After arriving in the Dragons Clans Castle Max was not expecting the to see what he clearly thought he saw. Max not sure what he was seeing immediately left not wanting to say or do anything that could cause more bad then good. Walking to the one of the side doors he knew of going outside needing the fresh air in his lungs. He didn't want to think about his mate touching another male his wolf reacting violently to the very thought.
Why would she do this? Was all she said just a lie? He was hurt and confused which didn't answer his questions or solve any of his problems. Slamming his fist on the concrete banister Max tried not to think of what would have happened had he not walked in. Footsteps approached as Dimitri came around the corner standing at the top of the stairs almost defensively.
"Do I even want to know what that was?" Max asked gripping concrete. Dimitri stepped closer stopping just before the threshold of the arch, "You don't know what that was. And you need to let her explain. This is something more then just you and her."
Max straightened looking him dead in the eye challenging his words, "How is this more then her and I? She's my mate and a royal. If anything your lucky my father hasn't issued a challenge." Seeing this dragon in front of him only made his wolf more on edge. HE didn't hate the man, but he always knew he was close to Lily. They met some years ago on one of her research trips. Wade let him know when she was back from a trip when he was at university.
"Go ahead issue it and then your mate can just move in with me since she'll be leaving you for your idiocy. You and I both know what Lily is like, though I'd have to say I know her better," Dimitri said triggering Max's male instincts. Max grabs Dimitri around the through holding him to the wall as Dimitri kicks out Max's middle pushing off the wall forcing Max back.
"You could have saved her many times over the years and you just let your family walk all over her. Your lucky she wants you and even chose you as her mate," Dimitri taunted landing a 3 punch combo to Max's head knocking him into the concrete banister. "If you had really cared you'd have gotten her out of there before your mother and sister could do real damage to her. If you only knew the dirty tricks the woman of your bloodline played....."
Max got back up spit blood out his mouth saying gruffly, "I did help her. How do you think she left to begin with? My father wanted to keep her a slave forever, but I had to remind him that she was a citizen and couldn't be kept hostage without cause and he didn't have any. I SET HER FREE! She got what she wanted. I didn't ask her to come back, but she did anyways helping the people my parents wouldn't. She makes her own choices!"
Max swung on him several times trying to hit to the inside being blocked almost every hit. Using his body Dimitri forced his way in pinning Max to the wall next to the stairs," Enough!" Dimitri and Max were both out of breath both still ready to fight. "We can try and play this out like we know we can, but that's only going to hurt her more. Go talk to her," Dimitri said letting him go stepping back as he did so. Max slumped against the wall then straightened looking the dragon over who didn't look much better then him.
"Let's go," Max said heading back to Lily's room. Walking in he sat next to her waiting to hear what she had to saying. As Lily explained everything Max just couldn't believe all he was hearing. He waited until the end to ask anything, "So I'll have to share you with other males?" She looked taken back by the question as she tried to say something about their relationship, but he held up his hand explaining that they could handle the other mates when they came. Though he was sure one was sitting right next to her.
Walking out the door with Dimitri they headed to his office walking down one floor and to the left his secretary Bee typing away on her computer. They walk in to Dimitri's office closing the door while Dimitri poured himself a drink offering one to Max. "So I'm guessing your one of her mates, correct?" Max asked downing the drink asking for another.
"Yes, but we haven't marked each other yet," Dimitri said sipping his drink handing Max one as well. "It didn't seem like you had. Wait, years ago.....was it you? Were you her first?" Max asked stepping close to him gripping his glass tightly. Dimitri had a very forlorn look on his face not saying a word a slight smirk on the edge of his mouth. "I should have hit you harder. At least it was you and not some random punk I'd have to hunt down later," Max said walking past Dimitri over to the painting on the wall.
"She told me she wasn't ready for a relationship, but wanted to f*ck someone she could trust," Dimitri said walking up next to him, "We kept it light. My family would have given me a hard time had I tried to take her as a mate. Plus she wanted to do things first before settling down. If you love someone you let them go."
Max turned his head looking Dimitri over with new found respect. He never wanted to cage Lily just love her as she was and hope she came back. "Your right," Max said finishing his drink then moving to put it next to the decanter set, "I should have saved her sooner. My father had other plans for her, and I've got a news that he knew who she was."
Dimitri turned to face him, "Really? How? No body knew the moon goddess had a child." Max pulled out a file he had in his back pocket handing it to Dimitri. Looking the contents over a surprised look flashes across his face. "He knew. He knew the whole time who she was," Dimitri said in a sinisterly angry voice, "Your father knew she was the moon goddess's daughter."