Rohan had taught me to be bold. And rude. But because I didn't like him I decided I didn't want to be like him. Rudeness was something that I learned to curb in school and from many of the polite and nice servants I'd had throughout my life. But the boldness? Not so much. That was what kept me going when things got bad, when I found out I was a set. I questioned it every which way with everyone who would listen, including my father. But somehow the way Rohan ruled and the way the laws worked in our community people were afraid to listen too much. They couldn't afford to agree with me. They might lose their jobs and their standing in society.
Stiff. Tall. Commanding. That was how Tane had seemed to me when he took me away in a limo to his plane. A man worlds apart from me. A dragon whose intentions had been invisible in his stoic but polite manner.
But outside under the morning sun in this garden, he wasn’t anything more than a man who had created his own little world. As if to escape something. To find his way out. Today he was not wearing a suit. He had on a white button up shirt and fancy jeans. Like someone far too ordinary to own all this.
I had decided I wouldn't let him intimidate me. And yet, I had nothing in my mental arsenal to battle my current situation. The world had won against me.
My curiosity wasn't about battles anymore. Which was why I couldn’t help but blurt the too personal question.
“Uh, yes. He’s not around.”
“I’m sorry if it’s prying.” Why was I apologizing? Ingrained manners went a long way even when everything else in my life had vanished. “You have a file on me but I never saw one on you. Will I meet him?”
“It makes sense why you’d ask. And no, you can’t meet him. He died many years ago. Malin was ten.”
I gulped, then said it again. “I’m sorry.”
“Thank you. It was a long time ago.”
Tane left it at that. I got no more explanation. For now. But my heart was beating harder. There was a heaviness I couldn’t place.
I turned my attention to the flowers, touching the ones that were the tallest coming up to my waist. They bent toward me as if they craved attention. I walked ahead of Tane. We came to a little wooden bridge that crossed a narrow section of the pond. It made an echoing sound as we walked over it. This was it. Like an accumulation of all my emotions at once. This little bridge was me crossing physically from one world and into another.
I tripped as we came back onto the path and caught myself just as I felt a hand grasp my upper arm.
“All right, there?”
“Sure. I don't know why I tripped.”
“Are you hungry?”
As if in answer, my stomach gurgled. After the meal on the plane, I had only eaten part of a sandwich last night. I was definitely ready for food.
“Let's go back,” Tane said.
In the dining room, a spread was already set out with covered dishes. Tane pulled out a chair for me and I sat. Then he surprised me by sitting down next to me. If it had been my father, he would have gone to the head of the table and that would have been that. He wouldn't have cared if people around him were uncomfortable or intimidated.
Tane wasn't like that. Which had not been my expectation. Wasn’t every rich guy with an angry son an asshole?
The scent of the food made my stomach grumble again. But Tane’s scent, like those fresh flowers from outside, spun through me. For a moment I was somewhere else. Breathing in deep.
Servants uncovered the dishes and began doling out portions onto our plates. I was asked my preferences. Confused, because I thought I myself was a servant, I wasn't prepared with an answer.
“Everything,” I replied.
Beside me, Tane chuckled. “You’re hungry. You missed dinner last night and I apologize for that. I thought you would be resting and settling in. I didn't want to disturb you.”
I kept having to remind myself. He hadn’t bought me for himself. He didn’t see me as his breeder, but the father of his future grandchildren.
“Thank you.” I picked up my fork and stabbed the steaming scrambled eggs. “I was pretty tired.” I took a big bite, my taste buds exploding with the flavor, and swallowed. “I was resting.”
“Good.” He also began to eat.
We ate for a few minutes in silence. Then Tane said, “You can fix your rooms upstairs however you want.”
“It’s already very nice.”
“Good to hear it.” He fiddled nervously with his napkin. “But you should do whatever you need to make yourself happy.”
