by Alicia Banks
He’d sat at the bar drinking, brooding, and when he wasn’t drinking, he was throwing darts. In the sanctuary, shifters could be themselves, so there were a lot of half-human, half-animal forms around him. He himself had his wings out. Everyone knew not to mess with him when his wings were out. Even half-formed, a dragon shifter was deadly and prone to violence. Though the only head he wanted to rip off was his father’s. He had spent the week planning how to approach his father. He had promised Phoebe that he would handle it.
Sunday was mandatory family dinner. Unless you were dead or in the hospital, you were expected to attend. As much as Alistair hated it, he got ready to go to the family dinner. At least at this one, his future in-laws and soon-to-be wife wouldn’t be present.
His heart ached for Sarai. He hated how it went down, and felt horrible about it all. Phoebe had told him to give her time. Let Sarai cool off, and then, when he could prove that the wedding was off, he could attempt to contact her. He thought it was good advice and decided to follow through with it.
He arrived at the house, more broody than usual.
“Where is your tie?” his mother asked when he came in through the door. He sheepishly pulled it out of his pocket. She smacked him with it and then tied it for him, making it super tight. Then she fussed with his jacket. “There, now you’re presentable. Go see your father.”
He sat on the couch and stared at his drink as he waited for his siblings to arrive.
“Is something wrong, Alistair? You’ve been broody and absent. I went to the gym yesterday. The wolf told me you were on an errand and wouldn’t be back, but I saw your car. I assume you were down below. I figured you needed some space.”
“Good thinking,” Alistair snapped. “You were the last person I wanted to see.”
“What have I done?” his father snapped. “All I have done, Alistair, is my duty as your father, to uphold the traditions of our people. Is that so wrong? I know you don’t agree with all of them. There are some even I detest, but as the heir and leader of our clan, I don’t have the luxury of detesting them. I must uphold them and continue the traditions of our ancestors. As my son and heir, it is your duty to follow in my footsteps. Phoebe is a good woman; she will be a good wife for you. I was careful with who I picked for you. Only the best for my son. You should be grateful for that.”
“Grateful? Grateful? There is nothing that you have done for me that I can honestly say I’m grateful for, except one, bringing me into the world.”
“You ungrateful child! I have heard enough. You will marry Phoebe, and you will do your duty as my son and heir. You will uphold the traditions of our ancestors and you will do it without complaint.”
“This is the twenty-first century, Father! Your archaic ways are harsh and controlling and I feel I should be allowed to love and marry whomever I choose.”
“They are not my archaic ways. I did not make them up. They come from a long line of proud dragon shifters, passed down through the generations, and you will give it your utmost respect. What has gotten into you, boy? Is it the gym? Have you been spending too much time with the humans?” His father laughed. “It’s a human, isn’t it? You’ve fallen in love with one of your clients. Need I remind you of why we do what we do? It is to keep the dragon shifter bloodlines as pure as possible. It’s not about love, it’s about legacy. Do you think I love your mother? No. I married her because she is the dragon that was chosen for me by my father, as my mother was the dragon his father chose for him. Phoebe is the dragon I chose for you, and you will not disgrace us by marrying a human. We must keep the species alive. Those that mate with humans sully the lines, and we are from one of the oldest clans. I will not hear another word about this. I never should have allowed you to open that gym. It has done nothing but cause problems.”
Alistair slammed his fist on the table so hard he cracked the wood. “What is so wrong with humans? You might think they are savages, but you’re wrong. They are a beautiful, intelligent, and free species. They learn to adapt; they know how to change their ways to fit their environment. We’re still stuck in the old days. I have many human friends and they are all wonderful people. Give humanity a chance before you decide they aren’t worthy of us.”
“Tradition states--”
“To hell with tradition,” Alistair growled. “To hell with you, and to hell with this wedding. It’s not going to happen.”
