Chapter 10
ten
AVERY
A month went by in the blink of an eye.
The baskets of scales Talon had given me had multiplied rapidly. Every empty surface in my apartment was covered in them, and there were still a dozen baskets full, placed strategically around the room.
I’d been resisting the urge to dump them in my bed and sleep with them for weeks, but Talon was in my room far too often for me to pull that off without letting him know how weird I was about them.
The phone service was finally going to be completed that day, and I was thrilled.
I’d finally get to talk to my sisters again. Regularly. As much as I wanted.
I loved living in the castle—mainly because of the tall, dark, and handsome king I was screwing—but I still missed my family desperately.
Glancing at the time, I frowned when I realized Talon was late with the food.
He’d never been that late before.
Maybe he had slept in.
I padded over to the door and reached for the handle, but stopped when I heard a voice outside my room.
“When was the last time you slept more than a few minutes?” Stella demanded.
I’d spent far too much time with her not to recognize her voice.
“It doesn’t matter,” Talon grunted.
My body warmed when he spoke.
I cared about him way more than I should’ve.
“You can’t keep doing this. You have to—” Stella began.
“I don’t have to do anything,” he growled back.
I didn’t want to invade their privacy any longer, so I pulled the door open. Talon was sitting on the floor outside my room, slumped against the wall.
“I’m fine,” he said, when I opened my mouth to ask what was going on.
“He’s so fucking obsessed with you, he can’t sleep without having you in his line of sight,” Stella shot back, flashing her brother a glare before lifting her gaze to me with something in her eyes that looked like a plea. “He’s living on caffeine, but it’s not enough. He needs to sleep.”
I’d noticed him getting more and more exhausted, but I hadn’t put that together.
It was… concerning.
Not concerning enough to let myself think it meant more than it did, though. Dragons were possessive of the people they were sleeping with, so Talon was possessive of me. I was the same with him, even though I wasn’t a dragon.
“You should’ve told me,” I said to him.
“I’m fine,” he repeated, glaring at his sister.
“Can you even get up?” she asked pointedly.
He growled halfheartedly and slowly got to his feet.
I slipped my arm in his, taking a little of his weight. He wouldn’t lean on me, but I’d balance him anyway. “I’ll get him to sleep. Can you tell me where the dining room is?”
Talon growled again, with more force. “I don’t want you going there.”
He was worried someone would realize I was their fated mate.
I was too.
Hopefully, having his scent all over me the way I did would protect me.
“Don’t worry about it. I’ll bring you food. Thank you.” She squeezed my arm before she disappeared around the corner.
“I’m fine,” Talon said yet again, trying to pull his arm out of my grip.
I held on tight. “Don’t lie to me.”
He huffed, but stopped fighting.
“Or to yourself,” I added, scanning the hall around him for a basket that would’ve been full of scales. There had been a lot less of them recently, which made me think he was almost done losing them. “No more scales?”
“I think the last one fell yesterday.”
“Good. I’m running out of space.” I shut my door behind us and towed Talon across the hall. His room was unlocked when we reached it, so I pulled him inside with me. He closed that one, and didn’t voice another complaint when I dragged him toward one of the bedrooms.
“That one’s the office,” he said.
I pulled him toward the other one instead.
His bed was bigger than mine. It was unmade, with the blankets wrinkled, even though it sounded like he hadn’t been there in ages. I never made my bed, either. It always felt like a waste of time.
For some reason, his bed had a canopy too.
He must’ve installed it in case we ever decided to spend the night there. We hadn’t gotten to that point yet, and always ended up in my room. But I could see us getting there. Soon, even.
Across from the bed, there was a large TV. The remote sat on the nightstand alongside a thick book. It looked like a mystery novel.
When I pushed him lightly toward the mattress, he reluctantly sat down on the edge.
He might not want to sleep… but I knew how to get him in bed.
Lowering my face to his, I kissed him lightly.
Slowly.
His arm went around my waist, and he pulled me closer as he kissed me deeper.
