It wasn’t a strategy from him to do either.
Theodore King wasn’t human indeed. He hadn’t been lying. She realized that once they reached the estate and his hand had healed already.
To say she was stunned would be an understatement. To say she was now scared of him wouldn’t be a lie either.
But the feeling that out-powered the others was her fascination with him which had grown exponentially for some reason.
They walked in a surprisingly comfortable silence into the main building, and they met no one on their way to the master bedroom, for which she was glad. She wasn’t sure she wouldn’t spill the beans of what had transpired to the first person she encountered. And she had a feeling her dear boyfriend wouldn’t appreciate that much.
Once inside the master bedroom, he told her to sit on the bed while he washed the blood off his hand. She nodded at him and sat at once, her feelings and thoughts both all over the place.
“You were bound to find out, dorogaya,” he told her when he emerged from the bathroom. “I am not human. And the quick healing of this wound attests to it.”
“Yeah,” she uttered almost timidly. “I guess so.”
He had the decency not to chuckle at her. And he kept his distance from her as if he didn’t want to send her running for the hills.
“For someone who’s just been exposed to the supernatural world, you are disturbingly calm,” he said in a pensive tone.
“Oh, I’m not calm. I am freaking out on the inside. I just appear calm,” she admitted softly.
“But you’re not scared,” he countered with conviction to his words. “How come?”
“I don’t know,” she shrugged. “Maybe it’s the fact that I don’t think you’ll ever hurt me that keeps me sane.”
He smiled warmly at her. “You have that right, dorogaya. I would never ever hurt you willingly.”
“So, who was that man?” She asked, a frown marring her face no doubt.
“I don’t know him.”
“He seemed to know you,” she argued right back.
“Yes, every hired muscle-slash-gun should know their target, dorogaya,” he deadpanned.
Her blood froze at that, and she rose to her feet in alarm. “Why is that? Why do you have a target on your back?”
“I’m a dragon,” he said, sighed, and then rectified himself, “a dragon prince. I have always had a target on my back.”
“A dragon? And a prince?” Her eyes widened at that piece of information. “I thought you were a vampire or a werewolf… whatever, but never thought you’d be a prince. Should I start calling you your highness? I should, shouldn’t I?”
She was rambling despite her best efforts to remain calm, and he chuckled at that. “Please don’t. I’d much rather you call me Theo as usual.”
“But you’re a prince,” she argued.
“But I’m your prince,” he told her. She was about to protest when he took a few steps forward, put a finger on her lips and then said, “Call me however you see fit, dorogaya. Just don’t break my heart.”
“I have googled you,” she blurted out all of a sudden. “You only take the most refined women to bed. From celebrities to noble women…” she looked into his inquiring eyes, and carried on, “is there a particular reason why you bothered with little boring me?”
“You’re my mate,” he announced, his eyes soft and loving on her.
“What’s a mate?” She tilted her head to the side in open wonder.
“A soul mate,” he deadpanned.
Her eyes went wide like saucers at that. “Oh, wow.” She said, stunned beyond comprehension.
“You’re not asking for proof or anything,” he said in a perplex manner.
“And that is troubling because?” She countered, a pout on her mouth.
“Because you’re human.”
“But I trust you to always tell me the truth for some reason,” she told him in a murmur.
“You do?” He sounded incredulous.
“I do,” she nodded at him.
“Would you mind if I kiss you right now?” He asked in a soft whisper, her breath mingling with hers as he started leaning down.
“You never asked for my permission,” she said in a protest, even as she got up on her tiptoes and met him halfway.
** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** **
Emily, his sweet mate, took it so well, Theodore almost couldn’t believe it.
Fate had blessed him with such a loving and trusting mate that he feared for her at the court.
But all in due time. He shall not fret about things that had yet to happen.
When he asked her whether he could kiss her or not, it was only because he didn’t want to overwhelm her. But all things considered, she had taken it well.
And the most important thing of all, she wasn’t scared of him.
When the kiss came to an end, he pecked her lips once more, before telling her in a soft manner, “Would you mind spending the night with me, dorogaya?”
“Why?” Now, she looked like a scared little rabbit.
“No funny business,” he quoted her words from the day prior. “I just need your proximity. I think I will be plagued with nightmares if you’re not by my side tonight.”
“Why is that?” She stroked his cheek softly.
“Because I feared for you back when you didn’t want to get into the damned car,” he admitted easily. “I would much rather die a thousand time than have you get hurt.”
“Why would you say that?” She said in a panicky tone. “Don’t say that! I need you very much alive.”
“You do?” He raised an eyebrow in question as a smirk played on his lips.
“I do,” she assured him. “You have awoken my slumbering feminine side, my sensuality… I can’t have you die so soon.”
“Am I but a means to extinguish the fire that burns within you?” He taunted.
“How can you say something so raunchy and yet in such a refined way?” She pouted at his eloquence.
“I’ve been around for a long time, dorogy,” he told her matter-of-factly.
She stilled. “How long exactly are we talking?”
He sighed. “2 centuries and change.”
“Wow!” She said, sounding almost amazed. “You’re old – dare I say, ancient?! The fun you must have had…”
He chuckled at her.
“2 centuries is a long time to spend without a mate,” he told her before pecking her lips anew. “I am happy I found you. I am never letting you go.”
The vow was both for himself and her.
“Never never?” She echoed after him incredulously. “We have not been dating nearly enough.”
“You were born to be mine, dorogaya,” he said. “You have no idea about what a mate represents.”
“Well, forgive my ignorance,” she said with a pout.
Oh, how he loved her sass!
“Not to worry, mate,” he stroked her cheek lovingly. “I’ll teach you all you need to know.”