Little Lords (The Dragon Demigods Book 3)

by Charlene Hartnady

  Her mother frowns, looking from me to Shannon and back again. “I assumed… Well, I assumed that since you are living together that you would at least be engaged.” She pointedly looks at Shannon’s hand. I need to get a ring, and I need to propose.

  “Night and I are living together…that’s it. I’m happy. I’m not moving back.”

  “We’ll discuss it later. Please can we go outside to the patio.” She looks at Cody, who has just sat down on the carpet at Shannon’s feet. “Luncheon will be served in the next five minutes.” She looks at the delicate watch on her wrist.

  “I don’t think we should be pushing Shannon into marriage, Barb,” Everett says. He doesn’t like me at all. He turns his disapproving stare on me, eyes narrow. Then they drop to the tattoo on my neck, and he looks like he might pop a coronary at any second. Dislikes me…huh! He fucking detests me. “What’s the name of your funeral home company?” he asks me.

  “Stop, dad! No more about the family business. Night isn’t involved in it, and he will never be involved. He and his father don’t get along.”

  “Why not?” Her father asks. He looks at me like I’m the problem. Maybe I should tell him that my father is Hades. I don’t think that there is a soul on the planet who can get along with the fucking devil. I bite my tongue.

  “Let’s go outside,” Barbara says again. She clasps my arm briefly and smiles at me before letting go. I’ve won her mother over. That’s something. I think.

  I put my arm around Shannon and give her a quick kiss on the temple. I can see she’s getting agitated.

  “What’s the big deal?” her father mutters. “I want to know the name of the business.” He shrugs.

  “Everett…leave it alone,” Barbara chides.

  “Why? It’s not a big deal,” he repeats, muttering more to himself than to us.

  It takes a while to walk through the house. It’s fucking massive. Not my style, but I can see that plenty of money went into this place.

  Barbara called it an estate…and it is! We finally make it to the patio. The back yard must be several acres of manicured—

  Shannon’s step falters, and I hear her suck in a breath. I turn to her. Her eyes are wide in…disbelief. I follow her line of sight.

  What the fuck?

  I probably said the words out loud because Shannon’s dad turns back and glares at me. I have a potty mouth. It is what it is. In this situation, a cuss word or two is appropriate. Especially when I see who’s sitting at the table.

  “I invited Molly.” Barbara claps her hands together in pure delight. She is looking at Shannon, who has turned pale. “The two of you were always as thick as thieves, and I felt you could both do with the support.” Barbara looks back at Molly. “I’m hoping you can reconnect.”

  Molly stands up. She is smiling. She looks nothing like she did at the charity ball. She’s wearing a dress that reminds me of something the First Lady would wear for a visit to an orphanage. It’s beige with a collar and a thin, tan belt. She has a cardigan slung over her shoulders. Her hair is up in a ponytail styled to look effortless but clearly wasn’t, since there’s not a hair out of place. Her earrings are a single pearl on each lobe. That seems to be her only jewelry except for a watch. The engagement ring is gone. “Hi, Shan. It’s good to see you.” She looks my way. “You too…um…” Her eyes lift. “Night…if I recall correctly?”

  “Hi, Molly,” Shannon answers. “I thought this was a family get-together,” she addresses her mom.

  “Molly is family,” Barbara says. “Come along. There’s some lovely lemon iced tea.”

  “I might pour myself a whiskey,” Everett mutters. For the first time, I am in agreement with him. Whiskey sounds good! This is fucked-up. I’m not sure how to handle the situation. I take Shannon’s hand and try to give her what I hope is a reassuring look.

  “It’s only half-past twelve, Everett.” Barbara shakes her head. “I’ll pour you an iced tea. Let’s sit down so that Patricia can bring us our appetizers.”

  “Roger couldn’t make it then?” Shannon asks Molly. My girl just threw a punch. I love it! Go, Shannon!

  Molly visibly recoils, but it doesn’t take her more than a few seconds to pull herself together. “Roger and I are no longer together.” She swallows thickly. “You need to know that he came to me, Shan. He pursued me and—”

  “Let’s put all of that nastiness aside, shall we?” Barbara interrupts, looking pointedly at Shannon.

