Fire of Stars and Dragons (7 page)

Cait shakes her head, her face rubbing against my chest. “Don’t do that again.” She slaps me on the arm, hard. “Stay off the
bazynh
railing, you big idiot.” This woman thoroughly confounds me. “I don’t care what you say. I don’t want to see you up there again.”

“I wasn’t leaving, Cait.” I sense her fear, though I believe my earlier explanation clarified the dragon/ward relationship. “Perhaps we should go inside.” Leading her toward the doors, I don’t give her the opportunity to argue. “How did you find me?”

“You weren’t in the office.” Cait’s cheek rests on my chest, one arm around me as she runs her fingers over my stomach. Alcohol-induced as her actions are, I must take her hand in mine, unable to tolerate the sensations her touch arouses within me. “Dante’s not what I expected.” Her comment sounds randomly chosen, filling silence.

Nothing seems to be what any of us expected today. A day full of surprises, even for those of us never surprised by anything. “How so?” I gather she’s far more attracted to him than she expected.

Cait pushes away, walking to the door, and I think she’s going to leave without answering when she spins on her heel, slamming her body against the frame in a huff. “I expected this was some sort of game to him, or maybe he was just being nice and offering some other option, but he… he acts like he actually likes me. Actually, he acts like he feels more than that. Am I crazy?” She holds her hand up, glaring. “No. Wait. Don’t answer that. I don’t even want to know your opinion on my sanity or lack thereof.”

Dropping her hand, she lets her head fall back, relaxed, eyes closed. I pick up my discarded shirt, slipping it on before I succumb to my own ideas while Dante is out of the apartment. “For the record, you are not crazy. At least not regarding this particular matter.” I can’t resist leaving Cait curious as to what I may mean, just as she leaves me at each turn. Swallowing with great difficulty, I tell her what she wants to know, needs to know. “He is genuine in his affections, Cait.”

No one dares accuse Dante of insincerity, disrespects him with such untruths.

Her jaw tightens, teeth grinding together, tension and anxiety distressing her beautiful face. “As genuine as you, Theo?” she asks at last, voice quiet and pained, though not pained to the depths my heart sinks, knowing I must answer.

I turn away, eyes closed, unwilling to look at her face, fearing to do so would draw out the words I desire to speak rather than those that are necessary. “Must you ask?”

“If you know, is it really unfair for me to ask—as your ward—if this is safe?” Sarcasm thickens her tone, aware I choose to be difficult.

“He can and will love you the way you want, the way you deserve. And as a deity, a son of the High Realm, Dante holds a position appropriate for your chosen husband given your… status, Cait.” I do not wish to discuss this matter now and I refuse to compare myself to him, not aloud, and certainly not for her to hear.

“So, you’re giving up and passing the buck, or in this case, passing me on to the man
you
think is right for me?” I hear her hand smack the door. “Look at me,” she demands. “Was your promise a lie?”

By Cait’s next breath I’m on her, hands in her hair, pressing my body to hers. “A Pendragon does not forsake a promise. We abide by honor.” My lips brush hers as I speak. “You smell of red wine and of
him
. Is this what you wish for? To tease me, taunt me, and see my reaction?”

She breathes heavily, chest rising and falling in sync with mine. “I’m not playing games, and I’m not teasing you, Theo.” By no accident, her lips touch mine one lingering moment. “I need to know I’m not wrong.” I look down to meet her eyes, puzzled by those words. “You are trying. You want me to choose you. I’m not wrong to be afraid of falling in love with someone else, of losing what I could have with you, Theo.”

I want to hold her in my arms, take her to my bed, show her every way I could and would love her, adore her, worship her body like a goddess. “Do not refuse to consider what a life with Dante offers, or hold onto hope that I can give as much. As your guardian, my protection I swear eternally. But love—true, romantic love… I promise to try for this, Cait, yet I cannot guarantee the outcome.”

The flickering electricity in the room warns of Dante’s return, and before either of us says more, he calls for her. I step back, giving her space to move. Without a word, she meets my eyes once more then slips out. Watching the door close, I stand wishing Cait would change her mind and come back to me, but I hear her greeting him as if nothing transpired between us and sit on the side of my bed, GoSky in hand to call Oliver again.

