Trusting the Dragon Prince

by Rinelle Grey

  Rowan had said his goodbye’s that morning, before he left for school. Calrian planned to be gone before he arrived home. He wasn’t sure he could handle any more goodbye’s today. Saying goodbye to Rowan this morning had been no less emotional than saying goodbye to Rylee now.

  Rylee’s son was a good kid, and Calrian was going to miss him too.

  “I’m glad to see you came to your senses.” Rylee’s father’s voice was an unpleasant addition to this moment. This moment should have been for him and Rylee alone.

  Calrian didn’t even bother to keep the glare from his face as he turned towards the man, standing in the open doorway.

  The feeling was obviously mutual, because the look her father gave him was no more appreciative. His nod did hold a grudging respect though. “I knew you’d both see this was for the best in the end.”

  Rylee put her hands on her hips and glared at her father. “You’ve got what you wanted, now can you please go away and leave us to say goodbye in peace?”

  “I did it for you, Rylee. This is what you need to do. You’ll see that in time.” Her father’s voice was placating, as though soothing an angry child. He couldn’t even see that Rylee was a grown woman, capable of making her own decisions.

  Calrian’s hands clenched into fists, and it took all his self-control not to deck the man. Usually Calrian believed in non-violent solutions to his problems, but for some reason, Rylee’s father brought out the worst in him.

  “No. I won’t,” Rylee said firmly. “You’ve left me with no other choice right now, but Calrian leaving isn’t me agreeing with you. I’m not staying. I’ll find another house soon, and then Rowan and I are out of here. This is just temporary.”

  Her voice was strong. Sure.

  Calrian was proud of her. He knew how hard it was for her to stand up to her father. But she didn’t even waver. She stared defiantly at her father, as though she didn’t even care about his opinion anymore.

  Her father was not so calm. “Well… I… I suspect you’re not going to find that as easy as you thought. There aren’t that many houses available in a small town like Mungaloo.”

  His words sounded smug and certain. How could he be, unless…?

  Rylee was staring at him, a look of horror and disbelief on her face. “Just what do you mean by that?” she demanded.

  A slow smile spread over her father’s face. “Come on, Rylee, you didn’t think this was really about throwing you out of the house, did you? As if I would do that to my own daughter and grandson. I just needed to make you face the truth—that this fantasy you’re dreaming of is impossible.” He glanced at Calrian, disgust on his face. “Did you really think I was going to let you go off and live in sin somewhere else with that bastard? He’s using you, Rylee. Can’t you see that?”

  Rylee blanched. She was still staring at her father in horror. “Calrian is not using me,” she said flatly. “He’s far more honourable and kind than you will ever be.” She stared at her father, hesitating for a moment. “Did you talk to the real estate agency and tell them not to accept my applications?” she demanded.

  For the first time, her father looked slightly flustered. “I had to. You obviously aren’t thinking clearly. I know you’ll thank me later.”

  Calrian couldn’t believe it. Couldn’t believe that this man had stooped so low. He should have seen it coming though, since he’d already threatened to throw her out of the house.

  Rylee took a step towards her father, right up into his face, her glare murderous. “No, I will never thank you. Nor will I accept this. I’m not staying after all. I’m going with Calrian.”

  She looked over at him, her lower lip trembling a little, her expression hopeful.

  There was no doubt in his mind as to his answer. “I’d love to have you.” He gave her a warm smile. “I’ll help you pack.”

  “You… You can’t do that.” Her father looked startled. Confused even. He looked from one to the other.

  For a moment Calrian felt pity for the man. He had no idea what he’d done, no idea why his plan had failed. “It’s about time you realise that your daughter is an adult, capable of making her own decisions,” he told the man. There was little hope of him listening, but Calrian had to try to at least make the effort.

  He was right. The old man, and he did suddenly look old, shook his head. He turned to Rylee and gave it one last try. “You’ll regret this nonsense when he dumps you, when he’s had his fill. Mark my words, Rylee.”

