Chapter Seven

Even through the helmet, raucous noise greeted him the moment Draven cut the engine. He parked the bike in the garage next to his car. If Kirk wanted it back, he could come and get it. Cortney handed him her helmet and stretched. Damn. All he wanted to do was pull her into his arms, and forget everything except getting lost in her body, and she wasn’t making it any easier by putting herself on display like that. Not that he’d complain. He loved everything about her body even if it did make his cock twitch and ache with need.

He’d spent the entire last leg of the trip reining his phoenix in, pulling it under control so that he could be with her and keep his word of giving her the time she needed. It wasn’t going to be easy, but he’d do it. He’d spent many lifetimes without her. Another day wouldn’t kill him. It would be damned uncomfortable with all his blood taking residence in his cock rather than in the rest of his body, but he’d manage.

“I wish I could save you from this,” he told her as he hit the button to close the garage door.

“Save me from what? You?” she asked as she reached behind her and rubbed her ass.

He groaned and stuck his hands in his pockets to keep from replacing her hands with his. “No, there will be no saving you from me. I meant from the people about to converge on us. Kirk will have told everyone that you’re on your way. They’ll want to meet their new Mistress.”

“What?” she screeched. “I’m not sold on having sex with you, I’m sure as shit not having an orgy with the rest of the clan,” she said, her hands up as though to ward Draven off.

It took a moment for her words to sink in. When they did, Draven threw his head back and laughed. The more he laughed, the deeper her frown became. If only she knew how adorable she looked when she was angry. He wouldn’t tell her so. He valued all his body parts too much for that, but it just made him want to cuddle her closer rather than run from her fury.

“You won’t be having sex with anyone other than me. Ever again,” he assured her. “Mistress is the title you hold as my mate, but for the most part, people will just call you by name.” He thought that would make her happy, but from the scowl she gave him, that wasn’t the right thing to say.

“That’s not been decided yet, now has it?”

“No, it hasn’t. You’re right,” Draven agreed, more to appease Cortney than because of his conviction. “I’m going to take you through the castle, but we’ll have to go outside and greet the Odyssey. Otherwise, they’ll come to us, and we don’t want that.”

“Why not?” she asked, the fight leaving her features, only to be replaced by worry.

He held his hand out to her, and to his amazement, she took it. “Only because it’ll be easier for us to get away when you’re ready for some quiet time if everyone isn’t inside.”

“So, they’re going to want to have a party?”

He shrugged. “They’ll want to get to know you. That’s all. At least you’ll have someone you know in the group,” he offered. Bringing Trista to the Odyssey had been a fantastic idea. Not only did they get to see if she was a match for any of their males, but Cortney wouldn’t feel so alone. It was a win-win in his books.

At the mention of her friend, her eyes brightened. “Okay, let’s go. I’m sure Trista is feeling a little out of her element out there by herself.”

He led her through his home, stopping at his bedroom door only long enough to drop her bag inside before taking her out to the front. They hadn’t made it two steps outside before Jasmine rushed over, getting a little too close for comfort.

Cortney took one look at her and then glared at him. What had he done now? He hadn’t even said a single word.

“Hi, I’m Jasmine,” the bubbly blonde announced and put her hand out for Cortney to shake. “Trista tells me that you’re Draven’s mate. Maybe now he won’t be so crotchety.”

Cortney looked at him again, her eyes narrowing, before turning to Jasmine. “I’m Cortney.”

“I know. Trista told us all about you. We’re thrilled to have you join us. I run the store down the street, so if you need anything, just let me know, okay? I’m sure Draven will let you put everything you want on his tab, right, Draven?”

As always, he had a hard time keeping up with the speed of the woman’s conversation. She was a whirlwind at the best of times, and it became almost ridiculous when she was excited as she obviously was right then. “Yes, of course. Anything she wants. Trista, too.”

He hadn’t even noticed Ry standing to his left until his second grunted and shook his head. His jaw worked as he ground his teeth and crossed his arms over his chest.

Draven looked at him, awareness of the tension radiating from the man seeping into him. “So, where is she?” he asked.

Ry looked ahead to where a bunch of men circled the petite woman. Holy shit. Trista’s aura vibrated all around her, hues of every different shade of blue surrounded her. Ry’s chest heaved with each breath he took. If he didn’t do something, the bulging veins in his friend’s neck would burst. “Hey, Jas, would you mind getting Trista for us? I’m sure Cortney would like to speak with her.”

The woman smiled. “Of course. I’m very pleased to meet you, Mistress. I hope you’ll be very happy here.”

“Thank you,” Cortney mumbled, her cheeks turning bright pink. “I thought you said they would call me by name,” she said as she watched Jasmine go.

“They will. Right now, it’s too new. Until they’re more familiar with you, they’ll address you according to your station, but that should settle after a while.”

A high-pitched scream came from where Trista had been. In a flurry of movement, the woman was rushing through the crowd toward them. “Holy shit, Cort. You live in a fucking castle now,” she said when she got close enough.

“I do?” Cortney grabbed her friend’s hand and pulled her right next to her.

“Didn’t you see it?”

She shook her head. “No, not really, we came in through the back. The trees blocked most of the view.”

Trista made a move to pull Cortney away from him. He had to stop them. Their mating wasn’t complete. Having her so close to so many unmated males without him by her side would infuriate the phoenix. “Hey, Trista, have you met Ryland?”

Trista looked at him for the first time since she’d come up on his doorstep. “No, I don’t think I have.”

Ry came up next to him, his body a lot less tense than it had been moments before. Trista looked over at him, and her mouth dropped open.

“Ry, this is Trista.”

“Pleased to meet you,” Ry answered as he took her hand and brought her knuckle to his lips.

“Well, hello, handsome,” the woman replied with a huge smile.

“Trista was kind enough to agree to spend a month with us to ease Cortney’s transition. I’d consider it a personal favor if you could ensure that her month here is as comfortable as can be. She’ll be staying in one of the guest homes. I was thinking the one next to your house. It has the second-best view of the lake.”

Ry nodded and the rest of the tension drained out of him. “I’ll be happy to help you get settled once things die down here,” he offered before finally letting go of her hand.

Trista smiled and gave Cortney a wink.

“Great. Now let’s get this party started. The sooner all the introductions are made, the sooner everyone can go home.” He placed Cortney’s hand in the crook of his arm before leading her down into the waiting crowd.