Dragon Soul

Chapter 10

10

Pete nudged me. “Ready, partner?”

“Yeah, totally ready.” I logged in and hid behind my avatar. This was how I was most comfortable around Pe—Porter.

JJ-E2: Want to go to the PvP zone?_

“You don’t have to use the chat.” Porter moved the headset back and chuckled. There was something throatily about his laugh, something deep and alluring. If he wasn’t an earth dragon, I wasn’t one either. There was no mistake about it. But that meant… If he was twenty-six, he was either engaged… Or worse... Already married.

But how was I going to figure this out? Did it even matter? I was engaged too, no matter how much I wanted to deny it. Starting something with this man was impossible and there was no future for us. Not unless we wanted to be outcasts for the rest of our life. Oh, what a disgrace that would be for Mum.

“It’s nice to finally hear your voice. I’ve wondered,” he mumbled.

“You have?” Why was he thinking about my voice? Was it because he liked me?

“Ahem. Yes, just fleetingly. You know, as thoughts go. Fleetingly.”

I nodded, my hopes crushed. “Right.”

“I just meant—”

I pushed my headphones back over my ears. “Let’s just play.”

The game chimed and the Player versus Player Portal opened up. A welcome notification popped up with a bunch of rules, but I didn’t bother reading them. I was sure I’d figure it all out when I knocked some arrogant dragons off their throne.

“Knock knock.” Porter tapped against my ear piece and pushed the headset back.

I turned to him. “Yes?”

“Nothing. Just checking if that worked.” He flashed me a smug smile, mischievous twinkled blinking in his eyes. “It does, apparently.”

“You’re weird, Pete.” I pressed my hands over my mouth. “I mean Porter.”

He chuckled. “It’s fine, all my gaming friends call me Pete.”

Gaming friends… So that was how he saw me? As just a friend? One of his gaming buddies.

My heart clenched and I nodded to myself. I should’ve known. And I shouldn’t have invited him. What was I thinking? Porter was a dragon and he had a mate, one he would marry following convention. Just because I didn’t want to be married off, didn’t mean he wasn’t looking forward to it.

I was so stupid. I needed to get out of here.

“I’m just going for the bathroom.” In a hurry, I left Porter to search for the toilet and some quiet place to think.

“Everything okay?” Zara called from behind the bar.

“Yeah, totally fine.” I gave her the thumbs up, not in the mood for more girl bonding.

The wooden doors to the lavatory clappered and the scent of lavender hit my nose. For a bar, the toilets were surprisingly clean. The urinals right next to the mirrors weren’t that great though. A man definitely designed this place.

I ignored the old dragon lurking in the corner and splashed some cold water in my face. This wasn’t going how I expected it, but then… What had I hoped for? That he’d jump in my arms and declare his love for me? That he’d ask me to run away with him and drive me away on a horse-drawn carriage?

My Gaia, I was stupid.

I stared at the mirror, my usual boring reflection staring back at me. Mum was right, I really did have murky eyes. Oh, who was I kidding. There was nothing special about me. Why would Porter even look at me differently? I wasn’t the kind of girl that got whisked off her feet and people ran away with.

“You okay there?”

Through the reflection, I found Zara peeking around the door.

“Yeah, I’m fine.”

“You sure? Your friend asked me to check on you.”

I scoffed. “Yeah. My friend.”

“What’s going on, JJ?”

Could I trust her with the truth? Would she judge me?

I glanced down at her hands. No wedding ring but that didn't mean anything. Not all dragon couples exchanged rings, only those who lived more among humans. I recalled Zara implying she was a Water Dragon and while I didn't know much about them, rumour had it they lived in communes much like we did. She probably wasn't going to have a wedding ring even if she was married.

But that didn't mean I couldn't trust her.

"He's only ever going to see me as a friend," I admitted quietly. "No more than that."

"I don't think so," Zara responded.

I looked up sharply, confused by her words. What could she mean? No, I knew what she meant, I just didn't know how to respond to it. Thankfully, Zara seemed to read that on my face as she placed a comforting hand on my arm.

"I've seen the way he's looking at you. And how you're looking at him. The pair of you really aren't being subtle about it." She laughed, a warm fuzzy look crossing her face. I didn't know what she was thinking about but I warranted it was something happy.

"It doesn't mean anything. Not to Earth Dragons. We have a mate picked out at birth and that's that. I'll be marrying mine next week." I wasn't sure what made me admit to that.

"You're getting married?"

I spun around, my eyes widening as I took in Porter's form filling the entrance to the bathroom.

Holy rock falls, I was screwed.

"Erm...I mean...yes?" I squeaked.

"I'll leave the two of you to it," Zara said somewhat awkwardly. "But I would suggest doing it somewhere without stalls around you."

I nodded. "That's probably a good idea."

"I'll get us some drinks," Porter muttered, following the Water Dragon as she left the room.

I turned back to the mirror and took in my panicked eyes. I could do this. I could turn this around. I wasn't too sure how but if I could slay even the worst monsters in Realms&Rebels then I could deal with the embarrassment of my crush knowing I was going to get married. We were Earth Dragons. We'd both known in advance that we'd end up mated off. That was just how it worked.

At least, I hoped he understood that.

Because my heart didn't. It only wanted one thing even if there was no way for me to have it.

Porter.