I tried to push him to his back, and he dragged me down with him, lining me up just where we both wanted.
His hand slid beneath the hem of the hoodie he’d loaned me, and I sighed into his mouth at the feel of his hot palm against my back.
Then, I pulled away.
He grumbled at me, tucking a few escaped strands of hair into the bun on top of my head. He’d probably pulled them out himself. “I don’t need to sleep.”
“Maybe I want to snuggle with you.”
“You don’t.”
He sat up, so I grabbed the hem of his shirt and pulled it over his head. “Sure I do. We’ve been working a lot. A day off would be nice.”
A day away from Sylvester and a day without using my magic would be incredible. Both were getting old.
“Plus, I’m going to be texting my sisters for a while when the phone service goes in. They’re probably freaking out,” I added.
He scowled. “You’re fine.”
“Just like you,” I teased, pushing him back toward the mattress.
He didn’t budge.
Neither did his scowl.
“Come on, Tal. What’s it going to take to get you to nap? I must have something that you want.”
He studied me.
He was considering the offer.
I waited.
Finally, he said, “If I’m spending the day in bed, I want you pressed against me. With your hair down, and your top off. Pants too. Panties can stay. You can text your sisters as much as you want, read a book, or watch a movie. I don’t care. But I want you against me. And I want your hair loose. You never take it down.”
I acted as if I had to think about it. Like he drove a difficult bargain.
As if spending the day mostly-naked, in his bed, with my body pressed against his while I watched TV would be a hardship.
I could’ve snorted at the idea.
“I don’t like having my hair down,” I finally said.
His eyes narrowed.
“But I guess I can do it. For you.”
His forehead smoothed.
I bit back a smile.
He watched as I pulled his hoodie over my head. The sweater I had beneath it followed.
“I’ll take the rest off after I get the food from Stella,” I said, and he nodded. “Lay down and take your pants off. We both know you don’t sleep in jeans.”
He didn’t try to protest anymore—he just stripped the thick fabric down those gigantic thighs and tossed them aside. His erection strained against his boxer-briefs. He was always hard for me, and I certainly wouldn’t complain.
Stella knocked on the door, and I slipped out of the bedroom to grab the food from her.
“Thank you,” she whispered, genuine gratitude in her eyes.
“It’s not a hardship to spend all day in bed with your brother, Stell. Don’t thank me.”
Her lips curved upward. “Alright. But seriously, I owe you.”
“You can pay me back by picking our next audiobook. I’m tired of choosing them. There are too many options.”
She laughed. “Why do you think I gave you that job?”
I tossed a playful scowl at her.
“Fine, I’ll pick the next five. I’ll make it ten if you can get him to sleep for two days instead of one. The guy’s driving everyone crazy.”
“Really? He seemed fine to me.” I glanced over my shoulder.
“He’s putting his best face on for you.” She patted me on the arm. “Don’t let him talk you into screwing the whole time. He seriously needs sleep.”
“My legs will stay closed,” I vowed, bowing my head toward her.
She snorted. “Fuck, I love you. If he hadn’t already claimed you, I would.”
I laughed.
Talon growled in the other room, apparently listening in on our conversation.
“Go eat your food. I’ll keep an eye on Sylvester. When you hit him with your magic next time, he’ll be toast.”
“We can only dream.”
I closed the door with my hip, and carried the plates into the bedroom. Talon was still in bed, which told me he was in worse shape than he wanted to admit.
“Did she pick up coffee?” he asked, his voice straining.
“No. You obviously need a break from caffeine.” I handed his plate over, and he reluctantly accepted it. “You know you can’t just not sleep, right?”
“I made it this long.”
“How long, exactly?”
He focused on his food. “The eggs are good.”
“They’re always good. Have you had this problem with fuck buddies in the past?”
“Friends with benefits,” he corrected.
I took a bite, waiting for an answer.
“I’ve never had a friend with benefits before,” he finally admitted. “I’ve fucked a handful of female dragons once or twice over the years. Otherwise, I just meet someone at one of Hale’s nightclubs once a year or so.”
