Chapter 38
CHAPTER THIRTY-EIGHT
We emerged from our room twenty-four hours later, hand in hand. Our time together had been healing for both of us. Maybe it was his snuggles. Maybe his magical scent.
Whatever it was, our time apart felt like a distant memory.
For me, not him.
His clinginess grew even as the guilt in his gaze slowly faded.
“Five minutes,” he said softly.
I huffed a breath. “Ten minutes, and I’ll let you wear me like a blanket tonight as I fall asleep.”
His rumble confirmed he liked the idea.
But not enough.
“Five minutes,” he repeated.
My mom had texted several times, worried despite my assurances that I was okay. She listened to what I’d endured and wouldn’t truly relax until she could hug me. I wanted that, too.
“Fifteen,” I said with annoyance. “They’ve brought us three meals without disturbing us. We can give them fifteen minutes.”
Kaya coughed lightly at the bottom of the stairs where she’d been standing, unnoticed by me.
She lifted the tray she was holding as if justifying her presence.
“We know you’re hungry,” she said.
“Thank you, Kaya,” I said, extending my hands for it.
Konni stepped in front of me with a growl.
“Excuse me,” I said, pushing at his back.
“It’s all right, Sophia,” Kaya said. “Don’t be mad at him. Honestly, he’s doing well, all things considered.”
I leaned around him to look at her. “What do you mean?”
“He was going crazy, trying to find you. Between that and his molt, which is when they’re at the height of their possessiveness, he’s going to be a bit territorial for a while. Why don’t you two go back up, and I’ll just set this tray outside the door?”
Konni had me over his shoulder a second later.
Bracing my hands on his back, I looked at Kaya. Mom was coming from the hallway, watching me with concern.
“I’ll give you the hugs I owe you as soon as I can,” I said. “Promise.”
Konni started taking the stairs two at a time.
“She’ll be fine,” I heard Kaya say. “He’ll make sure of it.”
As soon as we were in our room again, he had me pinned to the back of the door. Breathing hard, which I knew wasn’t related to his sprint up the stairs, he pressed his forehead to mine.
“So…your molt, huh?”
He groaned a laugh.
“Are you going to tell me what to do?”
He shook his head then gently kissed my lips for the first time since he’d found me.
Someone knocked on the door. He growled. I darted in to kiss him then pouted.
“I’m so hungry.”
I watched his internal struggle play out in his expression before he finally backed up a step.
“On the bed.”
Did he think I’d run away the second he opened the door? Never. Konni and I were officially glued together. He didn’t get a mate; he got a super-mate, stuck to his ass for all of eternity.
My gaze fixated on that lovely aspect of his as he bent to pick up the tray. I would have wolf-whistled, but I saw the plate of chicken parmigiana.
“Gimme,” I said, making playful grabby hands.
He fed me—his insistence—until his phone rang. He would have ignored it if I hadn’t glimpsed Felix’s name and begged him to answer on speaker.
“Make it quick,” Konni said.
“Don’t listen to him,” I said. “He’s being moody.”
“I’ll try to be brief,” Felix said diplomatically.
“Hestian regained consciousness and spoke to the police. He’s fighting all the charges with the exception of false imprisonment.
He’s adamant he wasn’t even aware of Sophia’s existence until Mr. Elmantas approached him several weeks ago, swearing he had nothing to do with her mother’s employment history.
We’ve fact-checked their association and believe this is true.
In cooperation to prove he had no part in the house fire, he also provided his list of assets.
The account used to pay the arsonist wasn’t under any of Hestian’s holdings. ”
Even knowing the arson, solicitation, fraud, and conspiracy charges were out, I wasn’t disappointed.
“And my kidnapping? If it wasn’t him, then who was it?” I asked.
“He said you were delivered to his door by an unknown person who gave him specific instructions, which included keeping you bound until your mark, if present, faded into non-existence, at which time it would be safe for Hestian to do as he pleased with you. Until then, he had to swear to keep you bound and not harm you or you would be found by your mate.”
Konni’s snarl made me jump. He immediately quieted and nuzzled me.
“Does that mean he’s free to go?” I asked.
“No. We’re not dropping any of the charges yet.
He’ll remain in the hospital under police supervision for the time being while the investigation continues.
Denial isn’t proof. As he provides proof to support his innocence, we’ll continue trying to prove he’s not.
The false imprisonment charge is irrefutable, thanks to the security footage he willingly surrendered to prove he was not involved in your kidnapping.
