CHAPTER THREE
Two weeks later
– LILLIANA –
I could freaking scream in frustration. Fucking hell. It’s been two weeks since the night at the gathering where I met my fated mate and put the bond in place. As a bonus the asshole knocked me up and then felt the need to disappear on me. I’ve seen more of his brother, Leandro, than my so-called mate.
Glaring at the closet filled with gowns, I stalk to my duffel bag and take out black combat pants, along with a black shirt. My morning routine is still in place, which consists of a half hour of exercise, a shower, and drying my hair so I can put it up in a tight bun. Now it’s time to get dressed and try to escape from my prison. Prison? Yes. It might not be one, but it sure feels like it.
This mansion is divided in different wings where women have their own space. From what I’ve heard there are only a handful of unmated women, and they all live here. Mated women live with their mate and it makes my presence here even more questionable.
Did I mention the women I ran into here look at me with disgust? Oh, yeah. Once my scent hits their nose it becomes all wrinkled and goes up in the air. Talk about feeling welcome, making new friends, and loving the chitchat and all. Like I said; there’s a need to escape my prison.
I step out of my room and almost run into Leandro.
“Don’t you have anything better to do?” I grumble and shoot him a glare.
He grins and holds out a steaming mug. “Coffee first, then we’ll talk.”
The glare is still in place when I take the mug and start sipping. We’re almost at the door when he steps in front of me.
“Where are you going?” he asks.
I shove the now empty mug back against his chest and wait until he takes it when I say, “Home. It’s clearly useless to stay here if no one appreciates my company, especially a so-called mate who I bumped against naked a few times in one night, only to be never seen again.”
Leandro winces. Yeah, I know how bad the cold hard truth sounds, even to my own ears.
“The two weeks of waiting clearly states I’m pathetic and should have gotten the hint after two damn days. Now, if you don’t mind…get the fuck out of my way.”
The asshole doesn’t budge. I’m beyond pissed and therefore use a hint of my abilities when I move at only half speed. Which is enough to become a blur for Leandro as I move past him and am out the door without any more obstruction.
I paid attention when Leandro brought me to this place two weeks ago. This comes in very handy to get myself the hell out of here. I’m almost at the gate when I hear my so-called mate’s voice. Shit. We all know it’s not always wise to be curious and stick your nose into things…but…let’s keep it to the fact I’m bored out of my damn mind and need a little snooping around.
Using a little trick I learned from Zipporah–a unicorn shifter, who is mated to Lucan, a centaur shifter and president of a motorcycle club that worked with my family for centuries–I cloak myself and instantly become invisible.
Following Ernestino’s voice, I find him talking to Nario.
“It’s you who fucked it all up, Nario, not me,” Ernestino snarls. “If you wouldn’t have interfered–”
Nario goes toe to toe with him. “And if you didn’t insist to go to that stupid gathering there would have been a truce by now, and the lives of our two clan members would have been saved instead of getting them returned in pieces. Hell, if you kept the vampire chick on the side, the way you have been keeping her stuffed away for these two weeks, we’d have victory instead of the blood that’s on your hands. What man doesn’t want a wife and a piece on the side to fuck? You could have had it all instead of ruining things for everyone.”
Anger is vibrating off Ernestino, just as my temper is rising by the knowledge I just gained.
Ernestino throws his nose into the air, glances over his shoulder in my direction, and then turns to face Nario. “This was the last time you spoke freely to me the way you just did. As a brother you have failed me, and as a clan leader I have found your loyalty ineffective. You are no longer a part of any of the tasks you previously had. Report to Ivano, he will give you a task to make yourself useful.”
“You can’t do this,” Nario snarls.
Ernestino turns and ignores Nario as his brother keeps ranting and cursing.
My mate stomps straight past me and mumbles, “I know you’re here even if I can’t see you. Follow me and we’ll have a much-needed talk.”
Much-needed talk? Fuck him. Mate or not, I don’t owe him anything. Especially not after hearing about the whole wife and a piece on the side. The piece on the side being me. Obviously since I’m the pregnant one and have been tucked away.
Ernestino enters a building, and I slip through the door right before it closes. I’m pissed off and therefore keep myself hidden from view. The asshole pours himself a scotch, pours another one and then places it on the table near me. He can’t see me, I’m pretty sure about that little fact.
I guess it’s the bond we have in place where he can sense or smell me. Fuck. That sucks and totally ruins my escape plan. I clearly didn’t think this through because true mates are able to find one another any time, any place.
He’s definitely fucked-up in the head if he thinks I’ll touch alcohol with a baby inside me. Maybe he’s dealing with a lot to have a brain fart and forget about me being pregnant and all. He surely didn’t mention it to his brother. Come to think of it, Leandro hasn’t mentioned it either. Do they even know?
He releases a deep sigh. “I was going to explain it all to you. Shit spiraled out of control when you got here, and I had to deal with everything. Days passed and it became harder to see you and talk things through. I should have made the time. Maybe I let work and the war consume me to stall facing you. Dammit, don’t drink that.” He leans forward to grab the other glass and downs it in one go. “Maybe I blame myself and can’t face you because of it.”
