by Rinelle Grey
When it was done, and the credits rolled, she turned to him, her eyes shining. “That was wonderful. Do you have any more?”
Chase grinned, his heart warming at her enthusiasm, despite his admonishment to himself to keep his distance. “Sure.”
He picked another one, and set it up, interrupted by a big yawn.
Why was he so tired? He sat back down beside Wayrian as the next movie started. He hadn’t been up any earlier than usual, and he certainly worked hard enough on a normal day. Probably because he’d stopped moving. That was always a problem.
He gave his head a shake, and focused on the movie, willing his mind to stay awake. He’d have to get some work done after this. The cattle needed to be fed and their water checked, and that was just the first job on his to do list for the day.
Wayrian watched the movie, wide eyed. She was doing a lot better than he was, but then again, this was new and exciting for her. He’d seen these movies a couple of times.
But before they’d watched more than half of the movie, Wayrian’s eyes began to droop too. She gave a loud yawn, that set him off too.
A couple of times she tried to sit herself up, and refocus on the movie, obviously enjoying it, but eventually, tiredness won, and her eyes drifted closed.
Chase stretched his legs out and leaned back a little himself. A short nap would do, just to get a little energy before his afternoon chores. He carefully angled himself away from Wayrian a little, towards the corner of the couch.
But Wayrian’s body drifted too. First her head leaned towards the middle of the couch, but it kept slipping off. Her body angled towards him a little, then a little more, each time her head slipped and she repositioned.
Before long, her head slid down onto his shoulder, and stayed there. Wayrian made a little satisfied noise, and wriggled a little closer.
Chase froze. Her body lay up against his, feeling far too friendly and comfortable for his liking.
Or rather, the trouble was that he liked it too much.
Far from feeling sleepy, suddenly he was wide awake. He was achingly aware of every place their bodies touched, which was pretty much everywhere.
He should have gone out and done his chores. At least then he would have achieved something for the day.
And he wouldn’t be in danger of realising he liked Wayrian rather more than he should.
Was there anything in her dream about the goddess who had claimed they were fated mates? She certainly seemed to believe it, and the marking on her wrist was… strange, to say the least.
Not that Chase believed in goddesses. Or fated mates for that matter.
But it would be… nice, wouldn’t it? To believe there was someone who was your soulmate? The one who you were destined to be with.
No need to make a choice, or take a risk.
Because surely fated mates would stay together forever, no matter what?
He gave a harsh laugh, the movement causing Wayrian to stir. Chase froze, but she just moved a little, gave a small sigh, then settled back to sleep.
Of course it was easy for dragons to believe in fated mates, Chase thought sourly. Once dragons mated, they did stay together for ever.
The dragon magic bound them together, so tightly, that if one of them died, the other did too.
That idea kind of scared him a little.
If his father had been involved in that type of relationship, what would have happened? Would Chase’s mother still be here? Or would she have left anyway, leaving his dad with no knowledge of whether his life was being risked or not?
Chase gave a shudder. That would be even worse.
Then again, it seemed more likely, with the way dragon magic worked, that she never would have left. The mating bond wasn’t just a physical bond, it was emotional too, from all he’d been able to gather.
The dragons didn’t talk about it much, but when they did, it was with certainty and trust.
Dragon mates loved each other.
That much was clear, in the way he’d seen Karla and Taurian when they were together, and even the way the older dragon couples had acted around each other.
What would that be like, to be able to trust someone like that? To be able to love them, and never doubt that they would one day stop loving you?
To never fear that they would leave?
Chase had tried to have a relationship once. When he’d been in his early twenties, he’d found a girl he kinda liked. One he’d thought might just live on the station with him, and grow old with him.
But the fear had overcome him. Every time she’d wanted to go out, he’d been afraid she wouldn’t come back. Every time she’d looked at another guy, not with interest, but just talking to them in a normal reaction, he’d seen red.
When she’d left, he’d never been sure if it was because he’d pushed her away.
Either way, he’d sworn he’d never go through that again. Loving someone meant giving up a part of himself, and it meant risking losing a part of himself.
It hurt too much.
Which was why he felt so uncomfortable about Wayrian’s closeness and the way he was feeling about her.
It was too early to know if this was forever. If there was even any chance of it.
Could he even let things go for long enough to find out?
Chapter 8
Wayrian snuggled up to the warm man next to her, sleepily enjoying the firm muscles that supported her. She’d been dreaming about Chase, about mating with him, and she was pretty sure this dream was purely her imagination. No sign of that pesky goddess anywhere.
But wait, she and Chase weren’t really mated, so who was she snuggling with?
She sat bolt upright, her heart thumping, and stared straight into Chase’s eyes.
His eyes were wide too, but he wasn’t staring at her. He was looking at something beyond her, and his face was red with embarrassment.
“Sleep well?”
Wayrian froze at her grandfather’s voice behind her, suddenly painfully aware of everywhere that her body touched Chase’s. Her temperature rose several degrees, and not in a good way.