“Alistair, these are not my rules, these are the rules of the dragon shifter. It is our duty to keep the line going so it doesn’t die out. You will marry Phoebe and I will not hear another word of this nonsense. Forget the human. You will never see her again. Or you will learn how far I am willing to go to protect my kind, to protect our legacy.”
“No, Father, and if you lay a hand on her and I will rip out your throat.”
“So, there is a human. I should have known. She will not make you happy. She cannot give you what Phoebe can. Phoebe comes with a thousand-year dowry, what can this human offer you?”
“Her heart, which is way more precious than gold or gems.”
“If it’s so precious, I should rip it out and give it to you.”
“You will not touch a hair on her head, or I will kill you.”
“Enough! Alistair! Hal! Enough, you two.”
“Yes dear,” Hal growled.
“You’re right, Mother. That is enough.” Alistair threw his napkin on the table. “I am done. I am done being controlled by you. I am done being controlled by tradition and archaic laws. I live in the real world, and in the real world, people choose who they want to be with. I am no one’s breeding stallion.” He marched away from the table and slammed the door behind him.
“Get back here!” he heard his father roar, but he ignored him.
He tried to call Sarai, but she wouldn’t pick up, so he left a message. “Sarai, I know you’re mad, but I promise, if you just let me explain, you wouldn’t be. I never meant to use you. I fell head over heels for you and lost myself in the heat of the moment. I love you; I choose you. You’re everything I desire. Now can we talk? Please? I just need to talk. Phoebe and I are over, that was what she came to tell me. She loves someone else. Another woman, it turns out. Anyway, I really need to talk to you. I’m going crazy without you. Call me, day or night, I don’t care. Just call me.” He hung up and fled to his sanctuary to brood and drink and wait for her call.
“Did you tell him?” Phoebe asked joining him at the bar.
“I did. We got into an argument, and he hasn’t accepted it, but don’t worry, he will.”
“And the human, have you talked to her?”
“She won’t answer.”
“Teagan is talking to the wolf council, we’re meeting here. I couldn’t just sit at home waiting, so I came here.”
“Well, let me buy you a drink.”
“Maybe I should go to the shop and speak with her. Maybe if she hears it from me…”
“No. No, I don’t think that would be a good idea. Let me handle it, ok?” He touched her arm in a friendly manner and she leaned forward and kissed his cheek.
“My hero!” she whispered in his ear.
He laughed half-heartedly and shook his head. “I haven’t done anything yet.”
“You’ll fix it, for both of us. I trust you.”
He raised his drink at her, threw it back and then went up to the gym to work out. He got on the leg press. He smiled to himself thinking back to the last time Sarai was on it. Man, she hated that machine. He locked his fingers behind his head and started his reps. Before long, he drifted off, dreaming of being with Sarai. He had to win her back, he just had to. He would give her time, he would give her space, but in the end, he would find a way to win her back. They were meant for each other. He had to believe that.
He didn’t feel like going home, so he turned off all the lights in the gym and went to his office. He bolted the door, though if a dragon really wanted in, he would have no trouble getting in. Alistair was fine with that, he was rea
dy for a fight, and if his father came at him it would be a fight to the death. He just had to make sure he was the winner. He curled up on his couch and thought back to that wonderful day when he and Sarai had made magic together.
He could still see her in the moonlight, her hair tumbling down her shoulders, her perky nipples, her sweet wet center. He licked his lips as he thought about how she had tasted, so sweet and salty. It was a taste he longed for. He had to see her again, he just had to. Thinking about her made him ache to hold her and left him cross, so he pushed her out of his mind and tried to sleep. He found he couldn’t sleep; he had to make things right. He just didn’t know how. He grabbed his phone and dialed her number. He knew it was late, but he had to hear her voice.
