The Loneliest Dragon at Christmas (An MM Monster Christmas #2)

Chapter 5

CHAPTER 5

A very sat in the armchair by the fireplace. The flames crackled and danced along the glowing logs. Avery wrapped his hands around the cup of tea and inhaled, soaking in the warmth and scent. He took a sip, savouring the milky, sweet taste.

His gaze roamed all the books filling the shelves and stacked in piles throughout his library except for a large space in the middle of the room near the fire. He stood and began perusing his collection.

Mine. All mine.

He purred.

What book should I read now? One of the newer ones? An old favourite? Perhaps something at random.

He touched a hand to one book. So many books and so little time. He stroked his fingers along the shelf. A hum of pleasure escaped him.

Mine.

A knock on the library door pulled his attention from his treasure.

“Enter.”

The door opened. Daniel, the butler, stood in the doorway.

“Sir, His Grace, Duke Azer, is in the drawing room.”

It took Avery a second to collect himself. “I see.” He dropped his hand from the shelf. “I will be there shortly.”

The butler bowed and left. Avery set his tea down on a side table. He walked to the door, letting his fingers drift along the spines and covers, feeling the ridges of the embedded lettering.

As he left the library, he closed the door. He made his way down the hall and entered the drawing room. Duke Azer gazed at several books that sat on the floor beside a chair.

Avery’s hands twitched.

They weren’t messy. Not really. The four books sat neatly piled. Except for one, which lay open. But Avery knew that Duke Azer would disapprove of even that level of disorder.

Avery swallowed. He tried so hard to keep this room up to the duke’s standards. After all, it was the only room the duke ever saw. But the books always had a way of migrating and moving and ending up everywhere.

He’d be reading a book, or two, or three, or debating which to start reading. He’d carry them. He’d wander between rooms, and sometimes, without even realising it, he’d place the books down. He read wherever he was. He lost track of time as he got lost in words and worlds. Then he’d drift to a different room and a new book.

This was his home. His den. Books should be everywhere, filling every inch and cranny so no matter where he went, he’d not be far from his books.

Duke Azer should understand that. He was a dragon too. He had a collection of weapons, ancient and antique. Avery had never seen it himself. But his father had spoken of it. Yet he’d never called it his hoard.

Hoards were what dragons who lived in caves called their collections. Those dragons lived in darkness, lying on top of piles of gold or whatever they hoarded. They lost themselves, their control, and their dignity. His father had told him it was fine to collect things, as long as one did it with dignity and control.

After all, they were civilised dragons.

Avery struggled with control sometimes. He grabbed the stray books on the floor and shoved them on a shelf. He winced as a twinge of guilt flared inside him. He’d been too rough with his precious books. They were old and needed proper care.

I’m sorry , he gave a silent apology. He patted the spines, hoping no damage had been done with his rushed recklessness.

Gaze still on the books, Avery sat opposite the duke.

The duke held his cup of tea in his hand, watching Avery. “How are you keeping?”

“Well. Very well, thank you, Father.” Avery pulled his shoulders back, trying to mirror the duke’s immaculate posture.

Duke Azer was everything a dragon should be. Strong, powerful, decisive, and intimidating. He had a noble and honourable lineage that could be traced to kings and queens who’d ruled nations. He’d fought in wars. He was an adviser to the king. And the king before. And the king before that.

There was only one thing Duke Azer was ashamed of.

Avery.

His bastard son.

Avery had been born of a human and dragon union. A mistake. His father had been clear about that. The duke had been wrong to behave as he did. Thus Avery’s very existence was wrong and his father deeply regretted him. But Avery was still his son and therefore his duty. The duke would not shun a duty.

His father nodded. “Good. That’s good.” He took a sip of tea.

“And you?”

“Well enough.” The duke crossed his leg over his knee. “It’s the Christmas season. It’s always a busy time of year. Always some winter or Christmas-themed party or ball that I’m expected to go to. Feels like I have to go to every single one in order to keep the duchess and the children happy.”

