Dr. Luna
The Fairy’s Forbidden Mate Chapter 27

There was an eerie quiet that swept over the place once the sound of Titus's footsteps completely faded. She looked around the room. How long did they plan to keep her up here? She wasn't going to lose her head over the situation. It never did anyone any good to panic. Panicking makes you unfocused and you can't think clearly. This was the complete opposite of what you needed when in a tough situation. Okay self. We are going to go and take a nice hot shower... hoping it is actually hot water... and try to logically think this situation through. Rhea walked in the direction where the normal sized doors were. The first door she walked through opened into a large bedroom. The room was actually quite elegant. Strange for an oubliette. The bed was huge and had a large wooden frame with dragons carved in the wood. A canopy draped over top of it that helped give the bed extra privacy. There were two other doors off to the side of the room. One of the rooms was a large walk-in closet, which had lots of male clothes inside. The other room was a large bathroom suite. There was a large stone shower with multiple shower heads and then a deep walk down tub. She eyed the tub greedily. She might be locked up here, but it was with the most amazing tub she had ever seen. She was going to enjoy herself with a luxury soak.

She filled up the water and added soap so that there was a thick layer of bubbles over the top. She then discarded her clothes and slipped into the heavenly warmth. She wasn't worried about herself. She was concerned about Kelsie and Cody. What would they tell them? Would they lock them up too? Or would they simply just kick them out of the dragon kingdom? Doing the latter would probably lead to war quicker because they would come back with help. No... if they planned to keep her up here, they would have to also lock Cody and Kelsie up too. Maybe she could scale the wall outside? How hard could that be?

It didn't make sense at all. She didn't feel like Titus and Lee were bad. Maybe this was her problem. Even after being locked up she still was having a hard time doubting them. She leaned her head back onto the cool porcelain of the tub and closed her eyes. There had to be a reason. This was her last thought as she drifted into a light slumber.

Rhea opened her eyes to the feeling of another presence in the room. She glanced to the side to see Lee standing there staring down at her.

"It's dangerous to fall asleep in the tub." His voice growled out.

Rhea noticed his eyes were trailing over her. The bubbles had vanished from the tub and under the water she was fully unveiled.

"How long have you been standing there?" She asked quietly as she slowly stood up. She stepped out of the tub. A small smear of red on her cheeks as she openly walked out in front of him. She then grabbed the large towel and wrapped her body in it. "Long enough." His voice came out in a rasp. His eyes were dilated. He was clearly affected by looking at her.

Rhea turned and faced him. Her sapphire eyes captured his light blue ones. "How long am I supposed to be locked up here? Am I now some dirty little secret that needs to be hidden away?" She bit her bottom lip as she stared up at him. "What is going on?" She all but whispered out.

"You aren't a dirty secret Rhea. I asked Titus to bring you up here for your safety until I could talk with you properly."

"What is up here?"

"This is my private place. This is my own area that is off limits to everyone except those who are invited."

This was Lee's place. The elegant bedroom and bathroom now made complete sense. She could understand being led up here now. She still wasn't sure about the whole neck thing. It was definitely the elephant in the room. So she decided to be the one who brought it up. She needed to know. Was she marked and if she was... why?

Lee turned around and cleared his throat. "I have some shirts in the closet if you would like to put one on."

Rhea nodded and walked past him and into the large closet. She found a long shirt and threw it on over her head. The shirt came down past her bottom and she looked like a child in their daddy's shirt. She left the closet and saw Lee standing on the other side of the room where a large ceiling to floor window was.

"I'm sorry Rhea." She heard him say as he looked out the window. "I didn't mean to do it. I'm very sorry. I have kept my distance from you because sometimes I can have a hard time controlling myself. My feral animal got the best of me this time and marked you." She heard him let out a breath and then turn to look at her. "I can't apologize enough... I hope you can forgive me for this."

Rhea quietly looked down at the ground. She reached up with her hand and delicately touched the mark on her neck. She was in fact marked. Her chest stung and squeezed tightly. She was marked but the person who marked her did so by accident. So, he really didn't want her. What does this mean for her now? If she is marked, then how is this going to affect her? What does this mean as far as her replaceing her mate in the future?

