Page 9 of Wild for the Wyvern (Mated to the Monster: Season 3)
Eight
Drayce
T hirty minutes later, the knot releases and neither one of us can move as exhaustion takes over. Sleeping with Kori in my arms is the second most wonderful feeling in my life. I never dreamed I would find a mate, and then when I did, I was sure she would choose her life in the city over the bucolic Catskills.
My brain has not caught up with my heart as I think about how she chose to come back on her own. After she left, I thought of running after her. A dozen times, I dreamed of searching New York City or showing up at her work. Each time, I decided to remain in my woods and let her live a normal life without me.
“Are you hungry?” I kiss her soft hair.
“No. I’m happy.” She sighs and snuggles against me.
A wave of warmth flows over and through me. “I’m not sure one thing has anything to do with the other.” I draw her into my arms and carry her into the living room. “I’ll fix us a snack.”
Heading for the kitchen, she follows and opens my tall cabinet pantry doors. She scans, then closes it. She skirts past me and looks in the refrigerator and then the freezer. “Do you have white wine?”
“I do.” I study her. “What are we making?”
Her smile makes my heart beat faster. Taking a package of chicken thighs from the fridge, she puts them on the counter before grabbing an onion, garlic, and canned white beans from the pantry. Gathering some other ingredients, she adds herbs and frozen spinach with the rest. “Tuscan chicken and white beans.”
“Sounds wonderful. What can I do?” I admire how she lines all the ingredients up and searches through my cupboards for her other needs. She finds a Dutch oven and knives.
Shaking her head at my knives, she continues familiarizing herself with my kitchen. “You can bring me a bottle of white wine and then chop up some garlic if you want.”
Doing as I’m told, I mostly admire seeing her in her element as she cooks for us. Once the chicken is browned, she turns on my oven, then starts cooking onions and garlic.
Every once in a while, she smiles at me. “You’re staring.”
“I love watching you cook. I had no idea how beautiful you’d be doing what you love.” I’m completely smitten, and it’s not like anything I’ve ever felt before. Kori is everything.
Once she has seasoned all the ingredients, she layers it all back in the pot, then puts the whole thing in the oven.
I clean the dishes she’s made so far and wipe down the counters while she pulls dishes from the cabinet.
“I wonder if Rialto needs a chef.” She leans on the counter next to the sink.
Drying my hands, I hold my breath, wondering if I heard her correctly. “You would stay here?”
Her grin is wide. “Forgive me Drayce, but I can’t picture you living in the city. I think someone might notice a wyvern flying over Manhattan.”
“No. I would be uncomfortable in a city.” I’m understating the issue. I have to shift or the beast in me will go mad. “I would be very happy if you would stay here.”
She blushes and leans against my arm, which I wrap around her waist. “I’m happy and I’m not sure I’ve ever said that before in my life.” She looks at me with wide surprised eyes.
Capturing her lips, I kiss her until we’re both breathless.
“I could get an apartment in town if you want. I don’t want to assume…”
Before she can work herself into a fret-fest, I kiss her nose. “I would love it if you would stay here with me.”
“I would love that too. I packed a bag, but it’s with Dean and Meg. I’ll have to get the rest of my things from my apartment at some point. I can break my lease and quit my job in a few days.”
“After we eat, I’ll take you to the resort and we’ll get your bag. I can drive you to the city for the rest.” I love that we’re talking about her staying here permanently.
I put the last dish from the most delicious meal I’ve ever eaten into the dishwasher as the doorbell rings.
Kori’s eyes widen. “Are you expecting someone?”
“No.” It’s rare for anyone to drop by since I live so far up the mountain.” I fold the towel over the handle and walk to the door.
“Hi, Drayce. I think we should talk.” Astra is wearing jeans and a green blouse. I’ve never seen her in clothes before. Nymphs generally wear sheer dresses or nothing at all. Still, her allure is just as present as ever, though I don’t feel compelled to her the way I always have in the past.
A few months ago, I was prepared to help her run away and before that, I would have told anyone that I loved Astra, though she isn’t my mate. I wanted her, that much is true. “Astra, I… Why are you here?”
“May I come in?” She steps closer.
I back up to give her room.
Kori gapes from a few feet away.
“Hello,” Astra says. “I’m sorry. I didn’t know you had company.” She smiles.
Kori blinks and offers her hand. “I’m Kori.”
“Astra. I’ll be Astra Barbaros soon. I’m sorry to barge in. I wanted to speak to Drayce.” She looks at me. “Should I come back at another time?”
I’m about to say yes, when Kori says, “Not at all. We’ve just finished lunch. You two can talk and I’ll take a little walk.”
“You don’t have to leave.” I don’t know why I say it, because it would probably be better if she didn’t hear whatever Astra is going to say, but the thought of her walking out the door fills me with dread.
Kori’s smile is magical. “I won’t go far.”
Astra cocks her head and looks from Kori to me, then smiles. “I’ll only be five minutes.”
