Chapter Six
Caine
The wedding went off without a hitch.
Everyone was happy. Cowl and Andria made a lovely couple and everyone commented on it, drawing big smiles from his youngest brother and his mate. Caine couldn’t have been happier for the pair. The change in his brother since being with Andria was immense. Gone was the self-absorbed and reckless youngster that he and Ivore had attempted to guide for so many years, and in his place was a seasoned warrior, a thoughtful mate, and now a loving husband. In a moment of weakness he might even admit to his brother that he was impressed. Right before he started giving him a hard time about something else.
There were smiles all around. Except for him. Caine put on a good show, plastering a fake smile on his face as he made the rounds, slapped backs, and exchanged hugs. But his brothers could tell he was unhappy, and he hated himself for ruining their evening. It was the course of their brotherly bond that they knew when he was being genuine and when he was faking it.
He scanned the assembled crowd at the reception once again. Most of the faces were unfamiliar, extended family and friends of Andria. A knot of dragon shifters occupied two tables in the back corner, away from the majority of the guests. There were nine of them all told. Nine awakened dragons who were coming together more out of a desire to be amongst their own than any need for more friends. Generally dragons didn’t do well when large groups of them came together. Caine chalked that up to the mates, who kept the group grounded and focused with feminine charms instead of masculine bravado.
There was a face missing in the crowd, however, a face he desperately wished to see. When Annalise had run off in the mall, he’d thought about following her, about running her down like he had in the woods. He’d even dumped the dresses in the arms of the store worker, ready to rush off. But a kind word of advice from her had stopped him.
“She’s afraid you’re not for real.”
Caine had paused, instantly furious at the woman for judging his mate and their relationship. As the words sank home, however, the icy calm that was his trademark took over.
“What do you mean?” he’d asked, wanting to know more.
The attendant, a young woman who barely qualified to wear most of the outfits in the store, had given him a patronizing glare. “Don’t treat me like I’m an idiot just because I’m young,” she’d told him. “You know you’re attractive. Being humble is great and everything, but there are times where you have to acknowledge it, because otherwise people begin to doubt your true intentions.”
“Very well,” he’d grumbled. “What do my looks have to do with anything? She is just as gorgeous as I am. Do you not see her curves and the perfect softness of her body? I could not have designed a better woman to wrap my arms around.”
“I’m aware. But it’s those arms that are the problem. That’s what she sees. Your muscles and general good looks. Great looks even. You’re a model, and in the real world, models aren’t interested in women like her.”
“I am,” he’d snarled, offended that someone would question his interest in Annalise.
“She needs time to accept that, though. To come around to believing that men like you do exist, that you aren’t just in it for another reason. She wants you to chase her, but she needs a moment to breathe first. It’s too much for her.”
Caine had stared at the attendant. “You are a wise woman despite your years. Thank you.”
She’d giggled. “You’re welcome. I take introductions to your friends as payment, you know.”
Caine had then laughed. “If I had any single ones, I’d send them your way. Thank you for your advice. I shall figure something out.” He headed for the entranceway, figuring he’d wander the mall for a bit in case Annalise was still there somewhere, though he doubted it.
“Don’t you want the dress?”
He paused. “Do I?”
“Sure. Have it sent to her. She’d appreciate a gesture like that. It shows you still want her to show up, but you didn’t creepily follow her or chase after her in a public place like the mall.”
Caine shrugged. “I have nowhere to send it to. I don’t know where she’s staying…” Even as he spoke an idea tickled at his brain.
She’d taken his vehicle the night before. Maybe the navigation system could tell him where she’d gone.”
“Pack it up,” he said with a grin. “I’ll be back for it shortly.”
She hadn’t gotten away from him that easily. Caine wasn’t about to give up on his mate. Not when she needed him the most.
“Caine?
Spine straightening, he turned slowly.
“Annalise.” His eyes took in the rest of her. “You look beautiful.”
