Page 29 of Kidnapped Forced Mate

Was the Council so wrong in choosing my human mate for me?

I always knew that I wasn’t destined for the kind of life my older brothers have with their mates. I just never expected it to be this detrimental to my core being. If Olivia Jackson is bad for me, I’ll have to end things with her and take her back to the mortal world.

It’s that inner knowing that has me entering the simulator. Perhaps, with the threat of a simulated attack, my dragon will be forced to come out from hiding. I’m not yet prepared to let Olivia go – not when it’s proving to be more fun to have her around. A quest I’d finally conquered. It can’t possibly be why my dragon refuses to come forward.

Lugging in deep breaths of frustration, I set the simulator, picking the most difficult level of uncalculated attacks. While I stand between the four metal walls, I curl my fists and prepare myself for what comes next.

When the imaginary black and white simulated dragon appears in front of me, my inner dragon’s senses should already be heightened. I gulp hard when I feel nothing; the dragonspirit is too quiet inside me.

I have to rely solely on my human senses to dodge the dragon’s oncoming attack, quickly lunging across the floor when it blows out hot flames. Though it’s fake, the attacks feel very real. And when I don’t anticipate its next move, I’m knocked square in the nose by the dragon’s curled claw. It unfurls its claw, its sharp nails slicing the skin on my cheek.

“Ow!” I yell, stumbling backward and holding my nose where warm blood oozes into my hand. “Shit…” I look down at my palm, inspecting the blood and inwardly hoping my dragon comes to its senses now that it sees I’m in danger. “Where are you, dragon?”

There’s no time to beg my inner dragon to come forward when the counterfeit dragon flaps its wings and rises in the air, aiming its muzzle at me. At this point, I surrender, accepting my fate of being hideously burned if my dragon decides to play cowardly. Hopefully, the surrender will spring it into action.

I close my eyes, ready to take the fake dragon’s punch, when the siren in the simulator rings out. When I open my eyes again, the lights around the machine are bright, and the simulated dragon is gone.

“What are you doing, Stryder?” Stryker asks from outside the glass wall. He slams a palm on the button outside, which opens the door. With a worried frown contorting his face, he steps onto the metal floor, eyes widening with horror when he notices I’m bleeding. “You look like shit!”

“Probably,” I chuckle nervously, sniffing and feeling droplets of blood falling on the back of my throat.

“What’s gotten into you, Brother?” he asks worriedly, stepping closer. I dodge his outstretched arm, not wanting him to see how bad the damage is.

It’s quite horrible, the stinging pain buzzing through my temples and eardrums.

I’ll probably have to visit Doctor Amell after all.

“Nothing,” I shrug, sniffing again. “I was just…” I can’t tell him my inner dragon is nowhere to be found. It’s too shameful, even if he senses that something is wrong.

“Attempting to fight the simulator in human form?” he chuckles. “That’s quite impressive.”

“It is?” I ask with a confused frown, grunting when my furrowed brows pull the skin on my cheek too taut.

“Yeah. I think your human mate is really doing a number on you,” he teases with amusement flashing in his eyes. “Got you braving the simulator in human form.”

“Well…” I gesture to my face. “... It’s not as easy as I thought it would be.”

“You’re still alive. That counts for something,” he quips with a grin. “What are you doing? Planning on protecting her in the mortal world in your human form?”

I start to shake my head, then stop myself, lamenting over what he just said. Is that what this is? Is my dragon remaining in the shadows to force me into cooperation? To force me to protect Olivia without its help?

That would explain the disconnect. After all, it was the dragon who saved her and refused to leave her, wanting desperately to protect her at all costs. It knows that she’s my mate, and wouldn’t allow harm to come to her.

On the other hand, my human, governed by bodily desires, can’t let go of my need for freedom.

But this is a theory I have to test.

“Excuse me, Stryker,” I say as I pass him and head out of the simulator. “There’s something I need to do.”

“I was wondering if you’d join me for a drink or two later,” Stryker calls from behind me.

“Sorry, Stryker, not today,” I toss over my shoulder.

“Not even in the mortal world?”

When I turn, I find my brother smiling coyly at me. “No. Not even in the mortal world,” I decline politely.

As I turn to leave, I notice how Stryker's chest swells with pride. The feeling is one he shares with me, through the special connection we have as twins. The feeling eases the disappointment of not being able to shift into dragon form. It also comes as reassurance, when I'd been convinced that my twin brother was disappointed in me.

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