Dragonkin 4 You're my Mate? No thanks.

Part 5 Meeting the family

"Ready to meet the rest of my folks?" she enquires, opening the door and ushering me out.

Following Cassy, we wound through a maze of staircases and cobbled paths until we arrive at a huge timber door. Pushing the door open, she leads me into a large dining hall – where a mob of strangers swarm around us. A few of them hang back, viewing me with disdain while the majority welcome me to the court warmly.

The females – probably filled with nonsensical romantic notions - bug me about how Cassy and I met. When I remain reticent, they left me alone. The males are not so easily put-off, they continue to hound me for details of my heritage since they know I'm not from the same city. Unwilling to reveal too much, I said as little as possible.

Patting me on the back, a few of Cassy's family members separate me from Cassy and guide me to my seat at the long dining table. The whole affair feels like a subtle interrogation. I am not sure what to expect or how to react, and I simply pasted a congenial smile which I've seen my parents done whenever they're stuck with insufferable company during royal events but are too polite to say so.

Cassy told me we're meeting her family. Does she mean her family consist of a whole village? Goddess, there must have been at least fifty people here. Just remembering their names is giving me a headache. Is the guy on my left John or Wilkes? Or is it the other way around? Wait; shouldn't the gentleman standing behind me be John? He's Cassy's uncle or cousin? My head spins dizzily at the introductions.

The woman has too many kin for me to keep count accurately!

Fortunately, Cassy detects my discomfort and heads toward me, shooing her relatives away. A staid young man in his twenties who is standing beside Cassy extends his hand to me. Shaking hands with him, he introduces himself, "So you are the fabled True Mate of my daughter," his grip on my hand tightening to a crushing tension. Regardless of the welcoming smile on his face, his attitude unmistakably exudes the menace of a shark circling for blood. The man is not too pleased with his daughter's choice either.

Exerting my own force to our handshake, I grit out, "Pleased to make your acquaintance. I'm not sure if Cassy's my True Mate. Yet. There's also a probability that it might turn out to be a huge misunderstanding and her mate's someone else," my pride refuses to lose this contest of strength with this rude man, Cassy's father or not.

Both faces pasted with a smile, we stare each other down. The innocuous crushing handshake went on for a while, none of us willing to cede to the other.

Seeing our straining muscles, Cassy interrupts, "That's enough, dad. Stop intimidating him. You wouldn't want to leave your daughter without a husband, do you?" placing her small hand on our gripped hands.

That didn't stop our challenge. We merely grin as we attempt to squeeze our opponent's hand to a pulp. My weredragon strength is nothing to sniff at. I can bench press cars effortlessly or lift trucks without breaking a sweat. However, this man is not ordinary either. His strength is definitely not beneath me. I find myself sweating, exerting more energy into my grip.

"That's enough, Sachiel," a quiet voice commands. Cassy's father instantly releases his hold and pulls his hand to his side like a guilty child caught red-handed.

A serene woman glides to stand beside Sachiel. Giving him a warning look, she links arms with Sachiel and turns to look at me. That's when the full brunt of her beauty hit me. Beautiful, is the first word that pops into my mind.

Smiling graciously, she states in a melodious voice, "I'm Helena, Cassandra's mother," extending slender fingers toward me. She is named after her namesake. Like the famed Helen of Troy, her beauty is stunning. I wonder how many men fought for her hand and how did this rude youth manage to win her over.