Chapter 10 First Night
Xander led her down a corridor to a room located near the end.
“This door leads to your room. The door at the end over there is to my room. The door across from yours is Levi’s, when he uses it.
Basically, you’re in good company. If you need something, come and get me or yell for me.
” Xander pushed the door open to show her the room.
“I know you don’t have any of your clothes, so I had a few things brought in for you.
They’re lying on the dresser. That door to your left is to the washroom.
I’m sure you probably want to get cleaned up before bed. ”
She looked up as Xander paused for a second.
It seemed like he was inwardly debating something.
She watched him run his hand through his hair and sigh.
“I guess if you don’t need anything else, then I’ll leave you for the evening, unless you want some company in the shower? ” A wry grin spread over his face.
“Like I said, you’re shameless.” Reiya shook her head and giggled as she walked into the room.
Xander winked at her with a wide smile. “Good night, Reiya.” He leaned in and kissed her forehead before leaving, closing the door behind him.
Reiya touched her forehead. The kiss had left a hot sensation.
Lee was the only non-family member who had ever kissed her, even if it was also just on the forehead.
Still, Xander's kiss felt warm and endearing. It was like she could feel a level of trust in his kiss. It was different from Lee’s, though.
She was very confused. I think I’ll get in the shower now.
Reiya walked into the bathroom and giggled when she looked at the tub.
The spout on the tub was a bronze dragon head with an open mouth.
Of course it is, she thought in amusement.
Beside the tub was an enclosed stone shower that had multiple rain showerheads.
She discarded her clothes and stepped inside the shower, letting the hot water cascade over her tired body.
What an eventful day. She never would have dreamed when she woke up in the morning that she would meet a dragon, let alone end up living in the West Dragon Kingdom.
Even weirder, she felt close to the dragon she had just met today.
Thinking of this made her mind wander back to what Xander had said earlier, about her not knowing her mate even if he was right in front of her.
She inwardly thought about how she felt around Lee and Xander.
They were both very handsome men. Was this just physical attraction, or could something else be at play?
Lee had always treated her like a kid sister, but even at sixteen, she found herself attracted to her summon.
The feelings she had toward Xander were different, though.
She sighed as she turned the water off. It didn’t really matter. One was a dragon deity and the other was a dragon king. Both of them were off limits, so surely the Moon Goddess wouldn’t make one of them her mate.
She put on one of the shirts Xander had left for her and a pair of men’s shorts.
She didn’t have her wolf senses, but she could still smell Xander on the clothing, so she assumed they were his.
Brody would arrive tomorrow with her clothes.
Brody. Thinking of him made her feel a bit homesick.
Even when he wasn’t with her, she always knew he was close by.
Having him so far away felt … well, it felt weird.
What hadn’t felt weird in the last six months, though?
She was separated from Hunter and Chasen, pulled away from her home, and now she was in an unfamiliar place.
Reiya walked out of the bathroom and into her room.
To the side of the bed was a tall glass door that led to a small balcony.
She walked over to it and opened it, gazing at the stars.
It hurt. Being away from her brothers hurt.
She knew she couldn’t live with them forever, but everything felt so sudden.
She knew one day she would have to move to Elysia, but she didn’t think that would have happened already.
Then, she had to wait for Hunter and Chasen to visit her because she wasn’t allowed to come and go freely.
Everything has changed so fast. Her chest felt tight as she thought of home and the reality of the task she had taken on.
The fate of the fairy kingdom could very well be resting on her gaining the dragons as allies.
A cold breeze swirled through the air and her damp hair, causing her to shiver.
“Reiya.”
She jumped, startled by the voice behind her. She looked back to see Lee standing there, looking at her. “Lee! Where have you been?”
Lee’s eyes flickered as he took in her appearance. Her eyes were teary, and her normally cheerful face looked sad. He walked up to her and wrapped his arms around her. She was shivering, too. “Are you okay?”
Reiya leaned her head into his familiar chest, gripping onto his shirt.
He was so warm. She nodded her head against him.
She was okay. She just needed to focus on one thing at a time.
She needed to focus on the things she could change and not what she couldn’t.
She no longer lived in the Black Ice Pack.
That was something that couldn’t be changed, at least for now.
A war with the demons was coming, though, and that was what she needed to focus on.
She needed to work on helping her people, both fairies and werewolves alike.
When the battle finally came, they would both be caught in the war.
“I’m okay, Lee. Why did you disappear? Xander said you live here, too.
