Page 38 of The Dragon's Gambit
“I don’t see how it’s any of your business,” Reiya snapped back and crossed her arms defiantly. Her love bites were none of their business.
“It is if it was someone from the West Dragon Kingdom,” his voice hissed out with malice as he glowered down at her.
“Why? What’s the big deal? I hardly see how it’s any of YOUR business.” Reiya did not like this man one bit. She wanted nothing more than to engulf his body in a bubble of water and watch him struggle for air. Okay … she blamed her werewolf side for her violent nature.
“Quit playing games with me,” Clovis growled out.
A low growl rippled out beside Reiya. “Watch your tone with her,” Brody warned as he took an aggressive stance.
“You should be concerned, too! Don’t you care that your sister has been marked?!” Clovis cried out furiously.
Reiya’s eyes bulged out, and she coughed as she tried to catch her breath. Brody and Chelsie looked over her neck intently.
“This isn’t a mark. These are just … love bites,” Reiya whispered out the last words in embarrassment.
“Did you not consent to that? To be a mate?” Mason’s voice was calm but sounded a bit alarmed.
“This isn’t a mating mark,” Reiya insisted. It couldn’t be. If they only knew it was from Lee, they would understand. He wouldn’t have marked her. He didn’t mark her. To mark her would be to claim her as his mate. It just wasn’t possible.
“Hon, that mark is a dragon’s brand, a mating mark from a dragon. Look …” Ruby lifted her hair from her neck to reveal a similar looking but unique mark on her neck. A slight shade of red smeared over her cheeks as she lowered her hair back down. “Each dragon has their own unique mark they leave on their mate’s neck. They brand it to their neck with their heat. You’ve been marked, and by the look on your face, you didn’t know about it. Did someone force himself on you?” Ruby’s kind voice rang out as she looked over Reiya with concern. If someone took advantage of her new, dear friend, she wasn’t going to idly stand by.
Brody growled when he heard the idea that someone had forced himself on his sister. He put a protective hand on her shoulder. “Reiya, is everything okay?”
Reiya shook her head frantically. “It can’t be. It isn’t … it isn’t a mark. If I’m marked, that means …”
“It means you are that dragon’s mate. Who did this to you?” Clovis growled again. His fierce eyes were menacing.
There was just no way. Lee hadn’t marked her, right? He was a deity. Why would he mark HER, of all people? Not only that, but he didn’t even ask her if it was okay. Taking a mate was a permanent thing. To not ask her if she also wanted him as a mate felt a bit forced. This wasn’t the case, though. They were wrong … they had to be wrong.
“TELL ME!” Clovis growled out loudly, but they then heard a bellowing roar in the distance, behind them.
Everyone looked back to see Lee, Xander and Grandpa Sage walking in from outside. Xander made quick, authoritative strides to the group. He grabbed onto Reiya possessively and then pulled her body behind his. He turned to Clovis, his lethal gaze fixated on him.
“MINE.” Xander’s voice was a low growl, and his fangs were showing ever so slightly.
“My Lord … you … you didn’t … my Lord, did you mark her?!” Clovis’s eyes widened in shock.
“Why are you so surprised?” Xander continued with his deadly tone.
Wait, say what? Xander is claiming that he marked me?Reiya flashed her eyes quickly in Lee’s direction. He wasn’t even looking at them and seemed almost uninterested as he stared in another direction.What … the … hell. Wait. Does that mean he really did mark me? And now he’s forcing Xander to claim me? Ugh, I’m so confused.Reiya was angry and getting uncomfortable. She couldn’t understand everything that was unfolding right in front of her.
“Xander, you marked her but didn’t inform her you were taking her as your mate?” Mason leaned back on his heels, keeping his arm wrapped around Ruby. Reiya was the girl that had just given his life purpose again. He didn’t want her being taken advantage of. He was going to protect her like a little sister. She was his angel.
“It’s not like I forced myself on her, Mase. You know me better than that. We just ... haven’t had a chance to talk after the heat of the moment took over.” Xander cleared his throat and gave him a wry grin. He watched Mason nod his head knowingly. They were animals after all, and sometimes that instinct took over in the throes of passion.
“You do realize what you’ve just done,” Clovis almost whispered out.
Xander snorted at him. “And what is that? What have I just done? Changed tradition? Stepped up with the times? I stopped being an elitist. I’m following my feelings. Do you wish to challenge me on this?” Xander watched Clovis close his mouth tightly, shake his head, then lower it and walk away into the shadows. He had no intention of getting into a fight with Xander. He knew it would be a death sentence.
“Well, I can see the two of you need to talk. Maybe we can talk some more later, Reiya.” Mason tugged onto Ruby’s side and began to pull her away. She mouthed the words ‘thank you’ one last time before they also left, along with their little following.
Reiya stood there, a bit in shock. She was still standing behind Xander when she felt his hand gently tugging hers, snapping her attention to him. He smiled softly at her. “Come with me for a bit, Reiya. I think we need to talk.”
Brody growled and placed his hand on Reiya’s shoulder while staring at Xander. “You are not taking her anywhere until I have a moment to talk with her. If someone is playing around with my sister, they’re going to die.” There was no lightness in his tone. He was promising to deliver a swift judgement of death. Swift, sure, but merciful, no.
“Brody, everything’s okay. I think. Honestly, I’m pretty confused.” Reiya looked from Brody back to Xander, who looked almost sympathetic. Behind him, in her peripheral vision, she could see Lee and Grandpa Sage talking. Lee wasn’t even sparing her a second glance. It was like she was just some girl all of a sudden. Some girl among the many. This was when a sickening pit in her stomach formed. What if she was just another number? What if this was a game he played, where he marked mates just because he could? Okay, she knew she was getting ahead of herself. It was just that something about this entiresituation seemed off. She didn’t know what to think. She needed answers, and talking to Xander was at least the first step. “I’m okay. I want to talk with him.” Reiya looked back to Brody and lightly laid her hand on his. “Chelsie, keep him from getting into any trouble. I’ll come back to speak with you both soon.”
“You better. Babysitting Paddington here isn’t exactly my thing.” Chelsie grimaced as she looked at him.
