Cookie raced ahead of us through a side entrance.
“I’ll get her before she gets into mischief,” I said breaking free of Cinder’s iron grip.
I followed Cookie through the still unfamiliar winding halls towards the sounds of little feet and laughter. Since Stacy’s death, Rhett and I hadn’t been close. We had each other’s backs, but that’s where it ended. Brendan was convinced things would change when I moved to the island, but I wasn’t so sure. Mostly, I agreed because after Corden’s attack they needed help protecting the kids. Brendan’s immediate family were long gone, and I was the only family Rhett had left.
“It’s just me!” I called out when I smelled Brendan’s curiosity.
“Hey, Seth! You guys made it! Where is Cinder? Did you guys bring a dog?” Brendan called back.
“Cinder’s out with Rhett. Probably taking the grand tour. I brought Cookie for the kids. She’s a little furball, but she has guts.”
Brendan appeared out of one of the rooms and hugged me. I laughed and hugged him back. He wrecked my ship and invaded my personal space, but he was a decent enough guy. Stacy would’ve loved the fuck out of him.
“You’ve broadened up some. Have you been working out?” Brendan asked as Cookie sniffed around his bare feet.
“No more than usual. Must be all the cooking Cinder did on the boat,” I laughed. “There’s something you should know about him.”
“DADDY!” Baby Stacy’s shrill came from the next room over. “DADDY! MONSTER!”
Together we raced into the room. Baby Elwin sat dressed in orange footsy pajamas reaching out for Cookie, but Baby Stacy was on the ceiling. Her little dragon talons dug into the cracks between the stones as she shivered and shook.
“MONSTER!” She roared.
That word I knew. Dragons used it a lot in everyday conversation. My heart fell into my chest.
“I’m so sorry, Brendan,” I said. “I’ll get her out of here.”
“It’s okay. We didn’t know she was afraid of dogs either. She’ll be alright. Maybe we can try to introduce them again later.”
I scooped up Cookie and ruffled Elwin’s hair as I made my way out of the room. Cinder and Rhett raced down the winding halls nearly toppling me.
“Here’s your monster,” I nodded to Cookie tucked under my arm squirming to get back to the kids.
“We’re okay!” Brendan’s shout rang through the castle.
“Cinder, go on in and meet Brendan. I need to talk with my brother,” Rhett said.
“Don’t I need a formal introduction to meet a prince?” Cinder looked from him to me.
Anxiety tinged his scent.
“Rhett, hold Cookie. I’ll be back in a minute.” I offered him my arm. “You don’t need a formal introduction. You’re part of the same flight, but I’ll introduce you and get you settled before Rhett gnaws on my tail.”
“Why would he gnaw on your tail?” Cinder whispered.
“Did you tell him the truth?” I asked when Rhett was out of earshot.
Cinder shook his head.
“We have to, because believe me the scheme will make more sense than the lie to him. Stacy and I were inseparable. I haven’t dated. I haven’t fucked around. I’ve done nothing since she died.”
“Me neither,” Cinder said. “They’re your family and you know them better than I do. I just don’t want it getting back to Clarence before I have a better plan.”
“Brendan isn’t afraid of Clarence. Now that Corden’s gone and Rhett’s around Brendan isn’t afraid of anyone. You don’t have to be either. You’re on Moonscale Island now. No one’s going to mess with you.”
“They most certainly won’t!” Brendan stepped into the hallway grinning.
Cinder broke free of my arm to bow. I swallowed a laugh as Brendan reached out for his hand and shook his head.
“Don’t do that. Those days are long gone and besides all the formalities take way too long. I’m so happy Seth got you here in one piece. With the fight and the freak hurricane back in Cornwall we thought you guys might not make it this soon.”
I shot Cinder a look to keep his mouth shut about who really caused the hurricane.
“Seth’s great on the sea. He really knows what he’s doing.” Cinder grinned.
“I’m going to go grab Cookie and let you two get to know each other.”
