Chapter 2
A Not-So-Friendly Warning
Without even thinking about what she was doing, Maya walked into one of the rooms a little ways along the hallway at the top of the stairs.
Closing the door behind her, she shut her eyes and made the dress and shoes disappear.
Feeling more comfortable in just a slip and bare feet, she moved over to the bed, pulling her hair out of the carefully crafted style that had garnered more attention than she wanted.
She reached out a hand, creating a thin layer of magic over the bed so that nothing on it could touch her skin.
Then she got in it and pulled the comforter around her body, leaving the sheets and blankets largely untouched.
As her mind drifted, Maya thought of a cool fall day from her childhood.
The last happy day she had experienced. Whenever she allowed herself time to sleep, she would return to that one memory to help guide her mind into a peaceful sleep.
It was a trick that had taken the better part of a decade to learn.
Her consciousness slipped as the sound of her parents’ and siblings’ voices rang through her mind.
Knock, knock, knock.
Maya’s eyes flew open as she realized the words in her dreams had come from just outside her room.
There was a gentle rapping on her door. Immediately understanding her situation, Maya had no desire to answer the knock.
Pulling the blanket further around her, she stared at the window, willing the person who had interrupted her sleep to leave.
The cartoonish sound of squeaking hinges let her know that the person had decided to come into the room, despite not being invited. She turned to see the storm shifter quietly closing the door.
“What do you want?” Her voice was a little gruff as her body was waking up slower than her mind.
“Sorry to intrude, but—”
“I’ll accept your apology if you leave right now.”
A half grin spread across his face. “It’s really funny that they all seem to think we are mates.”
Maya sat up, the comforter falling into her lap. “Not happening,” her voice was low, but not as commanding as usual.
His eyes moved down her partially exposed body. “Interesting.”
“What?” Her tone was flat as she tried to give him a harsh glare, although she had to fight back a yawn by gritting her teeth.
“I wouldn’t have taken you for the type to sleep in the nude.”
Maya looked down at the slip that still covered her body. “I’m not naked.” She pulled at the material, and it flickered a little in her hands. “That’s never happened before,” she said, more annoyed than concerned, especially as the material entirely disappeared.
“Are all your clothes magically applied?”
“Of course,” Maya looked up. “I don’t have time to waste on shopping and fittings. Magic has always been more than enough. Should have known this hellhole would short-circuit my abilities.”
The storm dragon sat on the edge of her bed, his expression very serious. “I’ve got a question for you, Maya.”
“Is this the part of the conversation where I say something ‘cute,’ like ‘just one’? Because it feels like a setup to a romance I won’t indulge.” His stormy eyes were looking at her chest, but Maya didn’t really care. “Buddy, if you are going to stare, I’m going to defenestrate you.”
That got his attention, and his eyes snapped up.
“Can you blame me? A gorgeous woman like you sitting naked in front of me is incredibly distracting.” When she glowered in response, he got up and moved over to the drawers.
“Here, I’ll get you something to cover yourself up since your magic is on the fritz.
Apparently, whatever we want appears, so—yep.
” He pulled something out of one of the drawers. “Here you go.”
He tossed her a hot pink shirt with more lace and frills than Maya had ever seen. She eyed it, then looked up at him with her face still pointed down. “Do you really think this is something I would wear?”
“I’m quite sure you wouldn’t, which is the point. And that will really help me to stop thinking of you naked. If you would, please just humor me.”
All she wanted was for him to leave, but she knew that asking likely wouldn’t get her the results she wanted. Storm dragons were known for doing whatever they wanted. Gritting her teeth, Maya picked it up and put it on. “They are trying to push us together.”
“Yes, yes, they very much are.” The storm shifter moved over and sat on the foot of the bed. “And just so you know, while I find you mind-bogglingly attractive, you have as much of a chance of being my mate as the old man downstairs.”
“Old man?” Maya pulled her hair out of the shirt, and it fanned out down her back.
“Yeah, some old couple came in and split me and Naomi up. Sent her outside to chase after Apollo, then they pushed me up the stairs to force us together. And since you’ve made your feelings toward me clear—and I feel exactly the same way, just so you don’t worry that I’m hoping you’ll change your mind—I’m trying to figure out a way to escape this house without them noticing. ”
Maya stood up, the shirt barely covering the tops of her legs as she walked over to the dresser.
“You said that you were interested in finding a mate. Now you want to escape? Are you always so indecisive?” He opened his mouth to respond, but she continued as she bent over and opened a lower drawer.
As she pulled out a pair of slacks, Maya said, “You are a storm dragon. You should not be here.” She finally looked at him as she started to zip up the pants.
He watched, then looked toward the window. “That’s what I’ve been thinking. But this is an opportunity I never thought I would have. If I can actually leave this island with my mate …” There was something in his voice that caught Maya’s attention.
Pressing her lips together, she opened another drawer and pulled out a blouse that was more to her liking. She removed the pink frilly nightmare and threw it at the storm dragon, momentarily covering his eyes as she put her arms through the sleeves of the blouse and started to button it up.
“Do you ever feel shame or the traditional sense of modesty common to most people?” The storm dragon was looking at her as she finished the last couple of buttons.
“Only when it is earned. And since I didn’t invite you in here, nor did I cause my magic to break, it’s on you to deal with your own feelings. I’ve no reason to modify my behavior to accommodate you.”
