She’s definitely my mate, no doubt about it, I tell Vyn and Malek through our bond. For the first time in my life, I’m agonizing over what to wear as I rummage through my closet.

Rebecca’s in my house, in my lair, and she’s letting me take care of her. It feels incredible, like something inside of me has clicked into place. She must be feeling the mating bond too.

It’s tentative right now. The wooing will strengthen it, and then when we first join our bodies, it’ll be sealed. There’s still a whole ceremony that we’ll have to go through with my family to make it all official but that’s not what matters to me. What matters is winning her over and claiming her the way that my body, my very soul, aches to do.

Congratulations, Vyn says. He sounds a little… not disappointed, but melancholy.

What’s wrong? I ask.

I can practically feel Vyn shrugging. It’s nothing. Just. Y’know. At least when none of us had our mates we were all in this together.

Ah. He’s not envious of me finding a mate. He’s worried about losing me. This won’t change anything, Vyn. You’ll find your mate. And we’ll still be working together every day.

I know that. It’s just… different. Strange.

Malek grunts through the bond. How someone can actually manage to convey a grunt telepathically, I don’t know, but Malek has figured it out.

What do I wear? I ask. I’ve got a couple of button-up shirts but I usually save those for when we go to see Mom and Dad. It’s important to dress up when visiting your elders. It’s a sign of respect.

Blue, like your eyes, Malek says.

Green, it’ll contrast your eyes well and bring the color out, says Vyn.

I hold up a green shirt and a blue shirt. Fuck.

Wow, you really want to impress this girl, Vyn notes, sounding a bit smug. Maybe you should’ve gone out with me to the bar all those times you turned me down, after all.

I don’t think picking women up in bars would’ve helped, Vyn. This one’s… she’s different.

Oh? Vyn sounds more cheerful now. Tell me more.

I’d glare at him if he was here in person. It’s just… she has no family, and she’s very… prickly. I don’t think she’s had an easy time of it. She doesn’t even have any friends. And, she’s maybe 27, 28 and still a virgin.

Isn’t it a good thing that she’s a virgin?

Well, yes, that reinforces that she’s my mate, but doesn’t that say something else, too? I mean, from what I gather, she isn’t saving herself for marriage or anything. I think she’s just never had anyone close enough to… to want to to… y’know…

Wow, Xerxes is too shy to say ‘sex’, I never thought I’d see the day.

I decide on the green shirt. Vyn might annoy the hell out of me but he’s picked up plenty of women. It’s practically his hobby. He knows how to present himself, how to make himself look attractive. Malek’s got common sense but literally no idea what women like or even really how to talk to one, so. Green it is.

I just want to take care of her, that’s all.

The silence that I get through the bond is ominous.

...what?

Nothing, Malek says, too quickly.

What.

It’s… you like her. We all knew the bond will draw us to our mates physically. I didn’t think it would be emotional too.

I wait for Vyn to pipe in as well with some kind of joke about ‘wham bam thank you ma’am’ but Vyn’s silent as well.

...Vyn?

Yeah. I’m here. I just. What Malek said.

Then I realize. This must terrify them.

Malek’s never had a girlfriend or anything. He’s large, heavily muscled, and women find him attractive, no doubt about that, but I think women intimidate him. Communicating with people in general intimidates him. When a woman comes onto him, he seems to have no idea what to do. He usually just grunts and glowers intimidatingly until she gets the message and goes away. Add emotion into the mix, and he must be sweating bullets.

Vyn’s slept with dozens of women. He’s a charmer and a flirt and genuinely likes women, but of course, he has no idea what it is to have feelings beyond sexual attraction and vague friendship with one.

The idea that they’re not just going to desire to mate physically with their mate, they’re going to fall deeply for her as well must terrify them.

I have to admit, it terrifies me.

When I pictured finding my mate, I always imagined that it would be some instant connection for both of us. That she’d know at once, the way that I would. That we’d find some private place and complete the bond with her deflowering. Hole up in my lair for a few days, I figured, have a proper fucking marathon. After that, I’d introduce her to my family, once she was pregnant.

It hadn’t occurred to me that it might go any other way. Sex, instant connection, babies.

Now, I’m emotions have overtaken me a lot sooner, and a lot differently, than I had planned.

I don’t just want to sleep with Rebecca, although I do want that very badly. My body’s crying out for her and it’s so hard not to just walk over to her and kiss her, wrap my arms around her, spend every second of the next few hours—days—weeks—pleasuring her.

And, I also want to talk more to her. I want to find out everything there is to know about her. I want to hold her and caress her, and comfort her. I’m not completely ignorant. I’m aware that people who push other people away like she does have deep scars from their past. I want to find anyone and everyone who has ever hurt her and tear them limb from limb.

I can’t allow my brothers to sense my fear and confusion. I must set a good example. If I freak out about my mate now, neither of them will be urged to find theirs. And I’m not going to let that happen. This is a literal matter of life and death. And I can’t fail my family.

It feels good, I tell them, focusing on the positive. When she came to my lair it felt like a puzzle piece was filling the emptiness that I didn’t know was there.

Poetic, Malek grunts.

It feels right to be around her, I insist. And she smells delicious. Like home. It’s not scary at all. I feel happy, and didn’t even know that I had been sad.

I’m withholding judgment, Vyn says. I can sense that Malek is pleased by the idea. I think it’s because, underneath all his growling, he just wants someone who’ll love him as he is, without trying to change him into the talkative, sociable person he’s not. But Vyn’s still resistant.

I can’t force Vyn to change his mind. I’ll just have to lead by example. And that starts with wooing Rebecca and convincing her that she’s my mate.

Any ideas what to do? I ask. How do I woo her?