My eyebrows lifted. “You’re telling me that you usually only have sex once a year?”
“Yes.” He took a bite of his food, still focused on his plate.
“There’s no way.”
He lifted his gaze, and raised an eyebrow. “Why not?”
“You’re…” I gestured toward him. A dozen things came to mind.
Gorgeous.
Amazing in bed.
Always horny.
Sexy as hell.
The dragon king.
“Insatiable,” I finally said.
He shrugged and took another bite, looking down again.
I stared at him for another minute.
He had no reason to lie to me. I’d just told him I expected otherwise. Whatever he said wasn’t going to change anything between us.
So… he was telling the truth.
I finally lifted my fork back to my mouth. “Are you going to ask how often I have sex?”
“Nope.”
I blinked.
He took another bite.
I blinked again.
“That seems out of character,” I finally said.
“I don’t think I’ll like the answer, and it doesn’t matter who you were with before me. None of them compare.”
He was right.
There was no point in debating that.
But it still surprised me.
“I thought you would care more,” I said. “Just because of the possessiveness.”
“Would you rather I demand their names and threaten to kill all of them?”
“No. It would’ve been expected, though. Kai almost murdered a few of the guys Clementine slept with.”
“He’s a king. I’m not.”
“You represent your people just as much as he represents his.”
Talon made a noise of disagreement. “He asked for their names and hunted them down?”
“No. They sort of… stared at her. Flirted, too. One of them sat really close to her.”
Talon’s eyebrows shot upward. “And he didn’t kill them? Kai? Are we talking about the same person?”
“All the kings are a little softer now that they’re mated. According to Blair, at least. I never really met them before. Luckily for you, I’m not looking for a bond. You can stay hard. No softening required.” I patted his chiseled abs for emphasis.
He snorted. “There’s no arguing that I’m hard.”
I laughed, and didn’t have to see his erection to know it was there. “What would you do if someone flirted with your mate?”
He studied me for a moment. “Do you want a lie, or the truth?”
“Both.”
“I’d either pin him to the wall and scare the shit out of him, or throw him out the nearest window.”
Goosebumps broke out on my arms. “Which is which?”
“You tell me, Ave.”
I watched him clean the rest of his plate, then set it on the nightstand. We’d deal with the dishes later. After he was done sleeping.
He leaned back on his pillow, and his eyes closed as he let out a slow breath.
“Feels good to be in bed again, huh?” I asked.
“Mmhm.” His voice was getting heavier already.
Just how tired was he?
I took another bite of my food before finally saying, “If someone flirted with your mate, you’d throw them out a window.”
“Fucking straight.” The words were barely more than a murmur. “Those perfect little tits better be bare against my chest when I wake up.”
“They will be.”
His lips curved, just slightly, but his smile vanished a moment later as his breathing levelled out.
I watched him sleep while I ate. My feelings were… messy.
I liked him.
I liked him a lot.
But he didn’t belong to me. He was waiting for his fated mate. I wasn’t the woman he would throw someone out a window for talking to, and I could never become her.
And if not never, pretty damn close to that.
I needed to regain control of my emotions. What we had wasn’t unique. It was just sex.
The best sex of my life, but still.
I was just warming his bed until some other woman came around to take over for me.
And she was going to hate me.
I’d probably never see him again after that.
I bit my lip.
Suddenly, I didn’t want to spend the day pressed up against him. I didn’t want to let myself care about him any more than I already did. I wanted space. Lots of space.
But he needed sleep, and I’d promised to lay with him.
So, I finished my food and reluctantly took off everything but my panties. I couldn’t help my sigh of contentment as I leaned against his side, draping one of my legs over his thighs. His hand slid over my ass in his sleep, and squeezed lightly.
My throat swelled.
What if I didn’t want to let him go?
What if I started feeling more for him?
Would he ever consider mating with me and forgetting his fated mate?
I couldn’t ask him to do that, of course. She would be perfect for him, and I was just… me.
