Page 37 of The Virgin's Chosen Dragon

Theo shook his hand. “My cabin is empty. You and your wife are welcome to stay there,” he said. “I look forward to spending some time with you as well. I’ve been learning to spear fish; if you’d like to join me later.”

“Sounds exciting, just let me get my wife settled,” Thomas said, then looked over at Eden. “Sweetheart, would you mind helping your mother? It might reassure her a little.”

Eden looked over at her mother, then up at him. “I guess I should,” she said. “I’ll just get her settled and meet you back here.”

***Eden***

Eden closed the bedroom door and tiptoed across the living room, slipped out onto the porch, and collapsed into the chair next to her father. They sat in silence for a fewminutes. “I could have handled that better,” she finally said. “But once I got started, it all just came pouring out.”

“She’ll be okay, it’s about time you let her have it,” her father said, shaking his head. “I’m just sorry I didn’t step in sooner. Your mother……well……as terrible as she must seem to you, she really does love you and thinks she’s doing what’s right. I’ve known that you were unhappy for a long time, though. I should have done more to help you.”

She looked over at him. “It’s okay, Dad, it all worked out in the end,” she said. “Mom will get used to the idea eventually; she doesn’t really have any choice. Thanks for being there for me today. You are really going to like Theo, he’s a good man.”

“I wouldn’t expect my little girl to choose anything but a good man,” he said. “If you love him, I’ll love him too.”

Tears came to her eyes. “I didn’t know it was possible to love someone the way I love Theo, Dad,” she said. “I can’t imagine my life without him, and he just wants me to be happy.”

“Then it sounds like you’ve chosen well,” he said. “I’m sure your mother will sleep for most of the afternoon. Why don’t you go find him and let him know that everything is fine, I’m sure he’s worrying.”

Eden stood up and gave him a kiss on the cheek. “Thanks, Dad,” she said. “I love you.”

“I love you too, sweetheart,” he said. “Now go before your mother hears us and wakes up.”

Her feet flew on her way to the village. She’d stood up to her mother, something she’d never imagined doing, and she wanted to relive the experience with the one person she knew would understand best. She spotted Theo right away; he was sitting with an older couple, and she remembered that his parents were on the boat with hers. The heat of shame burnedher cheeks, and she paused, not sure she was ready to meet them, not after what they’d witnessed just a few hours before.

She watched them for a second, then took a couple of steps toward the table, hoping that they’d see her standing there, then realized that even though their voices weren’t raised, Theo’s parents weren’t happy. Suddenly unsure of herself, she backed into a shadow and stood there, unable to stop herself from listening to their conversation.

“Theo, this is ridiculous. You can’t honestly think that you’re in love with this girl,” his mother scoffed. “Love is nothing but a construct that poor people have made to make their lives a little easier; in reality, it does nothing but make their lives worse.”

Theo sighed, “I didn’t expect you to understand,” he said. “And this isn’t really up for discussion, Mother. I love Eden, and we’re going to spend the rest of our lives together.”

His mother stared at him for a long time, then shook her head. “I will not allow this to happen. You will not marry that girl. You will do what’s expected of you and marry to strengthen the family name. just like your brothers. You can keep her as your mistress if it pleases you; society won’t care, but that little…is not going to get our family name.”

“Maybe I’ll take her name,” Theo said, shrugging his shoulders. “Then you wouldn’t have to worry about what your so-called friends would say.”

“Theo, this is not funny,” his mother hissed. “Just because some young slut spread her legs for you, that’s no reason to go off and get married.”

She gasped and put her hand over her mouth, tears springing from her eyes, but Theo got to his feet. “I warned you, Mother,” he said. “This conversation is now over, and we won’t be having it again. I love Eden, and someday I’m going to marry her, and we’re going to have a house full ofkids. You can choose to be part of it or not. The truth is, it doesn’t really matter to me.”

He turned to walk away and she realized that she was trapped, that he couldn’t walk by her without seeing her, and tried to shrink further into the shadows. Only a second later, Theo saw her and a look of disappointment spread across his face, but he walked over to her, took her hand, and led her away from his parents. They walked through the village in silence, the weight of what she’d just heard heavy on both of them.

“I’m sorry, Theo, I didn’t mean to eavesdrop,” she finally said. “I was going to join you, but then I heard your mother talking and I chickened out. I should have just left or something.”

He stopped on the trail and pulled her into his arms. “Oh, sweetheart, I’m not mad at you,” he said, holding her close. “I’m angry and disgusted by my parents and disappointed with myself for thinking that they would react any differently than they did. I’m sorry you had to hear all of that, but as you heard, my parents aren’t very nice people. Honestly, I think we’re better off without them.”

“She’s not going to give up, and neither is my mom,” she said, resting her cheek on his chest so she could hear his heartbeat. “I knew this was going to be hard, I just didn’t know how hard.”

“But that doesn’t mean we’re giving up,” he said, looking down at her. “You’re worth fighting for, Eden.”

“So are you, Theo,” she said. “I guess we’ll just have to fight a little bit harder for what we want.”

CHAPTER 22

***THEO***

Theo woke just as the sun began to chase away the darkness of the night, rolled over on his side, and lay watching Eden sleeping for a long time, the love he felt for her making him warm all over. He wasn’t looking forward to the day, knew that it would be punctuated by another fight with his parents, and the thought made him dread even getting out of bed. Wishing that there was a simple solution to make them all back off and let them be, he brushed the hair back from Eden’s face, then gave her a quick kiss.

The gesture froze him as an idea began to form in his head, and only a few minutes later, not sure if he could pull it off, he slipped silently out of bed, dressed, and headed for Max’s cabin. His friend wasn’t happy to see him at the crack of dawn, but after a cup of coffee and an explanation, he agreed to help.

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