Chapter 73

**Avery**

The prom is quickly approaching. So far, no one suspects that Draven is not an exchange student. I also see how the Hoity Hags drool over him. I know that he won’t fully indulge them, but it still bothers me. I freed Draven. He is mine!

Fuck! Regina, seriously! She just shrugs. I don’t think I will ever understand a dragon’s possessive nature. Maybe it is because I grew up with virtually nothing. I also know that I rushed for this prom to happen. I can’t shake that feeling, so I have opted to face it head-on. Perhaps I will regret this decision but perhaps not.

If there can be a light in the darkness, there can be a good reason for this foreboding feeling. Trisha came up to me as I was putting stuff in my locker. The guys aren’t far, but they must keep an eye on Draven too. I know that we disguised him well, but I still don’t want his true identity revealed until we know who is helping the Hags. I won’t shelter rats in MY TRIBE! ‘Ugh, Regina, why are you so moody?’ I asked through our link. She puffs smoke and I try not to giggle. ‘I don’t know. I just am,’ she responds. After a few moments, she says, ‘Is there something I could eat that would help? You know, like how chocolate helps lift humans’ moods.’

I looked at Trisha. “Can dragons get PMS?”

She giggles. “Is Regina having mood swings?”

I sigh. “Fuck yes! She is trying to claim anyone we know.”

She squeezed my hand as she spoke softly, “She is nesting. You found your mates so her maternal instincts are kicking in.

But I have been told that certain foods can help.”

“I will try anything. I can’t be distracted, and I want her to be happy too.”

As we were talking, Cassius came up and put his arms around my waist. “What are you ladies talking about? Also, before I forget Trisha you and your date can meet us at the palace before prom. Let’s have a nice dinner.”

She whispers in my ear, “Asher is nesting too.”

My eyes widened before he turned me around to face him. “She is right, he is. We will go by the store on the way home.

The palace doesn’t have the types of foods we are going to need to appease all of our dragons until we are ready for an egg.”

Trisha looks at both of us. “You guys are the perfect couple. I know your brothers are good for her too, but Cassius, when you look at Avery, I see a depth that isn’t there in the others yet. You two are my vote for prom king and queen.”

**Cassius**

Trisha is right that I look at Avery differently than my brothers do. I still carry that guilt from how I treated her. Asher has let some of his go, but we both still have some. Regina so easily forgave us, but I feel as if Avery hasn’t fully and I don’t blame her either. I still hate me for what I did. I won’t stop trying to be better for her either. I just hope that she doesn’t blame herself for feel undeserving. My mate deserves the world and I love her.

“Foods?” she asks.

“Yes, we read about some in chemistry class. Certain foods contain compounds that may impact the neurotransmitters of DOPamine, serotonin, and GABA, possibly brightening your mood. Healthy mood-boosting foods include bananas, oats, berries, and nuts, among others. We have some of that at the palace but there is one that we don’t and that’s dragon fruit. You and I need red dragon fruit specifically. I will get regular for my brothers.”

“Why red?” she inquires.

“Dragon fruit has nutrients that will fight inflammation and free radicals that cause mood swings. We need red because of the type of dragon we have. I think you should eat red and the regular too, given how special Regina is. If my mother were alive she could help you more than I can. But Avery, I am here for you no matter what and even if we never have an egg. I love you.”

She smiled and kissed me. I would have pushed her into a vacant classroom and fucked her if I could have. But we have to do some grocery shopping in the human world before we go home. We met up with my brothers and went to the grocery store closest to the boundary. I couldn’t keep from getting this odd feeling and I know the others felt it too. We are being watched, but why? And by whom?

When we got back to the palace, Draven was there. He rushed to help us carry in the groceries. Avery tried to stop him by saying that we could handle it just fine. She has really taken a liking to him lately. I am not remotely jealous because I know how the mate bond works. He isn’t a dragon, so there isn’t a possibility that he was a hidden mate. Granted, Avery is The Mother, but Regina would have already told Asher if that were the case. Avery had only said that she felt another might be there, but it could just be a curiosity. I don’t foresee another mate for her out there, but what if I am wrong?

Could my brothers and I accept another? Could Avery?

I often feel as if we are rushing Avery to fuck us all together, but I can’t fucking help it. The pull to her keeps getting stronger and harder to resist. My brothers and I have already discussed our options, and we have agreed to ease her in while giving her a holiday surprise. After we got the groceries put away and our snacks prepared, we all sat down in the living room. “Now that our dragons can relax a bit, we need to talk.