Chapter 21 Dragon Party
The band was playing, and dozens of partners were entering the dance floor. Xander stood up and extended his hand to Reiya. “It’s time I make it known that you’re my partner tonight.”
Reiya grinned back at him and gently placed her hand in his, excited to get to dance again tonight. She let him twirl her around on the dance floor. She noticed him shoot a few glares past her on occasion, making sure no one stared at her for long.
“I was really proud of you earlier for how you handled Clovis.” Xander stared into her blue pools. She really was stunning to look at. “I expected you to just stand quietly by. What you did meant even more, though. It showed courage. I was very pleased. You never cease to amaze me.”
“I couldn’t let someone insult me or my kind, especially the likes of him. I honestly don’t understand how you put up with it.”
“I know. Trust me, it’s hard. In his case, it’s best to keep him close so I can keep an eye on him. If I thought he was working alone, it would be over. I have a feeling, though … I need to find out who all is in his pockets.”
She watched Xander as he drifted deep into his thoughts. “So, are you purposely provoking him to try to get him to act?” His eyes refocused on her, shining with amusement.
“Purposely provoking?” Xander grinned as he repeated the question back to her.
“Yes.” Reiya giggled. “Provoking him with having a non-dragon mate.”
“Hmmm. I see. You think I’m purposely provoking him by saying that?” Xander grinned and then twirled her around. As he spun her back, he pulled her deep into his embrace. “I’m not provoking him with that. I’m preparing him. Letting him get used to the idea slowly.”
Reiya felt his hot breath fan against her cheek. She tilted her head up to him and smiled. She scrunched her eyebrows up. “Preparing him for dragons taking non-dragon mates in the future?”
Xander chuckled. “Why are you fighting it so much? Why can’t you accept the idea of me as your mate?”
Reiya felt her heart flutter and her breath caught in her chest. His voice suddenly sounded serious, and the usual mischief was gone.
She forced herself to exhale and keep her composure, her gaze meeting with his amber eyes confidently.
“You are not my mate, Xander.” She watched a grin spread across his face.
“How do you know? When your wolf finally pops out, you might feel differently.” Xander leaned down and breathed in her scent.
“Xander, quit teasing me.” Reiya didn’t know for sure, but she just didn’t think he was her mate. Yes, she was attracted to him, but shouldn’t it be stronger, even without her wolf? His teasing was starting to confuse her, though. Like she should be feeling more for him.
“Reiya …” His hot breath fanned her hair as his head drew lower.
There was a certain tenderness to his tone.
It was just her name. Just one word. But it felt like there was so much more behind it, so much more meaning in that one word.
She felt an inner moment of clarity, and she was no longer confused.
She knew … she knew what she had always known.
She pulled back slightly and smiled up at Xander. “It’s not you.” She gave him a knowing smile. “I might not know who my mate is, but I know what my heart wants. And it isn’t you. Even if you are good-looking, you aren’t the one my heart calls out for.”
Xander smirked at her and continued to sway to the music with her in his arms. “Life has a way of surprising us, Reiya. I’m young …
you’re younger still. Sometimes, we can’t wait for the maturity that age brings to us.
We are meant to face some futures while young.
Your future is heavily intertwined with mine, and soon you’ll realize it.
” Xander stared at her sapphire eyes that sparkled under the light.
He leaned down and kissed her cheek. A few minor gasps were heard in the crowd as they witnessed the intimate scene.
Their king had just kissed someone on the cheek. This was not casual news.
Reiya felt the soft tickle from his lips on her cheek. There was a certain respect and adoration behind it. She looked into his smiling eyes as he pulled away. He might be a flirt and a tease, but what he just said was genuine. What exactly it meant, she was sure she would soon find out.
“I’m glad we’re friends.” Reiya smiled back up at him as he led her off the dance floor.
“We’re more than friends, Reiya. For now, I’ll just leave it at that.” Xander squeezed her side lightly, a small smile resting on his face.
“My Lord.” An older man’s voice called from behind them as he approached.
Reiya glanced back to see a man that was wrinkled with time.
How old he actually was … well, that could only be guessed.
Shifters didn’t age like humans did. Even her parents still looked very young.
This man was probably hundreds of years old.
He was a man of stature, and she noticed that he had the respect of those around him.
Xander smiled at the man and nodded. “I didn’t realize you’d arrived today.”
“I did. I traveled with my two granddaughters. I promised them that I would get them dances with the King of the West.” The old man’s eyes glinted with humor.
