Page 16 of Dimitri

I nodded before reaching for the flour tortilla. I placed one on Caspian’s plate and then reached for the fork that was on the side of the plate with the steak. “Do you like yours with a lot of steak or a little?”

Caspian looked from the steak to his plate, then to me. “You don’t have to do that,” he said and reached out, placing his hand on mine. “I can make my own food.”

“Yes, I’m aware of that. Just as you can also pull out your own chair and sit in it. But you provided the meal for us. I cannot do for you if that is what you wish,” I said. “I am an alpha though, and it is just ingrained in me to provide for and care for my mate.”

Caspian glanced back at the plate again before he looked up at me and smiled. “I’m sorry,” he said. He pinched the bridge of his nose and sighed. “It’s been a very long day, and honestly, I should be asleep. It’s the middle of the night back home, and work ran long.” Caspian’s shoulders slumped. “We’ve been dealing with a difficult client, which hasn’t helped anything, really.” Caspian went quiet for a moment. “I went out to the club with Lorenzo after work, but all I could really think about was taking the weekend off and coming here to see Sebastian and his family.”

I mulled over what he’d just said and realized just how lucky I had been to meet him. Although, with Caspian being on the mountaintop, I had to wonder if my dragon would have somehow sensed him had I not met him at the bakery?

“Do you wish to retire for the evening?”

Caspian sighed once more. “Yes and no.” He looked at me, and suddenly, I could see it. He was tired. But it was more than just being physically tired. He was mentally drained as well.

“I have but one bed. But you are more than welcome to it,” I told him. “I can lie next to you, be a comforting presence, or I can sleep elsewhere. The couch is comfortable, this I know.”

Caspian chuckled. “I know for a fact that I will not be able to sleep if you are not beside me,” he said. “I just…I am wondering if we could eat and possibly take things easy for the rest of the evening? I can feel it now: I’m going to most likely crash after I eat. I had something light earlier, but that was honestly hours ago if you go by your current time.”

I nodded before reaching for the steak once more. I placed several pieces on his tortilla as Caspian watched. “Then I suggest you eat something before we retire for the evening. I have sweats and T-shirts if you need something to sleep in, but I would imagine you only have to do your magic thing, and you will be covered.” Which was a bit of a pity. The thought of seeingmy mate in my clothing was enticing. Of course, me removing that clothing from him was more so, but I needed to remind myself that although Caspian had said he had every intention of claiming each other soon, he was exhausted, and we were going to most likely be waiting for a bit. “Peppers?” I asked.

Caspian nodded. I spooned some peppers and onions on his tortilla before doing the same for myself. I added steak while Caspian finished setting up his fajita. When I had my first made, I glanced over and saw that Caspian still wasn’t eating.

“Not what you want?” I asked.

Caspian chuckled. “It’s fine. I’m the one who picked, remember?”

I did, and when he didn’t start eating, I had to wonder if he picked this simply because he thought I would like it. “Care to talk about it? Is something wrong?” I paused and set my rolled tortilla down. “Is it something more than work?”

Caspian looked directly at me. “Maybe. I’m getting ahead of myself in my own head, I’m sure. But I’m wondering how things are going to play out. I feel bad for my brother because he’s going to be left with the firm all by himself. Father will push Lorenzo even harder now, and that’s not fair to him.”

“Do you wish to stay there? I realize I’ve already asked this, and you said no. But it is no issue for me to leave the council. We can relocate there. Well, I can. You are already there.”

Caspian shook his head. “No. I am ready for a change. And in all honesty, I’m ready to have a set place that I won’t have to leave in a decade or so.” Caspian smiled at me. “We won’t have to do that here because everyone here knows who we are. We can safely be on the mountain without having to worry about someone seeing us.” Caspian sighed. “And the thought of our children growing up so close to their cousins, I’m all for that. There are no other children that ours could play with in Madrid. The coven—” Caspian made a face. “—it’s not bad. It’s not greateither. Mostly, it’s just there if there are any issues with humans. But it’s nothing like organized covens.”

“If you are sure that here is what you wish, then we can live here. Did you want to see if there is housing near your brother?” I asked. “I have connections if you wish to live elsewhere though.” I shrugged when Caspian raised an eyebrow at me. I had a cabin available on the mountaintop if I wanted it. Up until this point though, I’d chosen to live in enforcer housing. It was difficult enough to be who I was. When your dedushka was the created dragon, others tended to really watch themselves around you.

“By Sebastian is fine. But I’m curious as to where else we would live?” Caspian picked up his food and took a bite. It made my dragon happy to see our mate eating, so I hoped we were finally moving in the right direction.

“Because of my dedushka, I have the option to live in a cabin near him.”

“Ah. Yes, I think that although your grandparents are probably amazing people, can we maybe not live that close to them?”

I couldn’t help but chuckle. “Of course. Enforcer housing is perfectly fine with me. Or if you prefer, we can live off of the mountain. I am able to get up here every day for work. So that wouldn’t be an issue either.”

Caspian shook his head. “On the mountain is fine. It’s closest to your work, and in all honesty, I really want to be closer to my brother and his family. I feel like I’m missing so much with still being back in Madrid while Seb is here with Drew and Flora.”

I reached out and placed a hand on his shoulder. “Then here it is. I believe that Master Edison is in charge of housing. Perhaps you would like for me to talk to him?” Caspian’s eyes rounded.

“Oh, that’s a thing, then. You just talk to Master Edison, and you get a house? That’s seriously how it works?”

I found myself chuckling again. “Yes, my mate. That is how it works.” I looked around the house. “This is single enforcer housing. Yes, you can be here with me. We can even spend your fertile period here together. But we will have to move once that is over.”

Caspian glanced around and shook his head. “I would rather we do that elsewhere. In what will be our place? Is that possible?”

I grinned. “Of course. Eat up, and I will make a call. We can go see what is available after our meal. Then it might be best if you were to turn in for the evening. I believe your day is going to catch up with you soon.” I would, of course, watch over him while he caught up on what I was sure was much-needed rest.

“But what about us?”

I shook my head. “Lyubimyy, we will be there tomorrow, and the day after, and the one after. There is no expiration date on us. We have forever, and one more day won’t hurt. Besides, I will watch over you.”

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