This got a laugh, and Maya looked up at him. He then said, “Do you even know my name?”
There was a pause as the earlier conversation had largely slipped her mind. Then she shrugged, “I remember you and the blond mentioned who you were, but names hardly seem relevant.”
His eyebrows went up. “What fool thinks that you and I will make a good couple?” Then he shook his head. “Look, Maya, I believe that Naomi is my mate. Does that change your opinion of whether or not my name is relevant?”
Maya became immediately defensive. “I will not let you mess with her. She’s been through enough, and I’m not letting some chaotic mess of a—”
He held up his hands, his eyes wide. “Holy moly! Where is this coming from?”
Maya stalked closer to him, her hand raised and a finger pointing at him. “She has come too far to be used as a pawn in some stupid ploy to gain a footing in our kingdom.”
“What are you even talking about?”
Maya blinked at the sincerity in his voice. Lowering her hand, she asked, “You don’t know who she is or who her family is?”
The storm dragon shook his head. “All I know is a few fleeting minutes of time we have spent together, and they were some of the most enjoyable moments of my life.” A goofy expression spread across his face. “She doesn’t realize just how amazing she is. I want to know why.”
Maya sat down near him on the bed. Bringing one of her feet up under the opposite leg, she sighed as she said, “It’s her lousy, piece-of-shit family.”
For a second he was shocked. Then he smiled and shook his head. “Another fluffing powerful shifter, and all I feel is physical attraction. What a waste,” he muttered.
Maya swatted his upper arm and frowned, “What is that supposed to mean?”
“I can only wish I could curse here. Or manipulate time. But nooooo, I’m forced to follow all of the rules that make me feel like a plebeian.”
“Like a …” Maya closed her eyes and couldn’t help but laugh at the absurdity. “Yeah, well, it comes at a high price, buddy, so—”
“Cosmo.”
“What?”
“My name is Cosmo, Maya. And I would really appreciate it if you took the time to actually remember, and more importantly, use it. And not just when you want to upbraid me or Apollo.”
“It’s an arbitrary string of sounds assigned to you by your parents.”
He smirked, “So, Blipborp, names don’t matter, huh?”
The confusion completely derailed the conversation as Maya looked at him. “What does Blipborp mean?”
“It’s a random string of sounds I’m assigning to you. Because names don’t matter.”
With a heavy sigh, Maya said, “Fine, Cosmo, I will make an effort to remember your name. But so help me, if you do anything to hurt Naomi—”
“Never intentionally. But you do realize that you hurt her all the time.”
“That’s different,” Maya said defiantly, since she knew that what she could do paled in comparison to what a male could do to her business partner.
“Only because you want to think that. Seriously,” he frowned at Maya, “if Naomi accepts me, you will be made to feel my wrath when you hurt her.”
For the first time since arriving, Maya couldn’t help but smirk, “And if you break her heart, your little kingdom will find itself in a much worse state.”
Any trace of humor left him. “Are you seriously threatening an entire kingdom? Do you realize that could start a war if I were to tell anyone else?”
“To protect my business partner from any more abuse? Absolutely, I am threatening your kingdom. I don’t care who you tell. She’s worth it.”
For the first time, Cosmo seemed at a loss for words. “So … you actually care about her?”
“Of course I do.” Maya rose and walked over to the window.
“Her family is horrible, and they absolutely stifle her. Their performative generosity in adopting her has earned them a higher position. Behind it, though, they have never treated her like family. And yet she is thankful for them. I’ve been trying to extract her for years, but their hold is incredibly strong. ”
Cosmo came and stood next to her, but there was no amusement in his expression as he looked out the window. “Perhaps you don’t help your case by putting her down.”
“I know I don’t. But I was not raised like Sasha or Naomi. Placating people and understanding their motives was never something I was expected to comprehend. I know I’m not the right person to help her, but there’s never been anyone else.”
The pair fell into a companionable silence as they looked out the window.
“So what is your story, Maya?” Cosmo asked, his voice soft.
“Boring and unimportant. The past is where it belongs.”
“It is important if it continues to affect your future.”
“Then I will address it when it is needed. It is not something that concerns you.”
Movement down in the maze caught her attention, and Maya noticed Naomi and the blond walking together. She nodded toward them. “If you really want her, you’d best not leave her with the blond. He’s made his interest in her pretty clear.”
“The blond?” Cosmo turned to look at her. “Did you just call Apollo, one of the best healers we’ve ever had, and the best person I’ve ever known, the blond?”
Maya looked at him. “If that’s the name of the guy chatting with Naomi, then yes. But so far, he’s been nothing but insufferable and patronizing.”
For the first time since they had met, Cosmo looked unhappy.
“You haven’t exactly made the best impression on anyone, Maya.
And Apollo is a father, so he is not being patronizing.
Defusing situations and trying to keep people calm is not only something he does for a living, but something he spends all of his personal life doing. You’ve no idea what he’s been through.”
Maya’s gaze went back to the couple walking through the maze, rather contented looks on their faces. “He doesn’t look like a father.”
Cosmo scoffed, “What does a father look like?”
Maya paused. “I don’t know. But … why is he here if he already has someone?”
“He doesn’t, Maya. My sister left him years ago. And his daughter has virtually no memories of her.”