Dragon’s Fire- Fake it till we fall

Nael

“Jordan!!! Estás a fazer-nos chegar atrasados outra vez, imbecil! Vamos.“(You’re making us late again, a**hole! Let’s go.), my fists are pounding against my Beta’s door.

“F**k, why does everything with you always have to be last minute, huh? Tonight is important, I told you. She wants me to meet her parents, so suck it up and get a move on. You will never look as good as me anyway, so stop trying so hard.“

Virgil passes me, shaking his head. Well, we can’t always be nice royal puppets. Go f**k yourself, grumpy old penguin. How he is still alive is beyond me. He must be at least 120. Damn, he was already ancient when I was just a boy.

Finally, the door opens, and a glowering Jordan emerges. His wavy black hair is still humid, dampening the shirt on his shoulders, and I can see that he is only half way done with his shave.

“You would never do this to Naya.“, he grumbles.

“No, but your sister is also never late, idiota. So what’s wrong with you tonight?“

“I just don’t know if this is the best idea, Nael. Why do you want to spring it on her like this?“, he wrings his hands.

Well, sh**, my best friend and royal advisor thinks it’s a bad idea to take my relationship a step further.

“I’m not springing anything on her. We have been dating for almost a year, and I’m meeting her parents tonight.“, I retort.

“Yes, you are only meeting her parents for the first time tonight after the two of you have been going out for almost a year. Don’t you think she would have introduced you sooner if it was that serious to her?“, Jordan says, looking at me intently.

“We are not doing this now. Let’s go. I don’t want to be late.“, I grumble. The walls here have ears. And there is no need for everyone at the palace to know that I am dating, who I am dating, and why I need this to move along faster than it naturally would.

I’m running out of time.

I have until my 27th birthday to find my mate, or I will have to revoke my rights to the throne. Which will be in less than a year from now. Another thing, I don’t think everyone needs to know. Sure, Jordan does. And so does Virgil, that annoying old c**t. He is responsible for the execution of my grandfather’s will, so he is going to make sure I won’t get what I worked for so hard for years if I don’t find a mate by then.

I am the only reason my grandfather allowed my parents to get married. Unfortunately, he was a snob, looking down on other supernatural species as inferior. So when mom came back from her trip to brazil not only with a trade agreement but also with her mate, my father, a dragon born, he was furious. Until a few days later, a seer came to the castle and asked to speak to my parents. And Georg Pierce, the controlling little a**wipe he was, listened in on their conversation. He even went as far as to confiscate the copy of the prophecy made before it got to the palace archive.

Salivating at the outlook of even more power to come to our family, if I, the ‚coalition of two ancient shifter lines ‘would be born, he allowed them to move forward with their relationship. But it didn’t stop there. He was counting on me to find my mate. Had the prophecy told him that they would be the key to ‚unlocking ‘my ‚full potential ‘. Whatever the hell that means. So he had been dragging me around since I came of age, hoping I would find my fated one so he could enjoy my ‚enormous power’ while still alive.

Well, it serves him right that he died before that ever came to pass. And it serves me right that he, of course even from his grave, had to make my life hell for me.

I worked my a** off to fill my parents’ shoes. Years of studying our laws and customs, internships with some of the most influential political firms in the supernatural world, never taking a break learning five languages, revising plea and trade agreements dating back to the early 1950s. I am going to be freaking awesome at this job. I deserve to be King. And if I have to find my mate to get there, that better happen f**king fast!

That’s what I want to talk to her about tonight. I need her to agree to me marking her as mine to get on with my life and finally carry the title my parents both died before being allowed to officially hold.

And I’m not one for lies and deception. Don’t get me wrong; it’s more omitting some facts because I have told her about my grandfathers’ will, but I didn’t tell her how urgently I needed us to move forward. This is the closest to lying I get. I hate lies. More than anything else in the world. More than my grandfather, more than Virgil.

They never actually make things better. They are just stupid band-aids that don’t hold; flimsy strategies to cope with what you can’t handle.

All the lies never helped me out in my life.

