Chapter 11
Sir Keyon
While Elpis was thinking about her options, I turned to the waitress, who was regarding me salaciously, and ordered. “Let’s have your house ale, mead, cider, and two glasses of water. We need a bit more time to peruse the menu.”
“You seem to be… thirsty tonight,” the waitress commented in a sultry voice and turned to leave, swaying her hips. Elpis jerked in her seat as though she were about to tackle the female. Fury hardened her expression, and if she were a shifter, I was certain she’d be sporting claws and fangs right about now. Hoping it would mollify her, I ignored the waitress and started explaining items on the menu for Elpis.
“What are these symbols here?” she asked, pointing to the side.
“That’s the price. I’ll teach you numbers too. They’re super easy,” I said.
When I translated some of the prices, she gasped. “Some of these cost more than my boots!”
“They make fancier meals during the market so they can inflate prices. It’s expected, though not ideal for folk with less to spare. ”
“Ahh…” she said simply but turned her nose up in disapproval. I chuckled, loving her show of morality.
The problematic waitress returned, carrying a tray with our drinks. “So,” she said in a provocative voice, leaning over to set the drinks on the table. “Do you see anything you’d like to… try?” She angled herself in a way that gave me a view down her shirt, and Toast began making gagging noises. I could feel his anxiety spiking. We’d just gotten here, and he was already alarmed.
I kept my eyes firmly on Elpis after that and gestured to her. “Ladies first. Have you decided, moonflower?” Hopefully my term of endearment for my fated mate would give the waitress a hint to back the fuck off of me.
Elpis glared at the menu and said, “I’ll have the roasted chicken.” She set the menu down and moved her glare to a knot in the grain of the table. If she stared hard enough, I was afraid the table would catch on fire.
The waitress nodded and regarded me. “And what will you have, handsome? The veal or the prime rib?” It was a veiled insult at Elpis, and I was starting to get extremely pissed at her for disrespecting my female.
Fucking whore, Toast snarled. Doesn’t hold a fucking candle to our fucking mate. Elpis is a hundred times prettier than this fucking idiot. I hid a smile at his impassioned rant. This was a new side of him, and I was glad to see it, but it was a dire threat to my composure.
Choosing not to play the waitress’s game, I kept my eyes on the menu and said, “I’ll have the roasted chicken too. My moonflower has good taste.”
The waitress wrote it down and sauntered off again. I lined up the beverages in front of Elpis and said, “Now we are definitely not going to drink all of this, but I got these for you to try. See if you like any. They are alcoholic, so don’t drink too much, ok? You probably have no tolerance.”
She studied them curiously and tried the ale first. “It tastes like grass,” she announced after a sip, not showing like or dislike. “ I’ve never tasted grass, but I imagine this is what grass would taste like.” I snorted and pointed to the next one.
“This is mead. It’s basically wine made from honey. Very sweet.”
“Honey? I’ve never had that!” she said excitedly and tried a sip. “Mmm! Interesting. Now I just need to know what honey tastes like.” I chuckled at her clever little remarks and pushed the last one forward.
“This is cider. It’s like apple juice, but they add alcohol to it, so technically it’s called hard cider,” I explained. She grabbed it and guzzled with gusto.
“Woah, woah, Elpis!” I said, laughing as I tried to take it from her. “Slow down!” She avoided my grasping hand, took another swallow, and set the stein down with a thunk.
She leaned forward while gripping the beverage and whispered, “This is the one. Who knew apples could be so sinful?”
“You mean this is the half of one,” I corrected while reaching once more to confiscate it. “You are going to get a hangover if you finish this.” She heaved a disheartened sigh and slumped, letting me take the beverage away from her.
Give it back, Toast whined. She’s so sad.
She’s going to get drunk.
So? You get drunk all the time.
I have a tolerance. You want to see her throwing up in the morning?
No…
“I’ll tell you what, Elpis. If you’re feeling clearheaded after dinner, you can have some more of this, ok?” Great gods, it was hard to resist her gloomy face. I needed to build up a pout tolerance.
“I suppose that’s fair,” she said, cheering up a little.
“Just be prepared. This is going to hit you in a little bit,” I warned with a grin. “Your inhibitions will go down the drain, and I don’t want to see you dancing naked on any tables, alright?”