But maybe, if we were together long enough, it could become a possibility.
Of course, I didn’t want a mate. I liked being single. Being single was safe.
It was ridiculous that being with Talon had somehow managed to feel even safer. I grabbed my phone off the place I’d left it on the bed behind me, and lifted it up, resting it on Talon’s chest.
I checked for service, and my heart soared when I saw that I had it.
Finally, I could talk to my sisters. Maybe texting with them would make things feel normal again. Maybe I would remember all the reasons I didn’t want a mate.
I’d missed a shit ton of messages in our sisters’ group chat while I’d been in the castle, and I read every single one of them. It took ages, and I laughed so hard I cried during one of the conversations. Talon didn’t even budge, though his hand tightened on my ass a little.
When I finally got to the end, I sent a message of my own.
Me
I have phone service now
Thank you for amusing me with your texts today
Clem
OMG
FINALLY
WHERE TF ARE YOU?
Blair
You know she’s at the dragons’ castle
Clem
I thought we were supposed to pretend not to know it existed?
Izzy
Not with Avery
But… AVERY! How’s it going?
Zora
And who the fuck bit you?
My eyes widened, and my hand lifted to the scar on my neck.
I’d sent them a picture to show them that I was fine and unmated, but I hadn’t realized the scar would show. I’d gotten too used to it.
Me
It’s a long story, but it’s going well
Zora
No dodging questions when you’ve been gone for an entire month
I grimaced.
Of the five of us, I was the most private. There was no doubt about that. There were so many things about my life that they just didn’t know. I kept them close to my chest, to keep me safe.
I knew I didn’t need protection from my sisters, but it still felt too risky to share everything. Too… intimate, I guess.
There wasn’t a way out of sharing this, though. As soon as they saw me with Talon, they’d know we were hooking up. We weren’t exactly discreet.
Me
Alright, fine
I might be sleeping with Talon. It’s casual, though. That’s not why he brought me here, it just happened
And before you jump to conclusions, he’s looking for his fated mate, so he’s not going to mate with me
Clem
OMG
OMFG
NO WAY
Izzy
Holy fuck
Blair
Are you serious?
Zora
Can’t say I saw that coming
Clem
We can work around the fated mate thing. If he falls in love with you, he’ll pick you
Right?
Me
No
It’s like the vampires’ blood mate thing
Mating with anyone else would be dooming them to a life without their perfect match
A mate bond isn’t really a possibility
We’re just casual
Izzy
Biting isn’t casual
Me
It’s casual for us
Izzy
It’s a scar, Avery
Blair
A permanent one, right?
Me
Yes, but it doesn’t mean anything
Zora
If it doesn’t mean anything, then why did he do it?
Me
Idk
It feels good
Clem
Sweetie, you’re in denial
Me
He’s made it clear that we’re not in it for the long haul
I’m not his perfect match
Izzy
Imperfect matches can be even better
Clem
You don’t have to be soulmates to have a great life together
Zora
What you guys want matters
Me
I don’t want a mate bond with him, so none of that is important
It’s just sex
Clem
Good sex?
Me
No, it’s terrible but I’m sticking around anyway
Izzy
I just snorted so hard, water almost came out of my nose
Porter is concerned now and trying to read over my shoulder
Clem
Hide that phone, girl
Izzy
Bet you’re telling Kai every single word you read
Clem
I would never
But he *might* be reading over my shoulder too
Blair
Mates aside, the sex is obviously good if she’s letting him bite her
What does he need you for, Avery?
I stared down at the message, considering my options. I wanted to tell my sisters exactly what was happening, but the dragons had kept the whole thing a secret. It wouldn’t reflect well on them that they’d had a serial killer living with their king’s sister for so long.
If we were told what he wanted us for, one of us would’ve volunteered to help Talon ages ago. But he hadn’t told anyone. Because he wanted it to stay quiet, to protect his dragons. Or maybe to protect Stella.
I didn’t have to know his reasoning to help with that, though.
