Chapter 7

Later that afternoon when they returned for lunch, Lalani surprised herself by automatically climbing onto Khadar’s lap. She felt better close to him and could feel how much he enjoyed holding her in his arms.

“Here, Princess. Try this.”

“That cheese tastes amazing. It’s so fresh,” she said, taking another bite.

“Ciel helps make this on Argenis’s mountain.”

“Really? I don’t do anything. I really need to help somehow.”

“Being my mate is a big adjustment. Give yourself some time. Perhaps you’ll find something you like to do. The wine grapes are almost ripe. How do you feel about stomping grapes?”

“Like with my feet?”

“The old manual presses work, but sometimes it’s best to do things by hand, or in this case, by feet,” he confirmed her thought.

“I would love to try that.” She paused for a moment before asking, “Could we ask Ciel and Aurora? Maybe they would have fun, too?”

“That is an excellent idea. We can make a day of it,” Khadar agreed. “We’ll have to wait until the harvest, of course. That will be several months away.

“Are those the only dragon mates? I don’t want anyone to be left out,” Lalani mentioned. “How many dragons are there?”

“In our horde, there are nine dragons. Four have mates now.”

“So, there is one mate other than Aurora, Ciel, and me?” Lalani asked.

“Yes. The Amethyst dragon’s mate, Yolanda. She is older and prefers to stay in Tyrian’s home. Throughout our history, the horde works together, but each dragon is… Well, secretive.”

“I can understand that. You know, hoarders and all,” she teased.

“Keepers of treasurers. We are united as a horde, but still solitary in our pursuit of gathering riches. Mates are a prize as well. In the past, mates never socialized.”

“So, Yolanda has been secluded for years. I can understand that she’s comfortable with her mate. It makes sense that she’s adapted well to her life and has people that live on the Amethyst dragon’s mountain to talk to. I’m glad I’ve met Ciel and Aurora. They were very nice to me.”

“That is why I’m allowing you to interact with them.”

Lalani bristled at that idea. She wasn’t used to someone allowing her to do anything.

“Eat, Princess,” he said, gently holding a bite to her lips.

Automatically, she opened her mouth. As she chewed, Lalani’s ire dissipated. Khadar would take care of her as he thought best. She could rail against his control, or she could enjoy it. Looking down at his huge hand spanning her thigh, Lalani admitted to herself that life as a dragon’s mate was more than she’d ever imagined possible.

“After lunch, you’ll take a nap in your nursery.”

“I don’t need a nap.”

Khadar didn’t argue. He just fed her another bite.

Did he say a nap in her nursery?

“I have a nursery?”

“Yes, Lalani. I guessed what my mate would like. If you don’t like the decorations or the color, tell me and I’ll change it.”

Torn between not wanting to nap and wanting to see whatever he was calling a nursery, Lalani sat quietly eating when he held something to her lips.

“You are so quiet, Princess. Are you unwell?”

“No. I feel okay.” She waited a fraction of a second before adding, “Can I go see the nursery?”

“Of course. If you’re hungry after your nap, you may have a snack.”

She nodded eagerly and scrambled off his lap. Taking his hand after he stood up, Lalani followed him down the hallway toward their bedroom. Confused, she looked up at him.

“It’s a private space, Princess, and a protected one. Come through the closet.”

Never having walked into the closet, Lalani looked at the immense space with clothing and shoes. She noticed there were a few pretty dresses hung up on one side. Dropping her Daddy’s hand, she raced forward to look at them.

“Who’s are these?”

“Those are for you. Do you want to change into one after your nap?” he asked.

She nodded before she realized she’d just agreed to a nap. Her jaw stretched open in a wide yawn. Maybe sleep was just what she needed. Not that she planned on telling Khadar.

“Open that door, Lalani. That leads into the nursery.”

After twisting the knob and pushing it into the room, she stepped into a room unlike anything she’d ever seen. “What? This is amazing,” she gasped as she turned in a circle in the center of the room.

“It looks just like the watering hole from this morning.”

The carpet was blue like the water, and the walls were all painted as if they were the banks. “Look! There’s the berry bush we went around.”

“And there’s that wacky looking tree with the low branches that hang over the water.” She pointed, tracing one branch as it extended over the ceiling. “And all the birds!”