She looked horrified and crossed her arms over her chest to cover her breasts. “Understood,” she squeaked.
Not that you wouldn’t like to see that, Toast teased.
Was that permission, Toast? I asked, half joking.
No comment, he said a little too hesitantly.
Interesting, I thought privately, mildly surprised.
The waitress returned with our food, and I noticed that a note was placed under my fork. The waitress leaned over to say, “Enjoy,” and moved to pat me on the arm. Toast reacted faster than me and jerked my arm away from her. I frowned at the female and opened the note right in front of her. The female raised her chin but seemed shaken by my rejection.
“A room number and a time,” I muttered. I met her eyes and blasted the note with a small flame, disintegrating it. “Apologize to the lady here. You’ve disrespected her.”
Her lips were parted in an aghast expression, but she turned to Elpis and mumbled an apology. The waitress left as quickly as possible, ditching the saunter for speed. I glanced at Elpis to find her baring her teeth, and she promptly stomped a foot as though to keep herself from tackling the other female. This was new. I furrowed my brows as I watched her response. She then fisted her hands and lowered her head, closing her eyes.
“Are you ok, Elpis?” I asked in concern. “I wanted to do that earlier, but I wasn’t sure if she’d spit in our food. Maybe we should have just left.”
She sandwiched her lips between her teeth and forced a deep breath. “I’m fine.” She snorted in irritation. “Just didn’t… like her.”
“It’s ok to not like someone,” I said, trying to validate her feelings. “She wasn’t behaving appropriately.”
Elpis nodded, sighed, and dug into her food. It wasn’t long before she’d forgotten the incident because she was moaning over the roasted chicken like it was sex. I adjusted my pants in my seat, clearing my throat while running a hand through my hair .
When we finished eating, I went to the counter to pay, but Elpis wandered off to another table where a human father and his daughter were seated. They were sharing a loaf of bread with some cheese and looked a little on the thin side. I stared as Elpis dug out the most valuable coin from her purse and handed it to the father, who immediately broke down into tears. She handed one to the daughter too, not knowing that children that young didn’t normally carry their own purses.
I was rendered speechless by her gesture, and I’d never been more grateful and proud that she was my fated mate than in that very moment. It made me want to throw her over my shoulder and pleasure her all night. I groaned and pinched my nose, then turned to hand some coins to the bartender. When I left the counter, I was approached by another female trying to garner my attention. Toast moaned miserably in my head, just wanting to go back to the suite. I tried to move around her, but the slinking dragon-shifter blocked my path.
“Where you going, big guy?” she purred, alcohol riding her breath, and tried to place a hand on my chest.
I stepped back and pressed my lips together in irritation. Elpis walked over, staring daggers at the female stalking me.
“Fancy a stroll with a real female?” the dragon-shifter asked.
“I’ve already got a real one, thanks,” I returned gruffly. Toast was starting to panic, and I stepped around the female to escort Elpis back to our room. If I didn’t get away from this shameless, intoxicated dragon, he was going to make a scene.
“You? Ha!” she said to Elpis. “I don’t smell anything. You’re not even human. You’re just a shabby shiftless. You couldn’t handle this dragon if you wore fireproof lingerie. Stick to your breed, sweet one,” she sneered, leaning into my fated mate’s face. Elpis was breathing hard again, shaking and fisting her hands until her knuckles blanched. When she bared her teeth, I knew that she was at a breaking point. My hand shot out to grab hers, but I didn’t get there in time.
Elpis yanked on the dragon’s hair, headbutted her, and then kicked her in the shin—hard. The female cried out and fell into a waiter, who proceeded to spill drinks all over a table full of gamblers. The gamblers proceeded to round on the waiter, but a handful of other males intercepted the assaulters. It wasn’t long before the entire tavern became a madhouse, so I picked Elpis up, slung her over my shoulder, and fled to our room.
I deposited her onto the bed and paced, not sure whether to laugh or yell. I could not believe what had just happened. Elpis sat up and crossed her legs under her dress, fidgeting with her fingers.
“I’m sorry…” she whispered. “I don’t know what got into me. I just… felt… I don’t know.” She looked so ashamed, and I didn’t want to come down too hard on her. I knew that it was the fated mate pull making her territorial. Why didn’t she recognize who I was to her, damn it? I didn’t want to tell her. What if she didn’t believe me? What if… Augh! Too many what ifs!
