“We’re a little different.”
“Like that movie star who was so locked up in his fears that he couldn’t recognize his mate? What’s his name, the one who does all the films likeThe Dragon Days of SummerandKissed by a Dragon?”
“No, no.” Earth dragons are frustrating. “I’ve sent us off down the wrong path. We’re not from this realm. Our power comes from our homeland. A long time ago, a great seer said a descendent son of Aurora would have a great thunder with a human female.”
“And you’re the grandson of Aurora.”
“I’m the great-great-great-grandson of Aurora. But seers make mistakes. And it might not be me. Perhaps it’s my dragonet, or my sister Aisling’s dragonet.” And that’s the real reason we’re ready to stop looking for a mate. How long do we have to wait?
36
RAINE
The things and oddities I’ve picked up on are adding up. I’ve had a hunch for a long while. “I’m not here because I got the job for your collection. You don’t want me here for my expertise with art but as a potential mate? Are you insane?” I stand and thud over to him. “Well, what do you need to do? If it’s not smell, what is it? Do you need to check under my hood? Kick my tires? But that’s already been done, hasn’t it?” Isn’t it supposed to be instant? Isn’t that whatShifterTodaytalks about? Isn’t that what Wren says? She knows a lot about them. Being a lead crew member, she says a good portion of passengers in first class are always shifters.
“You’re upset.”
“Yes, shouldn’t I be? I was brought here under false pretenses. I signed a contract for a job as the head of collections for Cloud Rift. And now I’m just avessel.”
His head snaps back like I’ve slapped him. Well, good. He should know how it feels to be disrespected.
I sit down and stand back up. “Well, I’m clearly not your mate, so I can just go, then. I’ll pack my things.” I think about lugging my mostly hand-me-down clothes back across the world. “Actually, you can donate them. I’ll get my passport and—” My stomach flips. My mother was right. Not only am I not wanted for my skills as an art curator, but I’m not their mate. I want to bolt, get out of here as fast as possible.
“Raine, please.” His arms are wrapped around his waist.
“Please what, Kieren? I’m not your mate—you know that. Your dragon clearly knows that. He wanted to eat me—and not in a good way.” My cheeks flush remembering Roark.
“No, he wanted me to touch you. He was angry that I hadn’t listened to his demands, and he took over.”
I step near him. “So touch me. Go on. Get it over with, then you can let me go home with my non-existent tail between my legs.”
“Raine... Raine, Raine,” he says, going from tender to a growl.
“Go away, come again some other day.” I turn to the door. I’m being a child. I hate that nursery rhyme. I was teased and bullied with it as a kid on the playground. And in my own pain, I’ve turned it on myself. Awesome.
“Please let me finish. You’ve come a long way.”
My shoulders slump. I wanted this to be my chance. To prove to my parents and myself that I can take care of myself. That I can make it on my own. Not living in Wren’s crash pad apartment.
I pivot. I push out the hurt of being treated like a child again. “Three questions?”
“I will answer any you have.”
“Go on. Why six months?”
“Because it has taken up to six months for a human to experience the lightning before.”
“Lightning. Is that how you know your mates?”
“Yes.”
“Follow-up question: are there a lot of humans living in your... realm?”
“Not a lot but a few.”
“Why me? How did you find me?”
“Leopold’s brother knows a seer who does this sort of thing, making matches a lot. He says she is unstable but good at what she does.”
