Ayden was slowly going insane. For the past week, he had found Brogan camped outside his door. It did not matter what time of day or night it was; there he was. He was starting to wonder if the dragon ever freaking slept. Somehow Ayden had still managed to not really converse with the man. He walked so fast with Brogan on his tail that he was surprised the floorboards hadn’t caught on fire. Using the magic hadn’t helped, apparently shifters could move pretty damn fast. Despite the fact that his plan was still mostly working, Ayden was starting to doubt the merits of it. His room had become a prison, it was entirely too reminiscent of being stuck in that damn cottage for centuries, except at the cottage he got to talk to someone once in a while, even if that person was Latarian. Ayden missed Blodwen. Actually he missed everyone in his new family. Okay, he didn’t miss, Brogan since he never got away from his hovering, but not having anyone to talk to was getting lonely.
Not that he was anywhere near ready to have a conversation with his mate; his emotions were still too intense and raw. Ayden supposed now that mostly he was still in shock about Brogan being his mate. His real mate. A mating full of pitfalls was, however, somehow easier that dealing with a perfect mating. Ayden had spent centuries with a dead mate. Ghosts didn’t expect anything of you and ghosts didn’t think you were inadequate or unworthy of their feelings. Ayden decided it was easier to have a specter mate. There was no way for his imaginary mate to find him wanting. Shaking his head in disgust as he sat heavily on his bed, Ayden forced his maudlin thoughts aside.
Of course, that left him back where he had started: trapped. Trapped and quickly growing bored out of his mind. Before Ayden could figure out what the hell to do with himself, there was a knock on his bedroom door. Had someone walked over the dragon camped outside to actually visit him? Ayden hopped off the bed and sprinted to the door, only to find it was the dragon himself that had knocked.
“Hey,” Brogan greeted him.
“Hey,” Ayden repeated back, while he wracked his poor brain for an avenue of escape.
“Can we talk?”
Shit! It was time to run. Think! And then it came to him, “Now is not a good time. I was just on my way to Blodwen’s room. We are working on a project together, and she is expecting me. Maybe some other time?” Ayden smiled a truly genuine smile. It was not a complete lie, he and Blodwen were supposed to be writing their court’s proposal to become a sanctuary, but it had been sorely ignored due to this mating business. Blodwen wasn’t actually expecting him, but Ayden figured now was the perfect time to get started on their project.
“Ayden, I am not going away. I am going to continue to sit outside your room until we talk,” Brogan sounded resolute, and Ayden had no reason to doubt he meant what he said.
“I really am going to see Blodwen.”
“I’ll be right behind you.” That sounded freaking ominous, but Ayden was determined. It was not far to Blodwen’s room and Ayden took the steps down the hall as fast as his legs would carry him. Ayden had a moment of panic when she didn’t immediately answer her door. If she was not in her room, Ayden was going to be up shit creek. Ayden’s heart started beating again when she opened the door and greeted him. His mate still lurking behind him, Ayden barged into Blodwen’s room and quickly shut the door in Brogan’s face.
“Um, aren’t you going to let Brogan in?” Blodwen asked.
“Hell no, he is stalking me. He knocked on my door and wanted to talk so I told him you were expecting me. I thought we could work on the sanctuary proposal,” Ayden explained to his best friend.
“You ever going to talk to him?”
“I guess at some point I will have no choice, but I am not looking forward to it,” he confessed.
“Well, I’d love to work on the sanctuary stuff. We haven’t even gotten started.”
“I know, I got sidetracked with this mating drama.”
“You know this is only my opinion, and you can tell me to shut up, butt out, whatever, but maybe you should go offensive about it.”
Ayden’s face scrunched up in disgust, “You mean actually talk to him? On purpose?”
“Well, yeah. Sit him down and the two of you make a list of pros and cons about your mating. You’d get to talk things over and even learn some shit about each other. It would help you both decide if things could actually work out between you.”
