Chapter 9 Mate?
“Do you think you’ll be able to manage without getting lost?” Xander chuckled as he led her back to the main hall.
“Maybe not right away.” Reiya giggled. She was lost just walking with him. Some of the areas were enormous and were clearly made to fit dragons in their shifted form.
“Well, if you get lost, just yell for me. I have excellent hearing, and I’ll rescue you.” Xander grinned and rested his arm around her shoulders again.
Reiya had gotten used to having his arm on her. It was a comfortable feeling. There was an increased warmth that came from his body. It was soothing, and it calmed her. Somehow, she felt like they were kindred spirits. She was surprised at how relaxed she felt around this perfect stranger.
“Want to go back out to the party for a little bit before you turn in for the evening?” He looked at her, giving her his award-winning smile.
Reiya couldn’t help but return a smile back to him.
There was excitement in her chest from being in his proximity.
Not only was he attractive, but he had an aura that drew you close.
She was enjoying getting to know him better.
“Yes, that sounds nice. I love dancing.”
Xander led her back out to the party. There were several sets of eyes that followed them with interest. He led her out onto the dance floor and twirled her around, causing her to giggle at his goofiness.
“This is your second time dancing with a dragon. What do you think?” Xander lifted his chin and straightened his shoulders as he tried to look dignified.
Reiya giggled. “It feels like dancing with anyone else. How about you? This is your first time dancing with a fairy werewolf.”
“Hmmm … I guess it’ll have to do,” he teased.
“I don’t sense your werewolf part of you, though.
I can feel it from your parents, but I can’t feel it from you …
well, it’s there, only it’s really faint.
” Xander studied her eyes curiously. He saw a flash of sadness flicker over them, but it disappeared quickly.
“That’s probably because I haven’t shifted yet.
I … well, it feels like my wolf is there but is having trouble surfacing.
I’m not sure what it is. I guess she’ll come through when she’s good and ready.
” Reiya did feel a little bad about not having her wolf, but there really wasn’t anything she could do about it.
She looked up at Xander, who seemed to be studying her.
He was looking at her like he was putting a puzzle together.
She was curious as to what he was thinking.
“We’ll have to see about waking that wolf of yours up soon. After all, you need her around. Without her, your mate could be right in front of you, dancing with you … and you wouldn’t even notice.” Xander smirked and twirled her around again.
Reiya laughed. “Are you implying you’re my mate?” She watched Xander grin widely.
“You’ll have to find that out for yourself.” Xander winked at her and pulled her close to his chest. He leaned his head down, pressing his lips close to her ear. “Even without your wolf, though … you’d probably feel something, don’t you think?”
Reiya felt his hot breath on her sensitive skin, sending electric jolts down her body.
Even being in the warmth of his arms, she felt her body shiver.
There was something about him, but she didn’t know what it was.
She didn’t know how she would feel if she was around her mate.
She’d never had a boyfriend before, and she wasn’t sure what she should feel.
She knew she was attracted to him, but she was attracted to Lee, too.
That didn’t mean one of them was her mate. Right?
“So, what’s it like for dragons when you find your mate? Do you also have a link that tells you someone is your mate?” Reiya leaned back a bit out of his intimate hold so that she could look up into his eyes.
“Yes. It’s similar to werewolves, except your wolves tell you who your mate is.
We dragons know for ourselves. Sometimes we know long before our mate knows.
When this is the case, we usually wait for them.
We want them to choose us as well. It’s more special than just being told ‘I’m your mate’.
We want them to feel the connection to us also.
Then …” Xander pulled her close to him again as he continued to slowly dance to the music, “when our mate also recognizes us, we mark each other so that everyone knows we’re taken. ”
“That’s similar to werewolves, though not all female wolves mark their mates.
It just depends on the wolf. So how does it work with dragons, if you meet a mate that isn’t a dragon?
Obviously, wolves have mixes, but do dragons?
” Reiya had never heard of anyone who was part dragon before. She felt Xander stiffen and frown.