Me
I can’t tell you, but no one is in danger
And like I said, he doesn’t want me to mate with him
None of my sisters replied immediately.
I bit my lip, worried I’d hurt them with the lack of answer.
A minute passed before the next text came through.
Clem
I think we need more photo evidence that you’re fine
Since you’re keeping secrets now
Izzy
I second that
Zora
Third
Blair
Fourth
I turned my phone’s camera on and snapped a quick picture of me, sleeping on Talon. It only featured my face, and part of the dragon’s chest.
Zora
Damn, naked cuddling in the middle of the day? That’s the life
Clem
Does he need sex lessons or something?
Blair
Idk why else he would need a siren
Me
Definitely no sex lessons needed
He hasn’t slept much, so Stella asked me to take the day off and force him to get some rest
Blair
Stella is his sister, right?
Clem
Or a second lover?
Me
LOL no, dragons don’t share
Yeah, she’s his sister
Izzy
I don’t think any magical beings share
We’re not really programmed that way
Clem
Should we be jealous that you’re hanging out with his sister while keeping secrets from us?
Because it kinda feels like we should
Me
You all made new friends and family when you found your mates. I’m not mating with Talon, but I can still do the same
You know I could never replace you
Blair
We’re irreplaceable ;)
When are you coming home?
I stared down at the message.
Home.
It was a unique concept to me. Mistwood hadn’t felt safe to me in a long time. Not since everything that happened with Wendell. Vamp Manor had been better than anywhere else, but it still hadn’t truly felt like home.
Nothing had, since I lost my mom.
But the castle?
It was the closest thing that had ever felt like that. I was happy, there. I had a purpose, and a place. I mattered, and not just because of what I was, but because I could do something for them that no one else could.
I guess my purpose would end as soon as Sylvester was dead. I really would have to go back to Vamp Manor, as shitty as it sounded. I’d go from being important, to hiding away from the world again.
Guess I could adopt that cat I’d been thinking about getting for a while.
Me
I’m not sure
There’s not a set time limit on what I’m doing
As soon as I get it done, I’ll come home
Zora
You’re torturing us with curiosity
Me
I know, I’m sorry
It’s really not that exciting
Blair
Is there any reason you can’t come home to swim with us? The castle isn’t that far for a dragon, right? We could meet at Izzy’s lake, so Talon doesn’t have to worry about us taking you or anything
Clem
And Stella could bring you if he’s too busy, right?
Me
I’m not sure
I’ll talk to him when he’s awake
Izzy
If you’re not a prisoner and you’re not his mate, why do you have to talk to him about it?
Clem
Oooh, good point
Me
It’s complicated
Zora
More secrets?
Me
No, he’s just… protective
Blair
AKA possessive?
Me
No
Fine, yes
But it’s not what you’re thinking. Dragons are always possessive over people they’re sleeping with. It’s the treasure hoarding thing. He’s even giving me his scales
I regretted that last sentence as soon as I sent the message, but they texted back before I could edit it out
Clem
Is that code for something?
Blair
Why is he giving you scales?
Zora
Sounds suspicious
Izzy
I’m calling BS
Me
Dragons are just weird
I’m not sure why he’s giving me the scales, but it’s not code for something. I keep forgetting to ask Stella why, and I stay away from most of the other dragons
It’s better to stay away from them, just in case I’m fated to one of them
Clem
Wowww
Izzy
Double BS
He’s biting you, screwing you, not sleeping without you, and giving you his scales?
He sounds like he’s mated
To you, but that was implied
Me
It REALLY isn’t like that
It sounds more intense than it is
Clem
Does it get more intense than him not being able to sleep without you, and giving you his scales?
Aren’t they like hair or something?
Me
No, they’re more special than that
Zora
Which makes it even more intense
Me
No
Blair
We’re not trying to say you’re wrong, Avery
But not being able to sleep without their partner is a basic part of having a mate for most men
Me
It’s just a basic part of being possessive
Zora
How does a dragon know if they’ve met their fated mate?