“Part of me thought that if you were threatening to rip hands off, I could maybe kick someone…” she mumbled defensively. That got me. I broke out into laughter, my nerves totally shot, and grabbed my knees.
“Ahhh… Elpis, I don’t know what to say to that. We can’t go around assaulting folk, but… I can’t hold you to a double standard. I’d probably punch someone who’d grab you.” I laughed and sat on the bed with my face in my hands. “Oh gods, what a mess.”
She was silent for a while as I chuckled the nervousness out of my system. I felt two small hands grab my shoulders to rub them, but Toast jerked me off the bed, startled within an inch of his life. I whirled to stare at Elpis, breathing hard. She was curled up with her hands on her face.
“I’m sorry, I’m sorry!” she whimpered. “I won’t do it again! Please don’t leave!”
I could only stare at her state, feeling hopeless and heartbroken. We couldn’t keep doing this .
“I j-just thought since you h-held my hand and carried m-me… I c-could give you a b-back rub. I th-thought… Y-you s-s-seemed tense. I just… I’m sorry, I’m sorry, I’m sorry!”
“Elpis…” I began, not knowing what to say. Toast’s trauma was not mine to share. I walked out of the room, spitting weak flames in my distress.
What the fuck do I do? I thought to myself as soon as I heard her start crying.
Keyon… Toast said miserably. Just… just tell her. I just hope she doesn’t judge me or… Keyon, she’s going to think I’m weak! Pathetic!
I doubt that, Toast, I replied, falling into a chair to gather my wits. She’s kind. Kind people don’t see anyone as pathetic.
I’m scared. We’re going to lose her.
No, we won’t.
We will! he insisted, panicking again. All my hard work will have been for nothing!
Do you trust me, Toast? I asked. He was silent for a long while.
I guess… he eventually said, albeit dubiously.
Do you trust me? I pressed. His answer wasn’t good enough.
Yes…
Then hibernate until tomorrow, and I’ll deal with this, I directed. He didn’t reply, but I felt him sink into the recesses of my mind to hide. It was time to tell her.
I strode back into the bedroom and sat on the bed next to her crying form. Taking a deep breath, I stroked her arm to get her attention. “Hey,” I said gently. “I need to share something with you, Elpis, but it’s going to be very difficult for me.”
Her sobs subsided, and she froze for a moment before looking up at me.
“What’s that?” she asked quietly as she wiped tears from her face. Damnation, her eyes were already red and swollen.
“First of all… I’m sorry for all the times my behavior upset you. None of this, Elpis, is personal. I don’t know if you noticed, but I didn’t let any females touch me tonight. Did you notice that? ”
She thought for a moment, nodded, then sat upright. Moving her gaze to her slippered feet, she kicked them off, sending them flying across the room. They smacked into the wall, and she winced.
I folded my hands and took the dive. “When I turned eighteen and my dragon arrived… Toast, he… arrived with some trauma. I don’t know where it came from, and he still hasn’t told me. He’s promised to tell me soon due to… certain changes, but that conversation has yet to occur,” I explained, more nervous by the word. It had seemed so much easier picturing this conversation in my head. Now I felt like my heart was going to drop into my stomach. I was even becoming a touch ill, and I went to fetch my canteen, taking little sips of cool water to combat the nausea.
“It doesn’t matter if they’re young or old, mated or unmated. Toast is… afraid of females.” I winced and took another sip, wishing it was ale this time. Maybe I should have had more to drink before sharing this. Elpis’s brows drew in, and she looked confused.
“But you’re not?” she asked. “Why can’t you touch females? Toast is not in his body right now.”
Right… she’s never shifted. She doesn’t know what it’s like to have a beast within her. I had a dirty thought for a moment and shook my head. Stop it, brain!
“When a shifter comes of age, their beast awakens inside of them. It’s a… shared experience. He can access my memories and experience things as I do. So if I even get close to another female, he can get pulled into a panic attack.” I paused for another sip and steadied myself. “Some shifters with… more powerful beasts can have a bit of a power struggle if their beast disagrees with their actions. Toast is probably the toughest dragon you’ll meet, and he basically yanks me away from females and women who get too close, especially if he’s startled.” I gave her a meaningful look when I said that last word.