  “I hope we can still be friends,” Molly says to Shannon, looking so sincere I’m almost inclined to believe her.

  I feel Shannon stiffen. “Of course.” She nods once. “Roger is…well, he’s an asshole.”

  Molly laughs softly, putting a hand to her ridiculous chest. I still can’t get over the size of her fake tits.

  “Shannon!” her mother scolds. “Manners, young lady!”

  “Manners? Really, mom? That prick drove drunk and killed someone, and then still had the audacity to pin it on me!”

  “Roger turned himself in. He admitted to—” Barbara starts.

  “I can’t believe you’re defending him!” Shannon yells. I don’t blame her for being mad. “He didn’t admit to anything. He only turned himself in after new evidence came to light. He let me take the fall for something he did, and you’re defending him. My only hope is that his father is arrested soon as well.”

  “Nonsense,” her father snorts. “Archie was trying to protect his boy…that’s all.”

  I feel sick for Shannon. I clench my jaw to keep from speaking my mind. Shannon has this under control. I will step in if I have to.

  “What about me?” I hear how soft and hurt my girl sounds, and it fucking kills me. I literally have to bite my tongue.

  “Now, now, Shannon,” her dad says, taking a step towards us. He touches the side of her arm. The exchange is awkward. “I’m glad Roger will have to take responsibility for what he did. I’m glad our family name has been cleared. I do not think Archie should be dragged into this. We protected you. Your mother and I had to jump through some serious hoops to keep you out of prison. I had to call in a massive favor. Archie was doing the same for Roger.”

  “That’s rubbish!” Shannon pushes out.

  “Can we stop arguing, please,” Barbara pleads. “We have a guest.” Barbara looks at Molly.

  Guest. Singular.

  What am I, chopped liver?

  “Thanks, Mrs. Newton. As long as you know that I understand where you’re coming from, Shannon,” Molly says. “I feel the same about Roger,” she adds. “I had no idea he was framing you.” She shakes her head. “I swear, if I had known, I would have said something. I ended things as soon as I found out.”

  “Let’s sit,” Barbara suggests. “I’m pouring iced tea for everyone.”

  “I’m pouring myself a whiskey, and I think we might need a couple of gin and tonics,” Everett says.

  “I would love a gin and tonic,” Molly sighs.

  “Gin and tonics for everyone, then,” Barbara concedes, nodding. She has her smile firmly back in place.

  “I don’t drink,” Shannon says. For a moment, I think she is going to tell them about the baby, but she doesn’t.

  “I know it’s early, Shan, but we can make an exception this once,” her mother says.

  “Actually, I don’t drink at all.”

  “Never?” Her mom is frowning. “Why ever not?”

  “Maybe because I spent the last year and a half convinced that I was an alcoholic. I don’t drink because, even though I’m not an alcoholic, just the thought of drinking makes me sick to my stomach. I spent a long time believing that I drove drunk. Believing that the result of those actions caused the death of a human being. Someone’s husband. Someone’s father. That doesn’t just leave a person. I can’t just shake it off.”

  “Now, dear…” Barbara shakes her head. “You need to put that unpleasantness behind you. I’m pouring you a gin…I’ll make it a weak one.”

  Shannon choke
s out a laugh. “It’s like talking to a brick wall.”

  “What’s gotten into you, young lady?” Her father looks angry.

  “You don’t get it, and you’ll never get it!” She shakes her head, her eyes welling with tears. Instead of crying, she squares her shoulders, a look of determination in her eyes. “I’m not going to even try to explain.” Then she looks at her old friend head-on. “And Molly…I don’t mind that you ended up with Roger. I don’t even mind that you didn’t call once when I needed you. You were my best friend. You should have had my back. You didn’t. I can forgive all that. What I can’t forgive is that on top of it all, you tried to seduce Night at the charity ball. That’s seriously messed up.”

  Molly’s mouth falls open. Just like before, she quickly regroups. “I. Did. Not! Is that what you told her?” she asks me. Molly snorts. “It was more like the other way around. Night tried to—”

  “Save it!” Shannon stops her, her voice calm and even. “I know exactly what happened.”

