THE SUBSTITUTE LUNA (IRIS and DRACO) novel Chapter 26

DRACO.

“Don’t do that again…” I told Iris as I adjusted the collar of my shirt.

I was not made to hold a female’s hand. Especially not when walking in public places.

The only reason I waited and didn’t let go of her hand the moment she took mine inside the boutique was because I knew people were watching us. I didn’t want to embarrass her. But holding hands was not for me. I felt restricted.

I could only count the number of times I held Felicity’s hand—nothing on ordinary days—only during galas and events where I needed to assist her while walking or standing. But nothing like this.

Iris didn’t say anything, and we walked in silence to the parking lot where my car was parked. My personal car that I allowed her to use, to make sure no one bothers her, once they realized she was using mine.

After I left her with Liam, I went back inside the shopping center to cross to the other side, where the car I was using was parked. I had a meeting at the central hall, and I was already running late.

I had thirty minutes to spare earlier. I thought I would just check on her, so I called Liam to ask where they were. But it led to something else.

One smile, and I ended up at her mercy—like every damn time.

Maybe I needed to fuck more.

My conquest at the north had stopped me from my fucking rendezvous because I had no choice. I had a difficult time adjusting at the beginning, but my aim to win that game was more important than my libido.

Eventually, I had gotten so used to it that even two weeks after I came home, I still hadn’t fucked anyone. I simply lost my appetite. Maybe seeing Felicity in the north did that to me.

Felicity.

My fated mate.

I could still vividly recall that Festival Night at Dryndow. Chaos erupted when one of the areas exploded from failed fireworks and created a short circuit.

People began pushing around.

I tried to get away, pissed off at the organizers’ negligence in securing everything. Not that I cared if everyone died, but I wasn’t going to die that night. And not that way. No. Not yet.

I pushed my way out of the crowd when I suddenly felt electricity coursing from my wrist to everywhere in my body. My first thought was that an electric line had hit me. I thought I was electrocuted, only for me to realize I liked how it felt on my skin.

But it was gone before I could even glance at my wrist where it started.

Although her scent was not the same as the night at the festival, I didn’t question it. Maybe the mixture of all the scents around me produced the sangria that I smelled, but it wasn’t hers.

Still, I felt lucky. I thought maybe a better fate awaited me. That I was finally getting a reward for all the pain I suffered while growing up under my father’s abusive words and indifference.

I was convinced I was given someone who would love and care for me, without any restrictions, without any conditions.

Except for a child.

I was infertile.

While I tried to find ways to cure my infertility, she would cry and tell me of her dreams of having a big family. A dream that would always crack my sanity, a dream I knew I could never give her.

But through it all, I thought we were okay. I thought we were still working for the grand wedding she had always wanted.

Little did I know, she was already creating a different life outside of the home I built for us.