“There aren’t many mixed races with dragons.
It sort of isn’t permitted. It’s the unspoken rule.
Dragons stick with their own kind, keeping the blood pure.
Dragons who find mates from another race tend to pair up with similar dragons.
Two dragons who find improper mates would pair up together in order to protect the gene pool.
” Xander sighed, then smiled at Reiya. “I think it’s silly, though.
Why deny yourself of your mate? Who wants to torture themselves like that?
I know I don’t. It takes a lot of self-control to stay away from your mate.
Who wants to do that on a permanent basis? ”
“I can’t imagine it. I agree, I think it’s silly.
My mother’s original pack, my uncle’s pack, used to be like that.
They didn’t like my mother because she wasn’t a pure werewolf.
She was isolated and left out. She said no one wanted to be around her, and she never was around others socially.
It wasn’t until she met my father that things changed for her.
My uncle Drew and my aunt Kennedy changed that.
There are now several members of their pack that have mates from other races.
It’s finally becoming like all the other packs.
It is a shame, though. My mother never should have had to experience such isolation.
She’s a wonderful person.” Reiya frowned, thinking about her mother.
It must have been so painful being unwanted, all because of the elitist attitude of the Red Grove Pack.
Thank goodness it wasn’t like that anymore.
Now, no one else would ever have to go through something like that.
“That is a shame. Your mother is a very special person. She comforted me as a child and then shocked the heck out of me when she didn’t burn from my touch.
I had the biggest crush on her. She gave me my first kiss, right on my forehead.
It’s safe to say that I was enamored with her.
” Xander smiled as he thought back to when he met Lita.
She left a lasting impression on his heart.
He credited her with the reason he was so open to other races.
She was the first person who reached out to him.
The fairy princess treated him as an equal and not just as a lord.
She didn’t try to gain anything from him.
Everyone else always wanted something from him or to be close to him because he was someone of power.
He only had a handful of people that he truly trusted.
Dragons were a powerful race, but Lita never did push her meeting with him.
She never tried to use that to get a foothold in.
He barely knew her, but he trusted her. Just like Reiya.
He was instantly connected to the beauty in front of him.
“I hope I become a person like her,” Reiya said absentmindedly, more to herself than to anyone.
“What makes you think that you aren’t?” Xander looked down at her gently as the music stopped.
“I’m not yet, but I hope to be one day.” Reiya smiled up at him confidently. She couldn’t compare herself to her mother yet. Her mother had a lot of time to get to where she was, but one day … one day she hoped to be someone to be admired, like her.
“Maybe I’m biased, but I already see it in you.” Xander winked at her, causing her to blush as he led her off the dance floor.
“I think you are a hopeless flatterer.” Reiya smiled and rolled her eyes playfully at Xander.
“No, I think you’re very special, Reiya.
” Xander looked into her blue pooling eyes.
They were captivating. They drew you in like an inviting body of water.
“You can do it, Reiya. You will be able to do what has never been done.” Xander gazed at her proudly.
She would be the one. She would be able to bring the dragon world out of the past. Just like the Red Grove Pack, it was time for things to change in the dragon realm. Reiya would be the one to do it.
“Thank you, Xander. I appreciate that you think so, if that’s what you really think.
I still think you’re just being a shameless flirt.
” Reiya was trying to figure out Xander's personality.
When was he being serious and when was he just being flirtatious?
Another good thing about spending time in dragon country …
soon, she would know Xander. She would be able to understand his personality and exactly what kind of person he is.
Xander's lips curved up, and he winked at her. “Come on, beautiful. I’ll show you to your room. It’s getting late, and I’m sure you’re tired from the long day you’ve had. Unless you don’t want to sleep by yourself. With it being your first night and all, I will gladly share my bed with you.”
Reiya smiled and shook her head. “My room will do just fine.”
“Okay, but the offer is on the table ... or the bed, as the case may be.” Xander smiled as he squeezed her shoulder, gently leading her inside.