As Kori slides into her shoes and steps outside, my heart clenches. When I look at Astra, my gut turns in knots. What had I ever seen in her? I mean, she’s beautiful. No one can dispute that, but there's no comparison to the love of a true mate. I blurt out, “I’m sorry.”
Her musical laugh fills the room. “That’s why I’m here. I wanted to apologize for sending the bird rather than coming myself to tell you I couldn’t run away with you.”
“Thanks for that.” Somehow, it hardly matters anymore. I don’t know what else to say.
It would seem Astra feels awkward too, as she is silent and stuffs her hands in her pockets. She looks at the door. “Kori is your mate?”
“Yes.” I’m embarrassed by my past behavior and ashamed that I let Kori walk out of the house in favor of privacy with Astra.
“And you’re happy?” she asks.
“I am. Are you happy with the satyr?” How had I ever believed I was in love with her? I was a stupid, lonely fool.
She blushes. That’s a sight I never thought I’d see. By nature, a nymph is a seductress. All those who look upon her fall under her spell, yet at the mention of Niko, she turns bright red. “I’m happier than I ever dreamed I could be. Niko is my true mate. I’m sorry I lured you into an escape plan. I knew you were smitten, and I used that to get away from my father’s heavy-handed behavior. He was going to marry me off to someone I’d never met. I wanted control of my life, but it should never have been at your expense. Can you forgive me?”
“If you’d asked me that two weeks ago, I would have never forgiven you. Now, it hardly matters. I appreciate you coming here, and I accept your apology.” A heavy burden lifts from my shoulders as I put the past behind me and look forward to a long, wonderful future with Kori.
Smiling, I walk Astra to the door and open it.
She stands on the threshold and looks back at me. “No more traps in the woods?”
I shake my head.
Kori steps to the doorway from the right holding a bunch of wildflowers. Her eyes are wide and full of horror. “That trap was for her? You were trying to catch a woman, or whatever she is?”
“Oh gods,” Astra says.
“Kori.” I brush past Astra and hold out my hand to Kori, desperate to explain.
Dropping the flowers, she backs down the steps and searches for a way down the mountain.
“I set that trap before I knew you existed, and it wasn’t what you think.” I have no idea how to explain the stupidity of why I wanted to humiliate Astra and Niko without making matters worse.
Stopping, Kori brushes tears from her cheeks. “You reset that trap after we met.” She runs down the drive. “I’m such a fool. I thought it was an animal trap.”
Heart pounding and wishing I’d told her some or all of this before Astra turned up, I run after Kori.
The steep downslope gets the best of her and she tumbles to her knees and sits with her face in her hands. “I’m an idiot. I should have known all of this was a mistake. Men don’t fall head over heels in love with me. That woman in your house is the kind of woman men fall for.”
Kneeling in front of her, I take her hands in mine. “I should have told you about Astra. I’m sorry. She stopped being important the moment I first saw you.”
“But you reset the trap. Explain to me why you set a trap for a woman who’s engaged to someone else.” The pain etched on her face wrecks me.
So that she’s not on the hard ground, I sit and pull her into my lap. “This is going to sound pathetic, but I’m going to tell you everything, then I’ll take you to the resort. It’s too far to walk and your sense of direction isn’t your strong suit.”
She scoffs. “That’s kindly put. Tell me.”
I take a deep breath and let it out. If she’s going to leave me, it should be for the truth, not the small bit she overheard and speculation. “Astra is a nymph. She’s beautiful and alluring because that’s her nature. Like most nymphs, she’s part of the nature around her. She can become part of the trees and ground, lakes and rivers. Also, like other nymphs, she can seduce all who look upon her.”
“And she seduced you?” Her voice aches with desperation for that to be the case.
“No. Astra never seduced me, but she was always kind to me. I lived in these woods all my life and had long passed the age when I should have found my mate. I was lonely and she was alluring, even without intention. I pursued her for many years to no avail.
“A month ago, her father arranged a marriage for her to a satyr from Canada. It was her desire to avoid the match that drove her to come to me and ask me to fly her away from here.” If I had the power to turn back time, I would live the last few years differently. I would trust that my mate would find me.
“Why did her father want her to marry against her will?” Wide-eyed, Kori is genuinely concerned for Astra.
I love how empathetic she is. Brushing her hair behind her ear, I want to kiss away all her concerns, but I continue my embarrassing story. “Her father is a bully and has the power to force others to his will. Astra came to me to take her away, and I readily agreed. I hoped I would gain a life partner and banish the never-ending loneliness of my life.
“On the day of our clandestine escape, she didn’t come to the designated meeting place. I waited a long time. Finally, an owl came and delivered the message that she wasn’t coming.”
Kori blinks and raises her eyebrows. “I have so many questions about the owl, but maybe that’s beside the point. You were hurt that she didn’t come and sent only the bird.”
Was I hurt? No. “I was angry and my pride was injured. So much so, that I set that trap to humiliate Astra and her mate, as I felt I had been humiliated.”