Dragonkin 4 You're my Mate? No thanks.

Part 9 Display of affection

Ignoring my presence, the pompous dandy saunters to Cassy's side and takes her hand from my arm, kissing it ardently.

I want to growl. He's behaving over familiarly with her.

Disregarding me, he places her hand on his arm instead and insinuates himself between her and me. Detecting tension, Cassy hurriedly makes the introductions for us.

So, that's the Crown Prince Valerius. He's the one who lent me clothes this afternoon. I smile graciously as I thank him for loaning me his clothes.

"There's no need for thanks. They are old clothes anyway," Valerius haughtily answers, a fake smile affixed on his face. Immediately returning his attention to Cassy, he leads her ahead along the gallery while I leisurely trail behind them.

Well, if that's how the bratty prince wants to play this game...

Cassy reluctantly allows herself to get pulled away by Valerius, her head turning back to look at me several times and shooting me a helpless smile. Eventually, they engage in a lively conversation about cattle and such while my mind wanders to the information I've gathered.

Observing them from behind, I see the prince repeatedly trying to place his arm about her waist but Cassy keeps side-stepping his efforts. Can't you tell she's not interested? It is hilarious to watch the prince's bumbling efforts in showing me that Cassy's his. If you think monopolizing her attention means proof of possession, brat, you've better think differently.

Cassy doesn't seem to appreciate his overtures and seeks to thwart his every attempt. Why doesn't Cassy just outright reject him if she's not remotely interested in him? In a last-ditch effort, her hand firmly grips Valerius' arm and hold it fast to her side, preventing him from further attempts.

Is it because he's the Crown Prince and she daren't publicly humiliate him? Is she stringing him along or aiming to incite jealousy between Valerius and me?

If it's the latter, her strategy isn't working. The jealousy ploy doesn't work on me. I'm happy enough from where I am observing them getting along like best friends or awkward lovers.

When we reach the dinner hall, Cassy hastily casts Valerius' arm aside and quickly steps behind me, pulling me away from Valerius while Valerius is swarmed with nobles approaching him from all sides.

"Whew, I finally escaped," she heaves a sigh of relief, collapsing into her chair at the long dinner table far away from where Valerius is seated. "I'd thought I'll be stuck seated beside him throughout dinner," she grouses, after pressuring me to sit beside her.

Shooting daggers at me, she harshly whispers, "I shot you several glances seeking help, why didn't you respond?"

"You didn't look like you need any rescuing".

"You aren't quite the knight in shining armor as I envisioned," she complains, sipping her wine. "I had thought my mate would be more possessive. You aren't the slightest bit ruffled when your True Mate is manhandled by another man".

"There would be no end to rescuing once I start saving a damsel in distress. If you can't handle your suitors, how can you handle me, your mate? Besides, I have absolute confidence that you are perfectly capable of solving your own problems," I reply, clinking my wineglass with hers in a toast.

A tap on my shoulder. I turn to face a man seated on my other side.

Extending his hand, he introduces warmly, "Welcome to our city, I'm Nathaniel, one of Cassy's cousins. I didn't get a chance to see you this afternoon. You must be Cassy's intended".