“She is a looker, that’s for sure,” Zed responded. “And she and Jillian seemed to be getting on pretty well, which means she could be around a lot, so you should try to be a bit more blind to her llamas.”

“Thanks, but I am also not stupid.”

Zed carried his supplies to the counter, where he paid cash for them. Burton had not extended credit in the two hundred years he’d been in business. Zed noted that Burton did not so much as nod at his distant cousin in acknowledgement. Bael had been on the outs with most of his family since his relationship with Jillian had gone public. Bael was already considered drole among his family anyway, to the point that Bael was in danger of being disinherited by his grandfather, and being cut off from his portion of the family’s treasure horde. Once it got around that Bael was mated to a woman who was human? It didn’t even matter that Jillian had been transformed into a phoenix, after living so close to the rift’s energy. As far as the Boones were concerned, once human, always human, and Jillian was not worthy of carrying their precious dragon babies or the family gold. Bael was cast out and officially disowned.

Of course, for Bael that just meant he was left his own football-field-sized horde, as opposed to being Bill Gates-rich. But still, it was a big deal to dragons.

Zed watched Bael slide his aviator sunglasses on, as if being cold-shouldered by his own family didn’t gnaw at him. Burton was known to be a grade-A asshole when a beer hit him wrong, and had been personally driven home by Bael on multiple occasions instead of being charged with drunk driving. And yet, here he was, ignoring his cousin like Bael was somehow less of a dragon for falling in love with someone who was smarter and nicer than the awful scaled harridan that had been making Burton’s home life miserable for more than a century.

“Here’s your change, Mr. Mayor. Now please take that person out of my store,” Burton drawled, without looking at Bael.

Zed shoved his change in his pocket. “You’re an asshole, Burton. I’ve always thought so.”

Burton’s mouth fell open as Zed snatched his bag off the counter. Bael followed at a sedate pace as Zed stomped out of the shop.

“That wasn’t necessary,” Bael told him. “I appreciate it, but being called an asshole isn’t gonna change Burton. Also, you probably just lost his vote.”

“Well, it chaps my furry ass to see your family treating you that way when you’re the best of the lot. If they want to know real family shame, they should come meet some of my cousins.”

The corner of Bael’s mouth lifted, which was practically gushing since he wasn’t one for bro hugs.