The Dragon's Vamp(3)
The tears trailed down her cheeks as she lay on the skin in the center of her sanctuary. Not up to meditating, Mari closed her eyes for some well-needed sleep.
* * * *
“He was worried.”
Mari opened her eyes to see her mother standing over her with the bright morning sunshine behind her form. “I know, I sensed his emotions, but he shouldn’t have gone off on me like that, especially grabbing me in anger.” Sitting up, she moved her hair away from her face.
“True, but how would you have reacted if you’d been in his shoes?”
“Fine, Mom, point taken,” she whispered. “I haven’t been that mad in centuries and that worries me.”
“Because you like being in control.”
“Don’t we all?”
“Mariwen, there are times when we all lose control in one form or another. How we learn from our actions is what’s important. No one was harmed, although you did shock the crap out of them all and raised the eyebrows of the ancients with that little stomp of yours.”
“They felt that?” Mari’s eyes widened as her mother nodded. “Ah, crap, sorry about that. Dad felt it too and contacted me while I was sleeping.”
“The ancients knew something must have upset you beyond normal to feel your anger, so they sent me to see how you are.”
“I’m fine, I just…” sighing heavily she looked out the entrance of the cave. “I don’t know how to deal with Rhys. He always has something to say when it comes to me and he thinks he knows it all. Rhys Beven frustrates the hell out of me, Mom, and I’m at a loss as to how I’m supposed to react.”
“Just be yourself.”
Mari snorted. “Oh, easy for you to say.” Meeting her mom’s gaze, she barely caught the twinkle in her eye. “Are you telling me I can tell him who I am?”
“As I’ve said, Mari, he is to be your life mate. Now, how you tell him is up to you and I’m pretty sure he’ll want some sort of explanation when you reappear again. I can’t tell you how to deal with him or him with you; that is something you both have to figure out. I will say this, if you stop being so hard-headed on some issues, you may find speaking to him a lot easier.”
“Oh, so I’m the one being hard-headed?”
Darina smiled. “Just like your father. But to ease your mind, from what I’ve witnessed, Rhys is hard-headed as well.”
* * * *
Mari sighed as she walked into the Beven manor house. She knew he’d scented her the moment she stepped onto Beven Coven lands as the house keeper opened the door for her before she’d even knocked. She informed her that Lord Rhys was in his study. Heading that way she lifted her hand to knock when the door opened and she met his bright blue gaze. “If you’re going to yell at me I’ll leave,” she said softly.
“No yelling, come on in,” he said, opening the door wider.
Mari stepped past him and waited until he shut the door before turning to face him. She gasped as his mouth settled over hers roughly. Her hands lifted to lie on his chest as she kissed him back, breathing heavily when he lifted his head.
“Don’t you ever take off on me without telling me what’s going on.”
“Don’t you ever yell at me like that again or put your hands on me in anger.” Leaning back, she met his gaze. “Don’t let it go to your head, but yes, I should have told someone besides Livi what I planned on doing. But after we talked that day I was confused, no not confused, upset.”
“Why?”
“There’s so much you don’t know, Rhys. And when you wouldn’t stop dogging me it pissed me off and scared me, and then my mother got on my case about you and well, I just…I needed some time alone.” Laying her forehead on his chest, Mari closed her eyes as his hands caressed her back. “Drake Roven is correct with what he scented about us. The ancients have…hinted…that we are to be life mates.” The last was whispered.
“And you’re not happy with their decision?”
Mari sighed as she moved away, her back to him. “It’s not that I’m not happy. I like you, and we seem to have a mutual attraction, although you are as hard-headed as I am. I wasn’t expecting it; the wave of emotions that hit me the moment we met. I’d decided a long time ago I wouldn’t get involved in a serious relationship again. The ancients knew how I felt, what I’ve gone through. I was mad at them for so long.” Drawing in a deep breath she turned to meet his gaze. “I thought that because so much time had passed, and I’d started speaking to them again with no incidents, they’d accepted my wishes. Then you came out of the forest that night and I sensed what Drake Roven scented.”