  Rylee didn’t even flinch. She just glared at her father defiantly. “Are you done?”

  Her father waited one last moment, but when it was clear Rylee wasn’t going to relent, he turned and walked away, his head down and his shoulders slumped.

  Chapter 38

  Once her father was out of sight, Rylee started to shake all over. What had she done? Her father had made her so angry. That he would go so far to manipulate her turned her stomach.

  But not as much as the fact that she and Rowan were now homeless.

  Rowan. He’d be home from school in a few hours. What was she going to do?

  Calrian’s hand on her arm steadied her a little. “Are you okay?”

  Rylee nodded, still not quite sure she could find the words to speak, unsure what she’d even say. Calrian had said she was an adult, capable of making her own decisions, but she certainly didn’t feel like one. She wanted to sit in a corner and howl for someone to fix this for her.

  But that was what had gotten her into this mess. She’d spent far too long waiting for someone else to fix things. She could hardly complain about their fixes when she’d never attempted to produce her own, no matter how much she disagreed with them.

  It was time to start making her own choices now. Rylee squared her shoulders and looked up at Calrian. “Are you really okay with us coming with you?”

  Calrian searched her own eyes in turn. “Are you okay with it? The lair isn’t exactly the kind of home you’re used to. There’s no running hot water, no fridge to keep food cool, and no oven to cook it.”

  Rylee swallowed. It certainly would be different. But anywhere was better than here. “It’ll be just like camping,” she said, hoping to convince herself.

  Calrian smiled. “Then I would love to have you, Rylee. What can I do to help?”

  That question threatened to overwhelm Rylee’s mind again. There was so much to do. What would they need to take? How much could they take? What would be useful in a dragon lair?

  She gave a slightly shaky laugh at the thought. If anyone had told her a week ago that she’d be leaving a perfectly normal house to go live with a dragon in his lair, she would have thought they were mad. Yet it now seemed the most sensible option she had.

  “I’ll need some clothes and some for Rowan. More food. Blankets.” How cold would it be in the lair? “Water. Um…” There had to be more things she needed, but her mind was swirling around in circles and refused to offer anything constructive.

  “Let’s start with that,” Calrian said firmly. “It’s going to take up enough room, and I’m sure Rowan will have things to add when he gets home. We can do more than one trip.”

  Rylee nodded. “Right.” Her mind settled a little, enough to focus on the task at hand at least. She began to collect together her clothes, dumping them all in the middle of a sheet and gathering up the corners. Calrian carried them out to the car, and she followed with an armful of blankets.

  By the time Rowan’s bus pulled up in front of the house, Rylee was beginning to wonder if he’d fit in the car, much less anything he wanted to pack.

  As he jumped out and hurried up the drive, her son’s eyes grew wide. “Did you find a house? Where are we going? Is Calrian coming too?” His expression and tone were hopeful.

  Rylee couldn’t help answering with a smile. “Not exactly a house. Calrian said we could come and stay at the lair with him until we found something.”

  As she’d predicted, Rowan’s eyes lit up. “At the dragon lair?” He glanc
ed at Calrian, looking for confirmation.

  Calrian smiled. “The one and the same. Grab anything you want to bring, we need to get going. I’m hoping to get a couple of trips in before dark.”

  Rowan didn’t need to be told twice. He ran inside, dumping his school bag in the middle of the hallway. For once, Rylee didn’t reprimand him. She was glad he was excited. They were going to need that to get through the next few weeks.

  It didn’t take Rowan long to add some toys and books to the pile in the car. As he walked through the house looking for anything else though, his eyes fell on the couch and then the TV. His excitement slipped a little. “We can’t take them, can we?” he asked Rylee.

  She shook her head. “The couch is too heavy, and the TV won’t work without electricity anyway.” For a moment, she wondered if she was making a mistake. This had to be the most unconventional choice she’d ever even considered, much less made.

