Page 19

Chapter 19

Malric

N ever had I ever. That was a game that the kids played, right? Or something like it. Something about being with Ollie made me feel like a young dragon again, like I was coming alive after years of dormancy. I’d never felt old, not really. But maybe more… lackluster. I’d been living without truly living, and now… now every day was an adventure.

Never had I ever gotten hard in my office. Never had I ever come like a teenage dragon in my office. Never had I ever had my mate in my office. And now, here I was, getting blown by my sexy mate in a stolen moment. When he said I was going to remember it all day, he was wrong. I was going to be thinking about it nonstop.

There was a first time for everything, and this first time was… wow.

Still, perhaps having relations in my office was a bit of overkill. I couldn’t find it in myself to be upset, though. After all, my mate was irresistible, and he was my mate. It wasn’t like I was having an illicit affair.

“Just so you know, I don’t make a habit of that,” I told Ollie as I straightened my shirt, and he did his best to do the same with his hair.

Or more accurately, I hadn’t in the past… In the future? That was a different story.

“I don’t make a habit of it either—especially since I’m technically working. More so than the first night that we were together, since I left the kids literally in someone else’s care.” He flinched, and I instantly felt guilty for messing up the spell we’d both been under.

I wrapped my arms around his middle and pressed my lips to his neck, inhaling his scent. My dragon went wild with need, and even though I’d just come harder than I thought possible, that didn’t change the fact that I wanted him again.

“I don’t for one minute think that my son and his mate have not done something similar. I’ve caught them more than once being less than appropriate at the office.”

Still, I should’ve probably been more professional. I was the clan leader, after all.

Or perhaps I should show just how irresistible my mate was. There was no use in pretending that I didn’t want him every minute of every day. Anyone who’d found their mate would understand.

“Still, this is your office. It should be off limits.” Ollie was backtracking. I hadn’t meant to make him uncomfortable. Way to ruin his afternoon snack, as he called it.

“On the contrary. This is my office,” I insisted. “We should feel at home here. Now I have very fond memories here.” I kissed the top of his head.

He chuckled. “Mal, you need to be serious.”

“I am serious. Now I can think of something other than paperwork while I’m sitting at my desk.” And I would think of it, often. It was the hottest thing I’d ever experienced at work.

“What if someone caught us?”

“That would be a shame, and avoiding that is why I locked the door.” I’d never put him at risk of being caught in a compromising position. If he was into that sort of thing, I’d be all over it, but he was my shy little mouse. I was going to both respect and protect that.

Just then, the intercom went off. Of course it did.

“Lord Malric, your advisors are waiting for you in the boardroom.”

I checked my watch. Sure enough, I was running late. Great. I wanted to finish this conversation on a high note, one where Ollie was bouncing out of here happy as could be. I’d need to make it up to him tonight.

“Okay, perhaps if we do this again, we need to clear my schedule.” It came out like I was teasing, but I wasn’t. I was one hundred percent willing to cancel everything and have him in every corner of this room, including against the wall of windows. My cock was already stirring thinking about it

“Are you late? I’m so sorry,” Ollie said.

“Nothing to be sorry for, mate. In fact, come with me, and I will introduce you.”

“To whom?” he said.

I had a feeling if I listed everyone with whom he’d be meeting, it would scare him away. He had met a few of my advisors at the charity event, but I didn’t think he fully understood the full breadth of who they were. And it had been a mixed bag of reactions. I was pretty sure I’d made it crystal clear that the negative behaviors were not to be tolerated, but I’d understand why the situation might make him uncomfortable. Scratch that… would make him uncomfortable.

Ollie had not been through any of the new mate orientation training that non-dragons went through. I would need to remedy that. And quick. I grabbed my phone and fired off a quick text to Jamie. She would manage getting him the classes he needed.

Then I was off, grabbing Ollie’s hand and tugging him through the passage that led to the boardroom. I could go the route through the rest of the building like a normal person, but it was nice that we’d had what equated to secret tunnels built.

The room grew quiet when I entered, and everyone turned to look at me and my mate. Ollie let out an adorable squeak. I put my hand on the small of his back and walked with him to the head of the table.

“Hello, everyone. I apologize for the delay and also for the slight change in agenda for today.”

A few of my advisors, who were also my close friends, gave me encouraging smiles. They were the ones that I knew would support me and Ollie.

There were a few who had scowls on their faces. It took all kinds to run a clan. Not everyone would agree with everything that I said or did, and I had accepted that a long time ago. But when it came to my mate, I was not going to have the same level of leeway.