Not when my mom was heartbroken after the fifth miscarriage and told me she would be ‚just fine’, not when she got sick and, again, told me, she would be ‚just fine ‘. Not when she died, and dad said he was ‚muito bem‘(just fine). And not when he took off in his car, wrapping it around the nearest tree because he couldn’t bear to live without his mate. I wasn’t ‚just fine‘after that. And never since then.

So I make it a point just to say what is on my mind at all times. Have I offended people doing so before? Sure. Do I care? Na, not really. I’m in a time-sensitive situation here, so now more than ever, there is no time to be cordial and try to avoid what needs to be addressed.

I need her to agree to be marked by me before my birthday in eleven months and be queen ruling by my side. I have a good feeling about her. Coming from a long line of crimson dragon-borns, I can only recognize my mate during the night of a blood moon. Which, surprise, only happens once every few years. The next one is in three weeks, and I need us to find out then. But like I already said: I have a good feeling about her. There is this buzz between us. I’m drawn to her more than I have ever been to any other woman.

She is intelligent and accomplished, and she has special powers. So I guess the stupid prophecy will come true. Oh, and she is the daughter of the Alpha of the most influential pack in North America. Guess I could do worse.

We make our way to my car, and I’m playing with the key fob. I don’t get to drive myself that often and when I do, I enjoy it more than I can say. So, getting into the huge range rover that easily sits six people, I put the car in ‚drive‘ and reverse out of the driveway.

It’s quiet for a while. But I know Jordan can’t let this go. We have been friends since we were born, our dad’s being from the same small town in Brazil. His a wolf, mine a dragon shifter. Their families have always worked together closely, forging many business relationships and mate bonds. So to my dad, it wasn’t strange at all to be mated to my mom. Since the dragon shifters are a lot older, their blood and heritage stronger, I have no wolf but the dragon fire that lives in me. I call him Ismir. He doesn’t speak to me. But there are a lot of times when I am sure my train of thought is driven or full-on controlled by him.

Being part wolf, I have the heightened senses to an even more extreme extent, night vision and healing of the charts. Oh, and I can basically conjure fire if I wanted to. I don’t spit it. I make it appear between my hands. There are spells for that too. But being a natural dragon born, even of mixed blood, I don’t need those; my mom’s Alpha wolf blood only enhances my powers. Where my dad would actually turn all dragon, if angered; head elongating, long fangs, scales everywhere.; for me, it’s more of a ‚hulking out‘ situation. I get the scales, and I grow in size, but I just look like myself, slightly greener with eyes that will give you nightmares. I’m a freak of nature, in a good way.

“Let’s talk this through again, Nael. Why do you want to tell her tonight?“, Jordan rubs his hands together and turns towards me.

I keep my eyes on the road but answer.

“I have less than a year to find my mate. The next blood moon, I will know if she is it. That is in three weeks, and she will have to know about the will and the conditions for me taking the throne by then.“, I grip the steering wheel tighter. I won’t give up what I worked for because of a wimp of fate.

“What if she says ‚no ‘?“, Jordan muses.

“Why would she? We have been dating for a year, for f**k’s sake. And not to sound conceded, but we clicked. I know she likes me. Plus, she has seen me naked, and you know there is no turning back from that.“

“Damn, you don’t have to say everything that comes to mind. Just save some of it, would you?“

“Nope, no can do. I won’t compromise on my integrity to make others feel better. What is it to you if I slept with her? You saw her; she is hot as hell. She is funny and smart and from a good family. It is much easier for you wolves, but I feel this buzz coming from Ismir whenever I’m around her. She makes me want to stay close to her. Being with her is easy, and I guess that’s just what a mate feels like for a dragon shifter. I never got to ask my dad, so…“, drifting off, I grip the steering wheel harder.

Jordan glances at me.

“Yeah, I know, sorry.“

“It’s alright. Not like it was yesterday. They have been gone for years. 16, to be exact. I can handle myself. However, having someone by my side to carry a bit of the burden of duty would be nice.“

“So you want a mate for the sole purpose of sharing your royal responsibilities? Not as a companion or for the possibility of having a family?“, Jordan looks at me, astonished.

“Na, I think I am not made for all of that. Does that make me sound like an a**hole?“

“Kind of. It sounds like you are planning on using that poor girl for your own gain. A little like, you know...“

“I’m nothing like that man! “, I squeeze the steering wheel tighter.

