Page 17 of Bound to the Dragon
Stripping off the t-shirt and leggings, I dig out a modest V-neck green sweater and a pair of jeans from the armoire. Lillian had organized everything perfectly; pants, shirts, sweaters,dresses, all aligned and color coordinated for me. The rest of my belongings had arrived from home yesterday, and the assistant managed to find a place for everything.
Still, it doesn’t feel like my house, my room. I’ll be expected to share a bed with the Alpha starting tonight, but, gauging by the way Lillian placed everything, my belongings are staying exactly where they are permanently.
I turn to look out the balcony window and draw in a deep, shaky breath before dressing. A car door slams in the distance, and it gives me a sense of finality. They’re all going now, leaving me alone in my personal, gold-lined prison.
“Oh!” a male voice calls from behind me.
I spin, hair fanning around my bare shoulders. Still in my underwear, I catch the back of Blaze’s head as he ducks away from the bedroom door.
Furiously, I grab for my sweater and throw it over my head. “Don’t you believe in knocking?”
“I did knock!” he protests. “But the door was open, anyway. Do you always parade around naked? There are others in this house, too, you know?”
Wriggling into my jeans, I stomp out to confront him. “I wouldn’t expect people to come creeping in on me while I’m in my room.”
He bares his teeth. “I’m your mate. This is my house. I can come and go anywhere I please.”
A flicker of unease prickles down my spine, and it must reflect in my eyes, because his face softens, and he looks away. “But like I said, I knocked.” He sucks in a breath before continuing. “We need to talk about what happened today. Sit down.”
Swallowing, I fold my arms over my chest. “I’m fine standing.”
He glowers at me and sits on the settee. “I can see that everything is going to be an argument with you. Even the most basic things. Will it kill you to sit down?”
I ponder his request, and a wave of contrition washes over me. He’s right. I’m just being purposefully petulant now. Tentatively, I sit on the edge of one of the wing chairs.
“That’s better, isn’t it? Any reason we can’t see eye-to-eye on some things at least?”
He’s doing his best to make peace. Besides, I’m already exhausted from all of the fighting, with Blaze, my pack, and myself. It feels nice to not be on edge, even for just a minute.
“Your mother and friend have left in the same car. The driver will inform me when they’ve returned home. I’ll let you know right away.”
I blink at the unexpected kindness of his gesture. It’s not much, but it tells me he knows I’m worried about their safety, even if he doesn’t fully trust us.
“Thank you. My mother can be a little unpredictable.”
“I know. Your father used to say the same thing.” His answer surprises me.
My body stiffens at the mention of my father. “You knew him well?”
His astute hazel eyes linger on my face a little too long for my liking, as if he’s trying to read me. I shift my gaze away. “Well, he was the Beta of your pack before he passed.”
I arch an eyebrow. “Does that automatically make you best friends?”
I cringe at my thoughtless response. I hadn’t meant to sound so rude, but knowing what I do about my father and Granger, I’m suddenly annoyed to think of my mate and father having anything in common.
My response irks him. “Are you always sarcastic, or is it some kind of defense mechanism?”
“Are you always uptight, or do you loosen up once in a while?”
To my surprise, the question brings a smirk to his lips. “Attempted mass murder doesn’t put me in a lighthearted mood.”
Shamed, I hang my head. “I haven’t forgotten what happened today.”
“No? It seems like you’re taking it in stride. And it seems like you know more about it than you’re saying.”
It takes everything in me not to gasp. How could he possibly know that?
“How could I know anything? What are you accusing me of? I told you my pack got attacked, too! Why are you saying that?”
