Chapter Thirty-Six
Tor
I followed the rumble of the Chevelle up the ramp and out into the mid-morning sun. The clear sky beckoned, and birds chirped gaily, singing the songs of a new day well into progress. They fell silent as the car passed, then resumed their noises and frolicking in the trees of the Storm Estates.
Thunder rumbled across the clear sky.
“Don’t you dare.”
I turned to see Ty approaching. He was walking upright, but his face and the visible skin of his arms were still crisscrossed with ugly lines. I could also see how he favored one side over the other. Rica had done a real number on him.
“Yeah, I guess,” I said, banishing the rumble. My mood stayed the same, but I didn’t have to let it influence the world around me. Ty was right on that.
“She stole the car?”
I shook my head. “No. I gave it to her. Told her that maybe that would at least make her happy.”
Ty tilted his head at me, eyebrows shooting up to match the incredulous look on his face. “You what?”
“I gave it to her,” I said darkly.
“Not that, you numbskull. I got that. You said what to her?”
“I called her out for being scared, then gave her the car, and told her maybe it would make her happy and that she could drive until she was no longer afraid.”
“God-King save me.” Ty’s eyes closed, his face sagging. “First off, you’re a fucking idiot. Never say those things to a woman you care about. Actually, wait, never say those things at all to a woman. Probably even a man. Not if you care about them.”
I glared at him. “And second?”
“Second, what the hell happened? She spent the night with you. I thought things were going well. Now she’s leaving. You’re calling her out. Where did it go wrong?”
“It was too much for her, I think,” I said. “The Vorgan, dragons, Rica. All of it. Too much, too fast. If only she hadn’t seen Tempest, then all of this could have been avoided!”
“Delayed, you mean,” Ty said. “There was no avoiding it. Things were going to come out eventually.”
“Perhaps,” I conceded. “But I might have been able to deal with Rica first. She could have found out in a planned manner instead of thinking we were aliens at first and that we were here to invade Earth.”
Ty shrugged, giving me the point.
“I have no use for the car,” I went on. “It’s just a thing to me. But sh … she has an attachment to it and her father. I don’t have my parents anymore. She lost her mother, but her dad is still around. If this gives her some joy and allows her to spend more time with him, then it was worth it.”
“You care about her.”
“She’s my mate, Ty. Of that, I have no doubt. She’s perfect in every way but one. Feisty, driven, smart, compassionate, caring, beautiful, and more. I could not ask for a better mate. She’s the other half of a puzzle piece I didn’t know I was missing until I found her.”
“What’s she missing?”
“Interest in me,” I said, looking out over the property again, the sound of the car gone, having disappeared into the countryside.
Ty laughed.
I whirled on him, fury building like a hurricane. “What’s so funny?” I snarled.
“At least one of you got the smarts,” he said, shaking his head. “But it certainly wasn’t you.”
“I am not in the mood for this right now,” I growled. “Speak your piece.”
“Oh, I am, Torrent,” Ty said, not backing down. “Threaten me all you want, but you’re an idiot.”
“How?”
“You don’t think she has an interest in you?”
“Not enough to get her to stay, no. I’m not blind. I know there’s some, but … she left, Ty. Or did you miss that part?”
“I saw it well enough. Heard it, too, with that engine. It purrs.” Ty took a breath, then let it out, calming himself. “Tor, you buffoon, my oldest, closest friend. She didn’t leave because she was scared to care for you.”
“Explain why else, then?”
“She left because she was scared of how much she cares for you.”
I stared at him.
“Yeah. Exactly. You’ve got it all twisted up, my friend. Think about it. You know I’m right. She’s running because she’s falling hard and fast for you and doesn’t know what to do about it. I imagine, since she lost her mother recently, she’s probably afraid of the idea of caring for new people.”
“I understand that,” I said, thinking of my parents. Theirs hadn’t been a sudden loss. But it hurt nonetheless. The difference was that I knew it was time for me to find my soulmate, that there was someone out there whom I would spend my life with and be happy. All I had to do was find her.
Mia had not been granted such knowledge, so she’d operated in pain, alone, not wanting to let anyone close. Likely fearing their reaction.
“So, what are you going to do?” Ty challenged.
“Do? What can I do? She left.”
“EEeeeeeennnhhhhh!” Ty cried, making the sound of a buzzer. “Incorrect. Try again.”
“Speak your mind, Typhoon,” I said grumpily.
“You go after her. You show her that you care for her, that you want her back, Tor. Make her see how serious you are and that you’ll never, ever let her down.”
“She’s my mate. I would never do that.”
Ty rubbed his face with one hand. “Think for a second here. Just think. What is Mia?”
“My mate.”
“Yes, but beyond that. What is she?”
“A woman?”
“What kind of women?” Ty pressed.
“Uh. A beautiful one?”
“She’s human,” Ty answered. “Not dragon. You told her she’s your mate and what that is.
But she doesn’t know it, doesn’t feel it instinctually like another dragon would.
So you have to show her. Prove to her that you aren’t giving up.
That you will do whatever it takes to be with her, have her, love her, protect her. All that stuff.”
“How do I do that?”
“Big, grand gesture,” Ty said. “Some sort of show of affection that proves to her that you’re serious, that she’s the center of your world and will never be anything but. She has to know she will never lose you.”
“Okay. I can do that,” I said, nodding.
“Good.”
I looked at him. “How do I do that?”
Ty sighed. “I don’t know. Do something that will put her at the center of attention. Throw her a ball or something.”
“A ball? In her name?” I started to think it over. “Would she even like such a thing? What if she doesn’t show up?”
“You could go several steps further, though,” Ty said, musing it over.
“How’s that?”
He explained his ideas, and I smiled. “That’s good. Really good. I think she’d like that.”
“I know. I’m a genius. You can thank me later.”
I would have slugged him in the shoulder if he wasn’t hurt.
That sobered me, bringing back reality.
“What? What’s wrong?” he asked.
“We can’t hold a ball in her honor,” I said.
“Not with Rica still out there. We have to deal with her first, Ty. I can’t risk bringing Mia back here and exposing her to that bitch.
Once she’s dead, then things can change.
But until then … No, I have to do what I can to protect Mia, to keep her safe.
That means she stays far away from here. ”
“That also means she stays far away from you,” Ty countered. “But I think I might have a way to handle all of this. It would take some intricate planning, but if it works …”
I waited for him to continue.
“Not out here. Who knows where she might have eyes,” he said, looking around uneasily. “Let’s go inside. Where we can talk in private.”
We headed down the ramp to the parking garage.
“You’re a good friend, Ty. I appreciate you.”
“I know,” he said, clapping me on the shoulder. “But I’m actually doing this for me.”
“What?” I jerked in surprise. “You are?”
“Absolutely. Once you’re finally mated and on the Throne, then you can announce me as your heir. I’ll kill you in your sleep, and then I can be the Prince of Storms.”
I stared at him. “So, you want me on the Throne, just so you can take it from me?”
He laughed. “And you said Mia was the smart one. Look at you, figuring it all out!”
“You can have it, then,” I said.
“Don’t you dare put that on me,” he said. “I’m not suited for that. You, however, are, and the princedom needs its prince. I’m just doing my duty in helping you reach that point.”
“Yeah.” I frowned. “We’ll still have to take the Test, of course. The God-King could judge us wanting. I’ll have to tell her about that. I doubt she’ll react well.”
“Maybe,” Ty said. “Maybe not. Only one way to find out, though.”
“Yeah.”
“Come on then, let’s plan how you’re going to win Mia back.”
I liked the sound of that. I let her go once already. I wouldn’t do it a second time.