Chapter 10
Everly
Things moved quickly after that. Alaric had more meetings with the council, and Draven agreed to host us at his villa in Moonhaven Cove, a paranormal city off the coast of Oregon.
A week later, Alaric’s private jet touched down in Portland, Oregon and we were met by a large, slightly grey-skinned man wearing light tactical gear. A woman with pink hair stood next to him, frowning at a mother scolding her child in strident, harsh tones.
“Please don’t,” the man begged.
“I just want to talk to her.”
“You can’t fix everything, Indie,” he said wearily.
“Watch me,” she said, and strode away from him.
He sighed, then nodded at Alaric and me as we came level with them.
“Welcome to Oregon, Prime, and to your mate as well. My name is Mesmer, and I’ll be your driver and bodyguard.
If you both will follow me.” As they strode past the pink-haired woman who was still talking in forceful tones with the mom, Mesmer yanked on the bottom of her shirt and towed her backwards until she stopped protesting, then let her go as she turned around and glared at him, but started walking on her own with us.
“This is my mate, Indie,” he indicated the silently fuming woman.
Alaric nodded at her in greeting, and I bobbed my raven head.
When all of our luggage was loaded into the trunk, Alaric got in the back of the limo with me.
I took a last glance around, but not one person was looking at us oddly.
It looked like Shay’s magic had worked to hide me from everyone but the paranormals.
I’d have to thank him when I saw him next.
It took a few hours to get to Moonhaven, and I snuggled the whole time on Alaric. He was both comfy and warm, and I was feeling a little under the weather today.
I still hadn’t recovered from changing to my human form the other day. It had taken a lot out of me, and I could tell that Alaric was concerned. He’d had Shay check me out again, but Shay had just indicated that I was exhausted, and that my energy stores were depleted.
I dropped quietly into a nap, and then awoke again when I felt the limo come to a stop.
Mesmer and his mate got out, and Mesmer opened the door for us, then grabbed our bags from the trunk.
Alaric had packed a bag for me since I currently lacked hands.
I’d been so tired, I hadn’t even had it in me to be embarrassed that he’d gone shopping for me and picked out bras, underwear, and several outfits, including pajamas and a formal dress in case of a formal event.
He’d even been able to get my lotions, hair products, and makeup because his dragon could communicate with me, and then with Alaric, which came in handy.
It had taken me a few days to understand how Alaric seemed to be reading my mind, and then realized his dragon could hear all of my inner grumblings, which had been embarrassing.
His dragon…
Seeing Alaric’s dragon yesterday was something I was never going to forget for the rest of my life. And the calm that had radiated off of him? It had calmed me within moments, within seconds! It had been so strong I was half surprised all of Port Noble hadn’t felt it.
Maybe they had and just chalked it up to random fuzzy feelings.
I think the world needed more random bouts of fuzzy feelings, to be honest.
When Mesmer got out with me, I gaped at the mansion in front of us.
It reminded me of pictures I’d seen of Italian villas.
It was huge and beautiful, and I could see peeks of the ocean just behind it.
To our right was a lush green forest that looked like it went all the way back to some cliffs over the ocean in the distance.
All of that was below us, because the house was set at a higher elevation. The views were breathtaking.
Now I wished I’d been able to stay awake during the drive through the town. I’d never been to a paranormal town before, and I was really curious about how it ran, what the shops and businesses were and looked like, and what the people looked like.
King Draven stood at the top of the steps in what looked like an expensive Italian suit, and nodded at both of us as we drew near. “Welcome to the Leto Villa.” He then addressed Mesmer. “They’ll be in the guest wing.”
Mesmer nodded and took our bags inside, I assumed, to the guest wing. And... guest wing? How big was this place? It looked massive from the outside. I could only imagine the inside.
King Draven led us to the dining room where we were served a light lunch.
I picked from Alaric’s plate, and his dragon had him choose the things I was most interested in eating.
We had roast beef hoagies with home-made crispy potato chips, a cheesy rice dish, and brownies for dessert.
Everyone else got the a la mode, but Alaric wouldn’t let me have any ice cream yet.