“Hey there, you’ve reached Sarai. I can’t make it to the phone, but you know what to do. I’ll call you back when I can. Oh, my office hours are… shoot.” He heard the beep. “I’m sorry, this mailbox is full.” He hung up and dialed it again and again, until at last he fell asleep and his dreams were filled with her. They were flying through the sky. He was his full dragon form, something he had only ever done once. She was riding him. Their connection was primal. There was something there, there had to be! He was so sure. He just had to prove it to Sarai, so they could put this ugliness behind them. So they could be together.
Chapter 13
Sarai
Sarai ordered more flowers and put together a new bouquet. She didn’t even charge the bride for it. The flowers were beautiful. The bridal party was thrilled, and Sarai walked away with a fat check. She returned to the shop to check her book and found another wedding. It was still three months away, which meant she wouldn’t even have to start doing anything with the flowers for it. She wrote Mickey’s job in bold letters across the booking and then closed the book and closed early. She had to get ready for the race at the end of the week. She took a run around the block and then up through the park. The park passed right by the gym. She picked up her pace as she ran past. Then she called Mickey to come get her so she wouldn’t have to run by there again.
“I have an idea.” Mickey said as she got in the car. “Why don’t I go talk to him, find out what he has to say? I feel you should hear him out.”
“I don’t want to hear him out.” She stated.
“What if it was a big misunderstanding?”
“I don’t care. I’ve moved on. I’ve got to get focused for this marathon this weekend. I don’t have time to think about him.”
“Ok, but just so you know, if he comes in the shop looking for you, I’m going to talk to him. And for the record, I think you’re being stupid about this whole thing.”
“Just drive! I didn’t ask you for your opinion, Mickey.”
“I’m your best friend, that’s what I’m here for. I’m not just going to stand by and let you ruin what could be the best thing in your life.”
“I don’t have time for guys who live in a fucking fantasy world. I live in the real world.”
“I always thought you were open-minded. I mean, it’s not like he told you he’s a dragon or anything. There are cultures and societies that still have old fashioned values. Why is that so hard for you to comprehend? We’re not rich, we’ve never been rich, we don’t know what goes on in rich people’s lives. We don’t know that they don’t all have arranged marriages. Your statement about only old-time royalty doing that is bogus and you know it. A lot of religious groups and cultures have arranged marriages. It’s not that uncommon, Sarai.” She didn’t even pause to take a breath before going on. “Rich people don’t want the poor and uneducated mingling with them, that’s a known fact. So, it’s not that surprising that they want certain bloodlines kept intact.”
“You weren’t there. You didn’t hear the insanity he was spouting.”
“No, I wasn’t, but you didn’t have a level head at the time. You were angry and didn’t want to process what he was saying. I think you owe him.”
“I owe him. I owe him?” Sarai was shocked by what her friend was saying. “He used me, he had sex with me, and then discarded me.”
“No, you discarded him.”
“He lied to me. You know I have trust issues. I hate liars, and he lied to me, plain and simple. I can’t accept that. I won’t accept that. You need to accept that I don’t want to reconcile with him. I don’t ever want to see him, ever!”
“Ok!” Mickey pulled up to the flower shop. Sarai jumped out and ran to her own car and sped away. She needed a break, she needed to get out, she needed a vacation. So she called Mickey.
“I’m leaving for a few days. I’ll be back in a week; the shop is in your hands. Look, I’m not mad at you. If he comes in the shop while I’m gone, do what you want. I’ll see you in a week.”
“Where are you going?”
“Home.”
“Ok. Give your moms both a hug for me.”
“I will.” Sarai hung up and then went to pack and head out of town to where her moms lived. It was a four-hour drive.
It was late when she pulled up. She hadn’t even called ahead. She used the key above the door to let herself in. After she took off her shoes, she tiptoed to her old room, shut the door quietly, sank on the bed and sobbed into her pillow. A knock at her door startled her and a moment later, her mother, Nancy, poked her head in.
“Well this is a wonderful surprise. Oh honey, what’s wrong?” Sarai couldn’t find her voice, so her mom asked her a question, “Boy troubles?” Sarai nodded. “Well it’s been a while.”
