Chapter 11
TYREL
I hated going along with my mother's wishes, but she had insisted on the dates. Apparently it was impossible for me to just pick someone and be done with it. No, she wanted me to know my choices.
What a colossal waste of time.
Michael didn't seem too ecstatic about going out with me either, which only served to heighten my irritation.
Smile, I told him with my magic, but his smile came too easy and it wasn't genuine and it didn't appease me.
Before meeting Adrian, I'd taken some pride in the fact that I could make my human partners be happy even when they were set on being miserable, but now I was bored with the image of fake joy on my companion's face.
I released my hold on Michael and decided not to use any more magic for the rest of the evening. Holding my powers back was new to me, but I figured doing it for one night wouldn't be so bad.
We got to the restaurant—which my mother had picked for us—and a handsome young waiter showed us to our table.
"Were you making eyes at that waiter?" Michael asked as soon as we sat down, surprising me.
I'd thought he was the shy, soft-spoken type.
My mother had advised me that he was a virgin, which I guess was supposed to make him more interesting to me, but I wasn't one of the dragons with a fetish for that kind of thing.
"What if I was making eyes at that waiter?" I leaned in, curious now what he would say. "Would that upset you?"
"Well, considering that you're supposed to be on a date with me, this would upset me if I had any illusions that you were interested in me at all."
"I'm not?"
Michael looked down at the tablecloth, as if he was suddenly afraid he was saying too much.
It was tempting to use my magic on him to make him hurry up and speak, but I waited.
"I know that you're not," he said eventually.
"You're interested in Adrian." Michael raised his eyes at me again. "He told me about your magic."
"Has he now?" That wasn't good. I didn't care that Michael knew, but Adrian shouldn't spread that kind of information around when I was trying to keep it secret—to keep him safe.
"I'm not going to tell anyone."
"Not willingly, no."
Michael laughed softly. "Adrian pretty much said the same thing. You might do well together after all."
After all? I wanted to ask him what he meant by that, but that moment, the waiter appeared again to take our orders.
I had him bring us a bottle of their best wine and whatever food they recommended to go with it.
Then I sent him on his way. This conversation was more interesting than food to me right now.
And far more interesting than looking at the waiter's butt again.
The sentiment surprised me a bit, but I didn't linger on it.
"Did you and Adrian talk about me?"
"A little." Michael grinned. The little bastard. He wasn't just going to tell me. He was going to make me ask.
I could magic him into submission.
But I'd foolishly challenged myself not to do that.
"I'll tell you what we talked about when you tell me what happened to William."
"William?" I raised an eyebrow at him. "You care about that? Fine, I can tell you. I advised him to leave. He took that advice."
"Why? He needed the money."
I waved my hand dismissively. "I paid him a nice sum to make the decision easier for him." After all, money was of no concern to me.
"Why did you want him to leave?"
"He seemed tired. He has three kids he needs to look after. He doesn't have the time or the energy to bear me a child. Mother was foolish to invite him in the first place."
"I see. I suppose that was nice of you."
"You say that like you didn't think I could ever be nice."
Michael looked at me with a bit of horror in his eyes, as if he was afraid he'd mortally offended me somehow. "I'm sorry. I didn't mean to—"
"Don't worry. What you think of me matters little.
" I could be nice to humans the same way a human could be nice to a starving animal.
I didn't see any need to be cruel to them just because they weren't quite on my level.
I could be nice to Adrian. Probably. Part of me wanted to be.
The same part of me that knew I had to protect him from my mother.
Adrian wasn't as exhausted as William, but he was just as fragile. And he was mine.
That last thought came unbidden and startled me a little. Had I already claimed him in my head? At this point, it felt like instinct.
I looked past Michael out the windows of the restaurant. I longed to return to our island and change into my dragon form. Everything seemed simpler, clearer, when my mind wasn't confined to a human-like body.
Suppressing a sigh, I turned my attention back to Michael, just as our wine was brought to the table.
Good. I really wanted a glass of that right now.
I thanked the waiter who poured for me and then took a sip.
I didn't actually care much for wine, but at this moment, I would have welcomed alcohol in any form it took.
Sadly, I had a higher tolerance to the stuff than humans did. This bottle wasn't going to get me far.
For now, I drained the glass.
Michael watched me, but didn't say anything. He was a wise man, in some regards.
"I told you what you wanted to know," I reminded him. "It's your turn now. What does Adrian say about me?" I wanted to hold my breath, but forced myself not to.
Michal smiled. "He likes you."
I refused to let myself smile back. Refused to acknowledge that surge of warmth I felt hearing those words. "Of course he likes me. I'm rich, good-looking and powerful."
"I don't think he cares about your money or any of that. He's… I bet he's furious right now."
"Furious?"
"You don't get it, do you? He likes you, and you're out here dating another man."
"He has no reason to be jealous."
A flash of hurt crossed Michael's face so briefly it was gone before I could truly process it. Inadvertently, I had insulted him by suggesting he wasn't attractive. He was attractive. But it was Adrian who I wanted.
"Are all dragons like you?" he asked.
"Could I ask you to be more specific?" I refilled my wine glass. He hadn't even sipped at his.
"I mean, are you all so…" He obviously struggled with his words, not wanting to insult me again.
"Inconsiderate? Direct?" I guessed.
Michael nodded. "If you want to put it that way."
I drank a bit of the wine and leaned back in my chair.
"I suppose a lot of us are, but not all, no.
There's a few slightly more cuddly dragons than me.
I'm sure some of them would love to meet you.
" I gave him my widest, most innocent smile.
"You have a thing for dragons, don't you? You told me so on our first meeting."
"Did you make me tell you that?"
He caught on quickly. "I might have."
"Have you made me do anything tonight?"
"I made you smile once," I admitted. "It bored me."
"I'm so sorry."
"You're not."
Our food arrived. He seemed about as interested in it as I was.
I wondered how I was going to suffer through two more nights like this before I could take Adrian out with me.
Mother wanted me to get to know the applicants.
Fine. I was completely on board with that where Adrian was concerned.
I wanted to get to know that fascinating little human—in detail.
I sighed in memory of the kiss I'd stolen earlier. Too little.
"I read a book once," Michael muttered so quietly I almost didn't hear him. "It said a dragon's fated mate could resist his magic."
I learned forward again. I was going to tell him that those were legends and hardly a dragon believed in fate anymore, but…
If it was just legends, how did Adrian resist me?
Why did I feel so drawn to him to the exclusion of everyone else?
I had no answers to those questions. So I said nothing. And then I drank the rest of the wine.