Elpis raised a hand to her lips, and sorrow flooded her eyes. I didn’t know what I was expecting, but I wasn’t expecting that. Extremely nervous now, I wiped my sweaty palms on my pants .
“Oh nay… can you apologize to him for me? I’m so sorry. I wish I had known sooner!” she said, tearing up again.
“Oh gods, Elpis, please don’t cry. Don’t cry. It’s not your fault. It’s extremely personal, and he never tells anyone. Literally only two other people know about it. That’s it,” I implored, grabbing her shoulders to try to catch her gaze. “He wanted me to tell you now because you were so upset.”
Elpis began wailing, and I sighed, groaning. “That poor hatchling!” she cried, blotchy-faced and miserable. “I wish I could hug him to bits, but I can’t! I caaan’t!”
I chuckled at the sad irony and shook my head. “Minus the hatchling part, I think he’ll appreciate the sentiment, Elpis. He thinks you’ll judge him and find him pathetic.”
Her sobbing only intensified after that, and I handed her the canteen. She was a sensitive soul; I’d give her that. Toast was probably going to feel bad for making her cry. Mediating this was tedious, and I wished they could just talk directly. That would involve either mating and marking her or adding her to my Inferno. Unfortunately, neither of those would happen any time soon.
Elpis calmed and sniffed. “I would never. I think we’re kindred spirits. I have my own fears. I was terrified all day long. Fears aren’t funny.”
I settled my hand on hers and smiled. “You did very well today, Elpis. I think you handled everything much better than expected. Toast did well too.”
“Really? I felt so stupid today,” she muttered, staring at her feet again.
“Tell me why you felt stupid, and then tell me why you don’t need to judge yourself so harshly over it,” I said and waited for her answer.
She pursed her lips in thought. “I felt stupid for forgetting the coin values. I guess it’s expected, though. I just learned about it.”
I smiled triumphantly and patted her hand. “Exactly. Mistakes are almost required when you’re learning,” I said with a chuckle. Then I sobered and slid my hand off hers. “So…” I swallowed hard, hating to admit this last thing. “Do you remember when I asked to hold your hand and touch your arm?”
She nodded and gazed expectantly at me.
“Well…” I sighed and looked down at my hands. “That was me trying to slowly get Toast used to you so he’d panic less around you.”
Her mouth dropped open, and she said, “Ooh…”
I shifted uncomfortably, feeling like I was about to vomit from a swell of stress. “Do you know what a fated mate is, Elpis?” I asked casually, picking at some invisible blemish on the canteen.
She shook her head. “Nay… never heard of it. Adelmar has a mate, his lady wife. That’s all I know.”
All my courage plummeted down the drain. She didn’t know.
Nope! No way! Definitely not saying anything more on that topic. Backing the fuck out.
“Ah, anyway… I hope this clears up my behavior. I hope you understand that it’s truly not personal. Toast just… struggles. He’s working really hard to get better.”
“It actually does make me feel better, even though now all I want to do is hug Toast.” She frowned sadly. “Maybe someday. If I’m not around for it, bring him by.” She fidgeted and curled her toes, still staring at them.
“I will…” I sighed heavily, willing myself to believe that she’d eventually want to stay by me even without proof of the bond. How could I prove it to her?
“So, what do you need to work on next?” she asked, her tone shifting from sadness to curiosity.
“Hmm?” I asked, a bit sullenly. I was exhausted.
“Where do you want to touch me next? We could do legs,” she said and wiggled her feet, “back, face, or torso.” She pointed to her breasts and tilted her head. I was now wide awake.
“Uhh… Elpis, you don’t need to feel obligated… you’re not a pleasure sl—” I objected, certain my face was on fire. Smoke had to be billowing from my ears.
“I know I’m not!” she snapped and shook a finger at me. “Don’t say that again. I’m a free female, and I’m offering! I’m free to offer, right?”
“Y-yes?”
“Is that a question?”
“Yes! I mean no!”
“Then where do we start?” she asked, raising her chin. Oh gods, now I was feeling as terrified as Toast. When I fumbled for an answer, she lost patience, stood on the bed, and tugged the dress over her head.
