17

Liga came back to herself at the feel of Otreg's lips against hers. Then, their short conversation came back to her. He had said it. He finally said what she had wanted for a long time now.

She pulled back and stared at him. "How are you just now figuring this out?"

He blinked. "What?"

She pushed him away. "You're a dragon! How are you just now figuring out I'm your mate?"

"I'm not!" Otreg hissed. "But how do you know?"

She shook her head. "That doesn't matter! Why didn't you tell me? Why did you not say so before?"

He held out his hands, pleadingly. "I was trying to warm you up to it, trying to not scare you! I thought Fitos could do that, then I could tell you."

She blinked now. "What?" He stayed silent. "You had them go on and on because you didn't want to scare me?"

"I didn't know you knew!" he growled. "If I had, I would have came out sooner!" Otreg stopped and thought for a long minute. "This explains everything!"

"What do you mean?"

He looked at her. "Juskah told you!"

She nodded, half afraid he'd get mad and go after the male, half afraid he'd go after her.

"No wonder the old man was so calm!"

"I don't understand."

Otreg shook his head. When he locked his gaze with hers, they were shining. "Liga, I've been wanting to tell you since we got back to Korgenyegia. I asked Zargis for help. I asked Thelia too. I was nervous and wanted it to be special, but didn't want to scare you."

Liga didn't know what to say, so she just stared.

Otreg thought he lost her again and cupped her face again, "Liga! I'm sorry! Please, don't shut me out again! Please, I am telling the truth!"

She grabbed his wrist, her heart pounding in sudden joy. "I know," she breathed.

He leaned his head against hers. "You are my mate, Liga. And while I would have denied it in the beginning, not now. I don't want to lose you."

She melted against him, softening into his touch. "I don't want to lose you either," she whispered.

Otreg pulled her closer and kissed her nose. "I want to be with you every moment of every day. I want you to never leave my sight, no matter what!"

Liga giggled, then felt her eyes tear up again as she remembered his rejection earlier. "But you don't want to help me cook."

Otreg shook his head. "No! You don't understand! I do! But I had thought the same about you! But I know now! Thelia told me. She made me see sense!"

Liga smiled. "So, you will stay and help?"

"Anything," he promised in her ear. "I'll do anything for you, Gorgeous!"

They spent the night on that bench talking for hours, ignoring the rest of the world until the grey dawn got their attention, and Liga yawned. Otreg, being a caring male, took her into his arms and carried her to his room. Liga didn't care, but snuggled into him and fell asleep before he got to their destination.

When she woke later, he was not there, and she got sad. Then, Cam burst into the room, saying they had to hurry. So, she dressed, then followed the other female down to the kitchens. There, she saw all the girls from her capture, Rumbarth and the other cubs, and Otreg, who was reading something.

When he looked up, he smiled. "Great! Zargis says all the ingredients for the draft dinner will be here tomorrow. He also said that the cubs could help with hauling out heavy hauling."

Liga blinked. "How did all this happen?" She shook her head. "I'm grateful, but I've only been out for a few hours."

"Try all day," Nione said gently. "Otreg said you had a long night, so we got together and did what we could until you rested."

Liga looked at Otreg. He grinned. She blushed. "What is that?" she asked, gesturing to the paper in his hand.

"Oh!" He strode up and handed it to her. "Thelia gave me the design Jose wanted for her cake."

Liga looked at the drawing and smiled. It was simple, with five layers and fondant flowers here and there. "It's beautiful."

"It doesn't compare to you, Gorgeous."

Liga scowled, then put people to work. When the girls were doing their duties, she assigned each cub to a task. Then, she turned to the male who was too close and still too far. "You and I are going to work on something else," she said.

He raised a brow. "Like what? I thought this was all for the wedding feast?"

She smiled. "Something I haven't told anyone about." She led him to a corner of the kitchen where she brought out some paper and markers, then, she began drawing. "I need you to make sure no one eats in the main hall for the rest of the month."

"We're decorating it?"

She nodded. "You gave me an idea that should give Jose and Kesar joy and I want to try it."

Otreg was intrigued with his mate's sudden intensity. But he grew even more so when he looked down to her drawing. It had green hangings, flowers on the columns, and beautiful glassware that resembled Jose's style. He saw some of the green was streaked with amber. And he knew. "So, you like my scarves?"

"They did catch your attention," she said. "And I still have the first."

"Where?"

She paused her work and looked up at him. "With me. Always on me somewhere."

His dragon purred. "I want to see."

"You'll have to wait." Liga ripped the paper off and shoved it into his chest. "Now, I need these in three weeks. I want them just like yours. I need as many as can be made."

Otreg frowned. "The lady who does them can do many in three weeks. Thousands."

"I want them."

Otreg raised his hands in surrender. "As my Gorgeous mate wishes."

He grinned at her blush. But she said, "If I must pay for them-"

Otreg stopped her with a finger to her lips. "Don't say anything about paying, Liga." She stared at him with wide eyes. He softened his tone. "You're my mate. You're doing this for a friend of mine. I will pay. Don't worry about anything price wise."

"Even though everything could be expensive?"

"Zargis has the food covered. I'll worry about this. I don't care about price tags."

Her body relaxed, which made Otreg relax as he knew she trusted him. "Okay." He nodded and turned to leave. "Hurry?"

He turned to her. "Give me one hour."

Liga nodded. Otreg left as she went about ordering her girls.