Page 70 of Brutal Alpha Dragon

I snicker at Father’s dry attempt at lighthearted jest. “Not quite human anymore, Father. She is immortal now.”

Father crosses his arms over his chest, tilting his head to one side as he regards her. Though he hasn’t aged a day past thirty-five, his mannerisms are as old as time itself.

“There was something you were saying that day in the hall before Skarlett interrupted our meeting…” he reminds me. “... What were you about to say?”

“Oh, nothing,” I shrug nonchalantly, even if my racing heart says otherwise. It’s the most important part of this whole conundrum of Lily and me and our unwavering attraction toward each other. “Just that Lily is my fated mate.”

“Still doubt the Cube of Knowledge?” Father retorts with a chuckle.

“No,” I admit. “Think it will tell me if it’s a boy or a girl?”

Father pats my back playfully. “Now that’s a rule we won’t be bending.”

As Father joins the others to be acquainted with my mate, all I can do is stand back and watch her glorify her spotlight. She doesn’t carry an ounce of anxiety now that she’s there among my family members.

My Lady Dragon. The Lady to my Alpha. A dignified position that she effortlessly flows into. Seeing her mingling with my family as if she’s known them her whole life is a magnificent sight to behold.

My chest swells with pride as my mother enters the room and meets my Lady for the first time. Their interaction is so fluid, but there’s a flicker of sadness in Lily’s eyes when she flashes a glance in my direction.

She doesn’t have to say a word for me to understand why that sadness is there. Over the past few days since I announced that she was my mate, she’d asked me all kinds of questions about my mother.

Now I understand why.

When the fuss over Lily settles down, it’s time for dinner to be served. We take our seats, with my brothers shifting down the table to open a seat for Lily beside me.

“So, Lily…” Felix begins when he passes her the bowl of roasted potatoes. “... What was life like in Seattle?”

“Oh, you’re from Seattle?!” Aragon perks up. “I visited Seattle in my travels. Met a witch there, actually.”

Lily giggles. “So witches exist too?”

The room erupts with laughter.

“Well. Lily, you’re sitting in a room full of dragons,” Kairo giggles. “What did you expect?”

Lily titters nervously. “I expect the unexpected now, I suppose.”

Even though she speaks freely, I notice how her sadness is confined to the depths of her eyes. She misses home as she speaks about it. She probably misses college, her family, her writing.

When Mother serves dessert—homemade apple pie, which happens to be Lily’s favorite—I notice Lily yawning with a cupped hand over her mouth.

“Tired?” I ask her through the mind link.

She leans closer and whispers into my ear. “You know, I can’t do that yet.”

“Do what?”

“Keep it private,” she admits as she points from her chest to mine.

“You mean the mind link?”

Lily nods. I lean back in my chair, my eyes scanning the room as I remain completely unbothered. Giving away nothing when I speak into her mind. “I could teach you how to control it. But do you think you could handle it?”

“Why wouldn’t I?” she whispers with a frown.

“Because…’ I take a deep breath, turning my eyes on her but still maintaining an unruffled facial expression. ‘... You’d have to ensure no one hears your mind link when you scream my name.”

Lily’s eyes open wide as a sweet blush covers her cheeks. She gulps as she stares at me, noticing how serious I am.

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