Dracon (1st book of the Draconon Series)

Chapter 38

Frederick bit back an annoyed growl and moved a hand through his hair while he shook his head and grimaced. "Forgive him," he said while he released his death grip on my side. "I do not know what is up with him, but I am sure that he is anxious about what has happened to me last night because I didn't come back to the pack as I should have."

"And because your scent "disappeared' as soon as he got over to the four of you," my grandmother said while she patted my arm.

I furrowed my brows and cocked my head while my heart skipped a nervous beat. "So he knows?" I asked and looked at her before I looked at my mate.

Shit...

"He's suspicious of it," my grandmother said while she shook her head and cleared her throat, "but he doesn't know." She paused and cleared her throat again, cocking her head. "However, he does have a feeling that you are not who you are trying to portray yourself as."

"Like a human," I said, and my grandmother nodded in confirmation.

"Exactly like a human."

I slowly nodded and wet my jaw, not saying a word when a question entered my mind that had me growing still.

Targon looked at me and raised an eyebrow as if he knew that I had a sudden question appear in my mind. "What is it?" he asked. "What's on your mind?"

"What if he tries to find a way to find out what I am hiding?" I asked while I raised an eyebrow in question.

Targon and Frederick looked at each other before they looked at me. They didn't say a word, and I couldn't help but feel unnerved that they looked like they had talked to each other before getting back to me.

I scowled and narrowed my eyes. "Targon," I warned in our tongue, and he raised an eyebrow. "What is it? Why are you talking to him like that?"

Targon looked at Frederick before he looked at me. He slowly blinked and cleared his throat while he stood taller and shook his head. "We will talk later," he said, switching to our tongue as well.

I narrowed my eyes further and scowled. "Ta-"

"Later," he said, interrupting me while he bowed his head. "Please."

I bit back an annoyed sigh before I slowly nodded. "Fine," I grumbled, and he bit back a small smirk. "Just know that I don't like it."

"I know," he said and shook his head before he cleared his throat and grew serious. "I don't like this either."

I sighed and shook my head before I cleared my throat again. "Now, can we go ahead and go inside?" I asked, switching back to English while I looked at everyone and raised an eyebrow in question.

"Of course," my mate said and nodded before he looked down the road that we had gone down to get here, his eyes glazing over a bit before he blinked and focused his gaze on me again. "Santiago and the others will be here shortly," he said. "However, we can go ahead and go inside."

I sighed with relief before I slowly nodded. "Ok," I said and started to walk that way, and my mate followed me with the rest behind us. "Is the door locked?" I asked and looked at him from the corner of my eye.

"Yes," he said and nodded. "I have a key that can unlock it when we get there." He moved slightly in front of me, and I let him.

Let's look at his butt, Sylias said with a small purr in her voice. Does he have a nice one?

My cheeks turned slightly red while Targon cleared his throat to hide a chuckle because he heard her. Sylias, I hissed. Stop.

But it is the truth, Sylias said while she chuckled. Now, go ahead and look.

No, I said, and my cheeks grew a brighter red. I am not going to look at his butt.

My mate turned to look at me and raised an eyebrow in question when he saw that my cheeks were red. "Are you ok?" he asked, not able to hide the amusement in his voice. "What is it? Why are you blushing so much?"

Shit...

Sylias chuckled. Tell him, she said.

No, I said while my cheeks turned a darker shade of red. I am not telling him.

Do it, she said, feeling slightly excited. Let's see what he says. Let's embarrass him.

No, I said again.

"Clove?" he asked again while he raised his eyebrow higher. He furrowed his brows while he cocked his head and studied me, the aumsement turning to concern when I didn't say a word. "What is it? What's wrong?"

I hesitated and stuffed my hands in my pockets while I shrugged and grimaced. "Well... Sylias wants me to look at your butt," I said before I cleared my throat and shifted slightly on my feet.

Frederick bit back a small smirk. "Hmph," he said and looked away from me. He didn't say a word, and I held back an eye roll while my cheeks turned redder.

"Are you going to look at his butt?" Targon asked, switching to our tongue, and I hissed in warning.

"Stop," I warned in our tongue as well. "I will not."

"You can," he said. "He is your mate."

"I know," I said, "but I do not want to."

You will, Sylias said, and I had a feeling that she smirked and flicked her tail playfully. You will want to look at his butt.

Sylias, I said with a small beg in my tone. Please.

She snickered but didn't say a word.

My mate cleared his throat and stopped in front of the door. He looked back at us and offered me a small smile. "Are you ready to see your new home?" he asked and raised an eyebrow in question, and I nodded in confirmation.

"I am," I said, taking a deep breath before I released it with a small whoosh.

"Hmph." He nodded and looked back at the door. He moved a little to the left and grabbed a key from one of the numbers on the door.

That's an interesting spot to hide a key... I thought while I pressed my lips into a thin line and shifted ever so slightly, not sure if I wanted to keep it or not.

He stayed silent and unlocked the door and opened it. "After you," he said and turned back to me. He gestured for me to go in, and I hesitated before I slowly nodded and started to walk that way with my guard following me.

I entered the house and looked around the empty shell of a house, not sure how I should feel about being here, but I had a feeling that I shouldn't be feeling so numb and empty like I was feeling for some reason.

Targon placed his hand on my shoulder and squeezed it while I looked around. He didn't say a word when he looked at me, but I could tell that he was concerned because he knew what I was feeling but didn't know why.

Frederick cleared his throat, and we looked at him. He furrowed his brows and slowly blinked while he looked between us. Concern filled his eyes while he studied me, and I could tell that he was trying to pick up on my emotions but didn't know how to while I stared at him with a blank look on my face.

Slowly, he bowed his head and offered me a small, tight smile.

"Welcome home, Your Majesty," he said with a small hum in his voice.

Welcome home...