"Yes, you can watch," Bai Yue laughed, steadying him with one hand. "But you have to be good, okay? No throwing fruit at anyone."
"But what if the lizard-man is mean to Mama?"
"Then you can throw fruit at him," Zhāo Yàn said, appearing beside them with a smile that was far too indulgent. He reached up and ruffled Yòu Lín's hair, making the kit giggle and lean into the touch.
Her heart betrayed her with a ridiculous little hop as she watched the Fox Lord play with their son, she really needed to get that organ under control. Stop it, heart. We have dragon trials to worry about. No time for feelings!
Mo Xiao approached from the other side, his three cubs immediately swarming him. "This is going to be interesting," the Panther Alpha said, crossing his arms. "I've never seen a dragon grooming trial before."
"Grooming trial?" Bai Yue squeaked.
"Oh yes," Hóu Xián called down from his branch. "Very thorough! Very intimate! Very embarrassing for uptight lizards!"