Cinder grabbed my hand as I turned to leave. He met my gaze and I understood all too well what happened. He attached himself to me because I saved him. I heard about it all the time in group. Addicts fell for those who helped them get clean.
“You’ll be okay,” I said and fought the urge to kiss him on the forehead like I used to comfort Stacy when she was afraid.
Until Rhett and Brendan’s twins were born, I forgot what it was to feel protective over someone. Sure, I’d kick someone’s ass over messing with my baby brother, but Rhett could handle himself. Speaking of the twins, Baby Stacy’s reaction to Cookie meant the dog was stuck with me for better or worse. Better than the pound. Worse than living in a castle.
“What’s really going on, Seth?” Rhett asked as soon as I stepped outside.
I glanced around and found Cookie sunbathing with her eyes closed.
“He doesn’t want to marry Reginald.”
“He wants to marry you?” Rhett asked.
“Not for the reasons you think.”
I explained the situation to him.
“They can’t really make him marry someone can they? He’s a Moonscale.”
“Only by marriage. His family is unaffiliated with any flight or other group. I’m sure Brendan’s already told you Clarence wasn’t going to get involved and stop it.”
“Are you clean?” Rhett crossed his arms and leaned back against a tall tree.
“Yep. I took a shower this morning.”
“You know what I meant.”
“I’m tired of answering that question. I’m pissed at Clarence for not doing something about Cinder’s situation and later I’m going to chew on his ear to get it fixed. I’m worried about Cinder. I’m ready to fight Reggie again. I feel like a piece of shit for scaring the hell out of your daughter with a gift. Yet despite all of that I’m clean. I wouldn’t show up at the home of your mate and children if I wasn’t. I haven’t used in years, Rhett. We have to stop having this conversation.”
“Fair enough, but you do realize how strange this sounds? It made more sense when I thought you two were going to get married for real. I mean, sure it’s fast, but you never do anything half-assed. The person you became with Stacy would never lie about a mateship. You became someone so much different with her. Better too. It’s a sacred thing and you’re lying about it.”
“Lying about it? Okay. Here’s the thing. Anyone who dates after their true-mate dies is lying a bit. It’s never going to feel the same way, Rhett. Never. The sacred part of my life is over. This is what I have to work with now. If things had happened differently, I’d want someone to help Stacy.”
“And I would have.”
“Exactly, but Sivan’s parents are dead. I don’t think he had siblings. None of the Moonscales outside of Brendan are trying to help him. You sent me to save him and I did. I am. I don’t like this either. I keep wondering what Stacy would really want. I think she’d want me to help.”
“What about what you want?” Rhett asked.
“What about it?” I shrugged.
“What do you want?”
“Breakfast.”
“Come on. Let’s get the others and go eat.” Rhett clapped me on the shoulder knowing he wasn’t getting anything else out of me today.
Chapter Eleven
Cinder
Prince Brendan was nothing like I expected. After Seth left, he retrieved the crying little girl from the ceiling and plopped down on the playroom carpet. He patted the spot next to him for me to sit down. I never imagined a prince sitting on the floor, but to be honest I didn’t spend too much time imagining what ordinary things princes would
do.
“Shh.. The doggie is gone, baby,” Brendan cooed to Stacy.
The little boy crawled over and patted his sister’s foot mimicking the way Brendan patted her back. I smiled despite the fear churning in my stomach. When I kissed Seth in front of Clarence it didn’t occur to me, I’d be lying to the prince too.
“Downs,” Stacy pointed to the floor.
“I was so glad when they started talking a little early like a lot of hatchlings do. It made it some much easier to be sure they were happy,” Brendan said as he sat his baby girl down on her diapered bottom next to her brother.
“I bet.”
“So, you and Seth are an item?” Brendan asked.
I tried to read his tone. The news upset his mate, but the prince seemed indifferent to my answer.
“Only sort of.” I said and bit my lip.