“What happened? Is everything alright?” he asks the second the call connects.

I ask myself the same, unsure if the wine or her heart spoke on Cait’s behalf. “Nothing. Everything. Yes. No. Oh, Goddess, brother, what am I doing?”

Oliver chuckles. “I haven’t the faintest. I’ve never been in your predicament, and given what you’re experiencing, I daresay I hope I never am.”

“You are ever so not helpful.” My brother is quite exasperating at times. “Does the king intend to see my Cait tonight?”

“Your
Cait?” He questions the slight misspoken phrasing that tells the truth of it all. “Whatever you choose to call her, Corrin asks you bring her to him first thing in the morning, before he prepares for his day.”

“No.”

“No? Is that the response you wish me to pass on?” His amusement is quite clear. We both know what the young vampire has in mind: to feed on her, hoping she may be the answer, the cure, to his illness. I have no doubt he also intends to treat her no differently than any other woman he requests to see in the morning, luring her to bed, using her, degrading her like a common whore.

“Of course not, Oliver. You can tell the king I said, ‘Fuck no. Over my dead body will he see her on such terms.’ Then you may tell him good luck accomplishing
that
particular task.” Defensive and growling, I’m furious he considers Cait so easy to manipulate, as if I would allow such a thing. “When he plans to court a
lady
with a measure of propriety, let me know. We will coordinate then.”

“Very well, brother.” A sigh speaks to his resignation, alleviating awkward tension. “I knew you would not approve, but there is no explaining the situation to him, I fear. We shall speak again soon.”

The line disconnected, I hold the mobile in my hands, sliding my thumb up and down, scrolling through contacts, knowing one person I could call, could trust, could turn to for advice. The sound of Cait’s laughter echoes through what has been my home, yet now, I cannot imagine home being anywhere without Cait in my arms.

I need better perspective than I’ve found on my own, and Oliver has none to offer.

Tapping the contact of debate, I hold the phone to my ear, smiling with relief when I hear the voice on the other end. “Yes, brother, it has been too long. Perchance would you be interested in a visit to Boston? I have a favor to ask.”

Chapter 5

*Cait*

He unnerves me like no one I’ve ever known, though I’ve never known a demigod before, which could have something to do with it.

“How are they?” Dante asks as I’m stuffing my face with Thai curry noodles.

Shrugging, I swallow. “Very noodle-like.” That’s my best answer considering I’m about half-starved and eating faster than I can taste.

“May I try a bite?” Dante sets down his rice soup, waiting with a polite, expectant smile.

I almost snort but manage to control myself. “No. I really don’t think we’re to the whole ‘food sharing’ level yet.”

Creases form between his brows as he purses his lips, doing that contemplative thing again, and I wonder what’s on his mind this time. “Romantically involved couples often engage in such acts, do they not?”

“Yes.”

“Am I mistaken to believe we are involved so?” He lifts his brow, and to be honest, confusion looks incredibly odd on him.

I blink slowly, deliberately, taking deep breaths, processing today’s events, everything I’ve done and said, how he might see it, and how he must view us.

“Dante, I could blame it on too many bottles of wine, but in all honesty, I let myself get carried away. You’re a lot different than I thought you would be, much easier to like. But that doesn’t mean I know what I want to do about this situation yet, or who I want to choose.”

“Yes. Of course.” He states agreeable words, but his eyes are less electric blue than moments before. It’s something I’m still getting used to, the way his eyes change, supernatural even in the supernatural world.

“We did just meet today, you know.” Dante nods, saying nothing, and what was comfortable is now awkward. “It’s getting late, and I’ve got a test tomorrow,” I say as a truthful excuse to clean up and escape.

In an instant, he’s on his feet reaching a hand, offering to help me up from our casual dining on the floor around the coffee table. I accept and we both gather remnants of our late dinner, hauling them to the kitchen.

“In which course is your instructional exam tomorrow?”

I notice he falls in and out of speaking too formally, sometimes seeming comfortable interacting as if human, and at other times clearly out of his element. “Developmental psychology of adolescent Fae. Probably the worst class I’ve taken.”