“My uncle was a nut case that got infatuated with a woman, stalked her, and killed her family. All I plan on doing is asking a girl if we could move from ‚ Scrabble’ and Netflix and ‚chill’ to being mates and for her to live with me. Not going to slaughter her pack if she says ‚no ‘. Which I am sure she won’t.“, I grumble.

“Well, this sure sounds good in your head. Just please tell me you have a backup plan if this goes t**s up. “, my Beta is gnawing on his lower lip, a habit he started when we were still young and was never able to drop.

“Nope, because I won’t need one.“, I smile at him smugly.

“Wow, I wish I had a little more of your self-confidence sometimes.“, my friend shakes his head.

“Then again, I think that would be terrible. There would never be enough air in the room for both our huge egos.“, he snorts.

“I think you are doing just fine on your own. But other than you, who thinks self-confidence means simply doing what I want, I actually took her feelings into account. I know she likes me. So I can be confident it will all work out in my favor.“, I shrug.

“Now, let’s change the subject. Encontro com os pais hoje à noite e depois sair. Isto vai ser em grande, huh?“(Meeting the parents and then going out. This is going to be big, huh?), I grin at Jordan.

“Sim, claro.“(Yeah, sure.), it sounds back.

We haven’t been out in months, so this will be great. A small-town pub is just as good a place as any for us to go. I haven’t been in the public eye often since my parents died. My grandfather pretty much kept me hidden away. So only the real royalty fanatics will know who I am. I’m guessing there are not that many of those living in the outskirts of Baltimore, Maryland. Although, with a pack that big, there is a slight chance. But I’m going to keep thinking positively. Her parents will love me, Jordan will have a great time tonight, and ‚she ‘will be delighted to be my mate and agree to come to stay with me in a heartbeat.

No need to think about any of this negatively.

I follow the map up to the Blue Ridge Pack house and am surprised by the number of patrol that welcomes us at the gate a few turns away. It’s not like they can lock their whole territory off from humans, so they just have a bigger gated compound. The rest of the pack land is owned by the Alpha and inhabited mainly by wolves from the pack, yeah, but technically anybody can move to one of the small towns we passed on our way here.

“Que caraças, isto é grave. Quem é esta rapariga outra vez?“(Damn, this is serious. Who is this girl again?), Jordan mutters when the grim-looking men check our IDs.

I just smile at him. He is being dramatic. Security is way tighter at the palace, but he usually doesn’t have to go through it, given he lives there.

„Thank you, Mr. Araújo, Mr. Morais. We informed the Alpha about your arrival, so you can just drive up there and find a spot to leave your car in the driveway. They will be awaiting you. Have a good night, sir.“ The taller of the two hands me back our IDs.

“Thank you.“, I give him a nod and roll up my window. See, what did I tell you? Nobody knows me. Guess it also pays off that my mom took on my father’s last name. However, that will all change next year once I take over—no driving around incognito then.

I park the car close to the massive wooden door and look up at the victorian style building covered in ivy vines. It is idyllic here. You can hear birds chirping, and I swear there is streaming water somewhere to the left. The house looks older but inviting with the giant lit-up windows and the unmistakable bustling of quite a few people living here. I nod at the guards next to the entrance as I walk towards it. Then I notice Jordan is gone. Turning back to our car, I see him fishing a pack of cigarettes out of his pocket.

“I thought you stopped a few years ago?“, I quirk an eyebrow at him.

“Yep.“

“So...“, I’m not going to let this go. Something is off about him tonight.

“I’m great. Just wanted a smoke. It’s not like lung cancer is really a thing with the exhilarated healing.“, Jordan shrugs.

My eyes squinting, I scan his face. It’s quiet between us for a moment.

“Alright, I’ll let you off the hook for now. But once we get home later, you will tell me what’s wrong with you. Don’t think I don’t notice it.“, I glare at him and turn to the front door, leaving him to finish his smoke.