There’s an undertone of torment in his voice. He sags into the chair and tips his head back.
The silence is killing me, and the anger gets the better of me when I step forward and reveal myself as I snap, “A piece on the side? Really? No wonder you locked me away with all the unmated women in that building. You’re ashamed of me, aren’t you? Don’t even try to deny it because I know dragon history. Hell, I know everything about all supernatural beings, and there might not be a lot of information about dragons, yet it’s abundantly clear you’re a bunch of egocentric grumpy bastards.”
His eyes collide with mine and hold. A million things run through my mind. The footnotes of dragon history, reminding me of their stubbornness, the way they stick with their own, the solidarity.
Anger is replaced by sadness, and I realize I’d rather be home, locked up in my own room, than continue the loneliness I’ve felt these past two weeks. He’s clan leader, carrying a burden I can’t begin to understand; to feel the weight of the clan members’ lives with each decision he makes. He might be lonelier than me.
“Never mind. Clearly you have a lot to deal with and our mating is getting in the way of clan matters. We’re both strong and capable enough to exist apart from one another. At least, that’s what the last two weeks have taught us. I will return to my family and you can–” I swallow hard and keep my emotions in check to add, “Marry whomever has your clan by the balls.”
Ernestino jumps up and places his hands on his desk to lean in and growls, “No one has me or my clan by the balls. Marrying the bitch daughter of the clan leader of Marshgloom would have been the solution to gain a truce, save two of our clan members, and set the foster program back in place. I refused because you entered my life mere hours before while in the meantime Nario agreed to their offer behind my fucking back. My refusal caused for them to lash out and kill the two they were holding hostage. We’ve been back to fighting bloody battles again for these past two weeks.”
The Marshgloom clan. I’ve read about them mostly due to the backstabbing Mattia family. There’s been a rumor about their daughter and her power-hungry bloodthirst.
“You dodged a bullet by not marrying Naryssa Mattia.” I plunk down in one of the chairs and place my boots on his desk. “Or maybe you should. I’ve heard she excels in killing husbands. You would be number three.”
The door bursts open and a woman wearing a long dress strides into the room.
She doesn’t even seem to notice me when she gets right into Ernestino’s face. “Why the hell did you throw Nario at Ivano? You know those two don’t get along as it is, and now you made our brother take orders from Ivano? Shit, Tino. I don’t know if I should make dinner tonight because my mate might not make it home. He’ll either be dead or locked up.”
Clearly, I’m not the only one who thinks Nario is a dick. I can’t help but snort.
The woman spins around and frowns at me. “Who are you?”
Anger rises and yet it quickly fizzles down to disappointment and annoyance. Another example how much…never mind. I hate repeating myself and dwelling on shit that’s clearly not the way I thought they were.
“No one apparently. I’ll be going, bye now.” I jump to my feet and don’t make it to the door because a heavy body is blocking my view.
A scowl is on his face. “You’re not going anywhere. Cleo, I’d like for you to meet my mate, Lilliana. Lilliana, this here is my little sister, Cleo.”
Ernestino is forced to take a step back when Cleo worms herself between us. “You’re his mate? Wow. I thought your announcement this morning was a fluke when you didn’t want to set a date for the official claiming ceremony.”
I keep my eyes on his sister when I voice my conclusions to her statement. “He’s ashamed of me. His mate doesn’t have dragon blood and knocking me up means his kid won’t be a full-blooded dragon. No reason to scream that little fact off the rooftops, eh? Like I said…I’ll be going now.”
“He did what?” Cleo snaps and turns to face her brother. “You’re an asshole.” She grabs my wrist and gives a tiny squeeze. “Lilliana is going to be staying with me. Don’t come knocking because my mate isn’t happy with you, I’m not happy with you, and for fucking sure your mate thinks you’re a dickless idiot.”
She opens the door and while she drags me along with her, I hear Ernestino growl, “I’m clearly not dickless since I put my kid in her belly.”
Cleo and I both flip him off and let the door fall shut behind us. I have to wonder why Ernestino lets his family talk to him like siblings do while he’s the clan leader. I mean, my brother and I also go head-to-head but never around others or disrespect one another in public.
Although Cleo was alone with him in his office and it was only Nario who pulled sketchy shit.
“I’m sorry. If I would have known where you are I would have invited you to stay with me much sooner,” Cleo states as she points to her right. “If we follow this path we will walk straight up to the cottage where my mate and I live.”
“You have a mate,” I state, hoping she gives me more details.
A smile tugs her lips. “Yes. Ivano’s mother was one of the dragons involved in the fostering project. She mated with one of our clan and I was born after Ivano. We grew up as kids and always knew we were meant to spend an eternity together. Ivano used to train with my brothers and is now the head of security. He still takes on guard duty and anything else that needs to be done.”
“I guess he now has Nario to order around and do shit he doesn’t like to do.” I shoot her a grin.
She chuckles. “No one is going to enjoy it and I’m pretty sure shit will escalate soon, if not today.”
