Total pages in book: 44
Estimated words: 41518 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 208(@200wpm)___ 166(@250wpm)___ 138(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 41518 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 208(@200wpm)___ 166(@250wpm)___ 138(@300wpm)
“You think?”
“There are consequences for your actions, Ciel. Be careful. Let’s go sit in the parlor.”
He could hear her repeating the word parlor in a mutter under her breath. His mate delighted him.
“Now that we’re in the parlor, tell me what’s going on.”
“This is the second time, I’ll warn you to not speak to me in that tone,” Argenis warned, sending her a steely look that made her flop into a chair.
“Let me see if I can wrap history up in three sentences. Dragons rule. Your ancestors promised their daughters to the dragons who protect Wyvern. You are my mate.”
“So, I’m your first mate?” she asked.
“No.”
“I don’t want to be part of a harem.”
“A dragon only loves one woman at a time. His longevity helps lengthen his mate’s life, but humans are fragile. When one mate dies, the dragon grieves their loss.”
“But another mate is coming,” Ciel insisted. “When I die, you’ll just move on to the next.”
“That is not correct. Do you think of Maureen’s mother?”
“My grandmother? Of course. She was the sweetest. I loved to sit on her lap.”
“Will you forget her with time?” Argenis probed.
“No. Are you saying you remember all your mates?”
“And treasure their memories,” Argenis confirmed. “It is the curse of living a long time. You are forced to say goodbye to those you cherish.”
“Tell me about your last mate.”
“Everly was fifty when I found her. Her parents had moved away to another country when she was young. On a lark, she returned to visit where they had lived. When she drove through the mountain pass to enter Wyvern, I spotted her.”
“How long were you together?” Ciel asked, leaning forward as if he’d captured her attention.
“At our first meeting, I knew she was ill. Dragons bring health to their mates. It is rare that any suffer from human diseases. Unfortunately, there was nothing that could be done. She would have lasted months if we had not met. As it was, we had five years together.” Argenis reached up to wipe away the tear that streamed down his cheek.
Ciel stood and walked to his side. Her expression of exasperation disappeared and turned to concern. Argenis scooped her into his arms and sat her on his lap to hug his precious mate. Dragons learned quickly to focus on the now. The past held pleasant memories. The future? Unknown.
“That’s really sad. Do you ever think having a mate isn’t worth the habitual heartache?”
“No. Losing one makes me treasure the next even more.”
He hugged her tight before sitting back slightly. “It also makes me establish rules to keep you happy and healthy.”
“Rules? Like what? No running inside,” she scoffed.
“If you wish to run, I will be glad to chase you outside,” he suggested. “Dragons have a high predator instinct.”
She stared at him with wide eyes for several seconds before whispering, “I just remembered I don’t like to run.”
“Smart,” he said, knowing his smile was a bit dragonish. “You will follow my directions immediately, without question.”
“That’s harsh, don’t you think?”
“No. You will allow me to care for you. A well-kept secret is that all mates identify as Little.”
“Submissive?” she asked.
“Yes, but more specific. Little is spankier.”
“Spankier?”
“A very good consequence for a mate.”
“You’re going to spank me if I don’t follow your directions?” she looked at him as if he were crazy. Ciel wasn’t able to control her expression completely. He could see the spark of sexual heat in her eyes and feel her body temperature rise.
“Yes.”
“I don’t think my ancestors agreed to that,” she tried to dismiss the idea.
“Oh, they did. I’ll be glad to show you in the contract.”
That earned him a second look of disbelief.
“You rested and ate before we left your mother’s house. Let me show you around our home.”
Originally built to take advantage of the mountain breezes and natural light, Argenis’s home was comfortable without the support of electricity. He led her through the main rooms and encouraged her to explore. Along the way, he introduced her to his staff. Everyone welcomed her warmly.
“Where does everyone live?”
“Some have relocated into the houses on my grounds. Others live in town. The groundskeeper collects everyone who doesn’t wish to walk here, in a cart in the morning, and delivers them at home at the end of the day.”
“People just moved here?”
“Yes. There were a few who lived outside the mountains ringing Wyvern. It is not safe there. I allowed their family to come here and found jobs for all,” Argenis assured her as he walked past a heavily fortified metal door with old-fashioned locks along one side.
“What’s in there?”
“My treasury. Dragons are collectors of all things precious. My wealth resides there.”
“What if someone robs you?”
Argenis laughed and patted himself on the chest. “Dragon, remember?”
“That doesn’t mean you’re indestructible.”
“Close. Let’s worry about my demise on a different day. Here is our room,” he said, waving her into the extensive suite.