My grin slipped and I swallowed, feeling his deeper meaning. He was with me. He was mine.
I nodded my head, giving him permission to continue washing me with his hands on my body and nothing between them.
Chapter Nine
We were late getting down to breakfast, but we managed to snag two seats at the table as some others got up. I ended up having to wash dishes like the first morning since I wasn’t there to claim other chores. Xan, now being in the strategy group, was magically excused from day to day chores since he was contributing in other ways. But he still decided to stick around and help me dry the dishes.
Man, I loved my dragon.
Once the last dish was washed, dried, and put away, I decided to go in search of Camille since she wanted to help me refine my potion-making skills. The casting circle met in a large conservatory on the third floor, so I kissed Xander and began to make my way toward the stairs since I knew that was where she would be.
“Emelia!” Di’s haughty voice carried through the hallway before I had my chance to make it to the bottom step and I cringed at the sound of it. “Emelia, darling! There’s someone I want you to meet!”
I turned on the spot and came face to chest with a giant of a man. Startled at the sudden closeness of someone I didn’t know, I tried to back up a step and fell backwards toward the stairs. A large hand shot forward, catching me before my back hit and pulled be back up to standing.
“I am sorry about that,” a deep baritone voice attached to the hand told me.
I looked up, way up and blinked my eyes several times. He looked so familiar and yet, I knew that I had never met him. But it was more than that. There was a connection there too. It wasn’t sexual, just familiar. Blinking my eyes, I tried to place it but I came up short.
That was until I sensed his dragon.
Then I realized why he looked so familiar. He looked like my father, almost a spitting-image of the man in my dreamscapes.
Never once did I think of other family outside of my parents and Devlin. I should have, I mean they had to come from somewhere. But the thought of other family members never even occurred to me. If this man, who was still holding onto my arm as if I would fall over again, wasn’t related to my father in some way, then I would question my very own sanity.
“Emelia,” Di said, clearing her throat. I whipped my head over to her to see a knowing smirk on her smug face. “Meet Amos Von Brandt. Amos is in charge of another cell of our little group. He’s come to help me with a project.”
Von Brandt? There was no denying it then.
I swallowed and tried to give the dragon shifter a friendly smile, but I could only manage a nervous one. I mean, what were the odds? Unless it wasn’t a coincidence that this man, dragon, who was more than likely a relative of mine, would show up right after I had that conversation with my dad. Was he the one that he meant to say ‘hi’ to?
“Emi, baby, I thought you were going to your circle.”
Xander was eyeing the place where Amos’ hand was still attached to my arm with malice. I snatched my arm out of the other man’s grasp and took a step toward my mate.
“Xan, meet Amos Von Brandt. He’s here to help Di with something.”
My eyes got really wide as I spoke, trying to silently communicate to him to pay attention. His eyes widened then relaxed as he looked around me toward the newcomer.
“Amos, nice to meet you,” Xan said and stuck out his hand for the other man to shake.
Amos took it and paused. He eyed my mate then smiled. “Di, you didn’t tell me there were two dragon shifters here.”
“Did I forget to mention that?” She slid next to Amos and put her hand on his arm, her smile becoming more smarmy. “Xander is one of our newest recruits! I think you’ll find him very useful! I know I do.”
I tilted my head to the side and narrowed my eyes toward Xan. What did she mean by that? He closed his eyes in annoyance and lightly shook his head, then opened them and smiled back at Amos.
“Yeah, I want to learn all about this group so I’ve offered my services.”
“Oh really? Well I’d like to hear how you’re contributing to the rebellion, my friend.” Amos moved to Xander’s side and clasped him on the shoulder.
Yeah. Me too. It felt like I needed to have a talk with my mate about what was going on during ‘strategy meetings’. I was curious up to that point but I didn’t feel like he was purposefully leaving me out of it. That was, until Di opened her annoying mouth.
“Emelia, it was nice to meet you.” Amos turned his head to look at me, his eyes growing paternal which immediately calmed my attitude.
“You too,” I replied.
Xan, Amos, and Di were starting to walk away, when I called out to them. I needed to know. I just had to. All three of them looked back at me with questioning looks.
“Amos, are you by chance related to Eric Von Brandt?” I shifted from one foot to the other as I waited for his answer.
His smile faltered and his eyes became angry as his gaze shifted down. “Why do you want to know?”
Okay. He was obviously not happy about the question.
“It’s just, you look like him and you share the same last name. I just wanted to know if you’re related to him.”
His eyes snapped up to mine and I could see the hurt
