Page 56 of Dragon Unleashed

“If you two are quite finished, I’d appreciate it if you tidied up and left,” a prim voice says over my shoulder.

Chano laughs, hauling me to my feet. He peers down at the librarian, who tugs frantically at the hem of her shirt.

“Me?” he asks sweetly.

“Um, yes, Mister Chano, please.” She looks like she might die of fright if he so much as scowls.

“With pleasure.” Chano winks, snaps his fingers, and the books shelve themselves. The librarian claps her hands in delight, then blushes.

“So, how long do you need? Like an hour, two?” Chano asks.

Naeve turns her most steely gaze on him and advances, knitting needle outstretched.

“You havejustinformed me that my bestie is having her mating ceremony, and you both…” The needle flicks dangerously back and forth between us. “You both want me to coordinate it.”

I nod. “Naeve, I can’t think anyone would do a better job.”

“Then you have to give me more than a few hours.” She sniffs.

“Mating ceremonies typically occur within a week,” Chano points out.

“Then give me a week.”

“Impossible,” Chano says, earning him a poke at nipple height.

“I’m not sure we have a week, Naeve,” I explain.

Concern flashes across her face.

“Fine. Two days. Give me tomorrow and most of Monday. Monday is a good day for a ceremony. The moon’s day. Yes, Monday evening. A full moon too, that will do nicely.” She bustles to her desk, tucks her knitting away, and pulls out her tablet. “Chano, I expect you to turn up, and wear what you’re told. I’ll make sure Lorelei makes good use of this.” Naeve taps the black credit card engraved with the Maverik name. “And get a ring.”

Chano backs out of the room, hands held high. “I’ll askmi mamiif we can useAbuelita’sring, grandma’s ring, if you’d like that, chica?”

I nod and move to follow him.

Naeve coughs. “Not you, madam. Sit your bottom down and look at color schemes with me. Chano can bring your dinner up.”

Laughing, I cozy up beside her. I genuinely don’t care. Or I didn’t think I did until I veto the first three things Naeve suggests.

“It’s a mating ceremony, it’s not a wedding,” I say on a groan when Naeve loads yet another page of stuff I had no idea I would ever need.

“Pfft. You asked me to do it. We’re doing it right.” Naeve’s fingers wander from the keypad, and she toys with the blanket we’re wrapped under.

“Does Farrell know?” she asks hesitantly.

“Not yet. But I’d like the whole allegiance there, so I guess he will soon, huh?” I try to keep my tone light.

“Sugar monkeys!”

I choke on a laugh. If Naeve would just swear sometimes she’d be a lot less ridiculous. She silences me with a poke.

“Lorelei. The Virrey—”

“It’s happening.” My voice sounds far firmer than I feel. “Neither Farrell nor the Virrey are wrecking this.”

“I don’t mean you shouldn’t. By the goddesses, you should have done it months ago. Just know the Virrey will be furious, and Farrell will be disappointed.”

Yeah, sure. Disappointed that he can no longer own me. Not as a wife. His father still owns my ass as my guardian. Forcing a bright smile, I grab Naeve’s tablet and start scrolling through the list of officiants available at short notice. My eyes are unfocused. I can’t take any of it in.

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