  Rowan looked at the TV, then back at her and Calrian, and gave a grin. “Who cares about TV, I’m going to be a dragon!”

  Calrian laughed. “I’ll teach you some dragon songs,” he promised.

  Rylee’s heart warmed. Somehow, they’d make this work. They had to.

  And as they drove away from her father’s house, towards the lair and a life with Calrian, her heart lifted.

  It might not be the best choice in the world, but it was her choice. She was owning it. And she was going to make it work.

  She was confident of that.

  Chapter 39

  “Can I really have any cave I want?” Rowan’s eyes gleamed, and Calrian couldn’t help smiling.

  “Sure, there’s no one else here.”

  Rowan’s mother, Rylee, frowned. “I don’t think you should go too far from the central cave. It’s not safe.”

  Rowan’s expression changed immediately. Calrian could see it. The carefree, excited child was gone, replaced by the responsible boy who worked hard not to make his single mother’s life any more difficult than it had to be.

  Calrian understood his motivation, even admired it, but he also wanted to make sure the boy had his share of fun. For a little while at least. Let this trip be a chance to escape his normal life, a holiday of sorts.

  “There’s no danger here,” he reassured Rylee gently. “The only way in or out of the cave is right here, and I’ve checked it thoroughly. There’s no one here but us.”

  He thought he’d done well keeping the sadness out of his voice as he spoke the last words. He thought he’d hidden the fact that his heart sank every time he remembered the lair was empty. He tried not to think about the fact that his entire clan was gone, his brothers and sisters were still trapped in their Mesmser chambers, and he was fast beginning to suspect he’d never see any of them ever again.

  He thought he’d kept all that buried, but the sympathetic look Rylee gave him said otherwise.

  She gave a laugh. “I suppose you’re right. Old habits die hard. Pick anywhere you like, Rowan.”

  Rylee was trying to ease his life, just as he’d tried to ease her son’s.

  That had to be evidence they cared for each other in some way, didn’t it? Calrian hardly dared let himself hope. He couldn’t. No matter how much he wanted to, he couldn’t accept that life, not while there was still a chance his clan was out there somewhere.

  Would he ever be in a position to?

  “Are you sure?” Rowan asked, his expression still worried.

  Rylee smiled. “Of course I’m sure. Go on.”

  Rowan didn’t give his mother another chance to change her mind. He disappeared down one of the tunnels, his expression gleeful. Calrian suspected it would be some time before they saw him again. There were many, many tunnels to explore.

  Which meant he and Rylee had some time alone.

  He’d been waiting for this since the moment she’d defied her father and asked to come with him. He had so much he wanted to say to her, so many questions he wanted to ask.

  He wanted to know if her choice indicated she felt something more for him. He wanted to ask her if there was any chance she might, eventually, want to be his mate. He wanted to tell her he thought he might want that too.

  He wanted to open his heart and share it all with her, hold her close and thank her for taking a chance on him.

  His feelings for Rylee had only grown stronger over the few days they’d spent together, despite how much of that time they’d been physically apart. Every time they’d met in the hallways, shared a tired smile as they both continued about their individual quests, his heart had leapt when he’d seen her.

  And yet, he had no right to ask her if he meant something to her too. He might be willing to offer her everything he had, but the trouble was, he couldn’t promise anything. He had a quest he couldn’t ignore, one he couldn’t put aside for a normal life with a mate and family, not while his clan was still out there somewhere. And not while his brothers and sisters were still asleep in their Mesmer chambers.

  And if he did find his clan, he could easily find himself at war again. What right did he have to ask Rylee to join that? Or risk her life when he joined it, especially as she had Rowan to consider. Because if he found his clan, there was no way he could stay out of the fight. He had a responsibility to lead them, no matter how much his heart wanted to commit to Rylee.

  And if he didn’t find his clan…

  For the first time, Calrian allowed himself to consider that possibility, even if he felt guilty at the half-formed wave of relief that arose at the idea of being able to stop looking.

