The Fairy's Forbidden Mate

Chapter 9 Mate?

            “Do you think you’ll be able to manage without getting lost?” Titus chuckled as he led her back to the main hall.

            “Maybe not right away.” Rhea giggled. She was lost just walking with him. Some of the areas were enormous. Clearly made to fit the dragons in their shifted form.

            “Well, if you get lost just yell for me. I have excellent hearing and will rescue you.” Titus grinned and rested his arm around her shoulders again.

            Rhea had gotten used to having his arm on her. It was a comfortable feeling. There was an increased warmth that came from his body. It was soothing and relaxed her. She felt like they were kindred spirits. She was surprised on how relaxed she felt around this perfect stranger.

            “Want to go back out to the party for a little bit before you turn in for the evening?”

            He looked at her and gave her his award-winning smile. Rhea couldn’t help but to return a smile back to him. There was excitement in her chest from being in his proximity. Not only was he attractive, but he had an aura that drew you close. She was enjoying getting to know him better.

            “Yes, that sounds nice. I love dancing.”

            Titus led Rhea back out to the party. They had several eyes that followed them with interest. He led her out onto the dance floor and twirled her around causing her to giggle at his goofiness.

            “This is your second time dancing with a dragon… what do you think?” Titus lifted his chin and straightened his shoulders back as he tried to look dignified.

            Rhea giggled. “It feels like dancing with anyone else. How about you? This is your first-time dancing with a fairy… werewolf.”

            “Hmmm… I guess it’ll have to do.” He teased. “I don’t sense your werewolf part of you though. I can feel it from your parents… but I can’t feel it from you… well it’s there only really faint.” Titus studied her eyes curiously. He saw a flash of sadness flicker over them but it had disappeared quickly.

            “That is probably because I haven’t shifted yet. I… well it feels like my wolf is there but having trouble surfacing. I’m not sure what it is… I guess she will come through when she is good and ready.” Rhea did feel a little bad about not having her wolf, but there really wasn’t anything she could do about it. She looked up at Titus who seemed to be studying her. He was looking at her like he was putting a puzzle together. She was curious as to what he was thinking.

            “We will have to see about waking that wolf of yours up soon. After all, you need her around. Without her… your mate could be right in front of you… dancing with you… and you wouldn’t even notice.” Titus smirked and twirled her around again.

            Rhea laughed. “Are you implying you’re my mate?” She watched Titus grin widely.

            “You’ll have to find that out for yourself.” Titus winked at her and then pulled her close to his chest. He leaned his head down pressing his lips close to her ear. “Even without your wolf though… you would probably feel something. Don’t you think?”

            Rhea felt his hot breath on her sensitive skin sending electric jolts down her body. Even being in the warmth of his arms she felt her body shiver. There was something about him, but she didn’t know what was different about him. She did not know how she would feel if she was around her mate. She never had a boyfriend before and was not sure what feelings she should feel. She knew she was attracted to him, but she was attracted to Lee too. That doesn’t mean one of them is her mate. Right?

            “So, what is it like for dragons when you find your mate? Do you also have a link that tells you someone is your mate?” Rhea leaned back a bit out of is intimate hold so that she could look up to his eyes.

            “Yes. It is similar with werewolves except your wolves tell you who your mate is. Us dragons know for ourselves. Sometimes we know long before our mate knows. When this is the case, we usually wait for them. We want them to choose us as well. It is more special then just being told ‘I am your mate’. You want them to feel the connection to you as well. Then…” Titus pulled her close to him again as he continued to slowly dance to the music. “When our mate also recognizes us, we marked each other so that everyone knows we are taken.”

            “That is similar with werewolves. Though not all female wolves mark their mates… it just depends on the wolf. So… how does it work with dragons if you meet a mate that isn’t a dragon? Obviously, wolves have mixes but do dragons?” Rhea never heard of a part dragon before. She felt Titus stiffen and frown.

