Page 40 of Gladiator's Bite

“You think he’s just misunderstood?”

“No, I think he needs therapy. He’s supposed to start it soon. I think his dragon is rightfully upset about some things and he’s irrational about others. I think he needs to do a lot of self-reflection before he inflicts himself on his true-mate.”

“I’m not going to understand, am I?” Sunny asked him, rubbing the bridge of his nose.

“Probably not,” Teddy shrugged.

“I get it. I get topping the asshole,” I leaned back on the sofa. “I get what a thrill that is. I get that trying to save a dragon with a sob story is also a thrill at a certain age. He’s not bad looking either.”

“Laken!” Sunny said my name like a swear word and I laughed.

“Not as good looking as you,” I grinned at him. “We’re all adults here and for better or worse we need to work with Selt. We need to get along with him and it’s not your choice or mine where Teddy puts his dick.”

“Is this guy your boyfriend?” Sunny asked.

“That would imply commitment, and we haven’t talked about that,” Teddy shook his head. “The sex is good, and we had nothing but time to kill while we waited on you two.”

“Do you two have any ideas about the ritual?” I asked.

“Yes, and we’ll tell you together. We’ll cook you both dinner tonight and we’ll talk about it – just the four of us.”

“A double date?” Sunny groaned.

“Sunny, don’t make me put on the voice that says I’m the oldest dragon here. Don’t make me be that sort of mate. Even if it is a double date, be a good friend.”

“He insulted you and ---”

“Yeah. He did. He insulted me. Me, Sunny. I get it. We’re a pair. I’d eat the faces of everyone who ever said a bad word about you. He acted like himself.”

“Moonscales ---” Sunny said, and it was Teddy’s turn to groan.

“What are they supposed to do about him, Sunny? Send him into the sun for being a bad flirt and sore loser?”

“Guys like him don’t stop at the little stuff,” Sunny squared his shoulders.

“They do here. The whole flight can hear him – whatever he does. There is no being quiet to protect predatory assholes here,” I said. “Look, to be honest, I think they’re a horrible match too. I think Teddy could do better and I think Selt shouldn’t be doing anyone until he works out his shit. But that’s not up to me. That’s not up to you or anyone else except for them.”

“He’d be worse if---” Sunny said and stopped himself.

“If everyone wasn’t watching?” I suggested.

“Yeah,” Sunny nodded.

“But with the flight link everyone is watching. Also, he can’t escape feeling what others around him feel with that same link. It’s why we don’t kill each other in the arena. It’s why sex is so fucking good in the purple district for a lot of people.He’s jabbing at himself more than anything. He’s yelling and screaming because his inner hatchling is fucking miserable.”

“But how does that happen here?” Sunny snapped at me and Teddy whipped his head around like he might punch him on the nose for it.

I shook my head at Teddy and squeezed Sunny’s leg.

“Babe, mate. I love you. I love that you believe any system could spare everyone all the trauma. Not even our system is perfect. Could he be a monster? Yeah. Is he an alpha with an over inflated ego who thinks life is mean to him and likes to play grab ass in the arena instead of actually fighting? Totally. There’s a difference and I still stand by what I said when we talked to my grandma. He’s still flight and who knows, Teddy’s probably good for him. You don’t have to understand it. You don’t have to get why Teddy would want to do anything with him. You just have to make it through however long it takes to open the gateways and then however long they decide to be whatever together without losing your shit on him.”

“You can tell him he’s an asshole,” Teddy shrugged. “He knows he is.”

“I swear if he so much as thinks about insulting Laken, I’ll descale him, Teddy.”

“Your mate is pregnant. That’s understandable. Now, if you’re done insulting my friend with benefits do you want me to text Izora and see if he’ll swing by and do the ultrasound for you two? I mean, if you want one.”

“Yes!” I said before Sunny could object to Teddy changing the subject.