Chapter 12 - TJ

I show up to work the most disheveled I have been since we opened Druk Technologies.

Sleep has been escaping me, and I have hardly eaten. Not seeing Taylor isn't just messing with me, but my dragon. He has been moaning and crying since we woke up and she was gone. It is becoming clearer and clearer that Taylor is more than just a girl to me, but something much more important.

"What is up with you?" Liam asks as he looks into my office.

Glancing up, I see him pushing up his glasses.

"Nothing."

"Whatever you say, TJ, but we've got some prep to do. We're in the meeting room when you're ready to join us."

I grunt in understanding and Liam leaves without a second glance at me.

I am heartbroken, but I refuse to admit or acknowledge that realization.

No girl has ever affected me like this, and I will not let it stop me.

It already has , my dragon makes clear.

My dragon may be right, but I ignore him.

I shove my hands into my eyes until I see stars, trying to wipe any thoughts of Taylor Montgomery from my mind.

Once I feel like my mind is completely empty, I stand and walk to the meeting room.

I sit next to Pat as usual and wait for Lex to enter.

While we wait, everyone makes small talk as I play with the pen in my hands and stare at the ceiling.

I notice one light is out.

How can a billion-dollar business let a light die? Don't we have too much money for these types of problems?

That question makes me laugh.

"What's so funny?" Damon asks me.

"Light's out," I point above us.

"Seems like it's not the only thing with a light out," Pat mutters, and I glare at him.

I hate that they have all been treating me like a joke since I told them about Taylor and me. It makes me feel less than, especially since I know they blame me for the court date being set.

"Hey, he's in mourning," Lex starts as he enters the room after Pat's muttering. "His mate isn't with him, and that is something that hurts."

Lex isn't wrong, but we still don't know for sure that Taylor is my mate.

"Maybe he should grovel to his mate and get her to drop the case," Damon deadpans, and I glare at him.

I seem to be doing a lot of glaring today. Plus, I've been blowing up her phone every chance I get. I'm not going to go full stalker mode and show up at her house.

"Guys, stop this at once," Lex demands, and everyone quiets down. "TJ must feel guilty enough as it is, on top of missing his mate. We are brothers, after all, which means we should be here for him. Not making him feel worse."

My dragon smiles inside at Lex's words, ever grateful to him for standing up for us.

"Thanks, Lex," I say before looking at everyone else. "I know I messed up with Taylor, but we all know that we are not guilty. If we go over everything together, we can be sure we are prepared for the court case."

Everyone nods or says their agreements.

"Then let's get to it." Lex hands out packets to each of us. "Here are the questions our lawyer, Mr. Finch, will be asking us at court to prove our innocence. Taylor said they had good evidence, but we know it has to be weak or false. Our usage of the app was legal, and we did nothing wrong."

The questions I have are simple enough as I read them over, but a fear crosses my mind.

"Um, Lex…I don't feel comfortable being asked about my relationship with Taylor."

Lex looks me dead in the eye, "It won't be asked of you. We know how important it is that Taylor is your mate. We will not ruin things for you."

***

We've spent the last two hours going over our notes and questions, quizzing each other and practicing answers.

My dragon is getting restless.

"I'm going to the roof."

I don't leave any room for anyone to join me. I want to be alone. No, I need to be alone.

First, I go to my office and change into my skin so that no one will see me as I fly.

Then, I head to the roof of Druk Technologies.

It is midday and there are no clouds in the sky. It truly is a beautiful day, and I cannot wait to shift.

I look out over the edge of our skyscraper, taking in the view with my human eyes before leaping off the edge.

The air hits my face and my heart races before I shift. It takes less than a handful of seconds before I am in dragon form.

It's about time, my dragon preens at me. You promised to let me out more.

I know I did, buddy, and I am now.

My dragon snorts and I can feel it going through my entire form. I let the dragon take control as we fly all around New York City. We fly above Central Park and the Empire State Building, seeing how busy those landmarks are.

People flock to these places, and it doesn't surprise me anymore.

While I am one to enjoy a crowed, my dragon isn't.

We keep on flying around the city until we reach the outskirts.

It isn't long until we start to sail to the suburbs.

Where are you taking us? I ask my dragon.

You'll see , my dragon says.

We fly until a familiar neighborhood comes into view.

Taylor.

That's where we're going.

I wonder if she's even home. I hope so, so we can get a glimpse of her beauty.

The trees thicken as we come closer to her family's house, but a sight at the top of the house stops us cold.

Flying a few feet above the Montgomery household is a dragon.

Who is that? my dragon asks jealously.

We fly closer.

It isn't any of my brothers.

It's Carnelian.

That realization causes me and my dragon to freeze.

If he sees us, that's it.

We're invisible , my dragon reminds me, and I relax.

We have to return to the office and alert everyone that Taylor is in danger.

