Page 2 of The Dragon's Emberlinked Mate
“The clan has been doing well,” Malric continued. “Prosperous. A lot of the changes that Ollie has come up with have been instituted.”
“Indeed,” I said.
“I’d say we’re the strongest we’ve ever been.”
“Agreed.” I had no idea what he was getting at, but I knew he’d tell me in due time.
“I owe that to Ollie.”
I had a feeling that Malric was doing more than bragging about his mate. He wasn’t the type to rub it in that he had found his mate—his second mate, technically.
“What are you getting at, Malric?” There was a but in the wings. I could feel it.
“I don’t like to see you alone.” And there it was.
“I haven’t found my mate.”
“You haven’t looked.”
I rolled my eyes. “Like you were looking when Ollie stumbled into your life?”
“That’s different.”
“Cut to the chase, Malric. I don’t have time for silly games.” Every twenty-five years or so he reminded me how single I was, as if I didn’t already know. But I wasn’t going to randomly settledown with someone, and fate hadn’t had my mate cross my path yet. It was what it was.
“The academy’s doing well. You know I consider the academies as sub-clans, a tight-knit group within our own larger clan. And you, as Commander, are in a very similar position as I am, as Lord.”
Yes, we’d had this conversation before, back when I was selected as Commander for the academy. Our friend Shane was Commander for his own academy. As such, we were also advisors to Malric.
“Having a mate would strengthen the academy. Strengthen your leadership.”
I bristled. “I do know that. But like I said, I have not found my mate. So unless you think I should just find a random person and mate with them—”
And he better not.
“Would that be so terrible? You wouldn’t be the only dragon to settle down with someone who wasn’t necessarily their fated. That doesn’t make their love any less.”
On that he was wrong. Fated mates existed for a reason. Why would I accept less?
“Is this one of those misery-loves-company type deals? You are mated. Your son is mated. Now I must be too?”
Malric sighed. “Both Ollie and I have noticed you’ve been lonely.”
“I am,” I said. “I won’t deny that I would love to find my mate. But in five hundred years, it hasn’t happened.” Patience was not my strong suit, but in this case, I didn’t have a choice. I couldn’t force it. I deserved better and so did my future mate.
“Emmen, that doesn’t mean you couldn’t find yourself someone.”
I sighed. “Confession time. I have thought about it,” I said. “I’ve even begun dating a bit. Nothing serious, but trust me, I do know that the academy is getting large enough that a partner would help me to manage things and maintain strong relationships with my staff and the students.” And if I could take back all of those fumbled attempts at dating, I would. They wasted both of our time and only highlighted how alone I was.
Malric’s eyes widened. “Do you need—Ollie has some friends that—”
I held up a hand. “I do not need help getting dates.” Nor did I want any.
Thankfully, we dropped the conversation once Malric knew that I was taking this suggestion seriously. And I was. As much as I wanted to find my fated, I wasn’t going to do that without at least some effort.
I would have to be more strategic in my dating. Did I hope it would lead to my fated? Absolutely. But if it didn’t, at least maybe I could find someone to form a partnership with. Someone I could spend my time with. Someone to chase the loneliness away.
As long as we both knew going in that was all it was, it would be fine. Right?