“Everyone, I’d like to introduce you to Ollie—my mate.”

Ollie smiled, and he gave an awkward little wave.

“I understand that it is sudden and unexpected, given that I had already been blessed with a mate. But it seems that fate had a twist in store for me.” Better thwart any people trying to deny he was mine with my past from the get-go.

“Congratulations,” Vlad said, and there was applause from several members at the table, a majority of them, but not all.

Elias cleared his throat. “A non-dragon, Malric? Surely you can see how this would be problematic. I have the same concerns I brought forth to you when I first met this Ollie.”

He was such a jerk, and he’d learned nothing from my reaction to his behavior at the gala. Not a freaking thing. How did people get to be this ugly and hateful? How? He couldn’t even blame it on his clan and its culture. We weren’t like that, but he definitely was.

“No,” I said. “I do not see how this will be problematic. In fact, I think it only strengthens our clan.”

I was about to say more, but Ollie stopped me.

“I understand your concerns about a young mouse shifter being mated to your leader. Lord Malric has led this clan through tough times. He’s helped bring this clan into the modern times with his courageous leadership. So you might be wondering if a mate will distract from that. I am here to assure you that it will not.”

He was born for this role.

“I’m as committed to this clan as Lord Malric is. In becoming his mate, his worries became mine, his passion became mine. And no one is more passionate about this clan than Lord Malric. But I do not understand and will not tolerate disrespect toward me and my family because of fear related to my species or my age. If you bring us your concerns professionally and with respect, we will listen and address them. But we will not tolerate hatred.”

I wanted to clap or drop a mic… that was what they did now, right? But regardless of my reaction, my pride was running over. He’d done amazingly, not for a single second showing the discomfort he had to be feeling as he addressed the situation.

“Now, if you’ll excuse me, gentlemen, I have to get back to the children that I’m here with. I look forward to doing business with you all in the future.”

I walked him out. “You were amazing, mate. Absolutely amazing.”

“I wanted to puke the entire time.” He snuggled into me. “Thank you for standing up for me.”

“Always.” It was my vow.

“You should go back inside for your meeting, and I’ll go get the kids.” He stood on my tiptoes and pressed a kiss to my lips. “See you tonight.”

“Maybe for some dessert?”

“I thought you wanted a snack.” He smiled mischievously.

“I was hoping for both.”

He giggled and was on his way. I was glad that he left with a smile. His introduction had been pretty intense. He’d handled it like a true leader, but I hated that he had to handle it at all. We were in the 2000’s not the 1600’s. Species should no longer matter.

When I went back inside, the room went silent—telling me exactly what I already knew. They’d been talking about Ollie.

Vlad would fill me in on all the little details. I had no doubt that he was there protecting Ollie just as strongly as I would. But it was unacceptable that the discussion had even been happening.

I went to the head of the table and sat at my seat. “Just so you’re aware, this kind of behavior will not be tolerated. At all. Ever. Not for my mate. Not for any of your mates.”

Elias looked like he wanted to strangle me. Good. Because if he was mad, it meant he was listening, and he understood just how deadly serious I was.

“We are better than this.” At least, we always had been. “I want my kids to grow up in a clan that respects all species. One that understands that being part of a clan isn’t about what scales or fur or feathers you have. One that understands that clan life is about coming together as a family—a large family that takes care of each other.”

“Are you saying that your mate has a clutch growing inside of him? You’re planning to breed with that… omega?” Elliot had a death wish. I was sure of it.

“You’re dismissed.” I refused to take any more of his bullshit.

He shot daggers at me.

“Do not make me repeat myself. You are dismissed. And anyone else who wants to be like that can be on their way, too.”

He begrudgingly left, and everyone else sat where they were, watching me carefully.

“Now, before we begin the business at hand,” I wasn’t going to address Elias’s behavior any further. They already saw and understood my response. “Yes, Ollie and I are expecting our first clutch. The goddess has blessed me with another mate and our clutch. We both accept that blessing wholeheartedly.”

This time, everyone smiled and cheered, even those who I knew hadn’t been this thrilled before. Maybe it wasn’t them in the first place. Maybe they were just following Elias’s lead out of fear. Or maybe they’d learned their lesson. But in any case, it was a step forward.

“Now it’s time to do our favorite part of our agenda. Vlad, can you go over the report for this quarter?”

This time, the groans that came were accepting.