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“Natalie . . .” Rumir’s voice echoed in my ear. "I know this is really you and not your voicemail. We don't have voicemails in this realm. The call just goes unanswered."
“Really? I think that’s something from Earth you guys should adopt.” I stretched my arms above my head. “It’s early, Rumir.”
"It's nine o’clock. And I'm outside."
I palmed my face. I know you're outside, damn it! That’s why I was ignoring your calls.
"Can we talk?” he pleaded. “I want to apologize, and that’s hard to do if you keep ignoring me."
“I’m ignoring you because I don’t want to talk,” I grumbled as I swung my legs off the bed.
“Five minutes?” Rumir asked, his voice softening.
I said nothing for a moment, then finally gave in. I was getting tired of keeping this up, anyway. I needed to tell him how I felt and make it clear that I wouldn’t tolerate him ever doing anything like that to me again. Once he understood that, then maybe we might not have any more problems.
Ten minutes later, I'd taken a shower and was heading downstairs. When I opened the door, I was greeted by Rumir, who was holding a bouquet of flowers out to me, as well as a box of chocolates and a jewelry case containing a necklace with various gems glistening in the sunlight.
"The necklace is too much," I grumbled.
He tapped his bracelet and the necklace disappeared. Then he held the bouquet of flowers and box of chocolates out to me. He smiled awkwardly, and I melted. He was so adorable in his shame. Still, I forced myself to keep a straight face.
I wouldn’t show weakness—not yet anyway.
I eyed the chocolate and flowers, then stepped aside and allowed him to enter the house.
“Just because you brought me flowers, that doesn’t mean I’ll forgive you,” I told him as I walked into the living room and sat down. “And honestly, a god turning up with chocolate and flowers? That seems a bit too mortal-like.”
Rumir sat down, the chair appearing oddly small beneath him. “To be honest, my butler suggested it. During your time on Earth, gifts like these were an acceptable form of apology, right? I was hoping it would be a start.”
“You can start by actually apologizing.”
Rumir placed the flowers and chocolate on the coffee table and leaned forward. "I'm sorry, Natalie. You have no idea how sorry I am. I don't know what came over me. But seeing you thrown back by Lucian’s power, then watching you mind-link with the florkin while knowing the danger I-I just lost it. You could have been killed.”
I didn’t argue with him. Lucian had already painted a very vivid picture for me of how foolish I’d been, and I understood how panicked Rumir must have been.
Still, he'd taken things too far, and that was the problem. Was he always going to go over the edge?
“I was out of line when I used my dominance on you. I had no idea it was even possible since you’re a werewolf, but I guess our mate bond changed that. I just responded the way a dragon would.” I frowned at that, and he shook his head, obviously remembering the other night. "My dragon lost it when he saw you on the ground, and egged on by my dragon side, I lost control. But—” He took a deep breath and gazed into my eyes. “Those are just excuses. I embarrassed you and myself. I’m very sorry.”
I didn't speak for a while, and Rumir eventually reclined, heaving a defeated sigh. It wasn't that I didn't accept his apology or that I was still trying to be difficult. I just hated how beaten he seemed.
He'd explained his temper to me—the dragon in him always fighting for control and dominance—and how hard that was to deal with. Then I recalled Brian telling me how hard it was to be a hybrid.
I released a heavy breath. “Okay.”
Rumir sat forward. “Okay?”
"I'm still hurt, and I don't really like you right now, but I do understand what you're saying. But at least we know something else about our strange mate bond. You need to learn some self-control. I won't tolerate you ever doing something like that to me again, Rumir. Ever.” I leaned forward. "I need you to understand something about me. I'm a fighter. I always have been, and I always will be. I fight hard for people and causes that I believe in. And yes, sometimes that means I’ll act reckless—that's something I need to work on—but I'm not a damsel in distress, Rumir.
"I understand that as my mate, you feel a sense of duty to protect me. I feel the same way about you. But don't think I can't protect myself. You can stand by my side, the same way I'll stand by yours. But I won't allow you to stand in front of me, Rumir. Your heart was in the right place, but your actions were terribly wrong."
I released a breath and stood up, picking up the flowers and the chocolate. “Thank you for the gifts.”
Then, without a glance in his direction, I walked from the room, my head held high.
* * *
Rumir