“Let me guess,” I tell her. “Nario doesn’t like to take orders from anyone.”
Snapping her fingers she points in my direction. “Bingo. He’s the oldest and was born with a double dose of ego. Believe me when I tell you dragons have a healthy dose, but Nario? Man, he’s a self-centered idiot who thinks the world was created for him. Also why he interfered and made promises that weren’t for him to make.” Wincing she adds, “I guess my other brother screwed up as well.”
Leaning in, Cleo inhales and murmurs, “You carry my brother’s scent, so the knocking you up part is correct. A vampire, huh? Wow. Maybe it’s the reason you two were able to conceive since we’ve been dealing with fertility issues over the past few decades. My little niece or nephew will be half dragon, half vampire. Strong combination.”
There is no judgement or resentment in her voice or on her features. Such a stark contrast to all the other dragons I’ve run into over the past two weeks.
It’s why I find myself saying, “He or she might also have a smidge of something else.”
“Oh, the hint of sweet and clean I caught when I checked your scent?” Cleo stops walking and turns to face me.
“I’m Lilliana Calvino, you might have heard about my mother, Sisley–”
“Sisley Carmeline Leone? Are you freaking shitting me? You’re her daughter? Oh, man. Really?”
There’s no time to object or so much as blink when she launches herself at me and wraps me in a bear hug. There’s a burst of warmth in the center of my heart and it flows outward as I return the hug. After being left by myself for two weeks, getting harsh looks from the single dragon women, it’s definitely a good feeling to be accepted. Especially by the sister of Ernestino.
“Oh.” Cleo gasps and pulls back. “Holy shit. I felt as if you gave me an energy boost or something positive, a vibe of sorts just from hugging you.”
I snort and know what she means. Although, I haven’t experienced the feeling I just had before today.
“You sure know how to give a lonely girl a hug,” I tell her, downplaying it, and in an effort to change the subject I ask, “Do you have something to eat? I’m suddenly craving something sweet.”
Her gaze goes down to my belly. “Cravings already? Come on, let’s head into the kitchen. But after you’ve stuffed your face? We’re heading to the library. I want to check something I read about a few decades ago.”
Her excitement is infective. “Okay, never mind the cravings. What do you want to check in the library?”
“I have to check first to be sure, but it can wait. Come on, my dragon doesn’t like the thought of my little niece or nephew growing hungry.” She tugs on my sleeve and gives me no other option than to follow her in the direction of the kitchen.
Cleo wanders in the direction of a cabinet and pulls out a jar of cookies. “What are you craving? These are white chocolate chip, or did you want a brownie?”
I shove a cookie into my mouth and chew vigorously before I can mumble, “You have brownies? And is it really true you guys chat with your dragon? Like there are two of you rolled into one?”
She purses her lips as if she’s thinking about something.
“Sorry,” I mutter and grab another cookie. “I’ve read a lot about different supernaturals and there’s only a fragment of information about you guys. I’ve read all I could find except nothing really mentions specifics. You know, werewolves shift into wolves and basically don’t talk with their wolf because they are one. We work with centaurs, they turn into half a horse and still stay the same. You mentioning what you did just now makes me think there’s a dragon living inside there with you. Then there’s the flashing of the pupils back and forth, it’s really intriguing.”
Cleo turns to grab some brownies and hands me one when she says, “I think this discussion should be with my brother, who is also clan leader. You’re his mate and I’m sure there’s no need to protect certain details, and yet they aren’t mine to share with you.” She winces. “Sorry.”
I shrug. “I guess I would react the same if the tables were turned.” I bite into the brownie. “Damn, this is good.”
The rejection should sting. Maybe it’s the two weeks and everything connected to it which makes me not give a shit. Besides, these brownies are giving me a sugar high, and I bypass Cleo to get to where she got them from.
Cleo chuckles. “I can make more if you want.”
I hold a bite into the air. “You made these?”
She nods. “Sure did. I could give you the recipe if you like.”
The need to get the hell away from here as soon as I can is still something I will do, and yet I find myself saying, “Nah, I’d rather swing by and have some you made instead of baking some myself.”
Her grin is wide and bright, and maybe that’s the reason I said it. She was the first one to be nice and sweet to me. So, maybe I’m just returning the favor.
“Cleo?” A male voice flows through the house.
Cleo’s grin is still in place when she says, “You’re about to meet my mate.”
I turn to the door and am about to say hi when I’m prevented from doing so by the look in the massive guy’s eyes. They are flashing from normal, human eyes, to slits and back. Desire is clear on his face, and it really gets weird when he slowly prowls in her direction.
Cleo clears her throat. “You should go, Lilliana, if you don’t mind. I have to talk to my mate in private.”
As if my reply would make a difference. Hell, there’s nothing to say or do because her mate grabs Cleo by her hips, throws her over his shoulder and rushes in the direction of the stairs. I hear a door slam upstairs and then the moans start.
Okay, weird. Yeah, I definitely need to go. I grab the stash of brownies and walk straight out the door.