Page 18 of Pregnant Rejected Mate

“Oh, you have no idea,” I chuckle nervously. “I think I might have bit off more than I can chew.”

“So quickly?”

I nod sheepishly, pursing my lips when an idea comes to mind. I reach out a hand and place it on Kairo’s shoulder. “Could you do me a favor, Sis?”

“Uh-huh.”

“Take care of her… Sierra, I mean.”

“Pretty name,” Kairo smiles.

“Yes,” I concede with a nod, my own lips lifting slightly. “Pretty name for a pretty lady.” I sigh. “Befriend her the way you did with Lily. I know you’ll get along well with her,” I chuckle lightly. “She’s so much like you.”

My sister tilts her head to one side speculatively. “You discovered that in one night?”

“I—” I clear my throat and step back, feeling uncomfortable. “I can read people. It’s quite obvious.”

Kairo seems to buy this and nods fervently. “Don’t worry, Felix. We’ll become the best of friends!” She grins from ear to ear. “I’ll get her to like you while I’m at it.”

“Thanks, Kai,” I titter.

“Don’t mention it, Brother.” She steps forward and touches my cheek lightly in a gesture of reassurance. Just like Mother. Just like Sierra. The women with gentle natures.

“Sometimes we all need a helping hand.”

Leaving Sierra’s care in my sister’s hands brings me comfort. Thanking her again, I leave for a morning walk. Once I’m in the clearing, I decide to go for a lap around the island.

I shift into dragon form, slowly rising toward the clouds and passing the castle on my way up. Behind those stone walls, Sierra is inside, probably fuming at me.

I don’t blame her, but her reluctance to accept this new slate has me wondering if her father was wrong. Perhaps she had moved on with her life; he just didn’t know about it.

Why else would she reject me? Perhaps she never loved me at all.

Oh, no…

I’m doing it again. I spent most of my time in dragon form last night, soaring around the coast and letting my mind get the best of me. Filled with rampant thoughts, my mind in dragon form is worse than when I’m human.

Even the dragonspirit is remorseful about the past. He, too, had fallen deeply in love with the girl, and that inner voice always chided me about leaving. It’s the closest thing to a fated mate a dragon could ever experience.

I’m sure of it.

That’s why, after only two laps around the outskirts of the island, I feel pulled back to the castle. As if my heart is incomplete, a dire need to be close to Sierra takes over.

I’ve never felt something so strong. Not even before, when Sierra and I lived together in the apartment in Charlottesville. Perhaps it’s stronger now because I’m fueled by her rejection and need to find some way to flip things around so she’d want me again.

“If that’s even possible,” I scoff to myself as I make my way up with the lift. As soon as the doors slide open and I step into the hallway, my brothers’ taunts come back to mind.

If this is a clean slate, then I’ve got it all wrong. I should sweep her off her feet without relying on the past we shared. It’s a distorted past, anyway. I need to do much more than just exist.

I need to have her fall in love with me all over again.

I head down the hallway of my quarters, passing my bedroom and going toward the one where Sierra is being held. The door left ajar indicates that Kairo has already taken it upon herself to befriend my mate.

Nice. This will pave the way for me to swoop in and sweep her off her feet. Not right now, but soon.

For now, I quietly hang outside the door, eavesdropping on their conversation. I can probably gather some tips about how to impress Sierra again.

“I don’t really hate the idea of being here…” Sierra tells Kairo. “But I can’t be locked up like I’m a prisoner.”

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