Another message... the Firested clan. The fuckers. I add the data from one of our contacts in Greece.
I’ve disconnected the cameras in her suite. Not permanently, and not really disconnected. They’re recording directly to the system. Only if I open the feeds intentionally can I see them. Did I watch her searching for cameras on her third night in the castle? Yes, but that’s not the reason why I segmented them away from the other cameras. It felt wrong. Sure, she signed the NDA that gives us complete access to every part of her personal privacy, but it’s the lack of ability to tell her why she’s really here. After the second or third week, we’ve usually done the ceremony. We’re able to tell the full truth to the candidates.
Not all get the truth, though. There have been plenty who were overly attracted to the life of a lady in a castle, either already corrupted of character or easily led astray by the availability of money—those, we never told the whole truth to. Those, we let move along before their contracts were over.
While it can take six months for the bond to show in a thunder mate, it doesn’t usually. At least, that’s how my parents spoke of it. Theirs was mere days. Andscava, I’ve tried to forget the story of the three of them in the hayloft the night they met Mother. It’s not something a child wantsto know and not a story they want to hear over and over every time their fathers have too much Dragon Ale.
My finger hovers over the button for her suite, but I don’t turn it on. Instead, I watch the saved recording of her walking from the dining room to the collection. How she stands in the doorway looking at the room for a minute or two. The same thing every day, until she moves to the alcove, turns on the computer, and studies a small painting underneath the hidden camera before sitting down to work once the computer is booted up. She’s up and down all day. In an hour or two, her smooth hair will be piled on top of her head in a ponytail.
Evander was supposed to be back today. But it’s after lunch and the portal hasn’t opened.
I’ve got an ink appointment later today that I need to cancel. I’m not leaving Raine in the castle by herself. I move from the computer to the sofa under the window and check in with my phone. A few minutes of quality blocking on my phone, and I can stop the incessant round of dinging in my pocket.
Only, it’s not the local bistro with a high-tech kid pushing their latest version of Rõsti with bacon in it. It’s Raine. It’s a group message to all three of us.
Raine: I have made progress with the collection. On Monday, there is going to be a delivery of conservation-grade cabinets, so there will be a large truck arriving. Just wanted to let you know.
I stare at it. The three of us decided it was best we all avoid her until we can have the ceremony. Not that I blame Evander for kissing her. Fuck, if I’d gotten to her first, I would have done the same thing. The adrenaline. My sheeranger at Kieren. After Evander landed, my dragon grabbed Kieren by his talon and threw him into the side of the mountain. Trying to knock some sense into him, as my father used to say.
Me: Who is unloading this truck?
Raine: The delivery company.
Me: We will do it.
Raine: They install them. It’s important they’re level, or they won’t roll on the tracks properly.
My blood heats. I don’t want anyone around her.
Me: I will be there to supervise them.
It’s better, but I don’t want her anywhere near them. It’s the reason why the staff has been told to stay clear. They’ve always known to stay clear of candidates. Granted, after a few weeks, when it starts to become clear they aren’t the one, things loosen up. But with Kieren unable to perform the damn ceremony at the moment, it’s not something we can risk.
Raine’s not like other candidates. When I think about her, my brain buzzes. Something’s not right, though. It’s like it’s her but it’s not her. There’s a part of me that wonders if it’s because I’m thinking of her as the last candidate. Either way, I can’t have a bunch of males around her in my space. Right now, my dragon can barely tolerate Kieren being around her, so he’s giving her and me space.
A plan begins to form.
I step out into the hall. Yes, there’s a ball rope to pull to summon Leopold, but I fucking hate it. It’s taken me enough time to come to grips with having an ancestral. My family line has one, but they serve my second cousin’s thunder. If Kieren hadn’t had one already, they might have made the choice to serve our thunder, being that I’ll end up having more needs. But we’ve got Leopold.
I march through the atrium to the dining room and almost run into the ancestral.
“You needed me?” Leo asks. He doesn’t need to. Because he knows full well I have a favor to ask him. They always do.
22
RAINE
Iblink at Leo. “But the truck is coming tomorrow.”
“I understand, Miss Fischer. That must be frustrating.”
“It’s not your fault, Leo. I thought I had completed all of my work papers properly. My dad’s an attorney. And I always make sure I read everything thoroughly. I’m so sorry for making this mistake. And it has to be done tomorrow?”
“It was the only appointment I could get you.”
“Well, thank you for trying.” I sink into my desk chair. “I mean, thank you for getting the appointment for me at all. I really appreciate it.”
“Percy will be waiting for you at six a.m.”
