by Lilly Wilder
My eyes widened. “But that’s –”
They both nodded. “Disgusting.”
Silence settled around us. For a moment, I feared they had done something to me while I slept. I checked my arms for any strange markings.
“We would never do such a thing,” Lyle said. “We respect our women and never engage them without their consent. Sometimes, it drives us to madness but it is the price we pay for our chivalry.”
“Driven to madness?” I asked.
“All dragons have one true mate. If they are denied that mate, they lose their minds.”
“I see…” I fiddled with my fingers and pulled at a loose thread emerging from the blanket I held. “And you two… have you found your one true mate?”
“We have,” Vern said as he stared right at me. “You.”
“Me?”
“Yes,” Lyle said with a nod.
“How long have you known?”
“Since I first laid eyes on you.”
“You mean, when we worked together, you already knew?”
“Yes.”
“So why did you treat me like such a nuisance? Why did you act like such an asshole? I thought you hated me!”
He laughed. “I did not hate you. I could never imagine hating you.”
“Then why?”
He took both my hands and laced our fingers together. “Because our rivals had claimed you. They said their top alpha wanted you as his own. That being the case, there was nothing I could do without starting an all-out-war. So, in order to protect myself, I kept you at arm’s length. I thought maybe if I made you resent me it wouldn’t hurt so bad.”
I frowned. “But… no one ever ‘claimed’ me.”
“I don’t think they ever had the intention to. You’re simply the chess piece they needed to start a rivalry. They knew that sooner or later, I would fight for you. And that time has finally come.”
“So, you started a war because of me?”
He leaned forward like he was about to kiss me but then he stopped just before our lips could come together.
“Yeah, I wouldn’t do that if I were you,” Vern said.
“Huh?”
“I put some medicine on your lips,” he explained. “It tastes horrible.”
As soon as he pointed it out, I became aware of its bitterness. “Aw, why did you have to tell me?” I tried to get rid of it but it seemed permanently stuck to my lips.
Lyle chuckled under his breath.
I shot him a killer glare.
He rose to his feet. “I am sure that is more than enough for you to think about. Try and get some rest. When you awake, one of us will be right through that door.”
The two of them helped ease me back into bed. I wanted to resist it but then the fatigue settled into my bones. My eyelids became heavy. There was nothing I could do to stop the wave of sleepiness. So, I embraced it and had some of the most wonderful dreams of my life.
Chapter 18: Lyle
I added a bit more kindling to the fire and watched it burned. The flames were a deep amber color, highlighted by the day’s dying sun. Despite its warmth, I felt a chill. That chill, I knew, was the repercussion of the dread building up inside of me. Ari now knew the truth. How would she truly react? What would happen from this point forward? The uncertainty was chewing away at my sanity.
To curb my madness, I gathered up some cooking materials and started to work on dinner. As soon as the pot boiled, I added some stew meat and stirred it against the thickening vegetable broth.
“Cooking?” Vern appeared on the back porch of our hut.
“Shouldn’t you be keeping an eye on her?” I said. I didn’t bother to turn around and look at him. Instead, I busied myself with buttering a few cobs of corn and wrapping them with pieces of tin foil.
“She’s fine. The poison is out of her system now. The elder assured me that she’ll make a full recovery. In fact, she should be up and on her feet by this evening.” He sauntered over and stole a piece of meat from the stew. Before I could stop him, he popped it into his mouth. “Mmm, this is some good cooking.”
I scowled. “Leave me alone.”
Vern sighed and sat down beside me. “Something is bothering you.”
I turned away and poked at the chicken I had roasting on the fire. It was burning on one side so I slowly rotated it to cook evenly.
“You have to talk to me,” Vern pressed. “If you cannot confide in your own beta then who else?”
I could tell that he wasn’t going to let this go. My patience was wearing thin but nonetheless, I swept my tongue along my lips, preparing to explain myself. “If you must know, I’m nervous.”
“Nervous?”
“Yes.”
Vern laughed.
“What’s so funny?” I snapped.
“The fact that you think being nervous is something you should be ashamed about.”
“Isn’t it?”
“Not at all.” He rested a hand on my shoulder and squeezed it. “That just proves that you have a heart inside of that chest of yours and that you really care about this girl.” He pointed his thumb at the hut. “It’s not just about lust or desire. We’re better than that. Ari is our mate and we’re destined to cherish and love her.”
It surprised me that Vern spoke with such leveled wisdom. He was usually the smart aleck who did nothing but crack jokes all the time. Very rarely did he take something seriously. I was glad this was one of those times.
“And you’re scared that she isn’t going to love us back but I think you’re wrong there. She feels the tug of the mate just as strongly as we do. That’s why she ran into the woods that night. She wanted to protect you even if she did not know it.”
I allowed his words to settle. Maybe he was speaking the truth after all.
“Anyway, I should go take a bath. I smell.”
My nostrils flared as I picked up the scent. “Jeez.” I groaned as my stomach churned. He wasn’t kidding. “I’m surprised you haven’t woken up Ari with that smell. It’s stronger than bath salts.”