Reiya could feel minor agitation rising in Xander, but he just continued to smile at the older man. “Of course, just let me tend to my date for one moment and I’ll meet you over at your table.” The old man nodded in appreciation and slowly walked away.
Xander growled lowly as the man left. “That crafty devil knew I couldn’t refuse him.”
“Who is he?” Reiya asked quietly.
“He was the King of the Southern Kingdom. Two, no, three kings ago. The kings step down automatically when they have an heir reach the proper age to take over.”
“What happened to your father?” Reiya bit her bottom lip as the words vomited out of her mouth before she had time to think. She watched a tight smile rest on Xander’s face. Xander was young, and his parents were nowhere to be found. They weren’t even talked about.
“My mother died when I was born. No one really talks about the event, but my birth ended up burning her alive. I read the official reports.” Xander never got to know his mother, but he heard she was very sweet and loving.
She wasn’t an upper-tiered dragon. It was very painful being pregnant with him, but ultimately, giving birth was what killed her.
“Then, my father … well, he could barely look at the son who’d killed the love of his life.
The day I turned eighteen, he vanished, leaving me the kingdom.
It’s written that he vanished, but that’s not what happened.
The pain from losing his mate was too much.
He wanted to forget everything. I don’t know all the details, but according to Grandpa Sage, he just doesn’t remember anything anymore.
He’s living his life in one of the utopias created for all magical beings.
I’m sure you’ve heard of those villages before.
” He watched Reiya nod her head. “I plan to check in on him. Not that he would know it was me, but just to see him happy.”
Reiya’s eyes watered up. Poor Xander. Her mother mentioned to her before that she felt like Xander was lonely.
She was right. He didn’t have anyone. Thank goodness he at least had Grandpa Sage and Lee.
“Xander, you know I’ll always be here for you, and I will help you in any way that I can.
I might not look it, but I’m pretty tough, too, if you ever need an extra hand in battle.
” Reiya watched his lips curl up in a smile.
“I’m counting on always having you around. Though, you must be nuts if you think I would ever allow you to fight. Who would allow someone so precious to enter a battle?”
“Hate to break it to you, but you’re looking at someone who will be entering the battlefield against demons. I know this is going to happen, and that I will be at the front lines. I’ve seen it.” Reiya’s voice quieted over the last few words.
Xander looked at her with sincerity in his eyes.
“I know you saw something, but I want you to know that, no matter what, I WILL be there. Side by side, Reiya. Well, more like me in front and you behind me.” He grinned at her and continued.
“I don’t care if I have the backing of my people or not.
I will be there to fight by your side. I won’t let anything happen to you. You’re important to me.”
Reiya smiled at him. She was relieved to hear him say that.
She wasn’t just gaining allies for the upcoming battle.
She was gaining precious friends. Xander was important to her.
She also vowed that she would always answer the call if Xander was in need.
Whether he wanted her to fight or not was irrelevant.
Sometimes the key players are the ones you least expect.
She reached out and placed her hand on his. “Thank you, Xander. It means a lot to hear you say that. You’re important to me, too. I know it’s weird, but I feel like we’ve always known each other.”
“It isn’t weird, especially since I feel the same way.
Yours is a soul that my own recognizes. We must have been close in another life.
” Xander squeezed her hand. He glanced up and toward the table in the distance, where the old man was seated.
“I’ll be back soon, Reiya. Try to stay out of trouble. ”
“You realize who you’re talking to, right?” Reiya chuckled.
Xander beamed at her. “That’s why I’m telling you now to stay out of trouble. I shouldn’t be long, provided I don’t get pulled into some long-winded conversation that I can’t escape,” he all but groaned out quietly.
Reiya watched him walk away, leaving her at their table alone.
At first, she sat there obediently, really trying to be good and stay out of trouble.
However, after about twenty minutes, she saw that Xander was getting pulled by another man to dance with his daughter.
She smiled to herself, almost hearing his annoyance.
She was tired of just sitting, though, so she stood up and wandered to the drinks table in the back.
A few children had snuck into the festivities and were kicking a ball back and forth.
One of the children missed stopping the ball, and it rolled to the side, past the group of empty tables and right under the table of the man sitting in solitude.
She saw the children looking in that direction, frowning.
“Can’t you just go grab your ball really quickly?” Reiya’s soft voice called from behind them.
“We can’t go over there.” The young boy pouted.
“I’ll get it for you.” Reiya watched the children’s eyes light up and she smiled. She didn’t know why this man was sitting in solitude, but surely it wouldn’t be a problem for her to walk over and retrieve the children’s ball for them, right? She would only be but a moment.