“As much as I hate the idea of giving him any hope that I might actually agree to complete our mating, that is not a bad idea. He might finally get that we have too many obstacles between us.”
“I think you should give it a fair chance and keep an open mind though; things are not always what they seem.”
“That sounds rather cryptic, but I do like your idea and I like the idea of getting the hell out of my room and not tripping over a damn dragon to do so,” Ayden complained as Blodwen laughed.
“You know me, always happy to help,” she said with a grin.
“The more I think about it, the more I like the idea. Thanks, you are always so creative.” He was being honest; he was tired of his isolation and one way or another they could possibly straighten this shit out.
“Well, it was not totally my idea. I saw it on television,” Blodwen explained as Ayden laughed.
“I still appreciate you passing the idea on to me. Now about our project.”
“I went on the Council website and they have a huge section on the proper procedure for submitting a proposal. I started reading it, but my brain went mushy and almost slid out of my ear when I fell off my chair from boredom.”
“Learn anything?”
“No, I didn’t even get past the first paragraph.”
“Okay, let’s read this shit together. We can take turns slapping each other awake.”
“Good plan.”
Brogan sat outside Blodwen’s room and idly wondered how in the world his life had come to this. Never in a million years would he have believed that he would find himself camped outside a person’s doorway just to get five damn minutes to talk to anyone. Of course this was not just anyone; it was his mate. His little lying mate. Brogan had not missed the look of surprise on Blodwen’s face when she had opened her bedroom door; she was clearly not expecting to see Ayden standing there. It didn’t really upset Brogan. On the contrary, Ayden couldn’t stay in her room forever, and there was no way he could squirm himself out of talking to Brogan because he was not going to be put off again.
Whether Ayden liked it or not, they were going to fix this shit between them and then they were going to spend some time together. Most importantly Brogan was going to give up his station outside Ayden’s door and hopefully, in the not so distant future, he was actually going to be invited into his mate’s damn room. Before that could happen Brogan needed to get some freaking sleep, he was only getting short naps in the hall and even being a shifter hadn’t prevented nearly every part of his body aching from lying on the hardwood floor. He needed to talk to Aleksander about the merits of carpeting; it certainly had to be more comfortable than the damn wood.
Cracking his neck, Brogan tensed when he heard his mate’s muffled voice on the other side of Blodwen’s door. Seconds later the door opened, and Brogan watched as the little shit walked out.
“Brogan, I’d like to talk,” Ayden said before Brogan could so much as blink.
It was about damn time. “Me too.”
“Great, how about after dinner? We could use Aleksander’s office like we did the first time.”
Oh hell no, Brogan thought. His mate was not going to be let off the hook that easily. “Ayden, what’s wrong with doing it now?”
“Dinner is in like fifteen minutes and I need to grab a couple of things from my room for our talk.”
Brogan was puzzled by Ayden’s response. What kind of things could they possibly need to have a discussion? He had a passing image of Ayden bringing along a giant knife and cutting out his heart, but he was pretty sure it was the lack of sleep getting to him. “Okay, but if you don’t show up I will be
back outside your door.”
“I’ll be there. See you at dinner.” And with that Ayden was off like a flash. Brogan was thrilled that he was finally going to get to talk to him. But for now he had fifteen minutes of freedom from his hallway campsite and he was going to take a damn shower. He freaking stunk.
Chapter 11
Taking a seat on the big couch in Aleksander’s office, Ayden set a pad of paper on his lap and looked up at the dragon sitting next to him. Brogan looked suspicious, but gratefully he no longer smelled like he was allergic to soap.
“So Blodwen suggested that we make a list of pros and cons about us being mates. We can then discuss it and make a decision together about our future or lack thereof,” Ayden explained.
“Okay, that sounds like a good idea to me.”
So much for the hope that Brogan would disagree with the idea and Ayden could walk away with a clear conscience, “All right. I’ll start. Con-”
“You are starting with a con? Not much of an optimist are you?” Brogan interrupted.