She scrambled back from her warm nest near Chase and sat up, half afraid to turn around and face her grandfather’s ire. When she saw the stormy look on his face, she bit her lip.
How had she let herself fall asleep, and on top of Chase of all places? Her grandfather was never going to let this go.
Chase recovered more quickly than she did. “Not really,” he said calmly. “The couch is nowhere near as comfortable as my bed.”
Wayrian winced. The subtle dig at the fact that her grandfather had been in his bed wasn’t going to help their situation any.
“My granddaughter is not available,” her grandfather said firmly. “She is going to mate with a prince.”
Chase stared at Wayrian, and raised an eyebrow. “She is?”
If only Wayrian could convince the cushions on the soft couch to open up and swallow her. How was she supposed to answer that? If she said yes to Chase, she’d give him entirely the wrong impression. If she said no, her grandfather would have a fit.
Luckily, her grandfather stepped in before she could answer. “She is,” he reiterated. “So don’t get any ideas.”
Chase gave a short laugh. “I have no intention of it.” His voice was dry, and rather harsh, and when Wayrian looked at his face, his eyes were hard. “I have no intention of mating with anyone, dragon or human,” he said flatly.
The certainty with which he spoke was like a bucket of cold water dumped on Wayrian. But he was just saying that to appease her grandfather.
Wasn’t he?
Somehow, she couldn’t convince herself.
“Good,” her grandfather said.
The two men stared at each other for a few moments, then Chase stood up and reached for his hat. “Well, I have chores to do.”
He didn’t even look over at her.
He was angry at something. At her. Her mouth felt dry. She could see him withdr
awing from her, and didn’t know how to stop it. Especially not with her grandfather right there. “Did you…” she licked her lips, “Did you tell grandfather about Karla’s phone call?” she asked desperately, even though she already knew the answer.
“Karla phoned?” her grandfather asked sharply.
“Yes, she did. I’ll let Wayrian tell you all about it,” Chase said.
Then before Wayrian could say anything to stop him, he had disappeared out the door.
Wayrian stared after him, her heart sinking. He wouldn’t even look at her, much less talk to her. Her shoulders slumped, and she bit back a sigh. He mustn’t think very much of her.
Before, when she and Chase had been talking, he’d said they’d see how things went. That little suggestion had been so promising.
But his face as he’d left not so much.
He was upset, and she couldn’t blame him. Her grandfather’s announcement about her mating with a prince had come at exactly the wrong time. And with her grandfather right there, she hadn’t been game to refute it.
Was there any way to salvage the situation? Surely he must realise that her grandfather’s intentions and hers weren’t the same? Surely he must realise that she wouldn’t have told him about the dream if she intended to mate with someone else?
Her grandfather’s voice broke into her thoughts. “Why didn’t you wake me immediately to tell me what Karla said?” he demanded. “Why is that human going out, when he should be returning us to the lair?”
“We’re not going anywhere,” Wayrian said, taking a kind of strange pleasure in telling her grandfather the bad news. Bad from his perspective anyway. “Karla said the reporter has followed Lisa and Prince Verrian into town, and everyone needs to stay where they are until the situation is sorted out.”
As she spoke, the words calmed her a little. They would be here for a few more days. In that time, she’d find a way to convince Chase she had no intention of marrying a prince. Wouldn’t she?
If he’d even listen.
“That is unacceptable,” her grandfather said immediately. “I can’t stay here for several days. And Prince Taurian and Prince Verrian certainly can’t sort this out without my help. We need to join up with them at once.”
His voice was filled with bluster, and for the first time, it hit Wayrian that he wasn’t any more certain than she usually was. He was covering for the fact that he was feeling lost and uncertain.
For a moment, that realisation left her gaping. Her grandfather, the experienced and confident elder, uncertain and lost? There was something in this world he didn’t automatically know how to handle?
Better yet, she did. A warm feeling welled up in Wayrian, and it took her a minute to recognise it.
Confidence.
This was what confidence felt like.
The new found, buoyant feeling enabled her to smile kindly at her grandfather. “We can’t go after them. Right now, that reporter has no idea where the lair is. Or where Karla and Prince Taurian are. If we move, we risk giving their position away. The best way for us to help is to remain here, as we’ve been asked to do.”
Her grandfather stared at her, his expression startled. Then to her surprise, he nodded agreement. “But… what are we going to do here for several days?” he asked. He stared around the room, his expression lost.
For a moment, his agreement left her speechless. It was almost comical that the only objection he had was what he was going to do with his time. What did he do all day at the lair?
Hmm, tell people what to do mostly. Here though, the only person to listen was her. And it never even occurred to her grandfather that she might not.
The thought of not listening to her grandfather’s orders was so new and rebellious, it sent a shiver down her spine. Could she? Did she dare?
She shied away from that thought, and instead focused on the problem at hand. What on earth was she going to find to entertain her grandfather while they were stuck here for several days?
Wayrian stared around the room, and her eyes lit on the screen where Chase had shown her the movies. “Here,” she said, patting the couch next to her. “Come and watch this.”