Vern laughed. “I guess I’ve been so preoccupied with taking care of her that I didn’t stop to think of myself.” He rubbed the back of his neck. “Anyway, I’ll be down by the river for a while. Would you mind keeping an eye on her while I’m gone? If anything goes awry, send something to fetch me.”
I nodded. “Go on. I’ll take care of her.”
He took one more look at the hut before walking away.
I got up and stretched my legs. To better hear her, I opened up the back door and then got back to my cooking. With most of it done, I started setting up the table. The day was much too wonderful to let it go to waste.
The tablecloth fluttered in the wind while the flames danced around the chicken, blackening it to perfection. The smell of it wafted into the air, making it thick with the mixture of spices I had used as seasoning. I was practically drooling by the time everything was said and done.
I sat down in front of my buffet of food, planning to devour the feast but the loneliness of it weighed on my shoulders. What was the point of all this food if I had no one to share it with?
Just then, one of the creaky floorboards caught my attention. I turned my head and saw Ari standing in the doorway. She wore nothing but one of my button-ups. Her hair was tussled from laying in bed all this time.
My jaw nearly hung agape. I no longer had an appetite for food – I had an appetite for that. All I wanted to do was sink my teeth into her breasts and watch the ecstasy wash over her face. From there, I’d run my tongue over every single inch of her body from tip to toe. But there was one place, in particular, that would get most of my attention – that lovely little honey pot of hers.
“Did you make all this?” Her question broke my lust-induced trance.
“Yes,” I answered. “Would you like some?”
She nodded. “I’m famished. I guess passing out for a few days does th
at to a girl.” It was good to hear that she could still laugh after her ordeal.
I got up and pulled out her chair. She blushed ever so slightly at my display at chivalry. Apparently, human men no longer believed in the practice. Idiots.
“Thank you.” She whispered.
“Certainly,” I returned. My lips were so close to her ear that I was tempted to give it a little nibble but I knew if I allowed myself the liberty, then one thing would lead to another and she was still much too weak to have me bending her over the table.
I returned to my chair and sliced through the chicken, taking a portion of the breast for myself.
“What would you like?”
“A wing, if that’s okay.”
I gave her both and piled her plate with a little bit of everything.
“I can’t eat this much food!” She protested.
“I’m not asking you to.”
As we enjoyed the food, neither one of us found the need to talk. We were perfectly content with enjoying each other’s company.
I tried to make it as subtle as possible but I couldn’t keep my eyes off of her. She was so breathtakingly beautiful that it was taking every ounce of my willpower to keep from pouncing on her. All I wanted to do was claim her as my own because I could no longer stand the idea that someone could swoop in and take her from me.
“This is delicious,” she complimented. “I didn’t know you were such a good cook.”
“I enjoy it.”
“Really?” She tilted her head to the side, causing some of her tangled curls to frame the side of her face. She was making it so much harder for me to control myself. “I don’t mean to be rude but I always assumed that billionaires had people who cooked for them.”
“I’m a dragon before I’m a billionaire.”
She shook her head. “I still cannot believe that you’re a dragon. It’s hard for me to wrap my head around.”
“Does it make you afraid?”
“Afraid?” She repeated as if she didn’t recognize the word. “Not at all. If anything, it makes me feel safer.” She paused and reached over the table where she took my hand in hers. “I’m no fool. I know I was followed that night and that you were the one to protect me.”
“Technically, I had no right to interfere. The Aetos have a claim –”
“I don’t care about that. They never consulted me about this claim of theirs so as far as I’m concerned, I have no obligation to abide by it.” She stabbed one of her potatoes. “When really all I want…” she trailed off.
I squeezed her hand, waiting for an answer but it never came because Vern came bursting through the door, dripping wet from his recent bath. He offered a lopsided grin as he plopped down and joined us for dinner. I was well aware of the way Ari looked at him. Then, it hit me.
Perhaps she was only interested in one of us.
Chapter 19: Ari
In a way, I felt whole. Being with these men filled a hole in my heart I didn’t know existed. It thumped with excitement as I heard the familiarity of their voices. It was almost like I had known them for years – maybe even in another life.
The smile on my face seemed bent on staying there permanently.
“Well, we should probably get you home.”
“Home?” I repeated. Suddenly, the idea seemed so foreign. “But what if the Aetos show up? Now I’m not saying I’m a weakling but I’m pretty sure I couldn’t fend off a bunch of dragons.” Panic rose with my every word as I considered my abandonment. More than anything else, I didn’t want to leave their sides. To do so, felt like I might lose a part of myself.
“Who said anything about abandoning you?” Vern lifted my chin and our eyes locked. “We’ll stay the night to make sure you're safe.”
“And why can’t we stay here?”
“Because we are not mated,” Lyle explained. “Our clan is sometimes used as a refuge for humans that have been injured due to our kind. For example, when you were poisoned, you had the right to treatment by the elders. Now that you are healed, you are required to leave.”
“But why?”
“We are not mated and you have not received the blessing needed to become a clan’s member.”
