“You can’t be serious. You tried to pick her up with your talons.” The real problem is we all can feel how much she means to us. We know she’s our thunder mate. I know it with every ounce of my being. But even if she never has her lightning, I don’t care. I want her as our mate. No one else could ever make me feel the way she does. And that’s saying a lot, because when I think about it, I really don’t think I wanted a mate. Dragonets? They’re just another person to let down. Another person I’ll leave alone when I die. No, I didn’t want a thunder. But I have one now, and she will be in it.
“That was months ago. We have to do everything we can to let her know how much we trust her. How much we want her. How special she is. Only then will her lightning take place. It’s the only answer,” Evander says.
“You know that for a fact?” I growl. “Because I don’t. I don’t know why in the hell it’s taking so long. The two of youhad the lightning just by walking next to each other. I hated you on sight but still had the lightning.”Fucking annoying first yearswas the thought as I passed out.
“Well, you can’t tell me there’s no reason for it. We can all feel her.” Evander slaps me on my back. Percy and the butler are scurrying past us into Cloud Rift, arms full of bags.
Percy stops at the door. “Mr. Lang?” he asks.
“Yes,” I say. Tension rolls off Kieren. But I’m under control now. Raine was correct. Being jealous of Percy wasn’t logical, but my dragon isn’t a logical beast.
“Are you aware that Miss Fischer becomes queasy in the backseat of a moving vehicle?”
“No,” Kieren answers for us. “But thank you for letting us know. Have you and Blanche had a vacation recently?”
“No, sir.”
“I’ll speak to Leopold.”
“Thank you.” He leaves with bags of plastic pumpkins.
I wince. “She was carsick. I should go talk to her.”
“No. Go cool off. I’ll talk to her.” Evander leaves me with Kieren.
“My parents are at it again.”
“What now?”
“They’re anxious for Raine to have the lightning. I’m not sure we can hold them off the whole six months.”
“Shit. Let’s claim her now. Tonight. The waiting is killing me. I want her, you want her, Evander wants her. Hell, Evander’s probably pulled her clothes off already.”
“They won’t accept a human without the lightning.” Kieren shakes his head, and a growl vibrates from him.
“I don’t care what they want. I know what I want. Her. Get your shit together, Alder.”
“They’re threatening to keep Aisling out of the academy until we have a mate and are ready to take over from them. They’ve moved her to the tower, permanently.”
“The tower.” Smoke spirals above my head, swirling into the sky.
62
EVANDER
Iknock on the door.
“Come in,” she says, her voice vibrating with tears.
“Raine.” I’m instantly next to her, but she holds up her hand. I stop.
“I don’t even know why I’m crying.”
“It’s a lot,” I say.
“Is it, though? Isn’t it? I’m living a fairy tale. In a castle. A castle filled with masterpieces. A castle filled with masterpieces and the three of you.”
“I’m not sure how I feel about you putting us last, but I get it.”