Avery nodded. “And how is the duchess and your children?” The duke had two children with Duchess Azer, his mated wife. The duke’s daughter, Lady Isabelle Azer, was almost half Avery’s age, being forty-two. The duke’s son, Marquess Azer, would turn ten in the spring.

“All good. All good.” The duke rested his hand on his knee. “Isabelle’s winter-themed wedding is fast approaching. It will take place just after the New Year.” He shook his head. “The ladies are very busy planning.”

And after the wedding, Lady Isabelle would no doubt form a mating bond with her spouse in a private ritual. The wedding would be for society. The mating ritual would be for the couple alone.

Avery nodded. “I’m sure it will be a wonderful wedding, and I’m sure Lady Isabelle will look beautiful and make you proud.”

“Of course she will,” his father said with a matter-of-fact tone.

Avery rested his hands in his lap. Lady Isabelle’s wedding would indeed be lovely. Every party and dinner that his father’s family hosted always was spectacular.

At least, that was what Avery had heard from his father and the gossip papers.

Avery didn’t feel disappointed at not being included. He’d have been shocked if he was. It was a family event.

Avery was not family.

Avery was a mistake. He had no illusions about that.

The duke’s mated wife and Avery’s half-siblings didn’t even know he existed. But he’d seen them in town, sometimes with Duke Azer. Of course, his father never acknowledged Avery in public. That went beyond his duty. He turned his back on Avery if he saw him in public and pretended not to know him.

Avery was his natural child after all. An illegitimate bastard.

Duke Azer had met his mother long before he met, married, and mated the now duchess. The duke made sure Avery understood that.

A mated bond was sacred. To a dragon, mating was more important than marriage. One did not cheat on their mated partner. Never.

Unlike with some other races, a dragon’s mate was ultimately chosen. Whilst a dragon had the ability to sense someone who would be a suitable mate, it was still a choice to bind yourself to someone for life. The bond would be irreversible.

To have a child outside a mated dragon relationship was considered abhorrent by dragon morals. Especially because dragons could not unintentionally have children. Sometimes Avery wondered if his father had panicked during the fifty-year war and decided to have an offspring in case he died during the fighting. Avery had never been brave enough to ask his father for details. So he was just left wondering.

The duke had bought his mother these apartments. No doubt because it was his duty to provide for the mother and offspring. Then she had died within a couple of years after Avery had hatched. After his mother’s death, the ownership of the apartments had been transferred to Avery. His father gave him an allowance and covered his living costs. The duke had paid for nannies, tutors, and staff. The duke had been an excellent provider for Avery. Avery wanted for nothing.

“Do you have any plans for Christmas Day?” Avery asked.

“I assume the usual fanfare. The duchess takes care of all that.” He placed the teacup on the table.

Avery stared at it. Once he’d been foolish enough as a child to ask if he could join his father on Christmas. That had been long ago before the duke met and mated the duchess.

It had been a stupid request. His father had made that clear. Thankfully, he’d grown out of such ridiculously needy behaviour.

And now his father had a real family to look after. Avery was just a by-blow. He was lucky his father provided for him as he did.

“Are your finances in order?”

“Yes,” Avery said. “I have everything I need. Thank you.” Avery was grateful to Duke Azer. His father came by two or three times a month for tea and to check in on him.

“Good. Good.” Duke Azer stood. “I’ll take my leave of you, then. I have a dinner with Isabelle’s future in-laws.” He shook his head. “My daughter has these ideas of us all being one big happy family for Christmas.”

Avery ignored the twinge in his chest. One big happy family. “How lovely.”

The duke grimaced. “Apparently, they’ve all got nephews and nieces and cousins and an excessive number of grandchildren in that family. It will be chaos.”

A lump formed in Avery’s throat as he followed his father to the front door. The butler, Daniel, handed the duke his coat, hat, and walking stick. Then Daniel opened the door. His father stepped out.

“Merry Christmas, Father,” Avery said.

“Yes, yes. You too.” And with that, his father disappeared into the snow without even a backwards glance or a proper goodbye for his son.