“Elpis!”
“Better decide fast. Otherwise it’s all coming off!” she threatened, staring me down with her hands on her bra straps. “Toast isn’t gonna like that!”
“Legs! Legs!” I cried out, unable to process her boldness. Oh my gods, I felt like a shy sixteen-year-old again. Why was I panicking so much? My heart was trying to burst out of my ribcage with every thump. I palmed my face and drew a stuttering breath. Even my arms were shaking. This had been so much easier to do when she didn’t know why I needed to do it.
“Hey… it’s ok, Keyon. Look, it’s just skin,” she comforted, and I peeked over at her hand, one that was currently poking at her knee. “Just skin and muscle. Well, not a whole lot of muscle.” She laughed and smacked her thigh, making it ripple a little.
Oh gods, please don’t tempt me further, Elpis.
She offered a hand, and I hesitantly accepted it. Delicate fingers led my hand to her shin and left it there, then the female reclined to watch me.
I took another deep breath, exhaled as slowly as possible, and ran my palm down her shin, reveling in its smoothness. Her skin was actually starting to look a little healthier. Maybe a couple days outside had been good for her. It wasn’t darker, but the paleness had more depth to its color.
I ran a thumb over her bony ankle and across all the tiny little veins of her foot. I curled a forefinger under the arch, and she jerked her foot away, laughing. “Don’t you dare!” she squealed, shooting me a playful glare that promised a slow and painful death. I chuckled and wrapped my entire hand around her ankle, sliding it up to her knee again.
“You have beautiful skin, Elpis,” I murmured and palmed a circle around her kneecap. She didn’t say anything in return, but I heard her heart quicken. I cupped the back of her knee, lightly massaging the muscles and ligaments there.
I hesitated before sliding my hand up her thigh to her hip, just tracing the edge of her silken undergarment. I could tell she was aroused and wet for me. It was a damn shame I couldn’t do anything about it. I was already struggling to control myself.
I lay down next to her and just stroked her upper thigh, staring at its softness. I gripped and squeezed it gently, watching in fascination as the fair flesh bulged between my splayed fingers. She was so different. So sweet, so soft… like a plush, downy blanket.
“I’m not as firm as I used to be…” she whispered with a frown. “Sorry…”
I snorted. “Elpis, someday you’ll see the beauty I see.” I ran a thumb over the smallest bit of cellulite and stretch marks. “You’re an adult female. This is normal. What matters is being strong and healthy.”
She didn’t respond but just looked thoughtfully at me while I caressed her leg. She raised it to put her knee on my hip, and I narrowed my eyes. “Elpis, be careful,” I warned.
“What? Just giving you better access,” she said innocently. I studied her for a moment, but she seemed genuine.
You’re going to be the death of me. Death by blue balls.
I cupped the inside of her thigh and curled my fingers, brushing them down to her knee and back up again. I slid them higher to where her inner thigh met her undergarment, and her breath caught. My knuckle slid too close and collected some of her wetness. When I looked up at her, she was staring back at me with a flushed face. Her heart raced, and her lungs heaved just shy of panting. Elpis’s brown-sugar eyes were deeply dilated, and from her shaking, I could tell she was trying not to squirm. I had half a mind to check in with Toast and ask him if I could pleasure her, but I knew what he’d say. We just weren’t ready yet.
I sighed and removed my hand, choosing to rest it on her hip. She was so ready for me, and it was so fucking hard to pull away. When her eyes trailed down, they landed on the bulge in my pants. There was no hiding it, and it was unavoidable. I wasn’t ashamed, but I couldn’t do anything about it. I guess I could go masturbate in the bathroom. Her hand moved toward my swelling cock. It wanted to be freed so desperately, but I shook my head at her.
“I’m really good,” she whispered. “I could get you there in the blink of an eye…”
I sighed and closed my eyes. I’m pretty sure you just touching it would make me explode everywhere.
“If it was just me, I’d say yes in a heartbeat, but we’re not ready, Elpis. Toast isn’t ready,” I replied softly.
“I understand,” she said. “I’ll be here when you are.”
“That’s a very big, personal promise to make someone, Elpis,” I said with a low growl. “You’re not a thing to be used.”
“Nay,” she said with a yawn. “I’m not.”