Page 15

Chapter 15

Ollie

W alking into the event had been eye-opening. It was one thing to know your mate was powerful and rich and important to so many. It was another to have cameras all pointed at you while you walked by his side into an event that was so fancy you half expected you were dreaming. But that was exactly where I was, this mix of reality and fantasy, not knowing where one began and the other one ended.

Thankfully, there were people that I recognized. Malric was great, but he had more to do than be my comfort dragon. This wasn’t just an event for him, it was part of his job.

Kier was home with the children while Tavian was here mingling with the other dragons. I had originally been on the schedule to watch the kids, and at first, I felt guilty about that.

Kier insisted he was more than happy for the excuse not to dress up “like a penguin.” His words, not mine. And Tavian? He only planned to stay for a short while. He had no desire to “glad-hand with the stuffed shirts.” His words, not mine. It turned out, I’d done them a favor, which was good because I’d been feeling like I’d been letting them down more than helping lately.

Now that I was here, I could understand their desire not to be. There was nothing easy and comfortable about the environment. It was like being in a fishbowl with people watching you at every turn. Such an odd experience, but one I was going to need to get comfortable with.

Malric’s other son, Eryndor, grinned widely when he met me. He pulled me into a hug, his massive frame engulfing my smaller one. I didn’t know where Eryndor got his size from, but he towered over both his brother and father.

I’d been worried about meeting him. I’d already been liked by Tavian when Malric and I got together. He was predisposed to liking me by that alone. To Eryndor, that wasn’t the case. It could’ve gone either way.

“Oh, this is going to be so funny. I’m never gonna let the old man live this down. He’s robbing the cradle!” Eryndor gushed.

He meant it with humor, but there was some truth to it. My mate had been alive entire centuries before I was even born.

“Eryndor!” Malric admonished.

“Come on, Dad, it’s funny. You have to admit it’s funny.”

Mal scowled. “There’s nothing funny about me being mated. It is a celebration. I am blessed to have found Ollie.” He had his arm wrapped around me, his hand placed possessively on the small of my back.

I bit back a grin. On this, I would have to stand in solidarity with my mate. But I would remind him later that he did not feel that way initially. I too had been worried about the age difference, as well as the difference in our beasts. But no longer. He was mine and I was his. And that was all that mattered.

“Oh, are those the latest champions in the Dragon Flight Games for the four-person teams?” I asked, wanting to change the subject. It was one thing for families to banter, but we were hardly alone. We didn’t need to give people a reason to question our relationship.

I didn’t point because that would be rude to the people I was asking about; instead, I just indicated with my gaze at the two shifters standing near the bar.

“Yes, that’s Flight Leader Zayne and Ash. Mated to each other.” Malric had to lean down to whisper into my ear. “Also very different in age and species.”

“Really? I hadn’t heard that.” Not that I kept up on the drama in the dragon flight world. Perhaps I would now. It was a pretty cool sport, much more interesting than watching golf or basketball, in my opinion.

“Yes, it was quite the scandal and a shock to Zayne, but thanks to the two of them being so great at what they do, we brought home another championship for our clan.” Pride poured off of Mal. “Have you ever gone to any of the dragon flight games?”

I shook my head. “I got to watch some footage once, but that was years ago. I only knew about them winning because Kier mentioned it.”

“Well, I will have to take you. And as clan leaders, we tend to get invited to all the team events, so you’ll meet some of the players up close.”

“Wow,” I said quietly, making sure that we were mostly alone. “I think this is a good time to mention that I’ve never actually seen a dragon in shifted form.”

My mate’s face turned all sorts of confused. His jaw dropped, and he blinked slowly at me. A little wrinkle creased between his eyes, and his lips drew tight.

Come to think of it, that was odd. We were mated, but also, I had no clue what his beast looked like or if he would even accept my beast. I mean, obviously we were mates, so he wouldn’t eat my mouse for a snack, but what did our beasts have in common? Nothing. We could hardly frolic in the forest together.

“That we can fix.” He kissed my cheek. “I’ll show you my dragon right now.”

He made a move toward the exit as if we really were going to go right now. Honestly, it wasn’t the worst idea. Getting out of here sounded blissful. Sadly, it wasn’t an option.

