The best thing about being a business owner is the ability to sleep in if I want. With Nosko snuggled next to me in his bed, I hated getting up to go into the shop. If he hadn’t kicked me out of the bed, I would still be there.

He mumbled something about having to be a respectable, responsible father now.

I told him that it’ll be a cold day in hell if I’m ever respectable, but he did nail me on responsible, which was why I was strolling into the shop.

None of us are really hurting for money. Regardless of our levels of dedication to the shop, everyone’s there when I stroll in with a carry tray full of coffee and donuts.

“Now there’s a boss who loves his employees.” Sako is, predictably, out of his chair first to get the chocolate-covered donuts.

Bronaz looks up from his sketch pad with a frown. It disappears when I hand him his coffee, just like he likes it. “He’s buttering us up. I can tell by the look on his face.”

“I just want to make sure everyone’s happy.”

Nyve steps out of the back room at that time, drying his hands. “What does he want?”

“What does that mean?” I thrust his coffee at him and wave the box in front of him before taking it to the front counter. “Can’t I just be a nice guy and buy coffee?”

Varos scoffs but he’s right there at the box to claim his coffee and grab a boston creme.

“You guys hurt my feelings.”

“Impossible,” Varos says around a huge bite. “You have no feelings.”

I flip him off with a laugh and grab my blueberry donut to go settle in my chair.

“No seriously.” Nyve removes the lid to his coffee to blow at it before taking a sip. A dragon who doesn’t like hot things. Go figure. “What’s up? You’re unusually cheerful this morning.”

“Also, on time,” Varos says.

“I say every night to close up—”

“Jesus, Taran, come on.”

“Fine. Fine.” I kick my feet up and wait until I have their full attention. Bunch of savages can’t appreciate the building of drama. “Nosko and I are having a baby.”

It grows so quiet it’s eerie.

“Wow, Taran,” Nyve finally says to break the silence. “I have to say that’s not something we expected.”

“I know. It’s kind of sudden but we’ve made it fully official that we’re mated.” I am humbled all over again by the immensity of this change in my life.

Nyve drags me into a headlock until I can struggle to my feet without spilling my coffee. He grabs me in a bear hug. “Congratulations, man. So you finally came to your senses that he’s the one for you, huh?”

“Thank the gods,” Sako says. “We were so fucking tired of you moping around the shop for Nosko.”

The words come out more defensive than I like. “I didn’t realize just how much being fated for someone could hurt if you try to deny it. But he’s a great guy, isn’t he?”

Bronaz slaps me on the arm and gives me a hearty hug. “You deserve happiness, Taran. I knew looking at him he would give you that.”

“And you’re going to have a baby,” Varos adds. “Well, he’s going to do all the heavy lifting. You just get to spoil them both.”

“So do you have a name picked out, yet?” Nyve sits on my stool next to me when I settle in my chair again.

“We just found out last night, so we haven’t gotten that far.”

“Don’t fool around too long. The five-month gestation will go by fast. Are you guys going to have an official joining ceremony to make it legal?”

“As soon as we can pull that together.” Nosko and I talked about it last night but we didn’t hit on anything more permanent than yes we would do it. Nosko immediately went into planning mode and I felt a little left out until I distracted him with sex again.

“We should celebrate extra hard at the launch party night across the street,” Varos says. “You want me to get the word out about you and Nosko?”

I hold up my hand to slow Varos down. Once he gets started, he’s like a steamroller. But I can count on his discretion. “Hold up on that until I can get with Nosko. We just figured this out last night. We need some time to acclimate. So… just between us?”

Although Varos looks disappointed, he nods that he understands.

“Is Nosko coming to Annika’s launch tonight?” Nyve strolls to the box to get another donut.

“He says he has to work late at the gallery. But I promised pictures.”

“He’ll miss a hell of a party, judging by the social media build up.”

I am feeling the love at the moment. We’re a motley crew of dragons, pulled together by our shared dragon heritage and our love of tattoos, but I couldn’t have picked a better set of guys to be friends with.

Annika’s shop is jammed packed with people by the time we roll in. I’m in awe with how many people are here. The place is jumping with loud music, an open bar, and an impressive array of items on display.

