5. Jaega

Once dinner was over, Jaega and Fersen sat by the fire again. Fersen heaved a contented sigh as he settled back into the comforts of the chair. "Thank you for the delicious dinner. You're really spoiling me."

Jaega chuckled as he settled himself. "It is my pleasure."

Fersen's smile was tinged with a hint of sadness. "It made me realize how much I miss having meals with Olina."

"Is she the owl shifter you mentioned earlier?"

"Yeah, she found me when I was a child and took me in. When she moved to Kunushi with her mate, she was kind enough to let me continue to stay in her house. I miss her terribly. I guess I got so used to the loneliness that I forgot how nice it was to have company and someone to talk to."

"Does she ever come back to visit?" Jaega asked.

"She did a few times. But once she had kids, it became a lot harder for her to make the trip since she lives almost all the way north in the town of Kalindi. I understand, but I still miss her. She's the closest thing to family I have left in this realm."

The situation tugged on Jaega's heartstrings. "Would you like to go visit her before we return to your home?"

Fersen's jaw dropped. "Oh, I couldn't possibly ask you to take me all the way north to see her in Kalindi. You're already doing enough as it is taking me to Morven."

"After everything you have been through, a visit with her might do you good," Jaega suggested.

Fersen shook his head. "Honestly, it might make going back to my empty house without her even harder. I think it's best for me to go straight home. But thank you so much for such a generous offer."

"In that case, I will offer you a promise. After you have had the proper time to recover, send me a letter whenever you wish to see her in the future. I will come to escort you myself."

"But—"

Jaega held up his hand to stop Fersen's protest. "No buts. You deserve to spend time with those you love."

"Why would you do that for me, though?" Fersen looked genuinely baffled. "Rescuing me is one thing. But offering to drop everything so I can take a trip to spend time with my friend is above and beyond any duty you have to me."

"Fate never acts without reason. Perhaps the reason the Fate Power brought me into your life was so that I could bring you and Olina back together once more." The Powers were the deities who lived in the Divine Realm. They controlled everything within the Living Realm.

"But you've already done so much! I couldn't?—"

Jaega gently talked over him. "That is why it is no trouble for me to offer to do a little more." When Fersen continued to struggle, Jaega tried a different tactic. "If it makes you feel better about accepting, you could consider it more restitution for the harm Torval inflicted on you."

"He didn't actually harm me, though."

Jaega shook his head. "I disagree. Even the mere threat of what he was intending to do was harmful enough. I will not abide by such depraved behavior."

Fersen tilted his head as he silently regarded Jaega for a long moment. "You're genuinely upset by what he did, aren't you?"

"Of course I am. I hold myself and my men to a higher standard. Such actions are abhorrent and against everything I believe. It is distressing to realize I have such an odious creature in my ranks. And he will be dealt with accordingly."

"What will happen to him?"

"When we return to Valzerna, he will be put on military court-martial for his crime. A conviction is guaranteed since I witnessed the incident myself. He will summarily receive a dishonorable discharge from the army following the guilty verdict, most likely along with some jail time."

Fersen toyed with his lower lip, drawing Jaega's attention to how plump it was. "You don't think he'll hunt me down and try to get revenge because I ruined his life, do you?"

Once again, Jaega felt compelled to offer Fersen physical comfort. He reached out to squeeze Fersen's hand in reassurance. "I would sooner kill him myself than let that happen. But you can rest at ease. He does not know your name, where you live, or what kind of shifter you are."

Fersen seemed appeased by that. "Do I have to testify at his trial?"

Jaega shook his head. "Since I was a witness to the incident, you will not have to appear. My word is enough to have him convicted."

Fersen sighed with relief. "I'm glad I don't have to face him in court."

"You will never see him again." Jaega patted Fersen's hand before letting go. "In Morven, you will be beyond his reach."

Fersen gave a humorless laugh. "I thought I was beyond anyone's reach since I lived so deep in the forest and have minimal contact with anyone. I was wrong about that. King Decius and his men obviously found me after hearing a rumor somewhere."

"At least you can rest easy knowing he can never hurt you again. I assure you, I personally sent him to the Beyond Realm. There is no coming back from that." That was where the spirits of the dead spent their afterlives.

"Thankfully." Fersen shuddered. "If I never thought about him again, it would be too soon."

"Then do not think of him one more second. You are forever free from his tyranny."

Fersen flashed a small smile. Jaega thought it was beautiful. "That actually helps, thanks." He hid a yawn behind his hand. "Sorry."

"If you wish to sleep, you may do so. I know today has been an eventful day."

Fersen snorted in amusement. "That's putting it mildly." His shoulders slumped a little. "But you're right. It's been a long day. Where should I go?"

Jaega gestured to the bed off to the side. "Please make yourself comfortable. Rest easy knowing you are well protected here."

There was a slight furrow in his eyebrows. "But where will you sleep?"

"I will stand guard while you rest."

The answer seemed to upset the unicorn shifter. "But I'm sure you're also tired after a long day of fighting."

"Your comfort is more important. I do not wish to give you the wrong impression by making you uncomfortable sharing a bed."

Fersen looked up at Jaega with lowered lashes. "It's okay. I trust you."

In truth, Jaega was tired. Sleeping in a warm bed with someone to snuggle against was the ultimate temptation. But he refused on principle. "And I value that trust. But I still do not wish to make you nervous. I am sure sharing a bed with a bigger male is the last thing you wish to do."

Fersen hesitated a moment before speaking. "If you were literally anyone else, that would be true. But I think knowing you're close to keep me safe would actually help."

Jaega's resolve weakened. "Only if you are truly sure it would help. I do not wish to cause you any distress. The last thing I want is for you to awaken in the night in a panic because a strange man is close to you."

Fersen lowered his gaze. "That will probably happen, whether you're in bed with me or not. My time in King Decius's captivity gives me regular night terrors. I'm sorry in advance if that happens tonight."

Jaega's heart panged with sympathy. "It is understandable after everything you've been through. You do not have to feel badly about it. If it happens, I will help in whatever way I can."

"Thank you." Fersen stood up. "In that case, I will use the bathroom and get ready for bed, if that's okay?"

"It is more than fine."

Left alone, Jaega's dragon was practically purring at the prospect of sharing a bed with Fersen. He argued it was a sign that Fersen trusted them as his fated mate. But Jaega refused to listen to such nonsense. He would never be the same kind of scum as Decius, who had done so much harm to someone so undeserving.

He wanted to make Fersen feel safe. That meant his dragon would stay locked in his cage, no matter how much it roared in anger at being denied access to Fersen.