Me
I’m not sure
I didn’t ask
Blair
Did he say straight-up that you’re NOT his fated mate?
Me
He definitely never said that I was
And he wants me to stay away from the unmated guys so I don’t find out I’m fated to one of them
Izzy
Or he wants you to stay away from them so he doesn’t feel the urge to kill them every time they look at you
Zora
Can you ask Stella how a dragon knows if they’ve found their fated mate?
Me
She’s busy
Zora
Do you even want to know, Avery?
I stared at the question, my throat swollen.
Did I?
I…
Well, I wasn’t sure.
If I was his fated mate, it wouldn’t be the worst thing in the world. Maybe I’d even be happy.
But it would mean that he lied to me. Hid the truth from me. Kept secrets from me.
It would mean I couldn’t trust him.
And I didn’t want a mate. I never had. Sealing a mate bond meant exposing yourself to the potential of being hurt in so many more ways.
But not knowing the truth wasn’t an option. Was it?
No.
The longer I waited, the more it would hurt if he was keeping it a secret.
And the more I might start to fall for him. Which I couldn’t let happen.
I finally texted back.
Me
I like him
I didn’t even think being fated to him was a possibility
If it is, I need to know. But if it is, everything will change. And I don’t want it to change
Blair
You like him?
Izzy
Really? Genuinely?
Me
Yeah
Zora
Fuck
Me
I think in this situation, I’m going to lose no matter what the truth is
Clem
I’m so sorry
Izzy
Do you want to deal with the pain now, or later?
Me
Now, I guess
Izzy
Make him bring you to my lake when he wakes up. We’ll get the truth out of him
Zora
Better yet, wake him up and make him bring you here
Me
I can’t do that
He was barely functioning
If one of you can get Stella’s number, I can ask her
Clem
On it
Zora
Bane doesn’t think she has a phone, he’s met her before
But he says we can storm the dragons’ wing of the Manor and casually ask one of them about fated mates. There are always a few around, pretending they live there
Me
They won’t tell you anything
They don’t respect kings like other kinds of supernaturals do
Blair
We’ll figure it out one way or another
Give us a few hours
Izzy
Porter thinks we might need a few days
Apparently dragons are really, really stubborn, and we’ll need to bribe them with a lot of good food to get them to talk
Me
They have plenty of good food here
Clem
Don’t worry about it, we’ll figure it out
GTG
Love you!
Blair
Love you, be safe 3
Izzy
We miss you. Be careful with the scaly bastard
Zora
Love you! Have fun ;)
I told them all that I loved them too, and hit the button to turn off my phone. Setting it down on the bed next to Talon, I studied the sleeping man.
He looked so peaceful in his sleep. So calm. So different from the way he usually looked. Usually, he looked like he was carrying the weight of the world and fighting like hell not to let an ounce of it fall.
I might be his fated mate.
And he might have been lying to me about it since the moment we met.
I closed my eyes and lowered my cheek to his chest, staring at the wall.
I couldn’t be his mate, of course. I couldn’t. It would be too risky. And I wouldn’t be able to trust him if he’d lied to me for so long.
Squeezing my eyes shut, I forced myself to think about anything else.
The cat I’d adopt when I moved back to the Manor.
The fun I’d have with my sisters, swimming together again.
The loneliness I’d have when they were all with their mates and I was on my own again.
Shit.
That wasn’t a happy thought.
I let out a harsh breath and grabbed the remote off the nightstand.
A movie or a TV show would be a distraction, at least.
Around lunch time, Stella stopped by with two more plates of food. She was in a hurry, so I didn’t get the chance to ask her about the scales.
I woke Talon up, and we watched the movie I was halfway through together while we ate. When he was done, he tugged my hair loose from its bun and fell back asleep with my hairband around his wrist.
I stared at him for a few more minutes while the movie played.
There was no point in wondering. Not when I could just ask him.
But I couldn’t stop my mind from playing through every possible scenario anyway.