“Clarence is planning to bring a feast to celebrate your engagement tomorrow,” Rhett said.
“Fuck,” I swore and laid back down.
“Thought you guys would want to know ahead of time.”
“Thanks for the heads up,” I grumbled.
“Brother, are you sure it’s just a scheme?” Rhett asked.
“Are you going to bitch at me about Stacy and staying clean again?” I asked.
“Didn’t plan on it. I’m sorry I dragged you into all of this. If I knew it would turn into this, I wouldn’t have gotten you involved.”
“Don’t worry about it. I owed you a couple dozen. Besides, it worked out okay.”
“You’re lying to the one friend you’ve made since you got clean.”
“I have friends,” I growled. “Just because you don’t know them doesn’t mean they don’t exist.”
“Support group isn’t friends.”
“Goodnight, Rhett. Thank Brendan for watching out for us,” I said and ended the call.
***
The next morning Cookie tugged the blanket off the bed to wake me up.
“You need to go outside, furball?” I yawned.
She leapt off the bed and headed out of the room. The house smelled of fancy coffee percolating.
“It’s like having a toddler around,” my wolf grumbled and put a paw over his eyes to cover the light coming through mine.
I headed downstairs and opened the front door for her. Cookie headed outside and I headed to the kitchen for coffee. Cinder stood shirtless in front of the black marble counter mashing dragon fruit.
“Morning,” he mumbled as I grabbed a mug from the cabinet.
“Mornin’. That’s a strange breakfast,” I looked over his shoulder.
“Not so close!” He flinched.
His back was bright red.
“Should I send for the doctor?” I set the mug aside and examined his back closer.
“No. It’s a side effect from my dragon. He has salt stuck between his scales and it’s irritating the skin underneath. I should’ve done this last night and it would be better by now.”
“Here, let me finish this. You sit down,” I said.
“I got it. Besides, sitting down hurts. The backs of the chairs are too rough for this.”
“Then sit down backwards,” I spun a chair around for him.
Cinder let go of the bowl and turned to face me. Heavy bags hung under his bloodshot eyes. I decided now wasn’t the best time to tell him we were expected at a surprise engagement feast this afternoon.
“There’s a food processor here somewhere.” I took the spoon from him. “You sit down, and I’ll find it.”
“Backwards, though?”
“Too prim and proper for you?” I arched a brow.
“No, it’s just not good for the chair.”
“Let’s find out if the furniture company lives up to their reputation then.”
“You don’t have to help me. We’re not in public.” Cinder said as he finally sat down.
“Friends help friends. Now, tell me how your dragon got salt under his scales when you didn’t shift yesterday,” I said to distract him from his back.
“It’s happened since I was a hatchling. Something about my skin just sucks up the salt and it lands right on him. No doctor is sure how it works, but that’s what happens. We had to go all the way to the states to find that much out.”
“Shouldn’t this go on him then?” I asked pointing the bowl of half mashed fruit.
“It reaches him through me. The stateside doctor, I think his name was Bane, but either way he was a Hemlock, said that he thinks I’m more unified with my dragon than most shifters are. So, we share health affects more than most.”
“Makes sense,” I nodded and pulled the food processor out of the cabinet. “We should make a bunch of this up and freeze it if you’re going to be on the beach a lot.”
“Plan on keeping me around, then?” He asked.
I didn’t need to see his face to know Cinder was blushing.
“Maybe I am. After all, I did fight a dirty lizard for you.”
“My hero, the cave-Alpha.” Cinder laughed.
I filled our mugs with coffee and moved the cream and sugar within easy reach of Cinder. He needed caffeine more than I did. Then, I loaded the dragon sized food processor with every dragon fruit I could find in the kitchen. I wasn’t sure why Rhett and Brendan thought I’d eat the stuff but was glad to have it on hand either way.
“What do I do with it now?” I asked Cinder.
“Put it on my back like lotion.” He crossed his arms over the chair back and rested his chin on them. “No funny business either.”
“Funny business?” I asked while pouring the mash into a large mixing bowl. “I thought you liked funny business?”
“Not this morning. I’m sore. Besides, you’re the one who put down the friends only rule, not me.”
“Touché, dragon-man.”
I took my time slathering the dragon fruit mush onto Cinder’s sore angry flesh. He winced whenever I touched him but relaxed as soon as the mash started to work its magic.
“Leave it on for a while,” he said.
“Alright,” I said and fought off the urge to kiss the top of his head. “You relax and I’ll scrounge up breakfast.”
“Do you even know how to cook?” Cinder looked over his shoulder at me.
“A thing or two.”
“What’s a thing or two?”
“Enough to survive.”
“Still a wolf of mystery.”
“I don’t get too fancy with what I do, but it’s enough to survive on. I’ll make us up some waffles and throw some bacon on for protein.”
“Lots of bacon. My dragon says he’s starving to death.”
“Actually, you probably need some Dragonaid. If salt’s stuck between his scales he’s probably dehydrated.”
“Never thought of that.” He sighed.
“That’s why I’m around.” I winked at him.