"I understand." Her voice squeaked out. She understood. How could a deity take her as his own? It really did make sense. He got carried away and did something he shouldn't have. She could forgive him even though it hurt her heart. "What does this mean now?" Rhea rubbed her mark lightly and glanced up to meet with his eyes.

He regarded Rhea for a moment. She looked almost defeated. Her eyes seemed to be filled with disappointment and sadness. He had caused that. It was his fault. He should have asked her before it got to this point. Instead, he went to the brink and lost control. He felt like an insecure child, but he had to say it. "Well, it means you are my mate Rhea. Do you not want to be mine?"

Her body stiffened a bit and her eyes widened. The betraying flutter of her heart trumpeted loudly. She is his mate? Does he want her to be his mate or is it just because it was too late now? Ugh this was stupid. Why was she acting like this? She needed to just open up and speak her mind. Besides... was he really that daft? Did he not know how badly she wanted him? She only always blushed under his look and melted in his arms.

"I don't understand any of this Lee. I don't get it. I don't understand your questions and I don't understand why Titus was claiming the mark on my neck as his own. What is your game here? Am I a toy you plan to share? Play around with my feelings because you can obviously see how I feel about you, is that it? It's not right Lee-"

"Hey! Rhea... stop. You are the one not making sense right now. Sharing? I don't share Rhea. I never have and never will. The Titus thing... well that is another thing to talk about. But first.... how do you... feel about me? Because I don't know. It isn't obvious to me." Lee took a few steps towards Rhea. He wanted to know how she felt. He had always wanted to know how she felt.

"I...I don't know if you are teasing me or being serious..." Her eyes were almost pleading with him. "It has been obvious since the beginning. Since the day I met you. I..." Her cheeks heated up, but she pushed through the embarrassment. She was going to get everything out in the open. Why not now? She was already marked.

"Geezes Lee. You already know this but are making me say it anyways. Just poke more fun at the girl who has been in love with you for years. And I don't even-"

In a second he was there, and his lips were crashing down on hers. She was stunned but couldn't help her natural reaction. Her arms came around his neck and she met with his heated lips. There was so much depth and passion poured into this kiss. It was soft but lingering. She felt like her soul was being sucked out into him. Her body tingled in the fire that was being caused by him. He pulled his lips away from her and held her tightly against his body.

"I love you too, Rhea. Damn... do I love you."

The words were like pure ecstasy to her, but they were also confusing. He loved her as well? Since when? So, he did mean to mark her?

"I don't understand. You are in love with me too?"

"Baby... from the day I met you I knew you were my mate. I was shocked and I wasn't sure what to do. You were still so young. So, I waited, hoping that you would also recognize me as your mate. I have been waiting for your damn wolf to come forward all this time. I have been trying to keep a distance and not force myself on you because it was hard at times. Your very scent drives me over the edge." His voice was low and raspy as he held her tightly against his body. "All these years I have been hoping you loved me... wishing you wanted me like I wanted you. I had to wait though. I had to wait because I couldn't claim you. What if your wolf didn't claim me as your mate? All my self-control came crashing down tonight. When you asked me to look at you as a woman... when that was all I have ever seen you as. Something inside of me snapped and before I knew it... I marked you as my own. I just hope... I hope this all doesn't backfire. Rhea, I won't be able to bear it if you do not also see me as your mate."

Rhea shook her head in his chest. He had loved her all this time too. So much time wasted. She didn't care about the mate pull. She loved Lee. She chose him. "I don't care Lee. I don't care who my mate is because I want you. You are my mate with or without my wolf telling me so."

"Rhea... things might not be easy at first. There are a couple things stacked up against us, but it doesn't matter to me as long as I end up with you."

"Is it because you are a dragon?"

"There is that and I am a deity. Taking you as a mate is against the rules. This is why Titus has been claiming you as his mate. The dragons aren't really an issue. Sure, they may complain about it but there isn't a thing they can do about it. However, the other deities will need to be convinced. Until then, Titus will be pretending that you are his mate in order to protect us both. Really... they won't do anything to you, so it is to protect me. Don't worry though it will all work out." "Would they hurt you?"

"In the worst way possible. They would try to seal me away until you die." Lee nuzzled his head into her neck.

Rhea's chest tightened. This is what her premonition was showing her. Lee hadn't died... he had been sealed away.