Francesca

My bags were packed, and boxes were safely stored in my den, and my den key tucked in my bag. I never told anyone that it turned out to be a book. One of the oldest in Daddy's library. Something that was handed down and initially kept in a case with other priceless tomes. But once I bonded with it, and it let me into my den space, it seemed indestructible. Which was good because it was really, really old, and I would have despaired if its knowledge was lost. I was still trying to learn Sanskrit so I could read it. 

I loved parties. You could learn a lot about people at parties. My parents discovered that I was a bit precocious, and people didn't notice me until I would cause a stir by telling one group of adults what the other group of adults said. When I was older, my Da would invite me to dinner parties. He would cater, and I would listen to guests so he could have honest feedback about his dishes. It was fun to listen for clues or steer conversations into talking about the food, and no one the wiser that I was a ringer for the chef. Daddy loathed it, but I enjoyed gathering intel and generally mixing things up with large groups of people. 

Tonight's party wasn't for social engineering, or at least not the kind I usually enjoyed. My coworkers and managers would all be there, and many of us were leaving for the season. I would be leaving, and while I was happy to go home, something felt wrong about it as well. Like I was leaving another home behind. 

Of course, I forgot all that when Eilidh walked into the banquet hall. She wore a white and gold summer dress that flowed around her and accentuated all of her curves. Her hair was intricately braided. She wore interesting bits of glass jewelry that had gold flecks melted into the centerpieces. 

We were circumspect as we drew closer to each other. I don't know if anyone ever asked Eilidh about our relationship, but none of my coworkers asked me anything. That might have been because I worked, read, or was with Eilidh. After tonight, it didn't matter. 

"You look amazing, Freddie. Is this Dior?" 

I nodded. "One of my cousins works as a photographer at a fashion zine. Sometimes they let them keep samples. When they are cleaning out their closet, they'll give things to some of the family." I hadn't ever had an occasion to wear the strapless black cocktail dress with the a-line skirt and wide black tulle that acted as a secondary skirt with a bow around the waistline. I guessed tonight was as good a night as any. 

"Well, you look amazing." I watched as she sipped her drink, and we stayed a good half meter apart. I didn't like that. For whatever reason, I didn't want to spend my last night pretending in public that we were only acquaintances. I set down my glass as a slow song started. 

"May I have this dance?"

She blinked, then set down her glass as well. "Yes, of course."

I took her out onto the dance floor and brought her in close. "I missed you. I thought we were going to have dinner together before the party."

"I had things to finish at the club." She tried to look me in the eyes but failed. It didn't smell like a lie, but I could spot a half-truth a kilometer away. 

"Did I do something wrong?"

Eilidh shook her head. "No. But I have."

"Oh?" I wondered what she could possibly mean by that. It's not as if we had made any promises to each other or had feelings. If she'd been with someone else, I would have smelled it on her. Which I might or might not have understood. Something in me wanted to be upset about even the possibility, which didn't make sense. And her guilt and regret didn't make sense either.

"I know for you this arrangement wasn't based on an attachment. We never said we were in a relationship, but now that you are leaving, I find myself a bit overwhelmed."

"Oh." We continued to move around the dance floor. "It's normal to miss someone you are fond of when they leave."

"That's just it, Freddie. I'm a bit more than just fond of you." She took my hand and led me off the dance floor and out into the main hall that led to the shops in one direction and the hotel rooms in the other. "I tried to keep my feelings for you to myself. Especially since I'm not your mate, and after tonight, you'll be on your way back to Wales." She paused as tears slipped from her eyes. "I didn't want to ruin your last night here. Please forgive me."

I didn't know how to respond to that. Or what to say that would make Eilidh hurt less. I understood what she was trying to explain logically, but emotionally, I didn't have time to process what it meant to me. Before I could say anything, she squeezed my hand and let me go. 

"Goodnight, Francesca." She walked past me and headed down the hall. 

I didn't know what to do, so I said goodbye as well. "Goodnight, Eilidh."

The flight home was tedious. Three plane changes later, I was safely surrounded by Daddy's library, with a steaming mug of Da's tea and scones. It was familiar and, at the same time, cold. Even though a fire was merrily burning away, I was wrapped in blankets. I held onto my tea as if it was a lifeline to something, but what, I wasn't sure.

Gavin came into his library and fanned himself. "Freddie, it's too warm in here for the books. Why do you have the fire so high?" He came over to bank it a bit, and the temperature dropped a few degrees. It made me shiver and break out in a cold sweat. When he turned to face me and looked concerned. "Are you alright, my Freddie-bug?" 

When he reached to touch my forehead, I started to cry. I wasn't alright. Dragons didn't sweat. Something was terribly wrong with me. "Daddy, I met someone."

All of my experiences with Eilidh came tumbling out of my mouth, even the sexual ones. I missed her, of course, but this was something more. There was a pain in my heart, and I wasn't sure what to do with it. 

