Chapter 25 Burn.

After explaining to Mira's mother Lisa the events that transpired before she appeared, she fervently apologized for a solid five minutes.

Only after Lailah and Exedra assured her again and again that they quite enjoyed her daughter's company, did she return to some sense of normalcy.

"But I don't believe I've seen you with lady Lailah before sir, if I may ask what is your relationship?" Lisa had been unable to take her eyes off Exedra since she walked in.

She was so enamored by his handsome appearance, she hadn't even noticed he was a dragon.

"I am her husband." Exedra said simply.

"Oh that's good! Lady Lailah always came in here alone so I thought she'd be lonely forever like my mom!" Mira cried.

Lisa naturally couldn't hear the jab her daughter had just taken at her or she would've been incredibly embarrassed.

She was much too horrified by another fact.

Lailah was married to princess Yara's only son.

Even though the man had never been seen among the common people, this fact was widely known.

'T-that means..'

This man was a dragon, and a noble one at that.

She could now clearly notice the four proud horns on his head, and the natural aura that let a dragon know they were near their kin.

'W-why is one here?! I-I've been paying taxes and giving them everything that they ask for!'

"U-umm h-how can I help you today?" She stammered.

Lailah assumed her friend was nervous about being in the presence of royalty so she elected to tell her the purpose for their visit.

"We're on a date today so we came here to buy some books and we're going to go read them at the cafe next door."

"Oh how lovely! P-please let me know if their is anything you need." She bowed deeply before walking away.

As Lailah turned to start browsing bookshelves, only Exedra remained in place gazing at the back of the woman who'd just left.

He could sense it thoroughly, the woman's pure unwavering fear.

This troubled him slightly as he hadn't even done anything to make her afraid of him.

When he remembered that she was a lesser dragon, his mind began to form its own connections.

'She must've assumed I was like those other assholes and came here to torment her.' He thought bitterly.

He figured the best thing he could do for her now, was to leave her store quickly so he began looking for titles alongside his wife.

When they finally finished, Exedra had only grabbed two, while Lailah had seven.

After they'd paid they quickly left the store and headed to her favorite bakery, though not before bidding farewell to the spoon wielding young girl and her charming mother.

-

POV : Lisa

As I finally saw the backs of Lailah and the prince leave I was immediately washed over with a sense of relief.

While that man was undoubtedly handsome noble dragons are more trouble than they're worth and I already have enough problems.

'What am I saying.. as if he'd ever be interested in some old dragon like me.' I thought bitterly.

I was already three hundred and seventy six this year and well past my prime.

I'm well old enough to be his mother!

As I continued sweeping up the store I continued to think about the young man I'd just seen or more precisely his aura.

A dragons natural aura is always regal and dominant, but his was also mixed with something darker that I didn't recognize.

'Could he be a hybrid?' I wondered.

They are very rare, and nobody ever said anything about the son of Princess Yara being a hybrid.

News like that would definitely travel.

Though come to think of it.. he didn't look sickly like they'd described either.

As I thought back to how happy Lady Lailah looked on their date I felt a twinge of jealousy in my heart.

I'd never looked that happy with a man.. come to think of it I'd never been on a date either.

He looked so gentle with her..

Mira's father was the exact opposite which is why I fled from him before she was born.

I was foolish enough to fall in love with a human and my poor girl almost paid the ultimate price for our kind.

Snap!

I looked down at the broken broom in my hand and sighed.

Luckily Mira went upstairs to nap or she'd make fun of her mommy again.

I'm much too old to be forgetting to control my strength.

Ding!

Hearing the bell that indicated another customer had come I quickly chucked the broken broom behind the counter before I put on my best customer friendly face.

"Welco-" after seeing the three men who had entered, my expression immediately broke and shifted to one of utter horror.