I grumbled at him as I ate my brownie.
I noticed that King Draven seemed perpetually amused by me. I learned from Alaric’s dragon that it was more than likely because I was a raven shifter mated to the strongest shifter in the world. That the differences between us were humorous to others.
I didn’t like that at all.
So, people think it’s funny because he’s so strong and I’m so weak? Tears pricked my eyes. It was likely that I was just being sensitive because I was exhausted, but that didn’t sit right with me. I hated being underestimated.
Alaric’s dragon hummed and I felt the raw prickliness within me subside. They don’t mean to be hurtful, he rumbled. They are happy we have found our mate.
I almost fell off the table, I was so surprised that Elandor was communicating telepathically with me.
He chuckled. Sorry, treasure. I forget that this is new for some.
I righted myself. It’s okay.
I circled back to the thought I’d had that both the dragon and Alaric were my mate. Both of them. How? It was confusing, so I asked him.
I don’t understand how shifter mates work. I thought I did, but I guess I’ve never thought about it too deeply. You and Alaric are separate people?
Yes. We are separate souls living in one body.
We have individual thoughts, feelings, wishes, and desires, but must share a body.
When he shifts to my form, he lets me come to the front, as it were, and when he is in his human form, I let him lead.
It takes a great effort to allow the give and take needed to live peacefully in coexistence with one another, but Alaric and I are well used to it because we’ve been at it for so long.
I was silent, thinking that over for a bit.
So... that means, I’m you’re mate as well?
How on earth was I the mate of a dragon?
That made zero sense to me. We could never be together in any form other than human because I wasn’t a dragon.
Shouldn’t a dragon shifter be the mate for another dragon shifter?
It was so confusing.
The dragon rumbled again, thrumming low notes until I felt completely relaxed and boneless. I curled my legs under me and roosted for a bit, staring intently at Alaric’s chest even though I knew that wasn’t where his dragon resided. Well... maybe? Where did their animal halves live?
The dragon laughed. I love your curious mind.
You are constantly questioning, constantly wanting to know and learn.
It is a good attribute to have. To answer your other question, yes, you are my mate as well.
For shifters there will never be one mate for the animal half, and one mate for the human half.
That would cause chaos and heartbreak and the Maker would not allow that.
Alaric and I are one. We’ve been bound together long enough that this has become a complete truth for both of us.
My thoughts and feelings most often align with his, and his with mine.
Very rarely do they differ. So, yes, dear one, you are my mate.
But, I’m a raven. How does that work?
The dragon laughed. I think you’re asking about mating.
I blushed. It was a good thing no one could see my red cheeks because of my feathers.
We mate in our human forms. I feel what Alaric feels, remember?
Wouldn’t that feel... overwhelming for both of you? I was squirming in embarrassment, but I wanted so badly to understand that I pushed on.
I do not know. We’ve never experienced it, but as all good things that we’ve experienced together, I imagine that it will be overwhelming in the best of ways.
The feelings of our body will be doubled and in sync, our emotions will be doubled.
I am... much looking forward to it. We have been waiting a very long time for our mate.
Treasure, I will tell you something that Alaric does not want me to, but only if you will not let it sway you one way or another when it comes to accepting us as your mate.
My heart thudded. I’m not sure that’s wise, I said hesitantly. I don’t want to upset him. I thought for a moment. Why would you tell me if he doesn’t want you to? Didn’t you just say your thoughts are usually one?
The dragon sighed. In this we differ in opinion.
I have faith that you will be able to handle it.
He has a human’s fears about being loved and valued for himself, and I do not.
At least, not to the extent that he does.
Alaric is wealthy and we are very powerful.
We are sought after by many women who want us for their mates, and from many men because they want to be close to us and use our power for their own purposes.
My eyes stung again. That sounds awful.
It is, truly. We have been hunted for many years. Why do you think that Alaric chose to hide in the mountains in Alaska? And why do you think he put our company headquarters and our main estate in Alaska?
The isolation? I guessed. And had he said main estate? I blinked in shock. Exactly how many estates did they have?
Yes. We have become weary. May I assume that you don’t want the information I seek to give you?