She was stunning, a radiant figure that captivated his attention. The dress from the store adorned her body, sitting perfectly on her figure in a way that stirred forces that were anything but cold. His growl turned heads nearby, but a quick glare had partygoers focusing back on their own conversations.
“You think so?” she asked, clearly uncomfortable with his attention.
“Gorgeous.” She’d washed her hair and let it pool around her shoulders, hiding some of her bared skin beneath it. The lights reflected off the silky strands, focusing his attention on something decidedly nonsexual, much to his relief. He was already having trouble keeping his eyes under control. If she’d bared her neck completely Caine wasn’t sure he would have been able to keep his composure.
“Thank you. You look good too.”
He nodded. Irritation at her earlier flight reared its head. The sudden departure had hurt him, though he sought to hide that fact. “Why are you here?”
Annalise looked away. “I thought it would be rude to turn down an invitation,” she said, trying and yet failing to cover the emotion in her voice. “I didn’t expect to have a package waiting for me when I got back to the motel.”
She was embarrassed, he realized. Of course. Here she was, turning up in a dress he’d bought her even after she’d run away from him in the middle of the store. That would be awkward for anyone. Still, it didn’t make him feel better. He’d done nothing to make her flee.
“As rude as disappearing and leaving me in the middle of a dress store all by myself?”
Her jaw opened as Annalise’s face creased with hurt. “Caine, I’m sorry. I…” She fell silent. “I’ll go.”
Caine’s anger turned inward. How dare he be so rude to her, after she’d clearly worked up a hell of a lot of courage to show up at an event where she clearly didn’t know a single person besides him. This couldn’t be easy for her either.
“I received a lot of weird looks you know, holding so many dresses that clearly didn’t fit me.”
Annalise looked up at him, searching his face for the meaning behind the words. Was he being mean, or was he attempting to make a joke to lighten the mood? Giving her a soft smile, he let her know it was in jest, that she needn’t be worried.
“I’m sorry,” she repeated, laughing quietly at his joke. “If I’d known they didn’t fit I would have helped you pick out another one first.”
Caine smiled, but didn’t speak right away, letting the silence deepen.
“I’m glad you came,” he said at last, speaking just loud enough to be heard over the music.
“I almost didn’t.”
“Really?” he said dryly.
“But I did. I just had to take a moment.” Her gaze tightened almost imperceptibly. “Independence is big to me, Caine. I need it. I have to maintain it. You were getting too close. Doing too much for me. Do you understand?”
“No. Why am I not allowed to do nice things for you?”
It bothered him that his mate wanted him to treat her no better than anyone else. She was the mate of a dragon! He was supposed to shower her with love and devotion yes, but also with all the material desires his wealth could buy.
“Because I asked you to, Caine.” She looked away briefly, blinking quickly. “Because I can’t have myself feeling beholden to you. The possibility of Violet being my sister is the only thing that’s kept me here as long as I have. Normally I’d be two cities away by now. That’s who I am.”
He disagreed. “It doesn’t have to be,” he argued.
Annalise lifted a palm. “Caine, stop. Please. You can’t change me. You need to respect this.”
Biting his lip so hard he could taste blood, he nodded. “Okay. I’ll try. That’s the best you’re going to get out of me. I will try to respect your desire for boundaries and limits. But it will be hard, and I might fail.”
“Why is it going to be hard?”
The answer to that was simple. “Because I want you. I desire you, and I intend to do whatever I can to show you that my feelings are real and true.”
Annalise didn’t respond, but Caine hadn’t expected her to. His declaration was blunt and brazen, but he needed it to be said. Pretending as if he were just a nice guy wasn’t his style. He wanted her to know just what she was getting into by sticking around and hanging out with him. The parts of him being a dragon and her being his mate he left off, not wanting to put more pressure on her than he already had. Those would come in time, when she was ready. If he didn’t scare her off first.
“That was…Caine, um...” Annalise took a step back, scratched her head, and just stared at him.
“I know.” It was a lot to take in. “Come on, I want you to meet someone.” He gestured for her to follow him.
“What? Where are you taking me?”
He grinned. “To meet Violet of course.”