6. Fersen

Maybe Fersen was making a mistake. His heart pounded at the thought of sharing a bed with Jaega—and it wasn't because of the trauma that came from Decius. It had everything to do with Jaega being the man of his dreams he had spent his entire life hoping he'd be lucky enough to find one day.

But Jaega would surely never be interested in damaged goods like Fersen. He was a respected general who could have anyone he wanted. Why would he look twice at Fersen? The idea that Jaega would settle for Fersen was laughable. He would never.

Fersen's heart skipped a beat when Jaega exited the bathroom. The dragon shifter was magnificent in every respect. Fersen's unicorn reared up inside of him, urging him to offer himself to the man who had given them so much. But Fersen didn't want Jaega to think he threw himself at everyone. That was the furthest thing from the truth.

For such a big man, Jaega got into bed with Fersen gingerly. "Please let me know if I make you uncomfortable at any point. I will not take offense if you change your mind. It is no problem for me to sleep in a chair by the fire if it makes you more at ease."

Fersen took a steadying breath. The heat of Jaega made his heart practically gallop in his chest, but from lust and not fear for once. "Thanks, but I'm fine." He hesitated before adding, "I feel safe with you."

"That is because you are. I will protect you from all harm."

Jaega's promise filled Fersen with wild ideas about a future together that could never happen. He needed to stop thinking like that because those kinds of thoughts could only lead to hurt.

Ever the gentleman, Jaega kept as respectful of a distance from Fersen as the bed allowed. It was almost disappointing. The thought of being embraced by Jaega's powerful arms filled Fersen with complicated emotions. He felt a very real longing for something he knew he'd never be lucky enough to experience. It was an unexpected reaction when he assumed his awful experiences in King Decius's captivity would have turned him off sex and men forever.

But Jaega was the opposite of that bastard in every single way. He wouldn't dream of making sexual demands that made Fersen uncomfortable. Jaega was undoubtedly a thoughtful lover. It was something Fersen had no experience with, but he desperately wanted to with Jaega.

Fersen forcibly stopped those thoughts in their tracks. The last thing he needed to do was get aroused so close to a dragon shifter who had a keen sense of smell. Jaega would be able to detect Fersen's arousal in an instant, which was enough to make his thoughts settle down for the evening.

Instead, Fersen focused on the miracle of feeling safe for the first time since his ordeal began months ago. Jaega's steady breathing was a calming influence. Fersen knew with certainty that nothing could harm him, so long as Jaega was by his side.

* * *

Waking up to the morning sun disoriented Fersen. He hadn't even noticed he had fallen asleep. It took a moment for him to piece together where he was. He tensed at the feeling of being held by someone but relaxed when he remembered it was Jaega and not King Decius.

Fersen closed his eyes with a sigh, focusing on the warmth of being embraced by Jaega. The sense of security it gave him to be held by such strong arms was something Fersen never wanted to give up. He would be the luckiest man in Talwyn if every morning started that way.

It took a moment to realize that if it was morning, that meant he had slept through the night for the first time in months. He hadn't had a single bad dream or night terror about his captivity and abuse. Jaega's presence was so reassuring even Fersen's mind had surrendered its fears to him. It was a miracle Fersen had assumed would never happen.

Fersen had never felt so safe in his life. Jaega's massive body dwarfed his as it curled around him. Since Jaega was a fire dragon shifter, heat radiated off his body. It seemed to go straight to the pit of his stomach, which burned with a burgeoning need for the remarkable man holding him. He wanted Jaega to show him the difference between the brutal sex he had endured with Decius and gentle lovemaking. But the very idea was ridiculous when Jaega had no reason to love Fersen.

Rather than indulge in a pity party, Fersen refocused his attention on how incredible it felt to be held in comfort for the first time in his life. He wanted to memorize every moment so he could wrap the memory around him later like a warm blanket on those lonely nights when his bed was so empty.

He was pulled from his thoughts when he felt Jaega tense behind him. "Sorry, I—" Jaega apologized, pulling away.

Before Fersen could even process what he was doing, he guided Jaega's arm back down to hold him once more. "Please."

"You do not wish for me to move?" Jaega asked, his voice thick with sleepy confusion. It was surprisingly endearing to Fersen.

"I'm sorry. I know I'm being horribly selfish," Fersen whispered, tears gathering in his eyes. He was pathetic. "But this is the first time I've felt safe in a very long time. I'm just not ready to give it up yet."

The tension melted from Jaega's body at those words. He pressed his body against Fersen's once more, holding him even tighter. It was the best feeling in the world to Fersen.

"If it brings you comfort, then I am happy to remain," Jaega said in a rumbling voice that made the fires of lust stir within Fersen.

He was playing a dangerous game. "Thank you. I'm sorry?—"

Jaega shushed his protests. "There is no need for apologies. I moved only because I worried I would cause you distress."

It took a moment for Jaega's words to process. "You don't want to move because I disgust you?"

"Disgust me?" Jaega repeated in confusion. "How could you ever disgust me?"

"Because even though I haven't told you what King Decius did to me, I know you know."

"That was not your fault," Jaega said with firm conviction. "The only disgusting thing is him. You are the single most resplendent person I have ever come across. Nothing he did couldsully you."

Fersen wrapped Jaega's compliment around his heart. It healed a lot of hurts. "You really think so?"

Jaega guided Fersen onto his back to make eye contact. Somehow, when Jaega gently manhandled him, it was sexy. It had only inspired terror when Decius threw him around like a rag doll.

"Fersen, listen to me." Jaega held his gaze. Fersen was powerless to look away. "You are as beautiful as you are kind. Nothing he did to you can ever take that from you."

The unicorn shifter desperately wanted to believe in Jaega's convictions. "I'm damaged goods and?—"

Jaega gently interrupted him. "You are no such thing." He caressed the side of Fersen's face. "You are the most stunning person I have ever seen, which is saying something when my mate was so gorgeous. But even she would agree with me you are beautiful, inside and out."

Fersen's stomach did flips at the sincerity in Jaega's voice. "You really mean that."

"I do." Jaega caressed Fersen's cheek once more, sending his butterflies into flight. "You are a treasure. No one should ever make you feel like anything less than the most glorious gift someone could hope to receive."

Fersen stared at Jaega in awe. How could somebody so wonderful feel that way about him? "But?—"

Jaega put his finger over Fersen's lip to silence his protests. "I will not listen to you disparage yourself. You deserve to be loved and treasured."

"But someone like you would never be interested in me."

It confused Fersen when his comment made Jaega smile at him fondly. "My mate told me the same thing. And yet, we had many centuries of happiness together despite that." Jaega chuckled. "I believe in the rule of law, but I live my life according to my own wishes. I have never let society tell me how to live, and I am not about to start now."

It felt like Jaega was on the verge of a confession, but that surely couldn't be right. There was a big difference between assuring Fersen he was beautiful and wanting to be with him.

Grisden interrupted them by clearing his throat. "Breakfast is served."

Fersen expected Jaega to startle and put distance between them, but he merely looked over his shoulder. "Thank you, Grisden." He refocused his attention on Fersen. "If you do not believe in yourself, then trust in my conviction. I am not a man who is often wrong."

It was reassuring in an unexpected way. But Fersen was too tongue-tied to speak. He could only stare up at Jaega with wide eyes. His breath hitched when Jaega once again caressed his face but this time added in a brush of his thumb against Fersen's lower lip.

Jaega was out of bed before Fersen could process what happened. He could only blink in surprise as Jaega held his hand out to help Fersen stand.

Could Fersen have been wrong? Was it possible that Jaega was interested in him after all?