Page 44 of Sanctuary with a Dragon
It’s mostly because Riggs is giving respect to Alaric as the new shifter king, and to you as his mate,Elandor explained.With shifters we don’t like anyone near ourmates because their scents get mixed in with our mate’s, and it bothers the animal half of them.
But you’re very sentient, and I thought mythical shifters were different?
We are, but it’s a closely guarded secret. With most shifters, he would be doing the exact right thing. For me, as long as he’s not being inappropriate toward you, I’m fine.
Shouldn’t that be up to me to determine?I wasn’t trying to be difficult, but sometimes being the chosenmateof a shifter felt like I was losing my autonomy.
Alaric’s attention jerked toward me, cutting off whatever Alpha Riggs had been saying. He looked startled.You feel like you are losing yourself?Elandor asked gently, likely repeating what Alaric was thinking.
I clutched the strap of my backpack tighter until it gently bit into my skin.Kind of. It’s nice, the care and companionship, but I feel sometimes as though I’m the completion to someone else’s person, and not a person in my own right. Not that...I sighed.I’m sorry. I don’t think I’m explaining this well.
Would you mind talking about this with us later?
I shrugged.I don’t mind, but I don’t know what good it will do if it’s hard for evenmeto understand what I’m feeling.
Meanwhile, Alpha Riggs was staring at us as though we were collectively the Tooth Fairy and the Easter Bunny. “Forgive me,” he said, blinking in astonishment, “but were you communicating mind to mind prior to...” He trailed off, perhaps realizing that hisquestion was too personal and therefore inappropriate.
I didn’t mind, though. I had a sense about people, and this guy seemed to be a good one. “I can communicate with Alaric’s dragon telepathically, and then Elandor communicates that with Alaric. Alaric and I can’t talk directly. At least, not yet.”
Alpha Riggs paled. “I hadn’t realized...” His voice had a pleasant gravelly sound to it. He shook his head. “Please come in. I’ll show you to your rooms.”
I followed, looking around in interest. Once you got through the front door, it opened immediately into the living room, which was set up with cozy-looking chairs and couches. Above us, I could see the railing for the second floor, with the access stairs just to my left. Alpha Riggs trod up the stairs and I dutifully followed, with Alaric on my heels. He led us to a room on the back of the second floor, and opened the door.
The inside was beautifully decorated in sage green and pale honey oak. It again, opened directly into a living area, with a small kitchenette to the left, and two doors leading to what I assumed were bedrooms at the back.
“There are two master suites in here. I assumed, Prime, that you would want Everly to be close.”
Alaric nodded. “I do. Thank you. When you have a moment, I would like to speak with you.”
Alpha Riggs nodded, as if he’d expected the request. “My office is just before the stairs, on thisfloor.”
“Let me get Everly settled and I’ll meet you there.”
Alpha Riggs left us then, and Alaric immediately turned to me. “I’m sorry, Everly, if I’ve ever made you feel like you don’t matter.” He sounded both weary and heartbroken, and I almost flinched at the pain in his green eyes.
I reached out and laid a hand on his warm forearm. “I think part of it is me. I’m used to my life being very small, and your life...”
“Isn’t,” he finished for me.
I nodded.
“Is that... a dealbreaker for you?”
I thought about it.Wasit a dealbreaker? I set my backpack down on the kitchenette table, and slumped down onto the couch. Alaric followed.
“Before I tackle that answer, does my being sick bother you?”
“It only bothers me because you’re sick and in pain and I can’t fix it.”
I shook my head in frustration. I wasn’t sure he was thinking about this clearly. “I will be sick for a while, Alaric. Possibly after we’re... mated or whatever. That means I will be sick as your queen. Think about what that means. I would struggle to be the queen you and your people need. Also, don’t certain animals pick off the weakest and the sickest of a herd?”
His eyes blazed with what looked like literal flames. “If anyone dares to lay a hand onyou they will lose their life, no exceptions,” he said angrily, then the flare of heat in his eyes dimmed. “You will be protected.”
I bit my lip. “What about the day-to-day stuff?”
He reached out and took my hand, rubbing circles with his thumb over my knuckles. “Even if you never get better, I would still want you to be my mate. Whatever you can and cannot do is immaterial to who youare.You’re enough, just as you are. This is true even if you never decide to be my mate. You as a person, as Everly, are exactly right to be the shifter queen, and I would feel like the luckiest man in the world if you consented to be with me.”
“It will be inconvenient for you at times,” I tried to warn. And in so many ways. It was difficult to understand for the person in a relationship with someone who was sick, but my illness would make things difficult for Alaric. There would be times I would be too weak to do much. There would be conversations that might get a little confusing and frustrating for him because I couldn’t think clearly. I needed a wheelchair some days because my body couldn’t stand easily. These were all things he needed to take into consideration.