She has some amazing art on the walls, as well as a dizzying array of jewelry for sale. Unlike my shop, which is open and airy, our art the only thing we showcase, hers feels a little cramped and closed in. More intimate, maybe. A collection of eclectic items decorates the surfaces and the walls of every open space in her shop.

If she’s been in business for as long as it’s rumored, I guess she’d end up collecting a lot of stuff. From what I can tell, she likes traveling too. I can spot all kinds of exotic souvenirs.

Off to the side, she has a small table set up. The placard announces she’s taking applications for apprentices. Already the box to hold the completed applications is stuffed. Many people are sitting around on her waiting room sofas and even on the floor filling them out.

I nudge Nyve with my elbow and point. He nods in understanding. His expression matches my mood. It’s not like we haven’t had business to keep us busy, but this whole rock star atmosphere grates on my nerves.

“I wonder if there’s something to this dropping off the face of the earth for long periods of time to help build buzz,” Nyve shouts in my ear.

I grouse my agreement and sip deeply on my drink.

As I promised Nosko, I take a few images of Annika in her element, surrounded by her sycophants and groupies, and a few of the shop itself, and send them to him along with a text.

wish you were here

Within minutes, he responds to me.

me too. I want to see how much she’s improved since I bought the gallery.

I stop in my tracks when I read his text. He knows about her? She’s been at the gallery before?

how do you know about her?

“What?” Nyve asks as he reads over my shoulder.

“He knows about her,” I say, feeling my anger start to build.

“Did he lie?”

“No…”

“Did you even talk about her shop being here and how you felt about it?”

My silence gives Nyve his answer and he sighs. “Got to work on that communication, Taran, if your relationship is going to last.” He slaps my shoulder and drifts off into the crowd.

He’s right, of course. Nyve has a level head on his shoulders but it still irritates me that Nosko knew about her already and didn’t say anything. I would have said something if I knew he knew—

His response vibrates in my phone.

ran across some old images of a showing held here before I bought the place.

Okay, yeah, I’m being a jerk about this. It’s not fair to be angry at Nosko for shit that happens at his gallery.

I can turn this to my advantage.

Nosko already knows about her. He can do some digging for me from that angle. With Varos working the other end, I can pull this around and get some valuable intel that will help me craft a strategy to help keep my shop in business.

Best thing I can do now is watch and listen until I can meet the guys at Treasured Ink for a post gathering debrief.

It’s way later than I’d like when we get back to the shop. Honestly, I want to go home and crawl into bed with Nosko. This is important, though.

Sako is drunk and singing happily. Varos’ nose is buried in his phone to scan social media sites for news on the launch. Bronaz and Nyve talk quietly as I close and lock the shop.

“That went better than expected.” Bronaz gets comfortable on his stool.

Nyve crosses his arms and drops into thought. “It was cramped. Like she’s built this little nest or something. I’m not sure where she’s going to stick an apprentice.”

Sako stops spinning on his stool. “She’s taking on an apprentice?”

I frown at the youngest dragon. “Seriously?”

“Ease up, dude, I didn’t say I want to go over there and apply. I’m committed to the shop and I plan to stay here.”

I’m way too tense about this and scrub at my face.

“One thing is clear.” Varos puts his phone down to address us. “She has a huge following and with her return, she’s going to be extremely popular. We can use that to our advantage.”

Nyve nods along with him. “I agree. She’s good, I’ll give you that. But she’s one artist. She won’t be able to see as many people as we do. Her being in the area will draw more people who’ll step in here to see what we can do.”

That’s my feeling, too, even when I first saw she was coming in to set up shop so close. “It’s not going to do us any good to be rivals for business. I think if we can work with her, send people her way if they want something we can’t handle, it’ll go a long way to building up a rapport with her. If the good will is received, it’ll be given, and she’ll send people over here as well.”

I turn to Varos. “Keep an eye on her online and let us know if something changes.”

“Easily done,” Varos says with a grin. “Besides, she’s right across the street.”

“Cheeky dragon.”

By the time we’re done, the tension of the night is starting to drain away from me, leaving my body sore from where I clenched my muscles all night. I hurry back to Nosko’s place so I can slip into someone a little more comfortable.