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“Then maybe we should see where this takes us.”

They kept moving closer until they were nearly touching. It was the first time Taylor had ever had to lean up to kiss someone, but that wasn’t going to stop him. He didn’t care that Twig was taller than him. He didn’t care about any of the things insecure people cared about. He only cared that Twig was in his arms.

And when Twig leaned down, Taylor stopped thinking entirely. Their lips pressed together, and he felt Twig suck in a trembling breath. His heart felt like it might explode, but thankfully it didn’t—not even when he deepened the kiss and Twig leaned harder into him.

Twig laughed. It broke the kiss, but Taylor couldn’t bring himself to care. He laughed too, burying his face against the crook of Twig’s neck. He was happy. They both were.

And that was all that mattered.

Chapter Thirteen

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WHEN TWIG OPENED HIS eyes the next morning, he was already smiling. How could he not be? He’d practically floated back to his room the night before, and he’d been glad his mother had apparently gone to bed already, since she hadn’t been there when he came in. He wanted her to know he was happy, but he’d wanted a few hours to himself first, to bask in what had happened between him and Taylor.

They were together. They’d kissed. They were going to kiss more times than Twig could count, and he couldn’t wait to lose count. He couldn’t wait to experience that, and everything else, with Taylor.

It was a little ridiculous to feel that way, but he felt different. Being with someone probably shouldn’t change you like this, but at the same time, how could it not? His life had already changed since he’d met Taylor. It wasn’t only because of Taylor, but Taylor made him happy. He made Twig feel like he’d always have someone in his corner, no matter what happened. He made him feel loved, and wasn’t that what everyone wanted?

His mother was already at work by the time he finally got ready to leave. He didn’t have anything specific to do, but he didn’t think he could stay home either. Just like the night before, he was vibrating with happiness, and he needed somewhere to put the energy.

He was going to shift. He still needed Palmer’s go-ahead before he could fly, but that wouldn’t be long now. In the meantime, just being outside, stretching his wings, would be enough to feel good.

Although he wasn’t sure there was any way for him to feel better than he already did. He had everything he’d never let himself dream of. He was working alongside Killian. He and a few of his siblings were growing closer. He had his mother’s approval. And he had Taylor. Really, what more could he want?

Nothing.

He was pretty sure several people thought he was being ridiculous as he walked past them, but he didn’t care. He smiled at everyone, even waved at a few children, and kept going. Nothing and no one could take this happiness away from him.

Or at least, that was what he thought, until he crossed paths with Ilias.

Not even that could ruin his day, though, especially since he wasn’t going to let it. Ilias could say whatever he wanted. Twig didn’t care.

Maybe that was why he gave Ilias a wide smile. Maybe he was just too happy to care whether Ilias thought he looked strange for it. Either way, Ilias blinked at him, clearly thrown. That didn’t last long, though. The man had a quick mind and an even quicker mouth. “I see you’re doing better,” he said.

“I am, thank you. Palmer hasn’t cleared me to fly yet, but I’m about to shift and spend some time in my dragon form.”

Ilias sniffed. “That will probably do you good. You’ve been spending too much time with humans.”

A few days ago, that remark would have stung. Twig knew exactly what Ilias was implying.

But he didn’t care anymore.

“I’ll spend my time with whomever I want,” he said. “And you don’t get a say in it. I’d appreciate it if you stopped being snarky about it. It won’t change the fact that Taylor and I are dating, because I don’t care what you think.”

“I’m a council member,” Ilias said, sounding affronted.

“So am I. You don’t see me telling you not to see your mistresses.”

Ilias’s cheeks darkened. He glanced around, but this wasn’t exactly a secret. Everyone knew Ilias had several mistresses. Ilias probably knew that everyone knew, too. Twig honestly didn’t understand why he looked so flustered.

Was that the first time someone had brought it up to his face? Maybe. Ilias really needed to be more discreet if he wanted it to stay quiet, though. As long as it wasn’t, Twig didn’t care who heard him bring it up, not even in the middle of a hallway. Maybe now that he had, Ilias would finally leave him alone.

“I don’t know what you’re talking about,” Ilias said.

“Sure you don’t. We can pretend you don’t, if you’d like, but at least I’m not cheating on my partner. Hell, how many partners are you cheating on, exactly? Does it even count as cheating when you have more than one mistress?”

“This is unacceptable,” Ilias said.