Her grandfather was almost as intrigued by the movies as she had been. The time passed quickly, and before long it was dark. Wayrian stared out the window, wondering where Chase was. Was he going to come back tonight? Or would he retreat to his father’s house, and leave them to fend for themselves?
Her grandfather had just mentioned being hungry, and Wayrian was wondering if Chase would mind if she prepared some food for him, when she heard boots stomping at the back door.
Her heart gave a leap, then pounded. Was that Chase?
The smell of cooked meat proceeded him. Even her grandfather looked interested as he walked into the house with a plate piled high with steak.
“Sorry I’m a little late, I stopped at the main house to roast some steak on the barbecue.”
“Is this steak from your cows?” her grandfather asked curiously.
Chase gave a laugh. “Sure. It’s been in the freezer for a while, but it’s all from our station.”
Wayrian had no idea what he meant by a freezer, and her mouth was watering too much to ask. For a short while, all was quiet as they ate. Even her grandfather didn’t seem to have anything to say.
It didn’t last though. Once the last steak was eaten, her grandfather found his tongue. “Now that’s taken care of, can you call Taurian for me? I need to speak to him about what is happening now. While I’m sure he thinks he can take care of this on his own, I’m positive he would benefit from my advice.”
If Chase disagreed with her grandfather’s statement, he didn’t say so. He just shrugged. “Sure,” he agreed. He dialled the phone number, and handed the phone to her grandfather, who stared at it suspiciously for a moment.
Chase sighed. “You need to put this bit up to your ear, or you can’t hear them talking,” he explained. “And you talk into here. When you’re done, press this button to hang up. If you want some privacy, you can go into the bedroom.”
Her grandfather nodded, holding the phone awkwardly. “Taurian?” he demanded. “It’s Ostrian.”
Then to Wayrian’s relief, he headed into the bedroom, leaving her and Chase alone.
Finally, a chance to set Chase straight, to point out that mating a prince was her grandfather’s idea, not hers. This was what she had been waiting for, but as soon as her grandfather had left, she suddenly had no idea what to say.
Chase stood up and began clearing away the dishes they’d eaten off.
Wayrian would have liked to help, but she didn’t know how. She watched him for a few moments, trying to get up the courage to say something. How did she even start?
“I don’t want to mate with a prince,” she blurted out finally.
Chase was at the kitchen sink, his back to her, running water over the plates. For a minute, Wayrian wasn’t even sure he heard her.
Then he switched off the tap and turned around slowly. “It doesn’t matter to me who you mate with.”
His words cut, and the flat tone to his voice didn’t offer any hope. Wayrian bit her lip, and blinked back tears. She’d ruined it. The fact that he wasn’t even willing to discuss it told her better than words that there hadn’t been any hope in the first place. If he could give up so easily…
He raised his eyes to hers, and for a second, something flashed in them. Something that said he did mind. He didn’t look away, waiting.
Wayrian’s heart leapt, then settled into a faster beat. She still had a chance. Now if only she didn’t blow it.
“It matters to me that you don’t believe I’d say the things I said earlier when I planned to mate with someone else,” she said strongly.
Chase raised an eyebrow. “Then why does your grandfather think you are going to mate a prince?”
“Because he wants me to. He thinks that if the princes don’t mate with dragons, the whole clan will be damaged by it,” Wayrian e
xplained. “He wouldn’t listen to the fact that I don’t want to mate with a prince, even if I told him.”
“So you haven’t told him?”
“What?”
“That you’re not going to mate with a prince?”
Wayrian stared at him. “No,” she said, her voice small. “I…”
The truth was, she hadn’t told him because up until she had the dream, it hadn’t even occurred to her to say no. Somehow, she didn’t want to say that. She didn’t want Chase to know she would have just mated with whoever her grandfather told her to.
Before she met Chase, it hadn’t even occurred to her to argue because there hadn’t been anything she wanted instead.
Now there was.
She just couldn’t imagine saying that to him. Why would he believe it, when she hadn’t even really known him until today? She found it hard to believe herself.
Chase stared at her for a few moments, then when she didn’t say anything, he turned back to the sink and turned the water on again.
Wayrian’s heart sank. She’d blown it. He’d been willing to listen, at least a little, but somehow, she’d said the wrong thing. She’d missed her chance. A chance at what she wasn’t sure, but that nebulous thing was gone before it had ever really existed.
“Well, Prince Taurian said he will contact me immediately if there is anything we can do to help,” her grandfather said, walking back into the room and cutting off any hopes of being able to figure out the right thing to say to salvage the situation. “But it does appear that we will be staying here for several days at least, if that is acceptable?”
Chase turned away from the sink, wiping his hands on a cloth. “Of course it is,” he said. “You and Wayrian can have the bedroom, I’ll sleep on the couch.”
Her grandfather inclined his head, as though that was his right, but it didn’t feel right to Wayrian.
“We can’t take your bed,” she protested. “We’ll be fine on the floor. That’s where we’d be sleeping at the lair anyway.”
Chase didn’t even look her way. “Sleep where you like,” he said. “But I’m sleeping on the couch.”