I took as much time as I could before letting her get dressed and following her outside to where her family sat waiting in the garden I must've stepped foot in once or twice before today. I knew and expected that once we mated I'd be jealous of her time, that I'd have a hard time seeing her around other males of any species, but no one warned me that I'd be envious of her loved ones. It's not a good look for one of my standing.
I hid it well though, from all but one. 'Need me to hold your hand dad?'
'Little dragon, I'll turn you into a fish!' His laughter wrapped around my heart pretty much the same way his mother's had just an hour ago.
"What are you two talking about now?"
"How did you know we were speaking to each other?"
"I can't quite hear him yet, but whenever he's talking I get static in my ear. How come you can hear him and I can't?"
"You get to carry him, it's my only connection until he's born; jealous?"
"No, but I'm hot!"