I push open the huge oakwood door and am met with a vast beige-colored entrance… okay, more like an entrance hall. That thing is huge. The lighting is warm, though, and the massive chairs and dark-colored rugs inviting. Stepping further inside, I take off my jacket and look around. Didn’t the guy say they knew we were coming up? Where is everyone? I can hear noises from my right, and by the number of different voices, I would say it’s a place people eat. Unless they usually cramp into a small space and shout at each other, rassling with cutlery just for fun.

My eyes are pinned in the direction of the source of the noises when there is a ‚woosh ‘of air from my left, and then someone barrels into me with a grunt.

“F**K.“, they hiss, and I turn to look down at them.

The tiniest she-wolf I have ever seen is looking up at me, her wild blond curls piled in a massive bun on her head. The fringe of her banks irritating her eyes as she looks up at me, she pushes it away. Are they two different colors? Looks like it. One of her eyes is such a light blue, it almost looks grey, the other somewhere between brown and hazel. Both are circled with so much eyeliner and eyeshadow, she looks like a fun-sized panda bear. Damn, how can a girl that tiny carry around such a rack? She can’t be taller than 5 ft— 5 ft 2 inches if I’m being generous.

“Could you move?“, her voice sends a buzz through me.

“Sure, but where to? And shouldn’t you apologize first?“

“I’m deeply sorry for you standing in my way, kind sir. Now move it, or I will lose ‚hide and seek’ against a seven-year-old, who will never let me live it down.“, the she-wolf hisses.

When I still just glare at her, she huffs, grabs my arms, and moves me a few inches to the side so that she can duck behind a huge plant pot.

I scoff.

“That is the worst hiding place ever.“

“Shut it, or she will find me even faster.“, she spits.

And as soon as she is done talking, a small pup comes running into the entrance hall, her brown hair bouncing as she jumps every few steps. The light tan of her skin and her big brown eyes are complimented by the chubbiest cheeks I have ever seen.

“I heard you, Maeve!!! And you know my nose is way better than yours. I will find you in three...", she steps closer to me, completely ignoring my existence.

“Two. “, she shouts, rounding me.

“One!!! I got you!“, she chirps, diving behind the plant pot and tapping the older girl on the shoulder.

“Well, that ruins my lead.“, the she-wolf grumbles.

“You have a chance to gain it back. It’s your turn to seek.“, the girl is almost the same height, and by the apparent similarity in their facial features, there is no doubt in my mind that they are related.

I want to say, sisters?

“As much as I would love that, I think Mr. ‚tall, dark and handsome ‘over here who doesn’t understand the simple phrase ‚move out of the way‘, is Elodie’s boyfriend. And I promised her I would be there when the parental units meet him.“, she glares at me before turning back to the child, brushing some hair out of her face.

I scoff—what a little rat.

“Can you go upstairs and let Elodie know he is down here waiting? She should try to hurry up. Tell her I’ll show him where to hang his jacket and will move on to share the embarrassing story of her first shift if she isn’t down here in three minutes.“, she says. This is the first time her voice sounds slightly warmer, her lips twitching in what could be a smile.

The child grins. And shouting: “ELODIE!!!“, she leaps for the stairs.

“Wow, whoever put you on the welcoming committee, clearly doesn’t like people very much. Or are you only this nice to men that date your sister?“, I quirk an eyebrow at her.

She scoffs.

“There is a special place in my heart reserved for a**holes who stare at my boobs long enough to commit them to memory when they are in fact dating my sister.“, she sneers.

“Also, you are the reason I have to leave the house tonight, so no, you won’t get a warm welcome. Not when you are what has my sister want to drag me across town to a club, on what could have been a nice Friday.“

She glowers at me.

„Uau, primeiro ela agrediu-me e agora eu tenho que passar a noite inteira com aquela criança. Ótimo!“ (Wow, first she assaults me and now I have to spend the whole night with that child. Great!), I mutter, rubbing the bridge of my nose.

„Bem, tenho de passar a minha noite com um idiota pretensioso, porque os meus pais pensam que sou um perdedor solitário. Todos nós temos a nossa cruz para carregar.“ (Well, I have to spend my night with a pretentious i***t, because my parents think, I’m a lonely loser. We all have our cross to bear.)

My head snaps up, and I stare at her.