Page 11 of Purple Protector

“Killian!” Birch snapped. “Please tell me you didn’t.”

Killian grinned. “I didn’t, but I did mention that you have a crush on the man.”

“How am I supposed to look Hedley in the eyes after this?”

“I don’t see what the problem is. You do have a crush on Aaron, and I’m pretty sure that he feels the same about you.”

That gave Birch pause. “Really?”

“Don’t tell me you didn’t notice the way he kept glancing at you.”

“I was too busy doing my job, which, if I have to remind you, is protecting you.”

“Aaron wouldn’t hurt a fly.”

That much was true. Everything in his life seemed normal, and after meeting him, Birch was convinced that Aaron was as nice a person as he seemed. He needed to distract Killian, though. “Does Hedley know that the reason he hasn’t met Aaron yet is that you wouldn’t allow it?”

That finally got Killian to stop smirking. “You won’t tell him.”

“Tell him what? That you’re being what I remember he called an overprotective asshole?”

“Let’s go back to Aaron. Will you tell him that you have a crush on him? Now that you know he’s not dangerous, there’s nothing stopping you from being with him.”

Birch groaned. He was never going to win this, was he?

“COME ON, I’LL INTRODUCE you to Palmer and Taylor,” Marlin said.

Aaron frowned because he had no idea who Marlin was talking about. When the dragon seemed to realize it, he gestured at the table where the two humans were sitting.

Aaron’s cheeks flushed. Had Marlin noticed that he was staring? Or maybe he was suggesting it because he thought Aaron would be more comfortable with humans? Aaron didn’t think that was the case. He didn’t know how to talk to dragons, but he didn’t feel uncomfortable at the thought of spending time with them.

Well, except for the two dragons who’d just confronted him.

“So that was Killian’s sister,” he said.

“One of his half-sisters, yes.”

“He has more than one sibling?”

“He has dozens of them.”

Aaron blinked. “I’m sorry?”

“I’m sure you’ll talk about Killian’s father again, so Killian will tell you more about him, but the old king thought that a king could never have enough children. Killian is his mother’s only child, which is why he’s the king, but he has many half-siblings. That includes Pearl.”

“And the dragon with her?”

Marlin snorted. “Juvia wishes she were Killian’s sister. No, she’s just Pearl’s minion. I didn’t know the two of them were friends, but I feel like that relationship is bound to be dangerous to Killian.” He frowned. “I’ll have to tell him about it.”

Aaron sat with Marlin’s words for a moment. They didn’t sound good. He didn’t have anything to do with any of it, but it still worried him.

He was in a vulnerable position. The king had welcomed him, but it was clear that not everyone was happy to have him here. He didn’t know how much influence Pearl had in the clan, but the way she’d been watching him wasn’t good. He’d have to be careful not to be anywhere near her if he could avoid it.

Marlin clasped a hand on Aaron’s shoulder. “Come on before Palmer and Taylor leave.”

Aaron was done eating, and he was eager to talk to people who were in a similar position as he was, so he quickly followed. He was a bit nervous, but he always was when he met new people.

Palmer and Taylor both smiled at Marlin when they saw him. One of them—Aaron still wasn’t sure who was who—got to his feet to shake Marlin’s hand. Marlin seemed amused by the gesture, and Aaron wondered if dragons shook hands when they first met. None of them had shaken his hand except for Killian, but he was the king.

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