We can't leave her here with him watching , my dragon points out.

He is right, but there isn't much I can do with Taylor ignoring my calls. At least he seems to be just watching.

We fly back at top speed to Druk Technologies.

Once back, I shift into my human form and run to Lex's office.

I don't bother to knock and am met with an eyeful.

Nic is in Lex's lap, and they are making out heavily.

"Knocking exists," Nic says as she stands up and straightens her blouse.

"Whatever, this doesn't matter," I start gesturing between the pair. "Carnelian is back."

Lex's eyes widen.

"How do you know?"

"Well, my dragon needed to come out, so we to the roof and I let him free. We flew all around and we ended up by Taylor's house."

Lex gives me a look.

"Yes, I know, creepy, but it's a good thing I did. I wasn't the only dragon at her place. Carnelian was there, flying above her house."

"This isn't good," Lex says.

"I know, we need to protect Taylor."

"We'll send security to her follow her, but in the meantime, at least we know the truth."

My eyebrows furrow. "What truth?"

"Taylor Montgomery is your mate."

Hearing the words said so clear and honest makes my heart skip a beat.

I told you so , my dragon brags.

Yeah, yeah, I say back.

A smile morphs onto my lips.

Taylor is my mate.

It explains all the emotions I have been feeling lately and helps me know that I am not going crazy.

Taylor is meant to be mine and I am meant to be hers. That thought alone excites me in a way I have never felt before. My dragon preens, and I want nothing more than to fly back to the Montgomery household and snatch Taylor up in my arms. But I can't do that. Not now when she's mad at me.

"What do I do?"

Lex shrugs. "In two days' time, we will be in court. We shall protect her until then. Then we will figure out his mate thing."

"Okay," I say, though worry still fills me.

I won't be able to stand it if anything happens to her.

***

The next day is spent watching Taylor from afar.

She meets with Dylan and then goes home. That is what her day looks like.

My dragon appreciates being let out and watching her this whole time, but he also gets jealous any time she is with Dylan.

It doesn't help that Dylan is an attractive guy, giving me a run for my money. I know I have nothing to be jealous of. I was Taylor's first and I don't imagine she will be running off to sleep with someone else days later. Or at least I hope she won't.

Just that thought alone sets my dragon's teeth on edge as I return to Druk Technologies. Once I make it to the roof, Damon is there waiting for me, as it is his turn to watch Taylor for a few hours.

"Hey man," I say to Damon.

He grunts at me as he pulls at the neck hem of his skin.

"What's wrong?"

Damon glares at me, "She better actually be your mate. Otherwise, we are doing all this for nothing."

My dragon begs me to snap at Damon, but I know he means well.

"I truly believe that she is, Damon. Otherwise, why would Carnelian be after her?"

Damon shrugs, "Maybe she's his mate."

This time, my dragon and I are on the same page as anger overwhelms me.

"No, she's mine," I snap, baring my teeth at Damon.

A wicked grin takes over his face, "There he is."

I realize now that Damon is just pushing my buttons like always does.

"What was that for?" I ask, confused about why he is determined to try and set me off.

"I wanted to see if she was your mate, and with you acting this way, she must be," Damon clarifies. "It would be just our luck that the lawyer suing us is your mate."

I chuckle and Damon joins in.

"Keep her safe," I say to Damon after our shared laughter.

"I'll do my best. You try not to stress out too much."

I nod as I watch Damon shifting before he disappears from sight.

Watching another dragon shift always makes my own restless, even if I did let him out all day.

Going back to my office, I sit down and get some work done. The court case is in one day, and we still have our jobs to do.

The rest of the day goes by in the blink of an eye before it is over and I am packing up.

"How are you holding up?" a voice asks from the doorway.

Looking up, I see Liam casually leaning against the doorjamb.

"I'm fine, why?"

"You have been without your mate for a few days, and she's being watched by Carnelian. I can imagine that it is stressful."

When he puts it like that, he is right.

"True, but I trust all of us to keep her safe."

And I mean that.

Damon may not get along with Taylor, but I know he will keep her safe because I've asked him to. As will everyone else.

"You're right, but I did want to check in on you. You've been out of it."

Liam isn't wrong, and it is nice of him to see how I am doing.

"I appreciate it, buddy, now let's get out of here. Work is starting to rot my brain."

I shoot Liam a wink and we both walk down to the garage together.

Liam gets in his Volvo as I get in my Tesla. Liam leaves first, and as I'm the last one in the garage, I set my head down against the steering wheel and let out a loud groan. I have been mad stressed these past few days, and all I want to do is hold Taylor in my arms.

I know tomorrow Pat and Lex will be watching and protecting her, so I won't see her until court, but my dragon wants her.

I need her , my dragon says urgently.

Soon , I tell him. We just have to wait one more day, and then we will see her again.