“Nope. Con-”
“Wait.”
“What now?”
“I think we should discuss whether or not each item is a pro or con before we write it down,” Brogan suggested.
“Not happening. We argue too much. We write it down. When it is your turn you can dispute a con with a corresponding pro or vice versa,” Ayden declared.
“You’ve really worked this out, haven’t you?”
“Yep, strained my little brain cells all through dinner,” Ayden retorted and Brogan let out a laugh.
“Back to business. Con: Brogan has a boyfriend.”
“Ayden, I don’t have a boyfriend. As I told Aleksander, Paul was sort of my boyfriend. We kissed, but that was as far as we ever got. Yes, I was interested in more, but that all changed when I met you. I told Paul the night we met about you and from that point on we were just friends,” Brogan explained, looking earnestly into Ayden’s eyes.
“Not that I don’t believe you, but you were always on the phone with him or texting him even when you and I were hanging out. I mean always,” Ayden emphasized the word and watched Brogan wince.
“I know. I have no excuse other than I was stupid. Paul and I hadn’t known each other that long before I met you, he’d told me about how he was always stuck traveling and how isolated he felt. He is a nice guy, and I felt like he could use a friend. I had no idea he would call or text me that often. In hindsight, I should have done things differently. Now we only talk once a day or every other day, but if you want me to stop talking to him altogether I have no problem ending our friendship.”
“When did you realize that I believed Paul was your boyfriend?”
Ayden watched as Brogan squirmed a bit on the sofa. He hoped it was because the jerk had not said shit to Ayden about his true relationship with Paul even though he knew Ayden believed a lie. “Fuck. I knew after that morning in the kitchen when I asked you about your magic. I should have told you the truth, but in the beginning I got so tongue-tied around you I couldn’t even string two sentences together. After I got my shit together and we were hanging out I didn’t know how to bring it up. I didn’t want to start a fight. I had all kinds of excuses to get myself out of telling you. Basically, I fucked up. I’m sorry,” Brogan apologized, and Ayden appreciated that Brogan wasn’t making any excuses now. He realized that he had fucked up, and Ayden was surprised at the depth of relief he felt about the true nature of Brogan’s relationship with Paul. His mate wasn’t lusting after another and Ayden was enormously pleased by that fact.
“I do wish you had told me sooner, but I am glad to know the truth now.” The tension left Brogan’s shoulders at Ayden’s words, his forgiveness, appeared to mean a lot to him.
“I will stop talking to him if you want me to. I understand it might be awkward for us to continue to be friends,” Brogan repeated his earlier offer.
“I’m okay with you choosing who your friends are, Brogan.” That was the truth; Ayden was not going to make uncomfortable rules for anyone. He had too many of them forced on him by Latarian.
“Okay, but I don’t want you hanging around Aleksander, I think he’s a bad influence.”
Ayden smiled at Brogan’s attempt at lightening the mood; it was such an enormous relief to be able to put the whole Paul situation to rest. “So, it’s your turn and we’ll make yours a pro. Pro: Brogan does not have a boyfriend.” Ayden jotted it down as he spoke.
”We could just scratch that con out and then my turn would not be wasted,” Brogan suggested with a hopeful smile.
“Not happening. You know the rules.”
“I don’t believe I agreed to them.”
“Pretty sure I didn’t ask if you did. Now, it’s my turn. Con-”
“Again with a con?”
These interruptions were becoming quite frequent, Ayden thought and not without some humor. “Yes, now hush. Con: Brogan is uncomfortable with the fact that Ayden is a familiar.”
“I will admit that I was uncomfortable in the beginning, but I didn’t know a damn thing about witches. Even with all my traveling I still don’t know that much about magickind. You were in a cottage to protect you, and we were in a court that was despised by everyone, neither one of us were able to meet a lot of people for centuries. The only familiars I knew about were mage familiars. Have you seen those things? They are like essences or elementals or something,” Brogan trailed off with a shiver of disgust.
