Jillian frowned. “Walk that one back for me?”
“You can’t inherit,” Theo said. “Draconian law says only dragons can inherit from dragons, except in cases of a clear will. But if one dragon wrongs another one, the wronged dragon can seize their hoard. Izzie knows I’ll take her father’s to compensate your dad’s victims.”
“But Dimitri didn’t wrong you,” Jillian said.
“I’m very charming,” Theo said. “By the time I get through talking to the council, they’ll be persuaded that he did. He sheltered a criminal it was my job to track down and he caused my mate distress.” He rubbed at his face. “Of course, once Dimitri’s hoard comes into my possession... honestly, it’s for the best if you take it and get rid of it before I have the chance to get attached. My intentions are good, but I’m still a dragon.”
Jillian’s head was spinning. She couldn’t imagine that Dimitri’s wealth would compare to her dad’s—she had to be realistic. One unemployed old money dragon in a reclusive community could hardly have more on-hand than a thriving white collar criminal. But at least it would be something.
“How much do you think it will come to?”
Theo told her.
Jillian’s jaw dropped. “And Elizabeth and Izzie still have their own hoards, right? We’re taking away money they would have gotten, but not anything they depended on to live, right?”
“Of course,” Theo said. “Elizabeth is much wealthier than Dimitri, anyway, her hoard is far more substantial. That may have been why he took in your father, to increase his worth in the eyes of his mate.”
“I don’t think it worked,” Jillian said dryly.
“No, it would appear not.” He smiled. “She’s like you.”
“At the moment, I’m feeling very fond of my mate’s treasure. We could really do this?”
Theo nodded.
“You would give up the chance to have all of that... for me?”
“I would give up anything for you,” Theo said, and then she loved him all the more because he added, “but I would do this regardless. It’s the right thing to do.”
A dragon, Jillian decided, made the best Prince Charming.
Epilogue
Jillian
She still couldn’t believe that the explosion had left Theo with no scars on his human body. His chest and back were both completely smooth, colored only by his dragonmarks.
Lazy Saturdays gave her plenty of time to enjoy those. She traced them with one finger, following their winding tracks around his chest and shoulder. His skin there was even hotter than it was everywhere else.
“Can I see your wings again?”
Dr. Mendoza had cleared him for takeoff two days ago, and Theo had hit the skies like they were a swimming pool on the first day of summer. He had made his first flight solo, flatly refusing to risk carrying her when he wasn’t sure what his wings would bear. Since then, he had taken her for a few trips. She still couldn’t get used to sitting on his back, his scales hard but as soft as scuffed velvet. Somehow that wa
s more striking than the way the earth fell away beneath them, the city and farmland below turning into a patchwork quilt. She was more used to flying than she was to riding dragons.
Theo said, “You’re going to make me vain,” but he rolled over onto his stomach and, concentrating, let his wings bloom out of his shoulders.
By now she knew that this technically qualified as showing off. Theo’s ability to shift slowly and partially was vanishingly rare even among dragons. He had called it his talent show trick.
Jillian could juggle a little, but she didn’t think that really compared.
It was incredible, following the fine but steel-strong bones of his wings down to the smooth human skin of his back. His wings had healed so well that only the very thinnest and whitest of scars showed in places against the red. She ran her hand down the length of one. She’d never forget that he’d gotten those saving her.
“Will you take me flying tonight?”
“Tonight and every other night you like,” Theo said. He hesitated. His face still partly turned into the pillow—she didn’t think anyone else would have noticed how shy he could still be sometimes when he thought the stakes were high—he said, “My lease on my apartment comes up for renewal at the end of next month. I was wondering—”
“We could get a place,” Jillian said.