It would have been nice to have you around.
I’m a stranger here.” Reiya bit her bottom lip, unsure why she felt anxious.
Maybe it was because she was afraid of his answer.
Did he only tolerate her because he was her summon?
Was she someone he didn’t really want to see often?
“I was angry with Xander. He’s no better than a whelp, acting like he knows better and deciding things on his own.
He doesn’t listen. I needed to get some space from him before I busted his head open.
I’m sorry for leaving you alone.” Lee took his hand and ran it through the strands of Reiya’s damp hair.
“You shouldn’t be outside with your wet hair.
You’re going to end up sick,” he said as he closed the doors to the balcony.
“Lee, if you live here, too, then we’ll get to spend more time together. That’ll be nice. Being able to see you whenever instead of just when you pop in.” Reiya smiled, looking up at him.
“You want to see me more than you already do?” He chuckled down at her. “You know, if you ever wanted to see me, you only needed to call for me.”
“Yeah, but I didn’t want to bother you,” Reiya said quietly.
“But it’s okay to bother me here since I live here?” Lee looked down at her with a wry smile.
Reiya stood still in his arms. She would be a bother to him if she kept on invading his private time. This was his sanctuary … his home. Maybe she was a burden. “I don’t want to be a bother to you at all, Lee. So just let me know when I’m being one.”
Lee chuckled heartily. “Reiya, I was teasing. You’re not a bother to me at all. You could never be a bother to me.” He tilted her chin up to look into her eyes. “Understand?”
Reiya’s face flushed under his gaze. She was incredibly close to his face.
She could feel his breath. Lee was special to her and had been special to her for quite some time.
She couldn’t help it … she liked being close to him.
He had a way of making her feel better without doing anything.
She nodded slightly as she stared back into his eyes.
His eyes seemed to flicker as they stared at her, as if there was something going on internally, in his head.
“You smell like Xander.” Lee frowned as he touched the shirt she was wearing and snorted.
“Brody is bringing me my clothes tomorrow.” Reiya giggled and scrunched up her nose.
“Now, are you going to tell me why you’re upset? If it’s about being here, let me know, Reiya. I’ll bring about hell to make Xander change his mind.” Lee meant it, too. He was already upset with Xander over this decision. He felt like the timing wasn’t right.
“I think that this is a good opportunity to try to fix the relationship between fairies, wolves, and dragons, since all four kingdoms have gathered for this event. I’m going to do my best to help my people.” Reiya met his gaze confidently as she smiled.
“Then why are you upset?” Lee was proud of her. She was a born leader, thinking of her people first. Still, there was something bothering her, and that bothered him.
“I think I just … maybe I feel overwhelmed by all the changes. Missing my brothers and stuff, having the weight of my people on my shoulders, and maybe I’m just feeling a bit lonely.” Reiya admitted the last part quietly.
“Reiya, I’m here to help you. I’ll share your burden with you. I can’t fix you not being around your brothers, but Brody will be here tomorrow, and I’m here, too.”
Yeah … of course he would lump himself in with my brothers, because he’s always seen me as a little sister.
She knew she wanted him to see her as more than that, though she would just be setting herself up for heartache.
She couldn’t help it. He was her first crush.
She had come to depend on him and having him as a part of her life.
She knew that, once she found her damn mate, all of this would get fixed.
She really needed her wolf to break free so she could break free.
She wanted to be able to have feelings for her mate and know that it was okay to feel that way.
“Thanks, Lee. It’s just my first night away from everyone. I’ll be fine.” Reiya smiled up at him weakly.
“Do you want me to stay with you?” Lee asked quietly, and then quickly added. “Until you fall asleep, that is.”
Reiya smiled at him. She wouldn’t mind if he stayed with her all night, but until she fell asleep would work too. “Would you? You’re sure it wouldn’t be a problem?”
He chuckled and shook his head. “Come on. Let’s get you in bed. Do you want me to tell you a story?”
Reiya swatted at his side playfully. “Quit teasing me. You’re making fun of me.”
“No way … well, maybe a little.” Lee grinned and pulled the blanket over her.
“Will you sit beside me and play with my hair as I go to sleep?” Reiya batted her eyes at him.
“Awful demanding of your summon, aren’t you?” Lee gave her a crooked smile but obliged her, climbing into the bed by her side. “Get some sleep, Reiya. You look tired.”
She snuggled into the warmth beside her. It was like an electric blanket, so warm and cozy. She let herself relax under his soothing touch, feeling content and safe.