Mermaids are Menacing (Book 2) Complete

76.) Ownership

Red eyes peered down at my full of expectation.

"Fix this for me and I'll think about forgiving you." I replied.

but forgivness and going back to the way things used to be are two very different things, I thought.

"You changed." He said. "More than the outside."

"I adapted." I shrugged.

"Mental and physical traits changed based on stressful environemental stimulus." He stated.

"I dont like it when you talk to me like im one of your research projects to be cataloged." I said disdainfully.

"It would be a waste not to study you." He replied. "But Ill find a way to solve this. We are tied to one another in this, after all.

................

The girls existence wasn't well hidden. After all, Arany and her escorts had wittnessed their arrival. I knew when presents started arriving their celebration banquet wouldn't be far off. The number of gifts and quality were also better. When the gifts were delivered those males did everything in their power to extend their stay. Or at least that is what I heard from Vee.

They would expect to be hosted for longer than just a quick meal and drink. Asking to recover from their flight over night. Probing with questions. Sneaking around when they were supposed to be sleeping. It seemed like some of clans believed the rumor and others didnt.

Talon and Dante had been more active socially in my absence and since neither of them had bragged or boasted about the possibility of more hatchlings in that time, it didn't seem plausible that more would be born so soon. After all offspring were a rarity in this age. Yet, the more wealthy clans still sent gifts with letters congratulating the Green Mountain clan.

As I understood it, This was a means of confirmation in itself. If the gifts were sent back, then the rumor was only a rumor. But if the gifts were kept, there could be no denying it. The high lord took his share of the gifts before divying out a portion to the girls. I guessed that Cerastes would also receive a portion, although I hadn't seen him in a over a week.

The high lord didn't waste time sending out invitations. For the delivery males that hung around, they received a stone tablet invitation to take back with them. The other invitations would be dispersed by Talon and Dante. The girls introduction banquet would also be early by traditional standards. Another rushed one month time period much to my annoyance. It meant i had less time to learn and plan.

They gave me a few days of recovery before they started the schedule. This was mostly due to Dante being out to deliver invitations. Sitting, standing, eating. Apparently I had been doing these things incorrectly my entire life. There were some rules I at least knew about even if some what vaguely. Crouching was bad because it signaled aggresion, the head eats first, the order in which people entered events and rooms was important. But I came to realize there was alot more than I could have anticipated.

In the days that followed, I would wake up and drink the water thats kept by the bed and then feed the girls. Solid food comes in for Jen, Vee, and I. The girls and I bathe seperately from Vee by his own insistance. After drying off, we dress in prepared outfits.

Dante strolls in at about the same time everyday. His long black hair is sleek and sways at his waist. Male dragons take alot of pride in their appearances. Especially their hair and horns I had learned.

Dantes clothes were always opulent. A usual shimmer in the blue fabric could be found but the clothes were characteristically different. It looked like he stole an outfit out of Talons rooms. Where he tended to wear clothes that covered more, Talon walked around as if he might die if he were weighed down by to much fabric. He often wore open vests that tied on the back of his neck and pants that were loose everywhere but his ankles.

We spent time in a study going over all the things i would need to know to better fit in among dragons. These were things that couldnt be taugh to by maids or servants. The humans arient usually taught how to read at least not in the first language.

I picked up letters fast but reading slowly. I had thouht Dante would get angry with me on the first day and throw me around in the same way hes thrown Cerastes around on multiple occasions but he was actually very patient. I learned alot of new information.

"Why should you not touch other dragons horns?" Dante asked.

"Because its only for people who are close?" I said inquiringly.

"Because it shows their virility or fertility, it denotates their age and therefore the respect to which they are entitled, and most importantly if the horns are broken off its a form of humiliation.... and it is also a sign of affection." He agreed.

"So I was right." I stated.

"In part." He agreed. "A high lady, a high lord, and an heir walk into a room, what order should they enter?"

"The high lady, the heir, than the high lord." I answered.

"Try again." He said.

"The heir, the lady, then the high lord." I corrected.

"Why?" He asked.

This stumped me. If I knew I wouldnt have gotten it wrong the first time. But i couldnt say that outloud.

"The high lord goes last because he owns the mountain. The lady goes second because shes the mom, and their enters first because... hes the youngest." I ended quickly.

"That was actually correct." He said suprised. "Its good to see you have at least retained some information."

"You've experienced a banquet one before but not the entirety of the event. Now you will be expected to act similiar to an actual dragoness. If you forget a rule just watch what the women do and copy them."

"Now for the rest of this lesson your going to need to learn a new skill."

"Like reading?" I asked.

"Something a little more physical." He said standing up.