“A complicated subject given their adolescence lasts, on average, a quarter of a century. You should have mentioned this earlier. I could have assisted you in preparing.” I think he’s serious, talking while he’s finding room in the fridge for our leftovers. “I’ve done vast research regarding the Fae and have three doctorates in psychology: developmental, behavioral, and experimental.”

“Oh.” I’m not sure what I thought Dante spent his time doing, but collecting doctorate degrees wasn’t high on my list of possibilities. “I guess the pursuit of knowledge is an admirable hobby if you’re immortal.”

Everything cleaned up, he turns to look at me, eyes intense on mine, and I steady my breathing. “I am not immortal, Caitriona. Immortality is for vampires. They
can
die, and eventually will one way or another. Deities and dragons are infinite. We are eternal.”

“But you’re a demigod.” My cheeks flush the second the words rush out. “Not to be rude, but isn’t that different?”

“For some; however, I inherited nothing significant from my father, likely due to the power my mother holds. If she were anyone other than
the
Mother Goddess, perhaps it would be a far different story.” His lips twitch, and I’m positive he’s going to smile, but he stops, falling back to the same serious expression. “Not to sound arrogant, but do you honestly see yourself choosing Corrin over me?”

I laugh, too loud, holding my hand over my mouth while trying not to be obnoxious in my reaction. “No. No, definitely not. I mean, I haven’t spent any time with him yet, but unless he’s some sort of Jekyll and Hyde type, I can’t imagine I’ll even like him. Love him? No.”

Tilting his head, Dante’s blue eyes search my face as if the answer to some great mystery hides there. “Then why do you deny me, Caitriona?”

He wants answers I don’t have. I can’t explain the draw to Theo or to Dante. It’s unnatural, unreasonable… and undeniable. Afraid to tell him the truth, I say nothing.

He takes a few steps away, pacing as he continues talking. “I couldn’t imagine why Theo would contact me at first. What could be so fascinating about this new ward he saw coming which might be greater than any other in the past? What did he foresee in them, in you, worth holding my interest? And then it happened in the conference room.”

“Wait. He called you to come here?” I try stopping him, but his voice and body language say he’s too excited to listen while I’m reeling at the revelation that this wasn’t happenstance. Theo caused this.

“Oh, yes, of course. What else would pull me away from my research?” he replies dismissively. “Theo’s response to Corrin’s decision opened my eyes. He did not want the king claiming you because that was not your sole path, as destiny often finds many forks in the road along the way. Sensibility dictates he would only contact me if he believed I play a part in the matter of your destiny. Therefore, I offered myself as an option. When Evan explained his view, everything became quite clear, Caitriona. Do you not see it?”

Dropping to my knees, I sit back on my feet and nod, head in my hands. “Yeah. I see a lot of things now.”

He kneels in front of me. “Corrin does not wish to love you. Theo cannot love you the way a man should love his wife. I believe for some inexplicable reason, our destinies intertwine, though I may not understand why. My mother sets paths forth, and the Dracopraesi see the various possibilities, knowing their wards’ ultimate destinies, and the path best leading there. Some mysteries of the universe are not mine to solve, but I do know you compel me in a way no other woman has, Caitriona.”

Standing, the demigod leans down, gently taking my hands, pulling me, not stopping until I’m flush against his body, and there’s something comforting in the fact he’s not much taller than I am, lending a natural ease to our proximity. “If you would only allow me the opportunity, I dare believe I would find no difficulty falling in love with you at all.”

Dante’s admission of the truth cuts through the ‘it’s complicated’ mess of dragons loving their female wards, the heightened level of protection. I refused to listen when Theo tried to tell me instinct and protection was all it could be, all it ever would be. He can promise to try, but he can’t guarantee an outcome. I didn’t want to hear what he said or accept what it meant.

But I’m not a foolish child. Fair chances. Reasonable opportunities. It isn’t complicated. And seeing Dante’s vivid blue eyes fixed on mine, it isn’t difficult either.

“I still have to at least put on a show of giving the king a chance to impress me, or he’ll probably blow a fuse.” My voice is softer than usual for a statement like that, no sarcastic punch behind it.