Page 5 of Matched in Mayhem

“You could have,” I said, shaking his hand. “A lot of those privacy rules are to protect people who moved there because they’re in danger.”

“You weren’t on the train,” he said and I blinked.

Had he been following me around town? I hoped not. A lie was one thing, but if he was good enough to follow me around unnoticed I needed to pay more attention.

“I.. I came on an earlier train so I had the chance to look around,” I admitted.

“Makes sense. Did you get to see everything? We can walk around if you like. I’ll carry your bag,” he said, nodding to it.

“I got it,” I said despite how heavy it was. Sure, I was going to this guy’s house, but I just met him and wasn’t ready to trust him with all my possessions.

“I thought we’d do a late lunch at the Temple of Frost. My friend is volunteering there today and he’s just finishing up. That way we can talk for a bit before we’re stuck alone in a house together. Thought it may make things more comfortable for you.”

“Bennie!” my wolf chimed off into my thoughts.

“I’d like that! I’ve only been to the Temple of Frost on Hemlock Mountain. Does this one have a restaurant?”

“Fully staffed kitchen that’s always ready to feed the hungry. It’s always free and donation based, but my friend’s dad pretty much runs the temple. So, we’ve donated enough hours to eat for free for life,” Raziel smiled.

“Do you do a lot of charity work?” I asked, moving my bag to my other shoulder.

“My offer to carry your bag still stands,” Raziel said. “Or we can drop it off at the truck.”

“Truck please,” I said. “Better than having to haul it around the temple. With my luck I’d knock something over that’s from the time of Juda and Frost.”

“Oh, all those things are held in place securely. Usually behind glass.”

“He didn’t get the joke,” my wolf sounded off into my thoughts, and I made a mental note of it later for my surveys. It was going to be a long few months if all my sarcasm went over his head.

His truck was even bigger in person, but it was a double cab which meant my bag fit in the backseat with plenty of room to spare. After my hands were free Raziel handed off the gift bag and it jingled.

“I almost brought flowers, but figured this would be more useful while you’re here since we’re supposed to be living as mates,” Raziel said.

I blushed and hoped to Frost and Juda there wasn’t a sex toy in the bag.

“Sex toys don’t jingle!” my wolf laughed, but you never really knew with dragons.

I opened the bag to find a set of keys, a wallet, and a map. At the very bottom I found a chocolate bar made by a local chocolatier.

“Uh… Are you giving me a new identity like I’m going into a protection program?” I laughed.

“The keys open all the common use spaces of the local pack and my family. I figured at some point you might want to go somewhere without me, hence the map. Plus, you should open the wallet,” Raziel said, leaning one arm against his truck. It was hot today. The dragon metal would’ve burnt straight through my arm, but it didn’t phase him. Raziel grinned at me as if waiting for me to find the prank. He wasn’t bad to look at with blue eyes and dark, almost black hair. He wore a blue button-down shirt that he looked a little out of place in as if he dressed up just for me.

“Open it,” he nodded at the wallet and despite the way his mischievous eyes made the butterflies in my stomach flock close together I did. I didn’t even notice the cards straight away. It was filled with paper universal dollars in various denominations. I could’ve lived on this money for years back home. Were things that expensive here or did he want to show off? Then there were gift cards and a credit card with my name on it.

“That’s a bank card. I had it set up for you while you’re here in case the cash wasn’t enough or you ended up somewhere that doesn’t take cash. I know it seems like a lot but I figured if my mate were here I’d want him to be able to get whatever he wanted or needed without having to ask me or wait on me and made sure you could do the same.”

I shoved the wallet back into the bag. It was almost too much. Actually, it probably was too much. When things appear too good to be true, they usually are.

“It’s family money,” he said as if that cleared everything up.

“Raz?” A voice called out that was almost familiar. I glanced around the parking lot wondering if someone gave him that nickname or if it was a coincidence and they were shouting for someone else.

“That’s Bennie. Either he’s early or we’re late,” Raziel grinned before letting out a loud whistle.

A second later, Bennie waved from across the parking lot. I smiled despite myself and Raziel winked at me. I blushed hard. Was he used to people being into Bennie? Did he feel like he was in his friend’s shadow.

“You’ll like Bennie,” he said and motioned for me to follow him.