Page 21 of Dancing with My Elf
“It’s not that hard considering we live under the same roof,” Diego replied in a wry tone, keeping his hand on the controller and his eyes on the TV.
I pointed at him and then Sebastian. “I have a bone to pick with you both.”
“About?” Sebastian briefly glanced at me with arched brows before returning his attention to the screen.
“You’ve been throwing pheromones or some shit like that around the apartment.” I gestured with a circular motion around the living room.
Diego paused the game and put down his controller. “What the hell does that mean?”
I plopped down beside Sebastian on the sofa. “It means whatever weird mojo you’re sending out to your mates or life partner of the undead or whatever you want to call it is messing me up.”
“Ha.” Diego replied with a doubtful sound. “The only mojo I know of is Mr. Mojo Risin’. Wait, and Austin Powers.”
“Messing you up how?” Sebastian fixed a serious gaze on me.
I adjusted my position to face them more. “It means that I’ve been having weird feelings about Zoe. I don’t like them and more so, I don’t want them.”
“What kind of feelings?” Sebastian brought his fingertips together.
I pressed my lips closed before I admitted the issue. “My dragon thinks she’s my mate, and now I can’t stop thinking about it.”
My dragon purred.
“I never thought I’d see the day,” Sebastian declared with awe.
“You’re not seeing any such day,” I protested. “It can’t be right because we all know my situation with my parent’s miserable relationship. Mates aren’t in my cards.”
Relationships were difficult and across species, even more so. My father was a dragon shifter and my mother a human. Their relationship burned out faster than blowing out a candle. My parents weren’t true mates, and after my mother tired of my father cheating on her, she kicked him out. He left and never returned, showing how much me being his son meant to him. A mate bond didn’t exist with them, and since I was only half shifter, it was even less likely to happen for me. It wasn’t in my blood.
“The only reasonable explanation I’ve come up with is that my dragon is confused by all your weird mating rituals,” I told them. “Your pheromones are flying zippity-zappety around this house like testosterone-fueled laser beams.”
Diego cringed. “Eww. That visual of crossing streams is one I want immediately scrubbed from my skull.” He shuddered. “You call that a reasonable explanation?”
“Indeed,” I replied.
“I don’t buy that for one second,” Diego replied. “Do you, Seb?”
“Afraid not.” Sebastian rubbed his beard as he appeared to be contemplating something. “Hey man, I know it sucks and is confusing, but listen to your dragon. Don’t fight it. It’s a good thing.”
I crossed my arms. “Oh really? You almost went feral when you met Gianna and started a brawl with a stranger for no good reason.” I turned to Diego. “And you almost attacked Nova to drink her blood when you first met her.”
“Exaggeration,” Diego protested and glanced away.
“And Sebastian, you couldn’t even enjoy yourself at the club the other night. You were all jealous and possessive and ready to rage.”
“You would be, too, if you had to fight a demon who’d kidnapped your girlfriend,” he retorted. “Once we’re sure the demons are gone, then I can relax. Until then…”
I exhaled. “What I’m saying is I don’t see how this confusing turmoil in my head is good—unless I wanted to chain myself in monotony. Which I don’t.” I snapped my fingers. “So happen, it won’t.”
Diego groaned. “Great sonnet, Shakespeare.”
“Lucas, Lucas, Lucas.” Sebastian slapped my leg. “I’ve been where you are. I’ve done what you’ve done. I’ve faced what you’ve faced. Refusing to believe what my wolf recognized immediately was a mistake. Because once I had accepted the fact that Gianna and I were mates, I discovered a new kind of happiness. A purpose.” He gestured at me. “You should be open to it. It’s a gift.”
“More like a curse.” I crossed my fingers. After I lowered my hand, I added, “Like I said, it isn’t real, and I don’t want it.”
They exchanged a glance.
“Don’t give each other that look.”
