Page 15 of Purple Protector

Birch wanted to die at the thought. He couldn’t have his mother stick her nose into his love life, no matter how nonexistent it was.

“Okay, I’ll talk to Aaron the day you talk to Marlin,” Birch offered.

Curran glared at him. “That’s not funny.”

“I’m not trying to be. You want me to talk to Aaron? I’ll do it, but only with that condition.”

Birch doubted that his brother would ever talk to Marlin. For some reason, he found Marlin intimidating, and he got flustered every time Marlin was around. It was sweet, but since their relationship was none of Birch’s business, he’d never intervened. He hoped that threatening Curran to do just that would keep Curran away from his life and from Aaron.

Unfortunately, he couldn’t swear to it.

Chapter Five

AARON WAS SO NERVOUS that he was almost climbing the walls as he followed Marlin through the palace. Today was the day. He was about to meet Hedley.

He was almost as nervous as he’d been when meeting Killian. Hedley was human, but he was rich and powerful. It wasn’t only that he was Killian’s consort. Hedley was all that of his own accord. Aaron hadn’t followed his career or anything like that, but everyone in the human world had heard about him and his company.

A lot of people had been shocked when Hedley had decided to abandon his life and move in with a dragon clan. They were even more shocked when they found out that he’d fallen in love with the king. Some idiots thought he’d done it on purpose and had seduced him, but from the way Killian talked about Hedley, Aaron didn’t think so. Besides, how would Hedley have forced Killian to fall for him? No, theirs was a genuine relationship, and Aaron couldn’t wait to see the two of them together.

One of his articles would focus on the way they’d met and fallen in love, and he hoped to show people that it was possible to have a relationship with the dragon. Hedley and Killian weren’t the only proof of that. Aaron had heard about the Ogorth clan and the many mixed couples there, and he wondered if maybe he’d have the opportunity to interview those people, too. He supposed that if his articles went well, he’d have more leverage if he decided to ask for it.

Today, the interview would focus on Hedley and the many changes in his recent life. Aaron had expected Marlin to lead him back to Killian’s office, but he didn’t. They ended up in the same hallway, but he knocked on a different door.

“Come in,” a voice called out.

Marlin opened the door, shaking his head. “You know Tito would be pissed if he heard you were answering the door yourself.”

“What Tito doesn’t know can’t hurt him.”

“He’s not wrong, though. You do need an assistant.”

Aaron followed Marlin into the office. The chair behind the desk was empty, and Hedley stood next to an armchair by the window. There was a small sitting area there, and after Marlin nodded, Aaron moved that way.

His eyes widened when he saw the coffee table. A small nest had been placed there, and two eggs were settled in the middle of it. Aaron had never seen dragon eggs, but he knew that hunters had trafficked many of them over the years. He was glad that these eggs were safe and that the babies inside of them would be raised in a loving environment.

Hedley took a few steps toward Aaron, his hands held out. “It’s a pleasure to meet you, Aaron,” he said. “I’ve heard good things from Killian, Marlin, and Birch.”

Marlin coughed, which Aaron was pretty sure hid something he’d just said, but he decided to ignore it. From what he’d seen, Birch and Marlin were very much part of Killian and Hedley’s family, which explained how close they all were.

“It’s a pleasure to meet you,” Aaron said with an awkward tilt of the head.

“Please don’t start calling me your Majesty or anything like that. I have enough of it from the dragons.”

“I’ve never called you your Majesty,” Marlin grumbled.

Hedley grinned at him. “You’re right. I should probably tell Tito.”

“You wouldn’t dare.”

“I love you too much to sic him on you. Don’t tempt me, though.” He turned back to Aaron. “Why don’t we sit down?”

Aaron obeyed, keeping a respectful distance from the eggs. These had to be the children Hedley and Killian had adopted. Killian had mentioned them, but Aaron had never thought he would be introduced to them. Well, there wasn’t anyone to be introduced to right now, but still. He was sitting next to the future king and their sibling.

He couldn’t look away. He’d always wanted children, but he wouldn’t be able to afford to have them. Adoption was expensive, and he was single. He suspected that even if he wasn’t, it wouldn’t be something he could afford.

“You like children?” Hedley asked.

“I do,” Aaron confirmed. “Do you know when they’re supposed to hatch?”

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