“Tell me everything,” Brendan grinned. “I’ve been so worried about Seth. He and Rhett aren’t that close, and they don’t have any other family. He needs someone around to make sure he doesn’t get too lonely.”
“We’ve kissed twice. Actually, I kissed him twice.”
At least that wasn’t a lie.
“That’s a good start,” Brendan nodded for me to continue. “I think it’s so nice you two could find each other after everything you’ve both been through.”
“Actually, we’re not an item. I’ve sort of forced him into a corner.” I blurted out before I lost my courage. “Clarence showed up on the ship and I didn’t know what to do. I couldn’t go back and marry Reggie. He showed his true colors on the dock. Before I tried to leave, he was polite and cordial, but when I tried to leave, he talked about me like I was property. I can’t marry him. So, when Clarence showed up, I laid one on Seth and told him we were engaged.”
Brendan tilted his head in quiet contemplation.
“You must think I’m a terrible person.”
“Actually, it’s a pretty smart plan if you ask me. I mean, you’re both single and could use someone around even if it’s only for a little while. Even outside of romance everyone needs someone who has their back when things get hard. Rhett was reluctant to ask Seth to fetch you, because he has a past that’s…” his words trailed off and he paused to consider what he’d say next. “His past is complicated, but he was close by and knew how to navigate sticky situations. If things went south, we’d have come and got you both, but I told Rhett it would show faith in his brother. We all need to know those we love trust us to handle the hard parts of life and to take care of business.”
“You don’t think I’m horrible?” I cringed as the question rolled off my tongue.
“I’m just a little surprised Seth agreed. He’s very hands off. He only hugged me because I gave him a house. He isn’t the touchy feely sort like most wolves are, but he didn’t shrug you off when you hung on his arm. I guess the only question is do you like him like that?” Brendan asked.
“I think it’s too soon to know. I mean, he’s attractive.”
“Of course, he is. From looking at Rhett’s family albums all Warren men are sexy as hell.”
A blush dotted my cheeks.
“But do you like him?” Brendan asked again when I didn’t answer his question.
“I like him so far. He’s brave and adventurous and Cookie loves him. I feel safe around him like he’d fight Frost himself if he tried to make me marry Reggie.”
“He would. I’ve heard stories to confirm that.” Brendan laughed.
“Normally, I wouldn’t even consider dating. It’s not just because of the lie either. I mean, I loved Sivan. No one else has even caught my eye, but…”
“There’s something about Seth?” Brendan smirked.
“Maybe.”
“Don’t worry. Now that I’ve convinced him to come on shore, you’ll have plenty of time to get to know him.”
“While living a lie.”
“Then don’t treat it as a lie. Treat it as a courtship.”
“I don’t think he’d like that.” I laughed.
“Then don’t tell him. Treat him like anyone you’d date. Get to know him. Let him get to know you. From what I heard about the fight you two make a great team in a pinch.”
“We do,” I grinned.
“They’re ready for breakfast. Let’s go eat. Grab Baby Elwin for me, will you?” Brendan asked as he pushed himself to his feet and picked up Baby Stacy.
Breakfast passed in a delicious blur, but after talking to Prince Brendan I felt lighter. Love might not be in the air, but for the first time since Sivan died, I felt something akin to hope. Maybe Seth and I would date. Maybe we wouldn’t.
“A part of you was waiting for someone to give you permission to be happy again and Prince Brendan did that.”
Now, as long as our plan works out, I’ll be free.
“It will. It has to. At least until we come up with a different one.”
Chapter Twelve
Seth
After breakfast, the four of us discussed the best place for Cinder to stay. Brendan prepared him a room before our arrival, but to keep our scheme waterproof he needed to come home with me and Cookie. Even chosen mates spent a lot of time together at the start of their relationship. Chosen mates needed even more time than true-mates, because they didn’t have a built in bond. A chosen mate relationship was built from the ground up and never quite reached the levels of intimacy true-mates shared.
