"That fact does not rea.s.sure me." Her grandmother leaned in. "Never ask a question of this nature when we are anywhere but in my rooms. If the staff overheard you...well, I hate to think about your grandfather's reaction."

"Okay. But can you answer the question?"

"We are the ruling cla.s.s, which means we behave differently from the rest of the Clans. Men like your grandfather make laws that affect the fabric of our society. Much the same way you want a medic to believe they are capable of performing miraculous acts of healing, your grandfather and the other Blue males must believe they are capable of ruling our society."

Did that make sense? She wasn't sure. "Lillith, what's your take on the situation?"

"I agree with your grandmother. To make the decisions they have to make, they must believe they know what is best. It makes them difficult to live with at times, but I know Ferrin and your grandfather would do anything within their power to protect us and make sure we're safe."

"It's just not..." Bryn searched for a word. "Democratic."

"I never claimed it was." Her grandmother picked up the teapot and poured. "You're thinking like a human. You need to think like a dragon."

And there it was. Once again, she was reminded that she didn't fit in. She used to fantasize about living in Dragon's Bluff with Valmont, but that bubble had burst after the confrontation with his grandmother. Where did that leave her?

"One of the good things about Ferrin always being off to run the world is I'm able to do what I want around the house."

That didn't sound like a wonderful way to live. It sounded lonely.

"Speaking of doing what I want around the house," Lillith said, "I was hoping the two of you would go shopping with me to look at baby clothes."

"Sounds like fun." Just to be contrary, Bryn added, "Should we send for Jaxon?"

Lillith actually looked conflicted. "I know he'll hate to miss out on spending the day with us, but I think what he's doing now is more important."

Half an hour later Bryn sat in the backseat of one of her grandparents' many SUVs on her way to Dragon's Bluff. Didn't these people worry about gas mileage or the environment?

"Bryn, did you hear me?" her grandmother said.

Oops. "No, sorry, my mind was drifting."

"What were you thinking about?"

This was one of those times where a partial truth would be for the best. "I was thinking about cars and learning to drive."

"Jaxon has his license." Pride was evident in Lillith's voice.

What was the dragon equivalent of the DMV? Dragon of motor vehicles rather than department of motor vehicles? "Good for him. I'm not sure how the whole driver's license thing works."

Lillith blinked. "His father taught him how to drive, and he took the driver's test. How else would it work?"

"Where did he take the test?"

"He scheduled an appointment with the transportation director. I'm not sure where they went driving." Then it was like a lightbulb went off in Lillith's mind. "We should ask Jaxon to teach you to drive."

That had bad idea written all over it. "I'm not sure I'm ready for lessons yet."

Her grandmother nodded, but said nothing. Great. Now if she ever mentioned wanting to learn how to drive, she'd be stuck with Jaxon as a teacher. Talk about a lose-lose situation.

They rode in silence until the driver dropped them off in front of a baby boutique. As far as Bryn could tell, the difference between a store and a boutique was anyone could enter a store, but you had to be buzzed into a boutique. Did the boutiques ever refuse to let anyone in? Maybe you had to make a certain amount of money before they thought you were worth their time.

Inside the store, Lillith kept picking up baby blankets and saying, "Isn't this adorable?"

Bryn figured it was her role to smile and nod. Which was fine. She could do that. Her grandmother disappeared into another part of the store. Lillith didn't seem to notice.

A flash of color across the aisle caught Bryn's eye, and she investigated. Rainbow-colored fish swam on a bright blue ocean of a blanket. She picked it up and carried it back to Lillith. "Look at this. It's bright and happy."

"It's cute." Lillith scanned the store. "Where did you find it?"

Bryn led Lillith over to the section with the ocean-themed mobile and ba.s.sinet.

"The bed is a bit much." Lillith ran her fingers over the mobile. "But I love this."

Bryn's grandmother returned with a pale blue gift bag in hand. "If you promise not to cry, you may open this here."

"I make no such promise." Lillith took the bag and pulled out a pale blue blanket. The middle was soft and fuzzy, but the edges were bound in a silky blue material. The border was decorated with snowflakes.

"It's lovely." Lillith sniffled.

"They have the matching mobile if you'd like to see it." Her grandmother pointed to middle of the boutique. "It's over there."

Lillith shoved the ocean blanket back at Bryn and walked off to investigate the snow-themed section.

"Oh, dear. Now she's looking at that tacky snowman mobile." Her grandmother took off after Lillith.

Manipulate much? Bryn folded the fish blanket and placed it back on the shelf.

One thing for sure, she had a whole new appreciation for her grandmother's ability to corral people into doing what she thought best.

While Lillith and her grandmother were busy picking out snowflake-themed bedding and decorations, Bryn snuck over to the section with items already in gift boxes. A silver baby rattle would make a cute gift for Lillith. They had to be planning a baby shower, right? Didn't all females, no matter the species, come together to celebrate new babies?

"We offer monogramming services," said the saleslady who'd crept up behind Bryn.

Trying not to look like the woman had startled her, Bryn held out the rattle. "Can you put Westgate on the rattle, or is that too long?"

The saleslady took the silver rattle, which was shaped like a miniature barbell, from Bryn. "We'll make it work. Should I put this on your grandmother's account?"

That's when she realized not a single item in the store had a price tag. The phrase "If you have to ask, you can't afford it" took on new meaning. Her grandmother wouldn't care if she put something on her account. Right? Then again, she did like to be made aware of things ahead of time. Bryn dug her Dragon's Bluff credit card out of her purse. The card worked at every store and restaurant in Dragon's Bluff. Hopefully that meant it worked at boutiques, too.

The saleslady accepted the card without looking at Bryn like she was an idiot, so the card must be okay. Thank goodness. Bryn wandered over to where her grandmother was showing off a mobile with snowflakes. Lillith clutched a mobile featuring snowmen wearing multicolored scarves.

