Dragon Maid by Ann Gimpel Page A

has a hoard. Tarika is ancient, one of the First Born. Ye peeked into her mind. Kheladin’s piles of gold pale in comparison to her wealth.”
    “But that’s your money.” Jonathan tried for dignity. “I had no idea it existed, probably because Kheladin’s the first dragon I ever met and I—”
    “Hush. Whether ye work or no is up to you.”
    “You never answered me about whether we’re wed.”
    “I dinna because the answer depends which set of laws ye pick. If ye choose the covenant that allows dragon shifters to mate with humans, then aye, we are wed since the dragon gifted you with her mating bite. If ye pick common law, then we would need someone to marry us, but if we were together long enough, it wouldna matter.”
    “They have to be done fucking by now.” Lachlan’s voice sounded like it was coming from underwater.
    “Maggie and Britta.” Kheladin spoke sharply. “Dismantle your combined working, or I’ll do it for you.”
    “Looks like we’re about to have company.” Jonathan tugged some of the clothing beneath them into a rough cover.
    The magic surrounding them dissipated in multicolored ribbons of light. Lachlan bounded to their side, nose twitching. “Excellent. I smell sex.”
    “You’re about as subtle as a freight train,” Maggie snarked.
    “’Tis a good thing I can catch your meaning from context, lass.” He turned his attention to Jonathan and Britta. “’Twould be a luxury to leave you the joy of your nuptial bed, but the Morrigan’s been battering against Kheladin’s wards this past half hour.”
    Britta pushed herself to a sit. “Have we time for Tarika and I to separate and re-bond?”
    Kheladin stalked near. “Aye, if the battle crow could have found her way through, she’d already be here. Only problem is, we’ll face her once we leave.”
    “Are all the witches still here?” Jonathan asked.
    “Up until a few minutes ago.” Maggie chortled. “That aunt of yours all but danced a jig once she knew the two of you were, um, intimate.”
    Lachlan rolled his eyes. “Call a spade a spade, lass. ’Tisn’t intimate , ’tis fucking.”
    “You interrupted me,” Maggie sputtered. Lachlan nuzzled her neck. She leaned into him before focusing her gaze on Jonathan and Britta. “Mauvreen wanted to make sure you knew she’d gone back to her house in Fort William. My grandmother’s there too. Anyway, she wants the two of you to visit as soon as possible.
    “Here.” Maggie handed Britta a stack of clothes with tennis shoes on top. “After we interrupted you the first time, but before the Morrigan showed up, I made a quick trip home, courtesy of an assist from Lachlan’s magic. I picked out a few things for you to wear. Shoes, too, though I have no idea if they’ll fit.”
    “Thank you.” Britta sorted through the armful, got to her feet, and dressed. Since she wasn’t modest in front of the group assembled around their bed, Jonathan took a deep breath and shinnied back into his shorts and pants. If she can do it, so can I. He hunted down his boots and tugged them on before getting to his feet.
    “I’m surprised the other witches left,” he said. “Weren’t they worried the Morrigan would hassle them?”
    “We discussed it,” Kheladin rumbled, his voice even deeper than usual. “The tall one ye arrived with left first with two of her witches. The others stood ready to defend them, but it wasna necessary.”
    “Hmph,” Britta snapped. “’Twould appear ’tis only dragon shifters—and our mates—that interest the battle crow.”
    Maggie smiled brightly at Jonathan. “How about if you spend some time with me? It will give the dragons, and their bond mates, an opportunity to alter the bonding between Britta and Tarika.”
    Jonathan looked longingly at Britta. He didn’t want to let her out of his sight. If there was a place he could take her where the rest of the world simply faded into non-existence, he’d do it.
    “Aye.” Britta had clearly been in