Second Chance with the Dragon King

Chapter Thirteen

ELIZABETH'S POV

Rígan led me back to his room, where an overwhelming amount of food had been prepared, lain on a table that hadn't been there this morning. He pulled out one of the chairs for me.

"What is all this?" I asked as I sat.

"I told you I had ordered a brunch for you."

My heart squeezed a tiny bit. "You did this for me?"

He smiled. "Of course."

"But why are we eating in your room? Do you always eat here?"

"No. As I said earlier, I thought you would be sleeping longer. And. . . now that you know everything, this can be our room. If you want."

He began to fill my plate, avoiding my eyes. I bit my lip. Despite everything, I wasn't ready for that. Rígan placed my plate in front of me. I put my hand over his before he drew it away.

"I can't deny that I am attracted to you. However, please understand that I just left my life behind, and now. . . well, everything is moving very fast. I think I could use some time to adjust."

He flipped his hand over to hold mine. "I do understand."

"It's nothing against you. I promise. I just, well, I. . . I'm not sure if I'm ready to. . ." I blew out a frustrated breath. "Moving in with you, in every sense of the word. Going from Luna to a Queen. Even accepting that I have a mate, regardless of who it is, right after I rejected my first. It's a lot."

"You don't need to explain, Elizabeth. I can't imagine how all this is effecting you." He pursed his lips, his dark brows pulling down. "The room across the hall is vacant. That can be your room until you settle in. I'll have it ready by tonight."

I smiled briefly. "And what about you and me?" I asked quietly.

He smiled, but it was a sad smile, and pain ignited in the depths of his eyes. "You still do not feel the bond. Therefore, I will leave the choice up to you."

Horror washed through me as I realized he thought I was going to reject him. "That's not what I meant at all!"

He blinked. "No?"

"Of course not!" I said quickly, and it dawned on me that I truly did not want to reject him. Maybe I wasn't ready to jump into this new world feet first, but there was something about Rígan. Deep down, I knew I didn't want to lose him, and that I wanted him to keep choosing me, too. "I only meant, what do you want to do? What are you going to tell people?"

Relief shone on his face. "I wasn't planning on lying to anyone. I would very much like to introduce you as my mate. Are you okay with that?"

I nodded and he beamed.

"And," he continued, "I will respect your wishes when it comes to the. . . physical aspect of this. What happened downstairs does not need to happen again unless or until you say so."

I narrowed my eyes a fraction. "I appreciate that. But I can hear the ego behind your words, you know."

"I don't know what you're talking about." But he smirked.

I picked up my fork, finally, and speared a sausage. "You think I'm unable to resist you?" I took a bite, watching him carefully.

"I suppose we'll have to see, won't we?" he said.

"I suppose we will." This could be fun. I wonder how long he can hold out? Judging by the look on his face as he began to eat, his line of thinking was the same as mine. We ate in companionable silence for a while, and I took the time to think. My life really had changed quite drastically in just the last few days, and I needed to come to terms with it. Only one thing had not changed, and that was the way I felt about leaving Liam. That was never going to change. It did not matter that he had not betrayed me this time. I knew now what kind of person he was. I had made complete peace with that situation.

It was the rest of it I was having a hard time with. Especially Allie. I pierced another sausage, trying to keep my expression neutral as I considered what Rígan had said, that she'd been in his life for a long time. So, how had she ended up in my pack, then? It troubled me. Were things different this time around? Had the sequence of events changed? I glanced up at Rígan. He had always been King. And then, when I'd come back, it had been at that blasted celebration. Same date, time, location, people. The only things that had actually changed were the things I had changed myself. I had to make sure, though.

"I was just wondering. . ." I began.

"Yes?"

"Do you remember last year when the drama that took place at the Alpha Ball?"

He frowned. Probably wondering why I had brought it up, but it was the most signifigant thing that happened in the last few years. People had talked of nothing else for months.

"Yes," he replied slowly. "Why?"

I shrugged in an attempt to not show him how relieved I was. "I was just thinking about it. I hope you can handle conflict better."

He chuckled. "I've never had to deal with something like that. Mostly everyone is terrfied I'll eat them if they get on my bad side."

I laughed. "Would you?"

"No." He winked at me. "You are the only one I wish to eat."

Heat crept into my cheeks, but otherwise I ignored the innuendo. "You have a very good cook, by the way. This is the best meal I've had in ages."

A knock interrupted his response. Before he could say anything, the door opened. A short, stout woman of about fifty with beautiful silver hair tied up in a bun entered, then stopped dead. She stared between the two of us with her mouth open, eyes wide. I stared back, not sure what to say or do. Only Rígan seemed unaffected. He rose to his feet to come stand behind my chair.

"Good timing," he said. "Elizabeth, this is Rosa, the head cook. Rosa, this Elizabeth. My mate."

Though I'd agreed not to hide who I was, I hadn't expected to like it so much when he introduced me that way. He said it with feeling, and anyone could hear the happiness in his voice. I smiled up at him and he grinned back.

"Mate?" Rosa stuttered. She was still frozen by the door.

"It's nice to meet you," I said. I rose, my hand extended, to greet her properly. But she ignored my outstretched hand. Instead, she stepped forward to grip me in a vise like hug. I gasped.

"Mate! My boy has finally found his mate! Oh, this is wonderful!" She released me, keeping her hands on my shoulders. "And such a beauty, too! Elizabeth, was it?"

Stunned, I could nod.

"You are very welcome, my dear. I am so pleased to meet you." She grinned.

"Thank you," I gasped, though I was happy she seemed to like me so much. Before I could say anything else, she rounded on Rígan.

"You should have told me!" she scolded him but he only laughed.

"I told you that I had surprise for you."

Rosa threw up her hands. "Oh, well. Has everyone else met her yet? That would be just like you. Leaving me to be the last one to know," she grumbled.

"Actually, you're the first person I've met," I told her.

"Really?"

"Yes, really," Rígan said.

"Oh!" She clapped her hands together. "That makes me so happy! But you really should have told me. Rígan. What if I made something she was allergic to?! My dear, you must make me a list of your allergies."

"I don't—"

"Oh, and your favourite dishes! I can make anything. I'll also need to know what you don't like, of course, and then we should get started on the menu for the ceremony as soon as possible, too! I never thought I would be the one making that meal. Honestly, I thought I'd be long dead before this one found a mate. Do you like sweets? I make the best chocolate—"

"Uhm, what ceremony?" I interrupted her excitement.

Rose giggled. "The Changing ceremony, of course!"