"There you are. Help us pick out a mobile for Asher," her grandmother said. "I think this snowflake mobile is timeless and cla.s.sic."

"But I like the snowmen." Lillith sounded on the verge of another set of hormonal tears.

Disagreeing with her grandmother wasn't a good idea. Lillith's bottom lip quivered. "Why not buy both? You can change them in and out so the baby won't be bored."

"Oh, I like that idea." Lillith turned to find a saleslady. One was already walking in their direction with a patient smile plastered on her face. Dealing with women who were liable to burst into tears at any moment could make this job not so much fun.

Bryn's grandmother leaned close. "That was very diplomatic of you."

Time to score some points. "I was afraid she'd cry if I told her I liked the snowflake one better."

Her grandmother puffed up with pride. "Good to know you inherited my taste."

Right. "I bought a silver rattle that they're going to monogram. Speaking of which, I need to get my card back from the saleslady."

"Next time just put it on my account," her grandmother said. "Then you don't have to worry about carrying around a card."

When it was time for lunch, Lillith suggested Fonzoli's. "I've been craving Italian food."

Would Valmont be working? Should she ask for him? Valmont's evil grandma wouldn't poison her food if she was with other people, right?

They'd barely cleared the restaurant door when Valmont appeared out of nowhere. One minute Bryn was standing by the hostess desk. The next minute Valmont was grabbing her hand.

"Pardon me while I borrow your granddaughter." He tugged her back toward the kitchen, not waiting for an acknowledgment from her grandmother.

"What's going on?" Bryn asked.

He didn't answer her, just kept leading her through the kitchen and out the back door to a small enclosed patio with a porch swing. "Sit."

"Since when did you become so bossy?" She sat, preferring to think of it as her own idea.

He sank down on the swing next to her, putting his arm around her. Leaning into him was instinctual. It felt like a weight lifted off her shoulders. She felt his muscles relax.

"There. That's much better." He pushed with his foot, setting the swing in motion. "Now, tell me about your Christmas dinner. We can compare notes, see who had the worst evening."

"I don't want to play that game right now." She laid her head on his shoulder. "This is the most content I've felt in days."

"Fair enough." The swing creaked as they rocked back and forth.

She listened to his heartbeat, counting ten repet.i.tions. "I'd love to stay here all day, but I think my grandmother might come looking for me."

"Can you stay for a visit after you eat?" he asked.

"My answer is yes. We'll have to see what my lunch partners say."

He squeezed her closer for a moment and then released her. "Too bad we can't just run away together."

His words. .h.i.t a target she didn't know existed. She'd said the same words to Zavien several times. He'd never responded in kind. Did Valmont love her? Did she love him? One thing for sure, she wouldn't leave him hanging.

"That's a nice fantasy, but I couldn't do that to my grandparents."

He leaned in close, so his mouth was next to her ear. "Maybe we could just run away for a weekend?"

His hot breath on her ear sent happy shivers through her body. She wanted to kiss him. Was that the same thing as love?

"A weekend retreat would be wonderful." She didn't turn her head to meet his gaze, because their lips would be too close, too tempting. Even though she wanted to, kissing him and then heading inside for lunch with her grandmother would not work. She pushed to her feet and then offered him her hand. "You stole me, and I will not face the consequences alone."

He chuckled. "I'm not sure who's scarier, your grandmother in a foul mood, or Mrs. Westgate and her tears."

"It's a toss-up."

Back in the dining room, Valmont escorted Bryn to the table by the window where the rest of her party sat. And somehow her party had grown by one. Bryn stopped in her tracks and said, "Wait. I changed my mind. Let's go back."

Jaxon scowled at her from where he sat by his mother.

"I didn't know you were joining us," Bryn said.

"Neither did I." His tone was clipped.

Valmont pulled a chair out for Bryn. She sat and reached for her gla.s.s of ice water. "Did you have a productive morning with my grandfather?"

"Small talk?" Jaxon raised a brow. "Is that what we've sunk to?"

Bryn looked at her grandmother. "I deserve points for trying."

"Why don't I bring you a few appetizers while you study the menu?" Valmont suggested, backing away from the table.

"At least he's smart enough to retreat." Jaxon leaned back in his chair, like he was trying to put distance between himself and the three women.

Bryn's grandmother shot him a disapproving look. "I'm not sure why you're unhappy with our company, but you will sit up and speak in a respectful tone."

Jaxon straightened in his chair, but the sour grapes look on his face didn't change. He pointed at Bryn. "Do you know why your grandfather really wanted to speak with me?"

What was he getting at? "I a.s.sumed he was teaching you the secret Directorate member handshake and taking you on a tour of the clubhouse."

"After your grandfather discussed legal issues and demonstrated how they were recorded in the ledgers, he showed me a book of marriage contracts where he already had our names written in for a request of lineage check."

Valmont arrived at that moment bearing trays of cheese sticks and toasted ravioli. He froze with the platters halfway to the table. "What?"

Jaxon actually laughed. "Please, run away with her. I'll pay you."

"That's it." Bryn's grandmother spoke in an ice-cold tone that cut through the room. "Jaxon Westgate, if you ever slight my granddaughter again, you will regret it."

Okay. Jaxon had been a jerk, but he'd been joking. Sort of. Maybe that wasn't the root of her grandmother's concern.

Bryn touched her grandmother's arm. "I promise I will never run away."

White-lipped, her grandmother nodded.

Nervous laughter bubbled from Bryn's throat. "Even if the Directorate sticks me with Jaxon, I won't run away. I may have my knight run him through with a broadsword, but I won't run away."

Her grandmother glanced at Valmont. "You may have your uses, after all."

Valmont grinned. "I live to serve."