Presents, Malek says.

I do have plenty of beautiful treasures hidden in my lair. We’ve accumulated many treasures over the centuries, including jewelry. I don’t wear any jewelry myself, but I’ve always collected pieces because, well, I’m a dragon. I’m attracted to jewels and metals, sparkly things, shiny things, valuable things. I especially like art.

I can give some of that to Rebecca.

Feed her, Vyn says. Kill a deer for her or something.

There’s many deer around here with the fire, I point out.

Find some way to show off your hunting skills. Also, walk around shirtless.

Did that. I smile when I remember how Rebecca stared at me, heat in her eyes no matter how she tried to hide it. She’s attracted to me, even if she doesn’t yet understand why or how it’s so strong. It was all I could do not to preen under her gaze. It’s innate for us to want to show ourselves off to attract our mates. I can’t wait until I can transform in front of Rebecca, show her my true form, impress her with my scales and wings. As a biologist, I’m sure she’ll be impressed.

One step at a time, though.

Do it some more, Vyn replies. You have to keep reminding her of what you have to offer.

I suppose that’s fair. But I’ll wear a shirt to start. I can’t stay long right now, anyway, I have to get back to the fire.

By the way, Malek says, service roads are out. We’re stuck up here for now.

How convenient, Vyn says gleefully. Looks like fate is on your side today, brother.

Rebecca’s not going to be pleased to hear that, but it’s not like I can stop the fire completely. If it has blocked the service roads, then she’s just going to have to stay here.

First, I put on a shirt. Then, I remove the false bottom to one of my drawers and extract a gold necklace with several small opals in it, which I think will complement Rebecca’s complexion beautifully. It’s delicate, so it should fit her well. Rebecca’s got a delicateness to her that arouses every protective instinct in me, and this necklace has a delicate style that will suit her.

I exit the bedroom to find Rebecca studying the book titles on my shelves. I smile. “You can take a look in the library, if you want. Read anything you’d like.”

Rebecca jumps, and I see her eyes widen a little as she takes in my new outfit. “Little fancy for fighting a fire, wouldn’t you say?”

I spread my arms out a little, showing off. “I take it that means you think I look nice.”

Rebecca blushes, turning back to the shelves as though she’s trying to ignore me. “When are you taking me into town?”

“About that, uh, turns out the service roads are closed, so you’ll have to stay here for a day or two until we get the fire under control and the roads working again. You should shower. I’ve got to go help out with the fire some more, but I’ll be back shortly.”

Rebecca’s eyes narrow with suspicion. “And how am I supposed to know you didn’t just make that up?”

“I have Wifi.” I walk over to the kitchen, grabbing a Post-It note and writing down the Wifi name and password. “You can look it up if you don’t believe me. Help yourself to anything you want while I’m gone.”

I open the fridge to show her the food I’ve got stocked in there. “I have everything. There’s steak, burgers, bacon, all of it.”

“You eat a lot of meat,” Rebecca notes.

“You’re not a vegetarian, are you?” I ask.

She shakes her head, a thoughtful look on her face. “No, but haven’t you ever heard of clogged arteries?”

I smile, but I really do have to go. “Here, this is for you.”

I present the necklace, and reach out to put it around her neck.

Rebecca takes a step back, staring at it. “What?”

“It’s for you. A present. The color goes well with your skin tone and eyes.”

Rebecca stares at me like I’ve grown a second head. “No offense—actually, I don’t care if you take offense or not—we met what, an hour ago? Two hours? You’re giving me presents? No. Just, no. I’m not accepting that.”

I can feel myself deflating. I hadn’t realized that my mate refusing a gift would hurt so much. I feel as though I’ve been struck hard, and not in a good way. But, I can’t apologize, I’m doing what I’m supposed to do. I’m giving her gifts, showing off my wealth to her. What woman doesn’t like jewelry?

Rebecca raises an eyebrow. “Don’t you have a fire to fight? I’m pretty sure that’s a bit more important than pawning off a necklace your last girlfriend left behind in hopes of getting laid or something.”

A growl builds in the back of my throat before I can stop it. “I’ve had no girlfriend. This necklace has been in my family for generations,” I tell her.

Rebecca looks taken aback at that. “Then why the hell are you giving it to me?”

I want to tell her. I want to tell her that the necklace is nothing, a small token. I would give her piles of treasure. Everything I own I would give her. I want to tell her why, too, that she’s more valuable to me than any of it, that she’s my mate. But I don’t think, biologist or no, that she’d take the whole dragon thing very well yet. She won’t even accept a small gift.

I can’t tell her right now, when I can’t act on it the way that I want to. I’d have to spend time explaining. Something as important as announcing that we’re mates requires a special touch. Maybe roses? A steak dinner? Definitely a steak dinner. That’s how it’s done in movies. Women appreciate a steak dinner with candles.

Then, of course, if all goes well...

What I can’t do is just tell her and then leave. Not when it’s something so important. We’ll have to talk when I get back from my shift. We’re rotating so that none of us gets too exhausted.

“I would really appreciate it if you would accept it,” I tell her. I set the necklace down on the bookshelf. “I’ll be back when my shift ends. You’ll have food and wifi, and the shower. Anything. Anything you want in this place, it’s yours. Treat it as though it’s your home.”

Because it is your home, I want to add. My lair is yours. My everything is yours.

The very idea of the scent permeating my lair, of my mate happy, makes me want to roar in triumph.

Rebecca just watches me suspiciously as I shoulder my gear and head out again. She’s stubborn, I can see that. I like it. I’m pretty stubborn myself, and I wouldn’t want a mate that would just let me walk all over her. I’ll win her over eventually.

I just have to pull out all the stops.