  “I’m inclined to believe Molly on this one,” her father interjects, giving me the stink eye. “You’ve only just met this guy. Quite frankly, he looks like a thug. No offense,” he says to me. “We’ve been friends with the Mathersons for years. You and Molly grew up together. I’m quite sure it was he who tried to—”

  “Exactly!” Shannon says, causing her father to frown. I frown too. I’m not sure where Shannon is going with this. “I’ve known Molly forever. I know everything about her.”

  Molly’s shoulders stiffen, and her jaw tightens.

  “I know that she lost her virginity at the age of thirteen. I know that she slept with plenty of guys all through school.”

  “That’s a lie!” Molly yells. Her cheeks are red.

  Shannon shrugs. “There have been so many…too many to count.”

  “That’s complete bullshit!” Molly shouts, the façade slipping.

  Shannon goes on undeterred. “I know that she stole two of my boyfriends in high school. They left me for her because I wouldn’t put out, and everyone knew that she would.”

  Molly looks flustered now. “I apologized for dating Billy. I thought you guys were over,” she mumbles.

  “You didn’t date Billy. You sucked him off in the closet at a house party while I was home with the ‘flu. Everyone told me about it on Monday. I was an idiot for staying friends with you for as long as I did.”

  Molly’s mouth falls open. Then she makes a noise of disbelief. She picks up her purse.

  “Such an idiot,” Shannon says again, her eyes clouding.

  “Not an idiot,” I disagree, drawing Shannon’s attention to me. “You are loyal and kind. You are the first to blame yourself and the first to forgive others. You are one in a million, Shannon Newton, and I love you so fucking much.”

  I hear Barbara’s sharp intake of breath at my rude language. I don’t care!

  “I don’t have to take this.” Molly walks away in a huff, her heels clicking as she does.

  Shannon smiles at me. It’s radiant and beautiful, just like her heart.

  “I love you too.”

  “What do you say we get out of here?” I ask.

  She nods. “I love the sound of that.” Shannon looks down at the dog at her feet. “You ready, Cody?” The Pointer jumps up and barks.

  “You c-can’t l-leave,” Barbara objects.

  “We can, and we will.” Shannon looks at each of her parents in turn. “I love Night. I can forgive you for inviting the likes of Molly. You are my parents, so I can forgive a whole lot of other things as well. But I won’t stand by and listen to you belittle the man I love.”

  She grabs my hand, and we walk away.

  “Shan, dear, you can’t be serious!” Barbara projects her voice.

  Shannon glances back over her shoulder. “I’m more than serious.”

  “Let her go, Barb,” her father says. “She’ll come crawling back when she gets her heart broken. He looks like the cheating type.” I’m hoping Shannon didn’t hear that last bit, but she must have because she growls a little. It’s quite cute.

  “Leave it.” I squeeze her hand. “It doesn’t bother me.”

  We make it outside just in time to see Molly speed off down the driveway in the little red sports car.

  “Can you believe it?” She spins around, her eyes are blazing. “They’re even worse than I remembered. Their heads are so far up their asses they literally can’t see anything but shit.”

  I bust up laughing. “That’s a good description of your folks.”

  Shannon smiles. “I had really hoped things would work out.” Her eyes fill with tears, and the smile fades before it’s fully realized. “I don’t know what I was hoping for, but that wasn’t it.”

  “Believe me,” I put my arms around her, “if there is anyone who understands how this feels, it’s me. If it helps any, I think somewhere deep down inside, they do care about you.”

  “They care about themselves first, then about what other people think, then about the family name… Then maybe somewhere at the end there, I feature.” A tear rolls down her cheek.

  “Please don’t cry, Shannon. Fuck…I can’t take it.” I wrap my arms around her and pull her close. She rests her head on my chest. “I love you enough for both of them as well.”

  “I’m so lucky to have you.” She holds me tighter.

  “Let’s go home.”

  “Sounds good.” She wipes away what’s left of her tears, and we head to the SUV.

  I open the door for her. Then I open the back door and pat the seat. Cody doesn’t have to be asked twice.