“Are you really okay with this?” I asked scooping up Cookie from the courtyard.
“We spent almost a week together on the boat and that worked out okay.” Cinder laughed.
“The house does have two bedrooms. So, we won’t have to worry about that. Besides, I’ll probably end up sleeping on the boat anyway. I like to be on the water.”
“To be close to her?” Cinder asked.
“Yeah.” I told him the truth.
“Wake me up to go with you if you do. I’m not ready to be alone in a big empty house.”
“I’ll leave Cookie with you.”
“Yeah, right.” He laughed. “She follows you everywhere.”
“I’ll tell her to sit.”
It was a short walk from the castle to the house I’d chosen before I left to wrap up my affairs. I’d be fine with a shack on the beach, but Brendan wouldn’t hear of it. He wanted me close by to see the kids. At least, that’s what he claimed. He secretly harbored hope that Rhett and I would become the version of brothers he wanted us to be.
“Everything is so big here,” Cinder said as he waited for me to unlock the door.
“It’s dragon made. You should be used to it.”
“This is more like giant dragon made.”
Inside, our belongings awaited us. Rhett and Brendan furnished the house and stocked the fridge so what we didn’t bring with us awaited us inside the house. Later, I’d probably need to take Cinder clothes shopping, but the island boasted some great tailors.
“You can have first pick of the rooms,” I told him and headed into the kitchen.
“Are you sure?” He followed me. “It’s your house.”
“Like I said the boat is more my home.”
I grabbed a bottle of water and popped open the box with all of Stacy’s stuff in it. My duffle bag held most of my important day-to-day things, but the boxes held what was left of her. I laid her scrapbook on the coffee table and switched out the curtains to the only ones she ever liked in our old living room. They were green and yellow like everything she loved and too short for the dragon sized windows. I hung them up anyway.
“I’m all unpacked,” Cinder came back downstairs a few minutes after he disappeared.
“Maybe you can use them as accents over black curtains,” he suggested.
“Sure.” I nodded.
“I think I saw some extra curtains in the hall closet. I’ll go check,” he said and disappeared again.
“What do you think, Cookie?” I asked the dog.
She spun around in a circle and sat down with her
back to the window.
“What do you know? You’re practically colorblind. Let’s go outside.”
I settled down on the porch and she explored the yard.
“We can’t avoid him forever,” my wolf said.
He yawned and stretched out along the length of my torso.
I’m not avoiding anyone. He’s used to having a house to live in. I have a house. He can have it.
“She’s not mad at you.”
She’s not here so you don’t know that.
“Why would she be mad at you for helping someone?”
Stacy taught me what it was to be a mate. Before meeting her, I didn’t have a clue what was important in life. Now, I’m lying about a relationship.
“You like Cinder or at least I do.”
It’s all a sham. As soon as I make sure Reggie can’t force him into anything he’ll move on and that’s the way it’s meant to be.
“Maybe not. Why not ask him out to dinner? Do those silly human things.”
Dinner? Really?
“Why not? You both eat.”
“The curtains are up. They look really good over the black ones. At least I think so,” Cinder announced as he stepped onto the porch shirtless and barefoot.
The lean muscular figure usually hidden under Sivan’s old t-shirts was now shining in the sun. Despite working indoors, he didn’t have any tan lines I could find.
“Thanks.” I nodded to him.
Cinder sat down in the chair next to me and gripped the arms until his knuckles turned white.
“What’s wrong?”
“I’m just nervous that something will come along and pull the carpet out from under my feet,” he said. “I never thought in a million years Prince Brendan would write me back or help me at all. Then you showed up and everything changed overnight. It’s a lot to take in at once. Then there’s us or what we’re saying we are.”
“Don’t worry about that right now. We’re alone. We’re just Seth and Cinder. Settle in and make yourself at home. You might be here a while. Cookie and I don’t take up much space.”
“I don’t feel right about chasing you out of your own home.”
Saving Cinder Page 6