Chapter 15 - Stryder

Staring at Olivia’s face as she sleeps, this time, I’m not compelled to run away like a coward. Perhaps it has to do with my inner dragon having reunited with my being. I feel strong again, sure of myself.

Sure of Olivia, too.

I think I’ve finally come to terms with having her as my mate. Though we haven’t discussed it yet, I’m sure she’ll agree to remain on the island.

I haven’t told her why she’s here. It’s not that it’s important right now. Living in the moment, enjoying our time together, and having fun on nearly every corner of the island is all that matters. It’s easier this way. The once daunting thought of losing my freedom seems to be put to rest without the labels binding us together.

This way, we can have all the fun we want, without letting things like feelings and fated mates come between us. We get along well, we have the best sex of my life, and I don’t have to make any commitments.

What more could I have asked for? In hindsight, it seems that she really is a match for me. She hasn’t brought up the future, and she doesn’t seem to care at all. She’s perfect for me. She never questions my whereabouts, and she’s spending her time doing the things that bring her joy.

Perfect, if I’m being honest. At least this way, we’re both happy.

“Good morning, baby doll…” I whisper, pressing a kiss on her forehead when I lean down.

Her eyelids flutter open as she flips me a groggy smile. “Good morning, Stryder…” she drawls, then takes a deep sniff of the air. “Is that breakfast?”

“Uh-huh,” I mumble, lifting the tray onto the bed. “And coffee.”

Olivia opens her eyes fully and straightens up in bed. Her brows furrow as she gazes at me, starry-eyed. I place the tray on her lap, gesturing for her to go ahead.

“Thank you,” she says as she lifts her mug to her lips, taking a small sip.

“No need,” I shrug. “I figured that you wouldn’t make it downstairs after last night.”

Olivia shyly averts her gaze and blushes. Her pale skin makes the perfect canvas for a perfectly rosy blush. I have to admit, she’s probably the most beautiful creature I’ve ever been with. Not my usual type, but that’s because she sets the bar far higher than my previous preferences.

Chuckling under my breath, I hook a finger beneath her chin and tilt her face toward me. I press a chaste kiss on her lips – a kiss that tingles my being and ignites me with the very same passion we’ve been sharing for countless nights.

“Wanna finish your painting today?” I ask with a smirk. We’d been visiting our particular spot on the mountaintop every day for the past week for her painting. Olivia hasn’t been able to get much done since we only end up rolling around naked together.

“If you’ll actually let me finish,” she giggles, glancing at the balcony where the sun shines brightly.

Stryder, where are you? Stryker suddenly enters my mind.

I’m in my bedroom. Why?

Olivia turns back to me, pursing her lips, when she notices the change of color in my eyes. She knows about the mind link, and I sometimes blank out because I’m speaking to another dragon shifter.

Still, I reassure her I’m still around by taking her hand in mine.

Draco just called me now. They’re on their way back to the island.

I’ll be down shortly. Thanks, twin.

When the mind link is cut, and my vision returns to normal, I see Olivia’s smile and realize that soon enough, she’ll have to meet my family.

I’ve hardly prepared her for that, but she’ll get along just fine with them. Once she meets my older brothers’ human mates, she might find more things to keep her occupied on the island.

That way, I’ll still get to keep my freedom.

“Is everything alright?” she asks.

Smoothing the pad of my thumb across her knuckles, I give her a warm smile. “Yes, everything’s fine. It’s just that… My family is returning to the island today. We might have to cancel our plans.”

“Erm–okay…” she hesitates. “What—How are you gonna explain me?”

“Oh, don’t worry about that,” I dismiss with a click of my tongue. “They’ll understand. After all, they know about the inner dragon and how it behaves sometimes.”

Olivia giggles. “That means they’ll know about all the inner dragon's needs and… desires.”

“Probably,” I chuckle. “It shouldn’t be a secret now, should it?”

“I guess not,” she relents. “Should I dress up for the occasion?”

“That won’t be necessary,” I assure her, lifting her hand to my lips to press a kiss there. “They’re not that imposing, I promise.”

***

“Brother, I need to speak to you,” I tell Stryker when I find him in the corridor leading toward the dining room.

My family had just arrived back from Italy, their joyful chatter audible from where I’d found my twin. He slowly looks up with wonder in his eyes.

“What is it, Stryder?” he asks, and I pull him into the nearest study, shutting the door behind us.