  7

  Shannon

  Two weeks later…

  I unlock the front door and push it open. I’m carrying a couple of shopping bags. I finally broke down and bought some bigger bras. My old ones were digging into me to the point of pain. I also bought a pregnancy waistband extender – a mind-boggling contraption – and a couple of maternity shirts. I’m not showing yet. Not at all. I’m excited to have passed the eight-week mark. In fact, I’m well on my way to making twelve weeks. At that point, I think I will be able to relax and enjoy this pregnancy more. I hope. I mean, I am enjoying it, I’m just still worried. I need to get over that hurdle. I need to look forward with positivity and excitement. It’s why I went shopping today and why I bought a couple of things. Although when I looked at some newborn clothing, I didn’t buy any of it. We’re not there yet.

  I still feel nausea when I even think of eating meat. Otherwise, I’ve been pretty lucky. There are no other symptoms to speak of. Unless salivating around fruit, especially green apples, counts as a symptom. I crave the tart ones.

  I don’t hear the dogs as I open the door. They usually greet me when I get home. “Night?” I call. The house is quiet. “Hello?” I try again as I close the front door.

  Finally, there’s the sound of claws on the wooden floors. It doesn’t last because I bought a long runner for the hallway. Fleur bounds up to me. Her eyes are dancing. Her tail is wagging. I notice immediately that she has roses weaved into her collar. “What on earth—?” I say.

  She gets to me, jumping up onto me. “Down!” I command, and she obeys. I touch one of the rosebuds. They’re fresh, and a beautiful pink. “What’s this?” She has a note attached to her collar as well. I pull it off.

  Get your gorgeous ass to our bedroom.

  I chuckle. This has Night written all over it. He knows how to be sexy as sin and yet romantic as anything. I walk to our bedroom and gasp. The bed is covered in rose petals. There’s an ice-bucket with two crystal flutes next to it. A note on the ice bucket reads ‘Non-alcoholic’. I chuckle again and pull out the bottle. It is, indeed, alcohol-free. I put it back in the ice.

  There’s another note lying in the middle of the bed. I notice that it’s set on top of some sexy lingerie. A sheer teddy. I smile, picking it up. It’s in a bra-size bigger than my regular underwear. My smile widens. How considerate. It’s beautiful, also in soft pink to m
atch the roses. I read the note.

  Put this on under the dress hanging on the door and come outside. Cody and I are waiting for you ladies.

  I giggle. “What in the world?” I put down the shopping bags and walk back to the bedroom door.

  Hanging behind it is a long, elegant, black dress. It’s gorgeous. I laugh out loud when I see a pair of sneakers against the wall as well. Night put these here.

  It takes a few minutes to get into the teddy. Oh, my gosh! My boobs are huge! They barely fit in the bigger cup. I have to admit, I look good. My cheeks are flushed. My hips look like they might have filled out a bit as well. I’m certainly all woman, and at this stage of my pregnancy, I’m blossoming.

  I pull the dress on and then run my hand down the fabric. It’s understated but lovely at the same. I run a brush through my hair and put on some light make-up and a spritz of perfume. Lastly, I put on the sneakers. Unlike the pair I wore with my ballgown when I attended an awards function with Night a couple of months ago, these are quite visible with this dress. Surprisingly, they work. I grin at my reflection.

  I make my way through the house, excited to see Night. He went to so much trouble. I gasp as I walk through the door that leads to the back garden. There’s a table under the oak tree which is covered in fairy lights. The table is fully decked out. What makes me catch my breath is Night. He’s dressed in a tuxedo. He has Cody at his side. My dog barks and my man smiles. He’s gorgeous. I think that ten years…no fifty could go by, and I will still catch my breath when I see him.

  I notice that Cody has what looks like a bow tie and a sign around his neck. He is wagging his tail in earnest. I frown, unsure. What’s going on? “Night?” I say. I’m smiling – I can’t help it. My heart starts going nuts in my chest. “What is all this?”

  He is smiling back at me. So damned handsome, I can hardly breathe. I start to walk. Slowly at first, and then faster. Fleur is at my side. Cody starts to jump up and down in excitement. Night has him on a leash. I’m not sure why. I’ve almost reached them when I look back down at Cody. I can now read the sign.