After searching the cabinets and fridge for the sports drink I came up empty handed. I grabbed my phone and placed an order for a couple crates of the stuff from a local grocery store.
“Red, yellow, blue, or green?” I asked him.
“Red’s my favorite.”
“You got it. Four crates are on their way.”
“Four?” He looked up at me.
“We should keep some around in case this happens again.”
“I don’t think he’ll ever want to go back in the water after this,” Cinder sighed.
My heart broke a little watching him sit there covered in fruit mash and hurting. I almost told him I wish he told me last night but thought better of it. Hindsight is twenty-twenty, but no one likes their fuckups pointed out to them.
“Don’t kick a wolf while he’s down.”
***
That afternoon, Cinder went to get ready for the feast with Brendan. He claimed he hadn’t packed anything suitable for an engagement feast. Though, the man looked good in anything. Clarence and the set-up crew arrived before any of the guests. I met him at the landing pad. Since the birth of Stacy and Elwin, I hung out with the old lizard more than I cared to admit. He was funny in an archaic sort of way.
“No Cade, today?” I asked as he shifted from his dragon into his human form.
“Medwin’s bringing him over later,” Clarence said. “Where’s yours at?”
“He’s with Brendan getting ready. You know how omegas are.” I shrugged.
“I meant your pup.” Clarence laughed.
“She’s around here somewhere. Probably terrorizing another unsuspecting toddler.”
“Cade’s been asking for a dog now. Medwin is starting to believe it’s a good idea,” Clarence said. “I don’t think we have time for a dog. Cade’s more than enough for us to handle.”
“Better get the man a dog before he starts asking for another egg.”
“One is enough. Cade will c
arry on the family name and that will be that,” Clarence said.
I almost asked what Medwin thought of that but stopped short. Their relationship wasn’t any of my business. They were true-mates and would find their own way to work it out.
“Let’s get out of the crew’s way so they can set everything up. Then you can tell me how you and Cinder met. His parents are still blowing up my phone faster than my secretary can take messages. They’re saying you kidnapped him and covered Reginald in fish heads.”
“The latter I take full credit for,” I grinned.
“You would.” Clarence shook his head. “Have you two discussed where the wedding will be?”
“Here,” I said without giving it much thought.
“Have you considered a venue where his parents can attend the services? It may help them adjust to what’s happening. I’m thrilled to have Cinder marrying another flight member. He’s a great guy and he’s never caused me any trouble.”
“Would you have kicked him out if he married Reginald?” I asked.
“No, but I doubt Reginald would have allowed him to remain in the flight. His grandfather and I are old business rivals or were before his door showed up. Now Reginald likes to think he’s my new competition. He doesn’t have the head for business ole Rester did. Man’s probably banging his head on a tree in the Other World that his legacy is left behind to that brainless hatchling.”
“I doubt Cinder wants his parents to attend the wedding.”
“A wedding is a family event. Besides, when you have a child you’ll think differently. You’d want to be there.”
“Yeah. I wouldn’t try to make my kid marry someone after their true-mate died. It’s just in poor taste.”
“That’s because you and Rhett come from good breeding. You waited for your true-mates. Not every bloodline has the brains to do that.”
“If he doesn’t want his parents there, they won’t be there.” I squared my shoulders as we stepped onto the boardwalk.
“I love that spirit of yours. I’m surprised you’re not a Hemlock. I’ll drop the subject for now. Perhaps, Cinder will feel different once he’s had some time to cool off.”
“Doubt it.” I huffed.
“Why’s that? Are you withholding information from me?” Clarence stopped.
“Always.”
“Good. Now, I wanted to talk to you about the lost crown of Queen Esmeralda. I think the elves have it and it’s rightfully ours even if she was half elf,” Clarence started in talking about a job I knew I wouldn’t take.
I didn’t mind retrieving artifacts or documents if they one hundred percent belonged to the dragons, but half and half was shady territory. There was a thin line between recovery and theft, and I wasn’t going to cross it for a dead queen I never heard of. Still letting Clarence ramble on about the lost crown was better than spinning more webs of lies.
Chapter Seventeen
Cinder
“But I don’t know when to consider myself safe from my parents dragging me back to Cornwall to marry Reggie,” I explained to Prince Brendan the conditions Seth set. “I mean, technically, I might be safe now.”
The tailor tsked under his breath and shook his head.
“You are safe. I think Seth just wants to give you some time to find your bearings. Clarence isn’t going to let anyone drag you off. Even if he steps aside, I won’t let that happen to you. Bad things happen when good people fail to act.”
The tailor tsked again as he added another pin to the hem of my slacks. I was small compared to Prince Brendan and he had quite a bit of alterations ahead of him to get me ready for the feast.
“How do I explain that to Seth?” I sighed. “I’m not saying I want to jump right into bed with him or get married tomorrow. I’m just saying I want to know that it’s okay to consider him a part of my future. Every other part of my life is up in the air. Then along comes Seth with a fishing boat and a miniature dog and everything changes. I wish he’d stop thinking I’d change my mind about dating if things were different. All of these cave-Alphas telling me what to think or what I should or would do is getting exhausting.”