“But my appearance is that of a warlock, so you knew I wasn’t one of those creepy elementals.”
“Warlock? Why not just say you appear human?”
“Because warlocks have larger brains,” Ayden retorted and Brogan chuckled.
“I knew you looked like a warlock, but I still didn’t understand the familiar thing. I got over the creep factor when I got to know you. I thought I had to share you with Latarian or something. I have no problem with what you are now.”
Ayden could not help but feel skeptical, “None at all?”
“No, I still have questions but I’m totally okay with it.”
“Questions?”
“You have any other form besides dragon?”
“All witches have a ‘true’ form, but since I am a familiar mine isn’t all that different from my normal appearance. I just have a bunch of markings on my skin. It is used in some ceremonies and stuff, but since it’s just Latarian and I, I never use it.” Latarian hated to use her true form, because despite being so powerful her rank appeared not to translate over into her true form. Her markings were similar to that of a novice. Since she never used hers, she forbade Ayden to assume his without gaining her permission first.
“Okay, still want to see it someday. What schools of magic do you have? That’s what they are called, right?
“Yes, witches can have them all. Depends on how much they want to study,” Ayden informed him.
“All?”
“Uh huh. Light spells. Dark spells. All you have to do is take the time to study. Except for necromantic spells; witches don’t raise the dead.”
“So Latarian studied and then taught you all the spells when you were summoned?
“I added to what she knew by studying after I was summoned, but I was summoned with all her knowledge and memories.”
“Wow.”
“Yeah, and her being a woman I know and remember shit I really wish I didn’t know,” Ayden confessed as Brogan roared with laughter.
“You were made by her magic. What happens if you were to run out of magic?”
“I die. Familiars just go poof and disappear.”
Brogan’s eyebrows shot up to his hairline, “Seriously?”
“Yeah, but it’s not like anyone is going to drain me or anything. Aging takes its toll on magickind, but Latarian made it so I can constantly cast healing spells on both of us.”
“How long do witches usually live? How long is your life span?”
“Depends on how much magic they have. Weake
r witches have life spans similar to yours, a couple thousand years. Strong ones much longer, mine is strong enough that I could live forever.”
“Holy shit, you’re immortal? Damn.”
“Yep.” Ayden didn’t mention that Brogan’s own lifespan would match his if they were ever to complete their mate bond; he was pretty sure the man could put two and two together.
“Your eyes turn blue sometimes.”
“Yeah, I have no explanation for that. It happens when I have strong emotions or cast strong spells.”
“You look pretty hot with dark blue eyes.”
“I doubt that is the reason it happens,” Ayden said dryly.
“Not just hot, but sexy. It happens when you get aroused too,” Brogan informed him coyly.
Ayden decided it was time to get back on track; he was not going to talk about that embarrassing night when he filled his briefs after Brogan barely touched him. “Zip it. Are you done questioning me so we can get back to our list?”
“For now, but I reserve the right to begin again at my discretion.”
“Whatever. Your turn. Pro-” Ayden began, but was yet again interrupted.
“It’s my turn, so I get to decide pro or con.”
“No, we have to put a pro to correspond with the con of your former uncomfortable feelings about my being a familiar. So, pro: Brogan has overcome his disgust for Ayden.”
“Disgust is a harsh word, but at least we have that straightened out.”
“Uh huh. Con-”
“No way. You have done two cons, and I haven’t even had a real turn yet. You have to do a pro,” Brogan informed him.
“Why?”
“I just told you why. Write a pro down.”
“Fine. Might take me awhile to think of one though,” Ayden replied thoughtfully and tapped the pen against his lip.
“Then I should have a turn,” Brogan announced.
“How about no?”
“I already thought of a perfectly good con. I could write it down,” Brogan suggested.
Grand Redemption (D'Vaire Book 1) Page 12