I frowned and screwed up my eyebrows. In a way, it seemed like they didn’t want me there. “So, what happens if we mate?”
Lyle looked like I had just punched him in the stomach.
“Then you would go through the acceptance ceremony and should you pass, you’re a part of our dragon family.” Vern stepped in, taking over where Lyle could no longer answer. “Don’t worry about it.” He said as if reading my mind. “It’s not difficult. So long as you prove you love and honor the dragons you have mated then you’ll pass with flying colors.
Love and honor, the words echoed through my head. Did I love these men? I was certainly attracted to them but I didn’t want to confuse lust with love.
“Do you want to mate with us?” Lyle’s eyes burned with expectation. That gaze was enough to pierce through to my very soul, revealing my true emotions.
“Yes,” I answered without an ounce of hesitation. “I would.”
His eyes widened. “Even after everything we have told you? Even after the way I treated you as a teenager? You still want us… both?”
It was strange to see the confident billionaire exposing his insecurities. Clearly, he thought I wasn’t interested and the rejection was killing him inside.
“Yes, I want you both.” I blushed slightly as my mind conjured up images of what that would look like. Was my bed even big enough to hold all three of us? “But…”
“You’d like some time?” Vern guessed.
“How are you doing that?”
“Doing what?”
“Taking the words right out of my mouth,” I said.
He chuckled and offered me a shrug. “Honestly, I don’t know but I’ve always had a knack for it. I do it to Lyle all the time.”
Lyle nodded in agreement. “It’s true. Rather annoying at times when he fails to let me talk.”
“I see,” I said with a chuckle. It was amusing to see the two men clashing together. Despite their front, it was obvious they cared deeply for one another. Perhaps that is what allowed them to share a partner without jealousy. “Anyway, if we’re set to go home then I wouldn’t mind getting there sooner rather than later. I really need a bath.”
“Is this bath of yours big enough for three?” Vern grinned.
Lyle jabbed his side. “Vern.” He chastised. “She says she wants time. Don’t go off teasing her now.”
“It’s alright,” I whispered. Truth be told, sharing a bath with these men seemed like a dream come true. But, at the same time, I didn’t want to rush things. It seemed if I accepted their offer to mate, it would turn out to be the biggest decision of my life. Things would no longer be the same and I wasn’t sure whether I was ready for that.
“Here.” Lyle handed me some fresh clothing. “One of the clan sisters left it here for you to wear when you recovered. I doubt you want to continue wearing my shirt. It gets a little nippy at night, especially on the back of a dragon.” As he said the word ‘nippy’ his eyes dropped to my chest. It was then that I noticed that my chest could barely contain itself within the thin material of his shirt. The girls were both on full display for either one of them to ogle at.
Had it been anyone else, I probably would have slapped them but with Lyle and Vern, things were different. They didn’t feel like a couple of pervs trying to take advantage of me. Instead, they felt like my sexy protectors.
So, their wandering eyes only worked to turn me on. The heat blazed between my legs and grew hotter by the minutes. I knew I wanted to wait but how long would I hold out against this feeling?
“Ari?”
I blinked. “Sorry.” I took the clothes from his outstretched hand. Our fingers brushed against one another and I felt a spark which led the current through my arm and into my heart. I
gasped, sucking in air through my teeth. At that moment, I could see my future. It involved these two men and without them, everything would turn to gray.
“Are you alright?” Vern asked as he placed his hand on mine.
Just as with Lyle, a spark flew through my system. My future became clearer – crisper. I needed these men. Now, I had to find the courage to tell them.
I fidgeted from foot to foot. It did not help. So, in the end, I retreated to my temporary room and changed into the outfit I had been given. They were pretty normal looking clothes – just a pair of jeans and a t-shirt. I don’t know what I expected but it certainly wasn’t this.
The fabric of the jeans was nice and soft, hugging all my curves to perfection. For a good portion of my life, I had resented those curves but with the look of hunger I got from my two future mates, I knew they found them attractive. That thought alone was enough to have my confidence rocketing through the roof.
“Ready?” Lyle asked once I returned to the kitchen table.
“Yes, I think so.”
He nodded and off he went through the back door. I followed with Vern flanking my behind – literally.
I could feel his stare so I gave him a bit of a show by swaying my hips from side to side. I giggled when he tripped over his own two feet.
We arrived at a large clearing. All of a sudden, Lyle was replaced by a gigantic dragon. “Whoa…” I whispered aloud, unable to believe my eyes. “You look just like a real dragon.”
“That’s because he is a real dragon,” Vern whispered against my ear. His hand brushed against the top of my ass as he stepped aside and called forth his own wings. “Can you transform like that too?” I asked.
He shook his head. “No. That’s an honor reserved for alphas. I’m stuck with these wings.”
“I still think they’re pretty cool,” I said when I heard the disappointment in his voice. “Just don’t tell Lyle,” I winked.
When I looked up, Lyle’s face was right there. His golden eyes were almost as big as I was. On second thought, I think they were bigger. He blinked and a leathery lid crossed horizontally across his eyeball.
