16

And so, Liga healed. It was a boring, frustrating, and long process even though it only took a week, but when Nallu released her, she couldn't help but want to run out of the castle to the outside. She didn't though. She stayed calm, if only so Nallu didn't pass out from Liga's recklessness.

Otreg however, saw the excitement in Liga's eyes as she walked out of the room to follow him to Zargis's office where they would meet him and Thelia. Otreg was nervous, though. Ever since their talk, Liga had been slowly drawing away from him. Oh, she still gave him shy glances and blushes, but she spoke with curt tones and always seemed to be on the brink of tears. He was starting to wonder what he might've done to cause such a reaction.

They walked into Zargis's office and Liga went directly to the couch to sit with Thelia, ignoring him. Zargis noticed and gave him a questioning brow raise, but Otreg had no answers. His dragon, as well as his human half, felt rejected, heartbroken. He didn't let it show though. Instead, he smiled. "She's going to be back to full health soon enough!"

Thelia laughed. Zargis nodded with a solemn look. Liga just smiled, but Otreg saw it was forced. Finally, Thelia broke the tense silence. "We have asked you both here to see if you'd like extra help in the kitchens."

Liga sat up straight. "I thought you had people already?"

"Well, there are some, like Nione, who would like to work with you."

Liga gasped and nodded her head. "Oh yes! That would be wonderful! They were such wonderful help when we had to be captors together!"

Otreg frowned. He didn't want anyone to help Liga except him. He didn't want her being excited about anyone helping except him.

"Otreg?" Thelia queried. "What do you think?"

Otreg shrugged. "It's not my kitchens." With that he turned to Zargis. "Since Liga has her help, I'm free."

Liga spun to face Otreg, but he wasn't facing her. She didn't want this! She didn't want him to not help her! She had planned on giving the girls tasks while spending most of the time cooking with Otreg. She had wanted to spend time to get to know him. She wanted to be with him…

"I don't think that's possible," Zargis said. "I already have you in the books to be in the kitchens everyday all day."

Liga sat up. "Really?"

Zargis smiled at her. "It was what I thought you two wanted."

Otreg shook his head. "Plans change, Zargis."

Zargis saw Liga slump. He felt his anger rise at his friend. "Not these plans, Otreg."

"But-"

"May I leave?" Liga interrupted.

Zargis opened his mouth to say no, but she hurried out anyways, tears in her eyes. He cursed. Slapping the back of Otreg's head, he hissed, "Nice going, idiot!"

Otreg scowled. "She's the one not wanting my help!"

"You're blind and deaf!"

"You're crazy!"

Thelia got between the two males and gave Otreg a disappointed frown. "You did so well with me and Jose, yet, you can't even see what Liga is trying to do."

Otreg hesitated. "What do you mean?"

"She's trying to get you alone, Otreg!" Thelia scolded. "She asked for the other girls yesterday, saying she wanted to 'teach' you without interruptions."

Otreg blinked. "But she has been avoiding me for five days!"

The door opened and Juskah walked in. "Trouble in paradise?"

"Otreg can't see what Liga wants," Zargis growled. "He's blinded by the past."

Otreg glared. "I am not! I am being cautious!"

"You're being an asshole!" Zargis countered. "Liga isn't anything close to them."

Otreg was feeling his control slip when Juskah said, "Why don't we put a pause on the wedding feast. You wanted to do something with Liga when she healed, corrrect?" he asked Otreg.

"Yes, but she'll make an excuse to not join me."

"I will make sure she does," Thelia promised.

"Go hang out for the night," Juskah advised. "Do what you've been wanting to do with her. It'll bring her her back into your embrace. Then, I want you to watch her. If she's pulling away, don't do the same, Otreg. Get closer. Don't force her into anything, but gently guide her to where you want. You might see that she was trying to do the same to you."

"Liga! Please open the door!" Thelia called from outside Liga's locked room.

Liga sighed. "I want to be alone!"

"But I don't!"

"Where's Jose?"

"Kissing Kesar!" Liga felt tears rise again for the hundredth time since meeting with Zargis an hour ago. "I don't want to talk politics with Zargis, or go shopping with Cam, or train! Please! Liga!"

Liga groaned. She went and opened the door. On the other side, Thelia grinned at her. "That was mean," she said in a monotone voice.

Thelia frowned then. "You're crying."

Liga shrugged. She turned and went back to her bed. "It doesn't matter."

Thelia entered the room, shut the door and slowly walked to the bedside. Liga was huddled in a ball, staring into space. "Liga, are you upset over Otreg?"

"Who cares?"

Thelia flinched. She had believed that Liga had been bad before she took the carriage, but she was wrong.

Liga sat, numb to her surroundings, and stared at her new home. It was beautiful, spacious, and comfortable. But the one thing she wanted most was not there. She had waited for Otreg to confirm what Juskah had said, waited for him to truthfully tell her everything, but he didn't. It was like he didn't care or didn't notice.

Thelia had left long ago, seeming to drift away. Drift, like how Liga felt like doing now. She stood, left her room, and then the castle. She saw it was almost dark, people were dancing in the huge square, musicians playing music. She saw Kesar and Jose, and wanted to throw up.

"Liga!" She ignored the voice and continued drifting. "There you are!" it said again as a hand grasped her wrist, halting her.

She turned to see the male of her thoughts. "Here I am," she said, the words tone less."

Otreg frowned, then grinned. "Come! I want you to meet someone!"

She blinked, her trance broken by his words. "Meet someone?"

He nodded, then began pulling her in a different direction. "Zargis introduced me just now and I think you'll love them!"

He dragged her to a couple. She nearly collapsed at the sight of their joy.

"Fitos, Jeiren, this is Liga."

Fitos, a pretty female with red hair gushed at Liga. "Oh Otreg! She's beautiful!" Fitos leaned in and whispered, "You have a wonderful male, Liga!"

Jeiren smiled at Liga. "Now, don't you worry, Liga! As your mate, Otreg can't deny you anything! Korgenyegia knows I can't deny Fitos!"

Liga stared at the couple, who were smiling adoringly at each other. She was confused and a bit scared. "What?"

Fitos put a hand to her head. "Oh dear! You don't know! Well, mates are a wonderful thing! They're more than regular husbands and wives, and they're…"

Her words got drowned out by Liga's racing thoughts. Why were they telling her about mates? Why did Otreg bring her to meet them when they were so infatuated with each other? Why-

"Liga?" She blinked and looked at Otreg. "Did you hear me?"

"What?"

He smiled. "I said dragons mate for life."

She stared at him. What was wrong with him? What was going on? Why did this feel like a nightmare?

Otreg sensed Liga wasn't completely present as Zargis's friends spoke. She had reacted to him at first, after doing nothing at all, but now, it was like she was missing.

He thanked Fitos and Jeiren for their company, then led Liga to a private bench in the shadows. "Liga, can I tell you something?" he asked nervously.

She nodded, but again, it was like she wasn't completely in reality.

"Liga, we're mates."

She nodded.

"Liga?"

Liga let go of his hand and clasped hers together. "I know."

Otreg blinked. "What?"

"I know. I have known for a few days. But you never said or hinted at it. Then, you didn't want to be near me. I decided you didn't care."

Otreg cursed himself for being such an idiot. "Liga, look at me!" She did, but her eyes were foggy. He cupped her face. "Liga!"

"What do you want?" Her voice was that monotone again. It scared him.

Not knowing what else to do, he kissed her.