"That was bad." She jogged to catch up to him when he started walking again.
"I don't have a mate to keep me in line yet."
They walked up to the training course, and Aiden's eyebrows shot up. "You? I thought you were heading to the city."
Amelia smiled. "I took a tiny little detour."
Behind them, they heard cursing. "What is she doing here?" Darian demanded, walking up to them.
"I've come to convince you we're mates," she said.
"Not gonna happen." Darian turned and went into the house.
Amelia looked at Sascha and Aiden. "That went very well, didn't it?"
"Are you sure he's your mate?" Aiden asked, looking unconvinced.
Amelia nodded. "I'm sure. I've been dreaming of him since I was six."
Aiden stared. "Wait. Since you were six? Not recently?"
"Nope." She shook her head.
Sascha looked at Aiden. "He never said anything."
Aiden frowned. "Go see if he'll talk to you. If you are his mate, then this is something he can't avoid."
"Wish me luck," Amelia said and turned toward the house.
"She'll need more than luck. Darian is a stubborn sonofabitch," she heard Sascha mutter.
I can be even more stubborn.
Amelia opened the door and poked her head inside. "Helllloooo?" she called out in her best Tim Curry impersonation.
She heard footsteps on hardwood before Elizabeth, Meryn, and a man in butler attire appeared from a hallway.
"Oh, it's Bubbles," Meryn remarked, before popping something in her mouth.
Elizabeth turned to her. "Bubbles?"
Meryn shrugged. "She's bubbly."
Elizabeth just sighed and turned to her. "Looking for Darian?"
Amelia nodded. "He just came in."
Meryn laughed. "That's what that was? I thought one of the walls had caved in. He sure was loud."
The man in the crisply pressed butler outfit stepped forward and placed his right hand over his heart before bowing at the waist. "Welcome to the Alpha estate. My name is Ryuu; I am the squire here. If you would like, I can show you to Darian's room."
"That would be great."
"I am assuming you will be staying for the evening meal. May I inquire about your lodging arrangements for tonight?" Ryuu asked.
Amelia hesitated. She didn't know.
"She's staying here. She's Darian's mate," Meryn answered for her.
Amelia turned to the small woman and pulled her into a hug.
"She's doing it again," Meryn protested.
"And you're still alive," Elizabeth teased.
Amelia gave a final squeeze and stepped back. "Thank you for believing me." She felt better knowing that at least someone else believed her story.
"Of course, we believe you. Why would you lie about being his mate?" Meryn asked, reaching into a bag and popping a small piece of beef jerky into her mouth.
"Why would he?" Amelia asked softly.
Elizabeth pushed her toward the stairs and Ryuu stepped in beside her. Elizabeth winked. "Why don't you find out?"
"Remember, if he gets growly, hit him with the back of his toilet." Meryn called after them.
Amelia waved at her and kept walking up the stairs beside Ryuu. "Does that work?" she asked the squire softly.
"Evidently bear shifters are susceptible to toilet decks," Ryuu explained.
"Ahh." Amelia had a feeling there was more to the story, but was too nervous about confronting her mate to learn about bear shifters.
Ryuu stopped in front of large door. Amelia turned to him. "Could you take this?" she handed him her large tote bag and coat.
Smiling, he gently took them from her. "If it is permissible, I could arrange for someone to get your vehicle."
"That would be great. I left it parked on the side of the road leading up to the estate. The keys are in my coat pocket."
"Remember, we're just downstairs if you need us." He placed a comforting hand on her shoulder before he turned and walked back to the stairs.
Amelia took a deep breath. She didn't bother knocking and turned the handle. Finding it unlocked, she walked right in and stopped. Darian stood in the middle of the room, a towel wrapped low around his waist. He hadn't noticed she had opened the door yet, since he was using a smaller towel to dry his long hair. She felt electricity race through her body.
Bad hormones!
It was only after she tore her eyes away from her mate's mesmerizing form did she notice his room. She had to cut herself some slack. The only reason she hadn't seen the jungle in front of her was because her mate was practically naked.
Everywhere she turned, live plants bloomed and seemed to sway with their own magic. She felt like she had stepped into a dense forest instead of a bedroom. Vines climbed the walls and cradled a large four-poster bed. The furniture was made from the plants themselves, and she could have sworn she heard live birds. When she looked up, she was shocked to see a canopy of treetops and open sky beyond that. She couldn't even fathom the amount of magic it had taken to create this paradise.
She shook her head to break free of the magic that sustained his oasis and steeled herself to face her mate. She shut the door behind her. His head whipped in her direction, and he immediately scowled. "Get out."
"No. I want to know why you are denying that I am your mate." She crossed her arms over her chest.