  If he couldn’t find them, then he was free to commit to Rylee, but at what cost? The loss of his family meant he’d also lost any chance at being able to provide for her and Rowan, any chance of being able to offer them the life he wanted to give them.

  It would make no difference to Rylee. He knew that without asking. She’d already given up everything to be with him, without expecting anything in return.

  But that didn’t stop him wanting to give her the life she wanted. She was a wonderful, kind, caring, sweet woman, and she deserved someone who could give her everything she wanted. He wanted to help her achieve her dream of opening a bed and breakfast, whatever that was.

  Or at least provide her with a home that wasn’t a cave.

  Calrian loved his lair. It was his home. These rocky walls held a lifetime of memories. But without his clan, they were lonely and sad. Without his clan, they lacked the comforts Rylee had shared with him in her small house on her father’s property.

  Calrian didn’t want to offer her a shadow of a life, nor did he want to live somewhere filled with memories that would always remind him of what he had lost. And he didn’t want her and Rowan to lack for anything. He wanted her to have all the luxuries in life. He ached to give them to her. But he didn’t even know where to start.

  Maybe he could find a way to fit in with this human world, find a job, and make enough money to support her. For her, he would be willing to try.

  But he couldn’t give up on his clan yet. He had far from fulfilled his duty in searching for them. He couldn’t commit to Rylee until he did.

  But a piece of his heart, albeit a small one, began to accept that the day might come when he could, whether he found his clan or not. He would make it happen, somehow.

  That was enough for now.

  That small hope allowed him to smile at Rylee and say, “Would you like to choose a cave?”

  It wasn’t any of the questions he wanted to ask, but it didn’t matter. Just being here, with her, was enough. It would have to be for now.

  Rylee, though, bit her lip. “Are you sure we aren’t too much trouble here? I kind of invited myself, and there wasn’t really a chance to ask you if it was okay. I’m sorry.”

  Calrian stared at her. Did she really think he might have a problem with it? It was clear from her worried frown she did, so he rushed to reassure her. “I’m very glad to have you here. I’m sorry it wasn’t under better circumstances, and t
hat you really didn’t have a choice, but you are welcome to stay as long as you like.”

  There, that was closer to what he wanted to say, to the discussion he wanted to have, even if it wasn’t quite enough.

  Rylee gave him an uncertain smile. “I’m sorry about my father, too, about the things he said.”

  “You are not responsible for your father’s words,” Calrian said firmly, taking her hands and squeezing them. A jolt of desire ran up his arms at the contact, stirring his whole body, and he suspected he shouldn’t have done it. They were on dangerous ground, all alone out here. Or almost all alone anyway.

  He should keep his distance. Inviting her here on impulse was very different to letting himself form the mating bond on impulse. He still needed to find his clan. And besides, he had no idea if that was what Rylee even wanted. That needed to be a carefully considered decision on both their parts.

  It didn’t matter how much he wanted to throw caution to the wind and just do it.

  The way Rylee was staring at him, her head tilted slightly to one side, her eyes alight with the same temptation his body felt, didn’t help. He somehow suspected she’d be as keen as he was.

  But was it for the same reasons? Rylee had said early on that she wasn’t ready for another relationship, and having met her ex-mate, he could understand why. He couldn’t push her, no matter how much he was tempted to.

  They both had other things they needed to put to rest first. So he took a step back, releasing her hands, not letting himself be swayed by the soft sigh she gave.

  “Would you like to see the bathing cave?” he asked instead.

  That was a suitable distraction. Her eyes widened. “Bathing cave? You have a bathing cave?”

  Chapter 40

  Rylee followed Calrian through a twisting maze of rocky tunnels she wasn’t sure she would be able to find her way out of again to a small cave somewhere deep underground. When Calrian stepped aside and waved for her to enter, she couldn’t help giving a small gasp.