My parents called in our family physicians. The Alexanders were mage physicians who had treated our whole family for years. When Leon arrived, he set to work. He asked if he could share it with my parents when he found something, and I agreed. It was better to put their concerns at ease. I knew what was wrong with me, but I didn't know what to do about it.

"Well, I can tell you that it's not a mating bond. The markers in her blood don't indicate that. However, I did find a foreign substance."

Leon glanced at me, and I nodded, so he continued. "It's akin to a drug, but only one we've ever seen documented when one of your family came in contact with an incubus."

Da frowned. "Didn't you say Eilidh was a demi-goddess?"

I nodded. "Eilidh's father was something else. I never clarified, and she didn't want to talk about it. At the time, it didn't seem to matter. I don't think she knew about this. She wouldn't hurt me."

Daddy knelt in front of me. "No, we know. You told us enough about your time together." 

"It's possible the demi-goddess doesn't realize she has a latent incubus power. It heightens sexual pleasure, can induce euphoria and has similar properties as dragon sperm. Having sex with an individual with this power is highly addictive," Dr. Alexander said. "But, even so, with rest and proper treatment, the addictive nature of it can be dealt with easily enough. It only takes time."

Time. I had plenty of that now. My parents' library had seemed eternal to me, even timeless, before I left for the resort. Now all I thought about was how stagnant it was and lacking. Nothing made sense any longer. "How long will it take to wear off?" I asked.

"A few days at most. Your system is already breaking down the substance. I can leave a tea to make sure it's flushed out completely." My parents were happy with this treatment. I, however, found myself very upset about it. As if to rid myself of this influence would make me forget her. It was impossible, of course, but one wasn't always rational in the face of emotions. 

After Dr. Alexander left, Daddy helped me to my room. He made sure the fire in my room was roaring, and I had a mug of the doctor's tea at hand. "Would you like to talk about it?"

"I don't understand." I honestly didn't. 

"What are you concerned about, Freddie-bug?"

"She wasn't my mate, so how could I possibly have feelings for someone that wasn't tied to me?"

"Oh, sweetheart." He kissed my forehead. "Sometimes we are fortunate to find that the individuals we're drawn to emotionally are also those we are biologically compatible with as well." He rubbed my back as I laid my head on his lap. "Take your Gram and Gramp, for example. They are biologically compatible, but it took them a long time before they had any real fondness for each other." He was quiet for a time, then sighed. "I never told you this, but I was in another relationship before I met your Da."

This was news. "Who were they?"

"He was a very old mage. When I met him, we were doing research on the same subjects. We had an affair that lasted twenty years. He died in my arms and thanked me for loving him. He told me that he was happy I wasn't his mate. He would have hated robbing the world of my beautiful face."

"He didn't." My daddy could embellish something fierce. It's why I loved his stories. But he only smelled of truth and love. 

"He did! I promise!"

"Does Da know?"

Gavin nodded. "He catered the funeral reception. Mages have huge families. Otto's reception was very lavish. His family spared no expense. A few bites of your Da's food, and suddenly I had questions about the culinary origins. He answered most of them, and then a year later or so, I found out the same chef opened a restaurant. I couldn't resist trying it, and Brice hadn't forgotten me, even a year later."

"Did he woo you with delicious food?"

"No, actually, it was boats. Turns out your Da was really good with boats before he took up cooking." Gavin smiled. "We spent a lot of nights together out on the water. Now that I think about it, it sounds really strange since he'd just started cooking. But the restaurant wasn't nearly as good or as popular as it is now."

The thought of my parents out on a boat a hundred or so years ago amused me. I didn't know why I had never asked before. I suppose books seemed more interesting to me until now. 

"If I had known you were waiting in the library for your mate to walk through the front door, I might have said something sooner."

"I didn't know. As far as I was concerned, books were good enough."

"And what about now?"

"I'm still in love with books." We laughed, and he patted my back. 

"What about Eilidh?"

"There was something there, and it wasn't just her powers. It was more than that." I sat up so I could look Daddy in the eyes. "The last thing she said to me before I left was that she had feelings for me. I didn't know what she meant or how I felt. I thought it was because I was leaving. Now, I'm not sure."

"Why aren't you sure?"

"Because I think I have feelings for her too."

Daddy pulled me into a hug and kissed my cheek. "Don't wait to find out, sweetie. Don't wait around for a mythical mate to show themselves. You deserve to be happy, okay?"

I nodded and wiped my face. "How have you two put up with me for so long?"

His face grew stern but was playful. "We did not put up with you, young dragon. We care about you, and we're your parents. So don't think for one second that we would ever think there was anything wrong with you if you didn't have a mate within the first five minutes of walking out the front door."

"Everyone else seems to think that."

"Well, everyone else can take the piss." I laughed. Daddy grinned. 

Once I stopped laughing, I realized where I should be. It was only a matter of planning. "Daddy, I have an idea."