Page 8 of The Eternal Choice
Ernestino enters a building, and I slip through the door right before it closes. I’m pissed off and therefore keep myself hidden from view. The asshole pours himself a scotch, pours another one and then places it on the table near me. He can’t see me, I’m pretty sure about that little fact.
I guess it’s the bond we have in place where he can sense or smell me. Fuck. That sucks and totally ruins my escape plan. I clearly didn’t think this through because true mates are able to find one another any time, any place.
He’s definitely fucked-up in the head if he thinks I’ll touch alcohol with a baby inside me. Maybe he’s dealing with a lot to have a brain fart and forget about me being pregnant and all. He surely didn’t mention it to his brother. Come to think of it, Leandro hasn’t mentioned it either. Do they even know?
He releases a deep sigh. “I was going to explain it all to you. Shit spiraled out of control when you got here, and I had to deal with everything. Days passed and it became harder to see you and talk things through. I should have made the time. Maybe I let work and the war consume me to stall facing you. Dammit, don’t drink that.” He leans forward to grab the other glass and downs it in one go. “Maybe I blame myself and can’t face you because of it.”
There’s an undertone of torment in his voice. He sags into the chair and tips his head back.
The silence is killing me, and the anger gets the better of me when I step forward and reveal myself as I snap, “A piece on the side? Really? No wonder you locked me away with all the unmated women in that building. You’re ashamed of me, aren’t you? Don’t even try to deny it because I know dragon history. Hell, I know everything about all supernatural beings, andthere might not be a lot of information about dragons, yet it’s abundantly clear you’re a bunch of egocentric grumpy bastards.”
His eyes collide with mine and hold. A million things run through my mind. The footnotes of dragon history, reminding me of their stubbornness, the way they stick with their own, the solidarity.
Anger is replaced by sadness, and I realize I’d rather be home, locked up in my own room, than continue the loneliness I’ve felt these past two weeks. He’s clan leader, carrying a burden I can’t begin to understand; to feel the weight of the clan members’ lives with each decision he makes. He might be lonelier than me.
“Never mind. Clearly you have a lot to deal with and our mating is getting in the way of clan matters. We’re both strong and capable enough to exist apart from one another. At least, that’s what the last two weeks have taught us. I will return to my family and you can–” I swallow hard and keep my emotions in check to add, “Marry whomever has your clan by the balls.”
Ernestino jumps up and places his hands on his desk to lean in and growls, “No one has me or my clan by the balls. Marrying the bitch daughter of the clan leader of Marshgloom would have been the solution to gain a truce, save two of our clan members, and set the foster program back in place. I refused because you entered my life mere hours before while in the meantime Nario agreed to their offer behind my fucking back. My refusal caused for them to lash out and kill the two they were holding hostage. We’ve been back to fighting bloody battles again for these past two weeks.”
The Marshgloom clan. I’ve read about them mostly due to the backstabbing Mattia family. There’s been a rumor about their daughter and her power-hungry bloodthirst.
“You dodged a bullet by not marrying Naryssa Mattia.” I plunk down in one of the chairs and place my boots on his desk. “Or maybe you should. I’ve heard she excels in killing husbands. You would be number three.”
The door bursts open and a woman wearing a long dress strides into the room.
She doesn’t even seem to notice me when she gets right into Ernestino’s face. “Why the hell did you throw Nario at Ivano? You know those two don’t get along as it is, and now you made our brother take orders from Ivano? Shit, Tino. I don’t know if I should make dinner tonight because my mate might not make it home. He’ll either be dead or locked up.”
Clearly, I’m not the only one who thinks Nario is a dick. I can’t help but snort.
The woman spins around and frowns at me. “Who are you?”
Anger rises and yet it quickly fizzles down to disappointment and annoyance. Another example how much…never mind. I hate repeating myself and dwelling on shit that’s clearly not the way I thought they were.
“No one apparently. I’ll be going, bye now.” I jump to my feet and don’t make it to the door because a heavy body is blocking my view.
A scowl is on his face. “You’re not going anywhere. Cleo, I’d like for you to meet my mate, Lilliana. Lilliana, this here is my little sister, Cleo.”
Ernestino is forced to take a step back when Cleo worms herself between us. “You’re his mate? Wow. I thought your announcement this morning was a fluke when you didn’t want to set a date for the official claiming ceremony.”
I keep my eyes on his sister when I voice my conclusions to her statement. “He’s ashamed of me. His mate doesn’t have dragon blood and knocking me up means his kid won’t be a full-blooded dragon. No reason to scream that little fact off the rooftops, eh? Like I said…I’ll be going now.”
“He did what?” Cleo snaps and turns to face her brother. “You’re an asshole.” She grabs my wrist and gives a tiny squeeze. “Lilliana is going to be staying with me. Don’t come knocking because my mate isn’t happy with you, I’m not happy with you, and for fucking sure your mate thinks you’re a dickless idiot.”
She opens the door and while she drags me along with her, I hear Ernestino growl, “I’m clearly not dickless since I put my kid in her belly.”
Cleo and I both flip him off and let the door fall shut behind us. I have to wonder why Ernestino lets his family talk to him like siblings do while he’s the clan leader. I mean, my brother and I also go head-to-head but never around others or disrespect one another in public.
Although Cleo was alone with him in his office and it was only Nario who pulled sketchy shit.
“I’m sorry. If I would have known where you are I would have invited you to stay with me much sooner,” Cleo states as she points to her right. “If we follow this path we will walk straight up to the cottage where my mate and I live.”
“You have a mate,” I state, hoping she gives me more details.
A smile tugs her lips. “Yes. Ivano’s mother was one of the dragons involved in the fostering project. She mated with one of our clan and I was born after Ivano. We grew up as kids and always knew we were meant to spend an eternity together. Ivano used to train with my brothers and is now the head of security.He still takes on guard duty and anything else that needs to be done.”
“I guess he now has Nario to order around and do shit he doesn’t like to do.” I shoot her a grin.
She chuckles. “No one is going to enjoy it and I’m pretty sure shit will escalate soon, if not today.”
