Page 52 of Kidnapped Plus-Size Mate

Stryder already gave me enough advice to know better than to question something as deep as falling in love. According to my twin, I should just let it happen organically while giving her time and space to come to terms with what all of this means for her.

I’m literally pulling out the rug from under her, and shifting the trajectory of her life as she knew it.

I’d been giving her space when I stayed away.

What happened last night was out of my control. I was only checking up on her, and I would have left if I didn’t think she was struggling. What happened next wasn’t a part of my plan. It was something that did happen naturally.

Camilla clears her throat and changes the subject when she asks, “About the painting… What else were you gonna tell me about it?”

The dense air seems to lighten, and the awkward tension is lifted by the change, of course.

I turn back to her and smirk mischievously, seeing an opportunity to speak to her the way we once did comfortably in the mortal world.

“Have you figured out that the setting of the painting exists?” I ask.

Camilla nods hesitantly. “It’s this island, isn’t it?”

“Yes,” I chuckle. “It was a painting of the Aurora Island that was completed almost a thousand years ago. It was my sister who painted it while she attended dragon school when we were growing up.”

“Dragon school?” Camilla perks up.

I nod. “We had to learn how to be amongst humans so we could fit in when we needed to visit the mortal world. They taught us table manners and how to appear more human by constantly blinking.”

“Wait… that’s not something you do naturally?” Camilla chuckles, to which I shake my head.

“Wow…” she continues. “It seems I have a lot to learn about dragons.”

Another moment of silence stretches, but this time, it isn’t as daunting or awkward as before.

When Camilla’s lighthearted giggle subsides, I ask, “Can I ask you one question, though?”

“That’s a question on its own,” she giggles again. “But yes, go ahead.”

“Do you still wanna go home?”

Camilla shrugs diffidently. “I would be lying if I said I’m not intrigued by everything I get to learn on the island. About dragon shifters…” Camilla breaks off with a smile, and mentally, I’m doing cartwheels to celebrate my victory.

“But there’s only one problem,” she continues glumly. “I can’t leave my grandmother to fend for herself.”

My internal celebratory dance is cut short. I didn’t stop to consider that one important detail. It doesn’t mean that there’s no way to compromise. Draco can live a fulfilling life with his mate, the Lady Dragon Lily; she’s the only human on the island who has both parents and a sister in the mortal world.

Then there’s Felix’s father-in-law…

If Camilla does accept our fate, all hope isn’t lost.

I open my mouth, about to put her worries to rest by telling her about another mortal human who lives on the island—Felix’s mate, Sierra, who moved her father to the island a few months ago. But we’re interrupted by a knock on the door when Doctor Amell comes in.

“Good evening, Stryker,” the doctor greets, glancing at Camilla with a warm smile. “How are you feeling?”

I look down at myself and realize that I probably could have left the hospital a long time ago. Usually, none of us have an overnight stay in here, thanks to our quick healing abilities.

I’d just been enjoying speaking to Camilla with no inhibitions, thankful that she was giving me a chance this time.

“Apart from the dull ache in my ribs, I think I’ll survive,” I joke.

Smiling to myself, I let my mind run freely while Doctor Amell checks my vitals.

There’s hope for a better future. There’s also hope that I won’t live out the rest of my life alone. For almost a millennia, I’ve been all by myself, save for the company of my family and friends amongst the dragon clans. Before the human mating process, we didn’t have hope of expanding and seeing children run freely on the fields. Now, with human mates, not only do we get to produce dragonspirit children and expand the clan, but we also have a shot at real happiness with our counterparts.

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