            “There aren’t any mix races with dragons. It sort of isn’t allowed or permitted. It is the unspoken rule. Dragons stick with their own kind. They keep the blood pure. Dragons who find other mates with another race tend to pair up with like dragons. Two dragons who found improper mates would pair up together in order to protect the gene pool…” Titus sighed and then smiled at Rhea. “I think it is silly though. Why deny yourself of your mate? Who wants to torture themselves like that? I know I don’t. It takes a lot of self-control to stay away from your mate. Who wants to do that on a permanent basis?”

            “I cannot imagine it. I agree I think it is silly. My mother’s original pack… my uncles pack, used to be like that. They didn’t like my mother because she wasn’t a pure werewolf. She was isolated and left out. She said no one wanted to be around her and she never was around others socially. It wasn’t until she got with my father that things changed for her. My Uncle Aaron and my Aunt Cadence changed that. There are now several members of their pack that have other races as their mate. It is finally becoming like all the other packs… It is a shame. My mother never should have had to experience such isolation… she is a wonderful person.” Rhea frowned thinking about her mother. It must have been so painful being unwanted. All because of the elitist attitude of the Silver moon pack. Thank goodness it isn’t like that anymore. Now no one else there will ever have to go through something like that.

            “That is a shame. Your mother is a very special person. She comforted me as a child and then shocked the heck out of me when she didn’t burn from my touch. I had the biggest crush on her. She gave me my first kiss right on my forehead. It is safe to say that I was enamored with her.” Titus smiled as he thought back to when he met Lilly. She left a lasting impression on his heart. He credited her to the reason he was so open with other races. She was the first person who reached out to him. The fairy princess treated him as an equal and not just a lord. She didn’t try to gain anything from him. Everyone else always wanted something from him or to be close to him because he was someone of power. He only had a handful of people that he truly trusted. Everyone else he knew just wanted to be near a position of power. Dragons were a powerful race… but Lilly never did push her meeting with him. She never tried to use that to get a foot hold in. He barely knew her, but he trusted her. Just like Rhea. He was instantly connected to the beauty in front of him.

            “I hope I become a person like her.” Rhea said absentmindedly it was more to herself then to anyone.

            “What makes you think that you aren’t?” Titus looked down at her gently as the music stopped.

            “I’m not yet… but I hope to be one day.” Rhea smiled up to him confidently. She couldn’t compare herself to her mother yet. Her mother had a lot of time to get to where she was, but one day… one day she hoped to be someone to be admired like her.

            “Maybe I am bias… but I already see it in you.” Titus winked at her causing her to blush as he led her off of the dance floor.

            “I think you are a hopeless flatterer.” Rhea smiled and rolled her eyes playfully at Titus.

            “No, I think you are very special Rhea.” Titus looked into her blue pooling eyes. They were captivating. They drew you in like an inviting body of water. “You can do it Rhea… you will be able to do what has never been done.” Titus had a proud gaze as he looked down at her. She would be the one. She would be able to bring the dragon world out of the past. Just like the Silver Moon pack… it was time for things to change in the dragon realm.  Rhea would be the one to do it.

            “Thank you, Titus. I appreciate that you think so… if that is what you really think. I still think you are just being shameless.” Rhea was trying to figure out Titus’s personality. When was he being serious and when was he just being a flirt? Another good thing about spending time in dragon country… soon she would know Titus. She would be able to understand his personality and exactly what kind of person he is.

            Titus’s lips curved up and he winked at Rhea. “Come on beautiful. I’ll show you to your room… it’s getting late and I am sure you are tired from the long day you have had… Unless you don’t want to sleep by yourself. It being your first night about and all. I will gladly share my bed with you.”

            Rhea smiled and shook her head. “My room will do just fine.”

            “Okay… but the offer is on the table... or the bed as the case may be." Titus smiled as he squeezed her shoulder, gently leading her inside.