“Have you stopped to consider that Seth thinks that, because he can’t imagine what you see in him?” Prince Brendan asked.
“I think he knows what I see. He’s not blind. He knows he’s a good guy.”
“With a past that he considers shocking.”
“What happened to him anyway?” I asked.
“That’s not my story to tell. He didn’t hurt anyone or do any irreparable damage.”
“Then why is he so caught up on it?”
“You’d have to ask him.”
“Some help you are.” I laughed.
“I’ve lent you one of my favorite suits to wear to the feast. I’m more helpful than most,” Prince Brendan teased.
“Thank you for that and for sending Seth. Thank you for everything. I don’t mean to sound ungrateful. I’m just ready to put my parents and Reggie behind me. For once, I believe there might be a life after Sivan, and I think he’d like that.”
“I know he would. If something happened to me, I’d want Rhett to remarry as soon as he felt up to it. I’d want him to laugh and keep on digging up historical sites even if I’m not around to bicker at him about it.”
“What was Stacy like?” I asked him.
“I never met her, and Rhett doesn’t talk about her much. They both took her death pretty hard. They were a little three wolf pack and she was the glue that held it all together.”
“That’s a lot to live up to.”
“Don’t say that.” Brendan laughed.
“Why not? It’s true.”
“Do you expect Seth to live up to Sivan’s memory?”
“No one could.”
“Exactly. You’re not Stacy any more than Seth is Sivan. You two have to make your own memories.”
“I guess you’re right,” I sighed.
“Now, I’m off to get dressed. Don’t let the tailor give you a hard time. He’s getting paid by the hour not by the sigh.”
The tailor rolled his eyes and glanced up at me.
“Sorry this is taking so long. You’re the shortest adult dragon I’ve ever fitted.”
“Sorry for being short.”
“Don’t be. I’m frustrated, because given more time I could have made you a custom ensemble to wear to your engagement feast.”
“You know it’s a sham, right?” I laughed.
“No, it’s not. You’re really hung up on that wolf. Things will work out.”
“How do you know?” I asked.
“When you’re old as I am you just know these things.”
“Do you know what happened in Seth’s past?” I tried my luck.
“I’ve heard rumors, but you should never base your choices on rumors. For a while, a bear shaman spread the word Moonscale Island would sink. That wasn’t true.”
“Only because dragons pulled it above sea level,” I pointed out.
“Exactly. He only knew half the story. No one knows Seth’s story like Seth. If you really want to know you’ll have to ask him.”
“Fine. Then maybe I will.” I stomped my foot.
“No stomping unless you want some unsanctioned acupuncture.”
“Sorry,” I bit my lip.
“And I hope he does tell you, because most people don’t get one chance at something real must less two.”
“Why do you think we could be something real?” I asked.
“Because you both lived this long as widowers without dating. Why would you change that now if it weren’t something with real possibilities?”
***
Guests filled the castle courtyards. I sniffed the air. A few familiar scents danced here and there. Some of the guests were the same Moonscale dragons who attended my wedding.
“How do they not know about the scheme? We’re still on the flight link?” My dragon laughed.
“Cinder! You’re looking so nice today!” Medwin
, Clarence’s mate, spotted me from across the lawn.
Other guests stepped out of his way as he crossed the yard. He was the first mate of the Moonscale Flight. We corresponded during many of my travels with Sivan, but after his death I withdrew from everyone.
“Run away! He’ll see right through us!” My dragon whispered.
I stood my ground and plastered on the Moonscale smile I practiced with Sivan at many flight functions. I reached out to shake Medwin’s hand, but he pulled me into a tight hug.
“It’s so good to see you back in polite society, Cinder,” he whispered.
“It’s good to be back.”
“How are you? Is Seth treating you well?” He stepped back and looked me over from head to toe.
“He treats me like a king. We spent the whole day playing around on the beach yesterday. I don’t remember the last time I had that much fun since… Well, you know,” I said.
“I’m so glad you’ve found someone.”
“Me too. Just between us I couldn’t imagine marrying Reggie.”
“Oh, no omega should have to marry that man. The things I heard about him would make Frost blush. Do you know he’s trying to open a brothel in Cornwall and not even the fun sort?”
“The fun sort?” I arched a brow.
“You know the sort that’s really a bar and you pay a cover, because you’re single and looking for a hookup. Everyone was there for the same reason. You may be a tad bit young to remember those days. He’s trying to open a brothel-brothel and we’ve heard rumors he’s trying to bully Alphas who owe him money into making their single omega children work there.”
Blood drained from my face.
“Have you told my dad?” I asked automatically reaching for my phone which was no longer there.
I tossed the phone complete with its tracking into the sea on the way to the castle earlier that day.
“I tried, but he won’t take my calls.”
“I doubt he’d listen to me either after I ran away like I did.”
“What choice did he leave you, though?” Medwin shook his head. “I’m so sorry you went through that. If you and Seth decide you want to move your old home here to the island let me know. I’ll cover it for you. I know Sivan wouldn’t want you to give up the family house even if he never had a hatchling to fill it up.”
Saving Cinder Page 9