“There’s Lettuce!” Lalani ran forward to scoop up the green dragon stuffie. “How did he get in here?”

“Dragons can be full of tricks.”

She hugged Lettuce to her chest before showing him around the room.

“I guess you like the décor?” he asked when she returned to his side. “Look around the room. There are fun things gathered there. Games. Puzzles. Books.”

She could hear the happiness in his voice. A thought jumped into her head. Lalani blurted it out before considering what she asked. “Did you make this room for your last mate?”

He looked like she had hit him. Lalani felt bad immediately. She’d never seen him look anything other than dragon strong.

“No, Princess. When my last mate was part of my life, that area of my mountain didn’t exist. Two years ago, we dug for a new well and tapped the underground spring. It formed the waterfall and gradually created the watering hole. I decorated this to share my favorite spot with my new mate whenever I would be lucky enough to find her.”

“I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have asked.”

“It is better to ask than to worry. Even as connected as we are, I wouldn’t have known something was bothering you unless you thought hard about it. Then, I wouldn’t have known what troubled you,” he told her. “I want you to always promise to tell me if you’re worrying about something.”

She walked to him instead of the play area he indicated and wrapped her arms around his waist. “I’m sorry. You were so happy to show this to me and I ruined it.”

“If you enjoy your nursery, then you haven’t ruined anything,” he told her. “Come sit on my lap and ask me questions.”

He led her to an oversized rocking chair and helped her up on his thighs. “What would you like to know?”

“How many mates have you had?”

“Six. They were in all shapes and sizes. I love them all and remember our time together happily.”

“You say love in the present tense. Do you still love them?”

“Of course. It is not the passionate, in-person love like I feel for you, but a fond love for the years I was lucky to have them in my life.”

“You love me?” Lalani asked, studying his face.

“From the moment I saw you,” he said simply.

“Just because of the mate bond?”

“In the beginning, yes. Now, no. I love your quick mind, your arousing body, your tender heart, and everything that makes you… You.”

“I feel for you more than anyone I’ve ever met. Is that love?” she asked.

“I hope it is or will be in the future. We have not been together long, Princess. Feelings grow deeper with time.”

She rested her head against his broad chest and allowed him to rock her. Listening to his heavy heartbeat, Lalani looked around the room he’d created for her. It was his favorite place on his mountain, and he’d chosen to share it with her. That meant something.

“This room is so pretty. I love it.”

“I’m glad, Lalani. Everyone needs a space to call their own. I hope this will be your happy place. You’ve had so many things happen to keep you all jumbled up. Finding your birth mother, losing her, the change, the mate bond…”

“It’s been crazy. She had to give me up. My birth mom that is. My dad’s family was from Hawaii, and he was so handsome. He was gone by the time she found out. His grandmother, Lalani, was ill. The family returned to Hawaii to care for her. My birth mother was only fifteen and knew she couldn’t take care of me. She made the placement agency let her name me and choose who adopted me.”

“Did she choose well?” Khadar asked. She could hear the concern in his voice and lifted her head to look at him.

“She did. They were the best. I miss them, too.”

“Of course you do. I’m sorry your life has included such sorrow, Lalani.”

“And happiness. She was overjoyed when I contacted her and invited me immediately to come visit. I put it off for a little bit, thinking it would be weird. It wasn’t. I’m sorry I wasted time I could have spent with her.”

Khadar’s fingers smoothed away tears she didn’t even know she was crying. “I’m glad you got to talk to her, Lalani.”

“Me, too.”

Lalani laid her head back on Khadar’s chest and let herself cry for the first time. Her birth mother had been a stranger, but Lalani would never forget the short time they’d had together. He held her, rocking her slightly from side to side as she cried for her loss. She felt his lips press a kiss to her hair and she lifted her mouth up to meet his. His lips touched hers softly to reassure her.

When he lifted his mouth, she whispered, “I’ve only felt truly comfortable around four people in my life. My parents. My birth mother. And…”

“And who, Princess?”

She swallowed hard and forced herself to tell him the truth. “And you.”

His fingers stroked through her hair. “That makes me very happy, Lalani.”

“It makes me happy, too. You make me happy.”

His kiss this time went straight to her heart. He loved her. There was no way she could mistake the level of his feelings. She poured her emotions into her response and felt his heart skip a beat under her hand. She didn’t need to say the words yet. He understood.