Page 19 of The Dragon's Gambit
“Yeah? Well, between you, Chasen, and Hunter, there wasn’t anyone approaching me. I had to go to dances with my cousin Winston, because no one else would ask me since they were afraid of you guys.” Reiya pouted and furrowed her brows.
“Nice job keeping her ladyship safe and untainted.” Xander smiled back, commending Brody for his efforts.
“Hmmph, don’t think I did it for your benefit,” Brody growled in minor annoyance.
“Yep, we’re going to be good friends. Come on little bear, I’ll show you to your room.” Xander walked out of the room and Brody followed, grumbling behind him.
Reiya giggled and looked at Lee. “I think they will actually become good friends.”
Chapter 12 Flirting Games
Lee walked up to Reiya and sifted his hand through her silver hair. “Reiya, if I’m not around, I want you to be with Brody or Xander at all times. We have four different kingdoms allgathered here, and more are coming in. Just like with all kinds, there are always a few bad eggs. I want you to be safe.”
Reiya leaned her head onto his chest, feeling his heat beneath her. “Why don’t you just make sure you’re around at all times, then?” A small smile raised on her mouth. She was openly teasing a deity, and was probably one of the very few—if not the only person—that could get away with it.
He let out a low chuckle and bent his head down next to hers. “You don’t think you’d get tired of me being around you constantly?” His breath was hot, and his voice was low.
Reiya’s heart quickened and her body tensed up under him. If this was a battle, he was already winning. She never was one who liked to lose, though. She leaned her head up to him and drew herself on her tippy toes so that she could reach his ear. “I didn’t get tired of you last night. In fact, I’m open to you joining me every … single … night.” It was small, but she was certain she felt a minor shudder from the man beneath her fingertips. She’d never been this bold before. Maybe she was a little serious.Okay, fine.She was totally serious. Only an idiot wouldn’t offer themselves up on a silver platter for this deity to feast upon. She’d be his breakfast, lunch, dinner, dessert, midnight snack ... heck, she would be a buffet table that he could partake of whenever he wanted.
“There are some games you shouldn’t engage in.” She detected a certain hoarseness in his voice. His eyes looked at her with an unreadable haze over them, and his breathing may or may not have become a bit heavy.
Reiya pulled back and shrugged her shoulders while smiling at him. “Who said I was playing a game?” His light blue eyes looked darker as he stared at her. A small glint of something streaked over them.
He closed the small gap between them and held her possessively. “I don’t mind the teasing and games, Reiya, but Ido want you to know this. I wouldn’t try these same games with anyone else … not unless you want them dead.”
“Oh? What does that mean, exactly?” Reiya wasn’t sure how she felt about this new possessiveness about him.
“Reiya …” His hot breath fanned her cheek. “I’m going to protect you, even if it also means protecting you from yourself.”
“Then, I guess I’ll have to protect you from yourself.” Reiya smirked and tilted her head up to him.
Lee chuckled and kissed her forehead. “But can you protect yourself from me?”
Damn.He did it again. She felt hot and flustered instantly. Her cheeks flushed and she felt her body weakening next to him.Don’t lose, Reiya. You started this game, now finish it!
“Maybe I don’t want to be protected from you.” Reiya stirred the hot coals in the fireplace. She could see by the change in his dilated pupils that she had affected him. He was holding her gaze, and she could feel the buildup between them.
Lee looked into her deep, pooling eyes, and a small smile formed on his lips. He reached out to her, cupping her chin in his hand. “The real problem is you don’t know what you want. Now, enough games, Reiya. Go and get your shower. I’m going to see to Xander and Brody.” Lee rubbed the back of his hand against her cheek before turning and leaving her.
Wait. She didn’t know what she wanted? What did that mean? Was he insinuating that she wasn’t serious about him and was just flirting? Was she being serious with him, or was this just a game she was playing with a very attractive man? No. This wasn’t just a game. She was attracted to him. He was the one who always treated her like a little sister. Or was he finally beginning to see her as a woman? Did any of that even matter, though? Even if he did see her as more, what would that do? She continued to realize something more and more. Without her wolf, she wouldn’t be able to find her mate, so she neededto decide something soon. She needed to decide how long she would wait for her wolf before choosing a partner for herself. She wasn’t sure when her fairy mate senses would develop, either. It didn’t always awaken at a certain age. Sometimes it took a while. Maybe humans did it right. They chose their partners. They met someone, developed a relationship, and fell in love. This didn’t seem to be such a horrible thing. Except for the fact that, deep inside of her, she did have a wolf, and somewhere out there, a mate.
“I think I’ll get that shower now,” she said to herself.
Reiya was freshly showered and very happy to be in her own clothes, having chosen a light blue sundress to wear. She double-checked herself in the mirror before she strolled out of her room. The hall was empty. She went and checked the rooms that belonged to the guys, but they were all vacant. In a mocking voice, she said, “Reiya, if I’m not around, I want you to be with Brody or Xander at all times.” She rolled her eyes. “I can’t help it if no one’s around.” She took her hand and pushed her hair behind her as she walked down to the main hall.
There were a few guards standing there, a couple by the main entrance, and a few more near the hall she just exited. She took a few more steps out into the open area. In the center of the domed room lay a magnificent red rug, its rectangular shape stretching out to fill the space. The ceiling towered several stories above, creating a sense of vastness and grandeur. The unique curvature of the dome gave the room a cavernous look, adding to its already impressive atmosphere. As her gaze swept up the towering walls, she couldn’t help but be struck by the sheer beauty and scale of it all. It truly took her breath away.
“You there.”
Reiya turned to see a man dressed in all purple striding toward her. She could tell that this man’s position held some importance by the way the guards straightened up as he approached. Then, she felt a bit annoyed. Was he referring to her as ‘you there’? She turned and faced the man, who walked up just a few feet in front of her. He looked to be about Xander's age, with red hair and green eyes. He might be a dragon, but it would be more appropriate to label him a snake.
“What is your business here?” the man in purple asked. Well, she thought it was supposed to be a question, but it sounded like an order.
“Oh? Are you someone not important enough to know what goes on here?” Sure, she was being a bit of a brat, but she did not like this man’s tone with her. Reiya might not have her wolf, but she had the tenacity of one.
The man snorted and glowered at her. “What is your relationship with the King of the West?”
Reiya smirked. “Oh, you mean Xander? I mean, I’m not sure I’m at liberty to say.” Reiya tapped her chin with her finger. “I think you were out here this morning when I came out wearing his clothes. I mean, if that isn’t telling enough, then I’m not sure what is.” She watched the man’s eyes widen. His mouth twisted, and the edge of his lips pulled back to expose a flash of teeth.