I kept my feet planted. “Calm down, mate. I’d love to meet your dragon, but it can happen later. It’s fundraiser time.”

“How is it possible that we have been together for this many days and you have not met my dragon?” His expression was pained now, like it physically hurt that I had not met his dragon.

I grinned. “We were busy with other things.”

A sharp blush worked its way across my mate’s neck, contrasting wildly with the stark whiteness of his shirt.

“Right. Of course. I must meet your mouse too, mate. It would please me greatly.” He’d already spoiled my beast with a gift. It was absolutely freaking adorable.

“Lord Malric! So great to see you.” A voice interrupted us, and I froze. Had he heard our conversation, did he know we hadn’t even shared our beasts with one another yet?

“Ah, Vlad. Glad you could make it.” My mate let go of me briefly and hugged a man who I recognized as Vlad, one of his many advisors. Tavian had given me a rundown of who was who amongst Malric’s closest advisors. I’d learn more about them later, but I at least had some knowledge.

“Vlad, I’d like you to meet Ollie, the man I’ve been telling you about… my mate.”

I held out my hand, and Vlad shook it. The happiness that was on his face was not faked. He closed my hand in both of his and leaned closer to me. “Thank goodness. We are more than happy to have you, Ollie. It’s about time this old man got himself tied down again.”

“Thank you.” I hadn’t expected such warmth, and it meant more to me than Vlad could know. “I’m extremely happy to have found Mal as well.”

“Malric, what is this about you being mated?” Another man came forward. Only his face did not have the happiness that the other advisor did. Instead, a scowl marred his features.

Jackass.

Now that Mal and I weren’t alone, it was as if the crowd thickened even more. Everyone stared at us. We were surrounded. It was as if Vlad coming over was an “all are welcome” sign. It was a lot all at once, but maybe that was better. Like pulling off a band-aid.

“Elias, I’d like you to meet my mate, Ollie.”

“This mouse? Mated to a dragon?” He scoffed. “Ridiculous. I always knew your policies for the clan would lead us to ruin, but honestly, Malric, this is a step too far.”

A growl erupted from my mate’s lips. I’d expected some looks, maybe a snide comment or two—but outright hatred in front of a group of people? That took me aback, like a slap to the face.

I refused to cower. Instead, I held my head high. Mal had asked me to fake it until I made it, and I planned to do exactly that.

“My name is Ollie,” I said, holding out my hand. “And you are?”

“Not shaking your hand,” the man said. “I am Elias Falkridge. A member of this clan since its inception. I’ve been an advisor to clan leaders for longer than your family’s been on this continent.”

“Perhaps,” I said, “but never a clan leader, right? After all, Malric’s been leader for how long now, dear?”

“Nearly a century,” he said. He kept me close to him, and I sensed his dragon just below the surface, simmering with rage, but his tone was even. I was impressed with his restraint, because if I had a beast strong enough to take this asshat down, he’d probably have already ripped through this far-too-expensive tux.

“It was a pleasure to meet you. Malric and I need to make our way to our table. He’ll be speaking soon, I believe.” Being a manny had prepared me for this moment. I’d had occasions when I had to hide my fear as I handled emergencies over the years.

We walked away, and I held on tightly to his arm, needing to borrow some of his strength.

“I would like to go back and murder him,” Malric said.

Same. But I couldn’t encourage that behavior, despite my seething hatred for the bigot.

“Maybe later,” I said. “For now, we just keep going.”

“You were absolutely perfect, mate. I’m so very sorry that happened. We knew we would face some comments today, yes—but not that. Never that. That was grounds for removal from the clan.”

“Malric. Nothing’s happening tonight, especially not a banishment.” Despite my desire to watch that go down in front of all the people that jerk thought worthy of him. “Just take deep breaths, get up on stage, say what you need to say, and let’s go on with the night. We’re not letting him ruin it.” I stopped for a moment, making him face me. “Thank you for defending me.”

“I hardly did anything.”

I cut him off. I put a finger over his lips, like he had done to me earlier. “That growl—I knew what that meant. You would protect me above all else, and that, my dear, means the world to me.” I leaned in closer, making sure my next words were just for him. “I also know how much it turned me on.”

He let out another growl, a very different kind, one that told me he felt the same exact way. Sexiest dragon ever.