven blanket neatly folded at the foot of the bed. Plush elegant rugs line the floor, giving the room a little touch of a bohemian chic feel. None of it should go together, but somehow it works.

Oh, and there are bars of gold stacked neatly along one wall.

I raise my eyebrows and he shrugs. “Dragons like to horde our treasure. It’s an innate instinct.”

“Why gold?”

He smirks. “Loyalty.”

I wonder if Kyro has bars of silver in his room.

Jethro carries me through the room to a bathroom that’s almost as large as the bedroom, with a walk-in shower bigger than I thought possible. It takes up half the room with nozzles on three sides. The bathtub is so big it’s basically a jacuzzi.

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