His legal counsel has already advised him to plead guilty to the Unlawful Imprisonment charge. He’s aware of the alternative.”
“What’s the alternative?” I asked.
“He interfered with a dragon’s mate. Human law doesn’t precede dragon law. His life is in Konni’s hands. He either pleads guilty to human law or faces Konni’s judgement.”
“He still might,” Konni said, lightly trailing his lips over my tender cheek.
I shook my head.
“I’ve made that very clear,” Felix said, “which is why he’s been extremely cooperative. We’re continuing to follow a lead on the person who delivered Ms. Elmantas to the Hestian Estate and will keep you updated.”
Konni disconnected the call before I could say anything else and continued cuddling me. I loved his cuddles and understood his need for contact…but I really wanted to eat without accidentally stabbing myself with the fork because he was nudging me.
“Why don’t you run us a bath while I eat this?” I said.
“Are you trying to get rid of me?”
“Would it make you sad if my current priority is food?”
“No.” He kissed my cheek then untangled from around me.
I ate faster as he walked away and reached for his phone to check the news. Mostly, I was curious what everyone was saying about Hestian and if I needed to ask Konni to add some fuel to the public hate fire.
However, I never even opened up the newsfeed. The numerous missed calls and unread text notifications caught my attention instead.
Curious, I opened the log and saw Lianna’s name. She’d been calling him on and off since Friday. He hadn’t answered any of them. Good thing for him.
Switching over to the texts, I scrolled back through hers, pausing to read the one on Friday, just minutes before my boutique appointment.
Lianna: My biggest regret is letting my temper get the better of me and leaving Steele Corp. Please forgive me, Drake. I can’t ever remember going this long without talking. I miss my friend. Please call me back.
Switching back to the call log, I saw she’d called him exactly at ten. The time of my appointment. She’d left a voicemail he hadn’t listened to.
I did.
On speaker.
“Drake, I don’t know what else to do or say to apologize.
I was wrong. Steele Corp is your business to manage, and I shouldn’t have given you an ultimatum, no matter my opinions.
I was just hurt and angry and feeling like I was being pushed out.
Which I guess I was in the end. Please call me back, Drake. ”
I snorted at the sadness in her tone then kept reading her texts, well aware that Konni was watching me from the bathroom doorway.
Lianna: What’s going on? Why did you take to the sky?
Lianna: I’m worried about you. Call me.
Lianna: Why is the news asking for information regarding Sophia’s whereabouts? What happened, Drake? Why did her disappearance set you off? Did you actually mark her?
Lianna: Please don’t destroy the city for someone who isn’t even worthy of you.
Lianna: Why are you targeting our family? Do you actually believe we had anything to do with her disappearance?
Lianna: Your mom said you haven’t slept in days. Please sleep soon. I love you, Drake.
The final one was from just an hour ago.
Lianna: You gave the media exactly what they needed to keep hating her. That’s not what a mate does, Drake. Whatever you think you feel for her isn’t real. Let her go before everything your family has built sinks with her.
Opening the newsfeed like I’d originally intended, I read the trending headlines then tossed the phone onto the bed in annoyance.
Konni crossed the room and knelt beside the bed, touching my knee.
“Tell me what made you angry.”
“The texts from Lianna.”
“I didn’t read them.”
“I know, which is the only reason I’m not mad at you. Why haven’t you blocked her?”
His phone was in his hands a second later, and he turned it to show her number was now blocked.
“An oversight,” he said. “I was so focused on finding you, nothing else mattered.”
“Yeah, well, that was the point of some of her messages. She said you gave the media what they needed to add fuel to my hate fire, and she’s right. How much fallout will there be from your ‘burn the village’ crusade?”
“None. Dad and Grandpa are on it, maintaining public relations, coordinating take-down notices, and managing Steele Corp. There’s nothing for us to worry about.”
He darted in and kissed me gently.
“And what about Lianna?”
“I promise to ignore her from this moment on.”
“Ignore her? Are you purposely being stupid? She’s the one who helped Hestian, Konni. She was so fucking obvious about calling you at exactly the time I was kidnapped to establish an alibi. How do you not see that?”
My agitation increased his. He rubbed my arms, his desperation to calm me showing in his expression.
“Dragons don’t mess with other dragon mates, kitten. Ever.”
I bit him. Hard. Right on the neck. He was that fucking annoying.
He grunted and pulled me in, cradling my head so I couldn’t pull back.
“Yes,” he growled.
“No being a perv when I’m mad at you,” I said, pushing at him.