I turn to him, my brows worrying as I take a breath. “You can’t tell them how I brought Olivia to the island.”

“What? Why not?” he asks in confusion.

I take a few cautious steps forward, lowering my voice so that no one can hear us. Their arrival prompted the reality of it all – the secret I’ve been keeping from Olivia, one that I find myself hesitating to tell her.

“The Council wanted me to meet her in the mortal world. Have her agree to willingly bear my children–”

“Wait…” he frowns. “You haven’t told her about that, have you?”

Running a hand through my hair, I huff agitatedly. “Well… no,” I concede, shaking my head slowly. “Things didn’t go exactly as planned. You know what happened.”

Stryker sighs, throwing me a look of deep contrite. “You know it’s only a matter of time before the truth comes out. She should know why she’s here, Brother.”

“I don’t dispute that,” I relent, hanging my head shamefully. “It’s just that–”

I’m interrupted, or saved by the bell when there’s a knock on the door. I’m not sure how to see it. Not only have I been keeping a secret from Olivia, but I’ve also gone against the Council’s instructions.

I’m not sure what’s worse. Right now, all I know is that I can’t reveal the truth to my family. They have to believe that I did as the Council advised. Things have been so peaceful that I’m not ready to face the tumult.

Don’t worry, Stryker assures me mentally as he strides toward the door. Your secret is safe with me.

Thank you, Brother, I appreciate through our mind link just as he flings the door open for Draco to come inside.

“Twins!” Draco greets us, hugging Stryker while he beams at me. “How have you two been? Everything good on the island?”

I chuckle as I step forward to greet my eldest brother, the Alpha of the Aurora Dragons. “All good, Alpha Draco,” I jest. “How was your trip?”

Draco scoffs as he pats my shoulder. “We’ve once again managed to douse Lily’s family’s suspicions. But Mother and Father have decided to extend their travels.”

“Ah… So they haven’t returned?” Stryker asks with a pout.

“Unfortunately not,” Draco tells him, turning to me. “That means you still have time to sweep your human off her feet.”

“I’m rather disappointed our parents are not back,” I lie. “I was hoping they’d be here to meet Olivia.”

Draco glances at Stryker before returning a frown to me. “She’s here already?”

“Yes,” I reveal with a smile. “She’s in my quarters, actually.”

“Splendid!” Draco claps his hands together, a delighted smile forming on his lips despite the frown he maintains. “That was rather swift.”

“Well…” I shrug nonchalantly. “I have my ways.”

Stryker chuckles and playfully pats my shoulder. “Yeah, Stryder is very charming when it comes to women.”

I catch the way his eye twitches as he watches me suspiciously, but I ignore it momentarily when Draco speaks.

“I’d love to hear all about it over a drink or two. Will she be joining us for dinner?”

“Y-yes,” I say, a little too hesitant for my own good. I decide to play along, buying myself some time to explain to Olivia why she’s here. I have until dinner.

Though I’m not sure how to break the news to her.

With everything that’s happened between us, it’d somehow slipped my priorities to tell her why she’s really here. I’m not even sure if she’ll agree to bear my children. She brought up being on birth control for a reason, after all.

It was only a week ago that she lost her virginity to me. That, too, was in a moment of reckless passion fueled with adrenaline from her near-death experience.

I hadn’t given it much thought then, but over the past few days, I’ve been mulling over what this means for either of us. I’m not sure where I stand, especially after her strange question in the bathroom earlier today…

I’m not sure if she’ll agree to be just a dragonspirit-producing incubator. She’s so much more than that, worth so much more. I’m just not able to give her the life she deserves. It’s a fact that I’ll need to explain when I tell her before dinner. She has to know that love isn’t something I’m able to give.

If she chooses to remain as my mate, to reproduce dragonspirit off-spring, she’ll have to accept that I cannot give her love. All I can offer is protection, to ensure no harm comes to her.

Taking a deep breath, I catch Stryker’s worried glance as we follow Draco to the dining room to greet the rest of the Vulkan family. I say nothing, not even through the mind line, as I glance over my shoulder at the elevator. I could just return to my quarters now and come clean to Olivia, but when Tyson skips toward me, I’m too distracted to think about what needs to be done.

I’ll spend some time with my family, I decide as I lift Tyson into the air and feel my heart swell with joy and pride. I’ll have to man up before dinner and tell Olivia the truth about why she’s really here.