10. Tarek

Strange how my little mate's entire body had relaxed within a few blocks.

"Please, after you."

I held the door for her as she entered. Although we never frequented most of the businesses here, I at least knew of this small pub because of its location to the embassy. My brothers and I would frequent human pubs, of course, but away from the eyes of the elite. Today I'd make an exception and hope that no one was here that would have any reason to talk to me. I was in no mood to discuss politics.

Her color was returning. I doubted that her instant fear had much to do with the dress and more to do with something else. Perhaps it was something she missed back on Earth? We all knew too well the need to dull our senses. The need to escape the idea that we would be the first mateless generation in hundreds of years. Strange how one fear had been simply replaced with another. Like the idea that perhaps I couldn't be what my mate would need to forget Earth.

Nothing ever helped to forget one's problems. The ache in my chest, though, said that it was worth trying, if only to see her smile.

She stepped in. These establishments in this part of the city had windows with a type of glass that mirrored that of Earth mostly. It was slightly warped in the way we manufactured glass here, but it still meant status. Glass cost a lot, and here in the area, status was everything.

She allowed me to lay my hand on the small of her back as I guided her to a more secluded corner.

"Why is there so much sadness in your eyes, mate?"

I watched her, trying to memorize every fleck of blue and gold. I wanted to know what she looked like, sad or happy.

The moment I touched her hand, something else flickered alive in her gaze. I liked the heat I saw there.

"Two of the house brews," I said to a human male as he walked up. The male flashed me a nod, sparing only a brief glance at Zara. Which was lucky, or my dragon might have finally won control of our body. Being this near to our mate and not allowing him to do as he wanted took far more strength than I had expected.

"This almost feels like a more upscale version of home. Well, that and a bit old-fashioned yet not? So strange," Zara said.

I shrugged. Glancing around, I compared what I saw to the images a neighboring hoard had brought back from Earth along with their mates. The new females had shared about life on Earth, and it had been very obvious that the humans here had developed at a different rate. In many ways, they had advantages over Earth. In others, it almost seemed like they had remained more simple in their needs.

"Humans here have developed separate from Earth. The last human trend they knew of was from two centuries ago. They have gained our technology, which is much more advanced than your own planet's. Old? New? It is all perspective."

She nodded, her head turning and her eyes scanning everything around us.

I heard conversations and saw stolen glances from the few patrons here, but no one gave her much attention. It was no secret that more mates had been found.

"They're talking about you, you know that?"

I nodded. My mate was observant.

"This side of the colony is much more aware of and used to our presence, but it is still an honor. I would expect nothing less."

I noticed as she squirmed in her seat.

"Are they talking?—"

She was cut off.

"Lord. Lady. Here are your meads. We're always honored to have our dragon lords and their mates in our establishment. Would you be willing to pose so we may add your photo to our wall of the famous?"

The gentleman nodded behind the bar where still images smiled back at patrons. Famous humans and dragons alike had their likenesses captured and hung to remember. Even two of my brothers, as well as several of our fathers, hung there.

"I, I'm not hi?—"

I placed my hand on hers. "My mate. She is not from this colony and is rather shy. Perhaps the next time we stop by."

The male smiled.

"Repeat visits speak for themselves even without an image. Please, let me know if you should need anything else. I will have a menu brought out for some of our light plates." He nodded and stepped away.

I turned to Zara.

"It matters not that you have not been marked by me. You are my mate."

Her mouth gaped, and I decided I disliked this. She wanted to protest.

"Do not deny your importance to me. I will not stand for another male trying to take you from me." The jealousy at her trying to deny our connection bloomed bright in my chest.

Perhaps though, I had misjudged the entire situation as her features darkened.

"So what? I get no choice in the matter? I'm just here for your enjoyment? Listen here, dragon boy. Women on Earth have rights, and I didn't fly however many stupid light years to lose them."

My dragon roared to life, and I fought to control his rage. My skin prickled as the scales peeked through, and I heard her gasp meaning even with as quickly as I'd fought him back, she'd not missed anything.

The shake of her hand as she pulled the drink to her mouth and downed it quickly was all I needed to be sure that she would feel its effects far sooner than she was ready.

She dropped the empty cup to the table and reached for mine. I didn't dare fight her. I probably should have.

"When you said dragon, I really thought it was a metaphor for your dick. I wanted to pretend all that weird stuff after the rescue was some kind of illusion. But now? What was that?"

She drank the next just as quickly as the first, and I watched her hand raise up and wave. I grabbed her hand as it dawned on me she was asking for more drink.

"That is enough, Zara. You have no idea how strong these are."

I had the cup in my hand as the male from before appeared.

"More? Would you like some food as well?"

I nodded and pointed at several plates that would have a variety of what she would call snacks. Something would need to absorb everything she was drinking. It was my turn to sigh as I grabbed the bridge of my nose between my forefinger and thumb. Suddenly, it made a lot more sense as to why every damn brother and Pyrothian seemed less than excited to have to tame their mate. And I really did mean tame.

She was prattling on now.

"And those eyes. I figured alien eyes looked reptilian at times. I just didn't get what you meant by dragon. Like really? A real dragon. Not just an odd title, like dragon lord."

This wasn't going well.

I grabbed out a handful of solaris credits and dumped them on the table as I watched her start to sway.

"Those are not dollars. This is really not home."

I reached for her and hoisted her up into my arms.

"Woah there, big guy. You can't just?—"

She seemed to shut up as she relaxed her head against my chest.

"Maybe you can. You're just so warm and you smell like calm to me."

With a roll of my eyes, I caught the attention of someone at the bar.

"Please, keep the change for your troubles. My mate seems to have overindulged."

I owed nothing to these humans, but I also had no need to be rude. I did, however, need to get my mate back where she could sleep this off. The sooner she could come to terms with all of this, the sooner I would be able to ensure the happiness of myself, my dragon, and my hoard.

Her face nuzzled into my chest as I held her tightly, keeping her safe as the drink went to her head. It was true that she wasn't in her right mind now. She was no longer afraid or whatever that had been. But right now? She wasn't going to be having a serious conversation. She wasn't ready.

I prayed to the goddess that my mate would find her happiness in me as well. Suddenly, the fears of years of being alone and failing to find my mate resurfaced. What if I couldn't get her to see that we were made for each other?