“We had sex, and he’s engaged. I didn’t know. Then his fiancée showed up and… I’m such a fool.” She threw herself back against the bed and covered her face with her pillow. “I got played.”
“Oh honey!”
“He was so cute, and so nice. We had a lot in common and I thought, I thought he was the one.”
“How did you two meet?” Sarai told her mom the whole story of how Alistair came into the shop to order an arrangement, how he offered to help her train for the marathon. How things just heated up and they had sex. She got busy at work and when she finally went back to the gym, they were flirting and about to kiss, and then the blond arrived and destroyed it all. She told her everything he had said to her in the parking lot. How he kept wanting to talk to her, to explain himself. However, she was so angry, she couldn’t handle it. “I’m such a fool.” She said covering her face again.
“Get some sleep. You’ll feel better in the morning.”
“How’s Mom doing?”
“She’s asleep right now. You can see her in the morning.” Nancy got up from the bed. “It’s good to have you home. We missed you, kiddo.”
“I missed you too. I should try to get home more often.”
“The door is always open. Goodnight!”
“Goodnight.” Sarai got ready for bed and then crawled into her old four poster bed. The rock posters were still plastered on her walls and her net of stuffed animals sagged on the wall. It was good to be home. This is where she needed to be to recuperate from the breakup. She would go do the race and come back. Mickey could handle the shop for a while. Home is where Sarai needed to be, with her moms and her dog. The door opened and a large white malamute jumped on the bed and wiggled up next to her. She hugged the dog and gave him a belly rub. Then he settled down and they both fell asleep together. Dixon was the only male she needed in her life now.
In the morning, she helped feed her mom and then helped around the house.
“Nancy told me you’re having boy trouble.”
“Well it’s more than that. I got hurt, and I’m really mad about it.’
“He hurt you?”
“Not physically; my heart and my pride. I slept with this guy. I thought he was so amazing and, well, I found out he was engaged. I knew I shouldn’t have let it go that far.”
“You knew?”
“He came to the flower shop to get her an arrangement of flowers. Which, by the way, I can’t ever look at an orchid or a daisy again. I shoul
d have just let him have his boring red roses.”
“We love having you home, you know that, not just so you can take care of me, but because we miss you. However, you can’t run away from your problems, and you can’t avoid orchids for the rest of your life. You own a flower shop, and orchids are your favorite flower. You can’t let some guy change that for you.”
“I’m taking Dixon for a run; do you need anything from the store or anything?”
“No. No, I’m good. Go enjoy your run with Dixon.”
She took off running. Dixon kept pace with her. There was a beautiful park not far from her old house, so she took him there. They ran around the park till she reached the length of the marathon run and clocked it. She was off her time by five minutes. By the time she reached the last lap, she was out of breath and her legs were killing her. She decided she just needed to push herself. When she got back to the house, after chugging a glass of water and mixing a protein shake, she got out her old jump rope. She jumped rope in the driveway, just like she used to do as a kid. She looked up and could see her mom looking out the window at her. She waved even though she knew her mom couldn’t wave back. Still, she smiled at her.
Her cell phone kept ringing, but she let it go to voicemail even though she knew her mailbox was full. When was he going to get the hint? She was never going to answer his phone call. Maybe she should date someone and bring her date to the gym. Yeah, that would make it clear. On second thought, she didn’t really want to go through the whole dating thing. She didn’t think she could ever trust another guy again. They were all liars. Maybe her moms had the right idea; skip the men all together. She couldn’t really see herself with a woman, in fact, the only person she could really see herself with was Alistair. He was an asshole and when she pictured them together, it put her in a foul mood, and she didn’t want to be in a foul mood while visiting her moms. They needed her chipper, happy self to brighten the place up. She had forgotten to bring flowers, so after her workout, she went to the store to get her moms a beautiful bouquet. She found Calla lilies and tulips and decided to make a beautiful display together with some bright pink Gerber daisies.
