Page 30 of Bound to the Dragon

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His eyelids part, and he stares at me. “You sound surprised. We’re mates.”

“I just assumed we would always have separate suites, even when…” I gesture vaguely at the rumpled bed.

His intense eyes shadow. “That’s not how this works. We share a suite.”

“Then why did Lillian put all my stuff away?” I’m not asking to be defiant, but out of genuine curiosity.

Unfortunately, Blaze doesn’t see it that way and sits up. “Does everything have to be a fight with you?”

“I wasn’t?—”

“Fine. Keep your own suite. I don’t even know why I bothered trying with you.” He’s out of bed, stalking toward his armoire for clothes. “You can go now. You’ve done your mate duties.”

Insulted, I gawk at him. “Mymate duties?”

Ignoring me, he makes his way to the bathroom and slams the door, the sound reverberating across the suite.

What the hell is wrong with this guy? He takes offense to everything I say, constantly misinterpreting my questions for arguments. He’s just determined to see everything on his own terms, in his own way. Bond or not, he’s not the one for me. I have to learn to deal with his moods and misunderstandings, even if it stings.

This isn’t the way I wanted it to go, our first time together. In my mind’s eye, I envisioned us lying together, still connected, our hearts syncing like they were meant to.

Good. I’m glad I still have my own suite. It’s better that way for all of us.

But it doesn’t feel good, collecting my clothes and doing the walk of shame back out of my mate’s suite, especially when I encounter a couple of staff members on the way who give me proud, knowing looks. Like I’ve accomplished something wonderful. Imagine bringing a child into this loveless union.

I feel awful. What had started as the most beautiful moment in my life was ruined, all because my mate is a pig-headed jerk. Now I don’t feel so bad about keeping such a giant secret from him.

CHAPTER 10

BLAZE

Over the next week, invitations for the second ceremony are sent out discreetly, with a much smaller guest list. It was Madison who suggested we keep the new reception smaller, against my advice.

“That’s not how we do things—” I started to say, but she cut me off, the stress of the ceremony clearly getting to her.

“I don’t care how things are done traditionally!” she fumed. “The last time you did things ‘the right way,’ you put both packs in danger. Since this is your idea, the least you can do is make some proper adjustments to ensure everyone’s safety this time, or no one is going to come, and this will have all been for nothing.”

Every word she spoke was the truth, and in the end, I relented and let her do what she wanted.

But I’m not happy about it. I’m not happy with how any of it is going. Since sealing our bond, our connection is only getting more intense; the need to be with Madison is overtaking me in the worst ways. Some nights, I wake up with crippling yearning in my entire body that winds me. It takes everything not to burst down Madison’s suite doors and claim her again and again. It’s like she’s calling out to me, her voice in my ear, begging me tocome. But I resist it, even if it’s physically painful. We’re not good together. We only need to mate a few times and produce an heir, not be real lovers, no matter how much my body craves her.

I have no idea how she’s managing to be so stoic and cold when being near her is driving me to the edge.

Lillian visits me daily to give me progress reports on my mate, but they aren’t necessary because I have a pretty good idea how Madison is feeling despite her cool exterior. We’re both miserable.

The assistant knocks on my office door, distracting me from this morning’s agony, and I absently wave her inside.

“What is it?”

“All the invitations to the new ceremony have been sent out. Everything is in order for next month.”

“Half the guests this time?” I grimace as she nods. “Have Vigo come in here when he arrives. I need to discuss security with him.”

“Of course, Alpha.”

As she retreats, I catch a flash of Madison’s dark hair sweeping around the corner. Before I can stop myself, I find myself chasing after her. The cloud of gloom hanging over the estate has overtaken us long enough. How are we going to have a decent ceremony if we’re both mad at each other? One of us has to be the bigger person here.

“Maddi!”