Chapter 19

Vander had to force his dragon to back away so he was able to shift and come to the forefront. His dragon, finally able to strut in front of Faye, was having too much fun showing off. It wanted Faye to accept him as well.

He opened his eyes, and Faye came into view. His legs moved of their own accord, needing to get to her. She ran toward him, meeting him halfway, and threw her body at him. He caught her midair, bringing her flush against his body.

"I knew you would come for me," she cried out, tightening her arms around his neck.

"Always," he whispered and promised to never let her go. He refused to lose her and was glad Gamair was finally dead.

"Was that you in my head, or am I going crazy?" she pulled back and asked.

He smiled down at the curious look in her eye. He knew without a doubt she was his mate. If he was able to communicate telepathically with her, then that proved beyond a doubt that she was meant to be his.

"Yes," he admitted. He pushed a strand of her swamp-dried hair from her face. Even dirty from her ordeal in the Wetlands, she was the most beautiful thing he'd ever seen.

She smiled and shyly looked down, then she froze in place.

"Over time, the connection between us will get stronger."

"Oh, my goodness!" she exclaimed, shock etched on her face. "You're naked!"

He glanced down and chuckled. His cock appeared to decide to wake up at that moment and stood at attention.

"Ah, sorry," he murmured. "Clothing doesn't make it through the shift."

With a wave his hand, clothing appeared on his body, covering his naked flesh.

"Wow." Faye chuckled and eyed him. "Can you make your clothes disappear like that, too?" She cocked an eyebrow at him.

He barked out a laugh.

He just loved her sass.

"Mine and yours," he promised. He grabbed her hand and guided her toward the entry door of the castle.

"So, what does all of this mean?" she asked and followed behind him.

It was time for him to tell her everything. That she was his mate, and that everything he had ever collected in his castle was to prepare for his mate. Now that the threat toward her was gone, they could begin their life together, as long as she would have him.

"Hold that thought." He quickly ushered her into the castle and pulled her behind him, marching down the halls. It was late at night, and most of the servants would be off duty.

"I'm sure I look like death warmed over. If my clothes are a hint of what I look like, I don't want to scare anyone?—"

"You're fine. This won't take long," he assured her.

They came to the table in the hallway that blocked his hoard room. He released her hand to push the sturdy table out of the way. He turned to Faye and blew out a nervous breath. His dragon had been collecting for years to prepare for this moment.

"Dalma told me that this room was off-limits—" she began.

He placed a finger to her lips and stared down at her.

"Come. I'll show you what's in there." He motioned for her to follow him. He stopped in front of the steel door and placed his hand on the biometric hand scanner.

Over the years, he had built up quite the hoard for his future mate. It would require top security, as technology had advanced over the years. The light over the pad on the wall beeped and went green.

Nervousness filled his chest. He opened the door. He faced her and grabbed her smaller hand into his, leading her into the room. The lights came on. They walked inside. It was a few stories tall and filled with all the treasures he'd collected over the centuries. A gasp echoed behind him, and they walked further into the room.

He turned to find her frozen in place with her eyes wide.

"Oh. My. God!" she breathed out.

Worry filled his chest. She was finally here, and he wasn't sure if this was a good or bad reaction. He turned and scanned the rows of priceless artwork, piles of gold bricks, and shelves filled with the finest diamonds and jewels.

"Is this not good enough?" He spun back to her.

"What?" she screamed, her voice ending on a squeak. "Are you kidding me? This is amazing. Vander, how long have you been collecting this?"

"Practically all my life," he answered truthfully. He reached for her hand and came to stand near her. His heart thumped against his chest, and he stared down into her green eyes. "Faye?—"

"Yes, Vander?" she whispered.

"From the moment my dragon heard your voice in that hospital room, it was drawn to you. You are who I've been collecting this treasure for. It is all for you, my mate?—"

"Vander, I?—"

"Please, let me finish." He placed a finger on her lips to silence her.

Her eyes softened, and she nodded.

He needed to get this off his chest. Over the centuries, he knew none of the women in the past were his mate. It would only be a matter of time before she would blow into his life and knock him on his ass. He just had to wait for that moment, only it was he who'd fallen from the sky and had been delivered to her.

"You are my mate, and dragon shifters prepare their whole lives for the day they will meet their mate. Everything I own is yours, if only you will have me."

There. He'd laid it out on the table for her. Now, panic crept up into his chest while he waited for her reply.

"Are you done?" she asked.

He nodded and again waited for her answer.

His dragon slammed into his chest, demanding to be let out. His dragon was insisting he could convince her to mate with them, but he just pushed his beast back.

"Before you cut me off, I was going to say that I don't need treasures. It's you I want. Forever."

Relief flooded him, her words sinking in. He gathered her to his chest and covered her mouth with his. Thoughts of mating with her officially crossed his mind, and he wouldn't mind consummating their mating now. She must have known where his thoughts were going.

"Vander," she gasped and drew back.

"Yes?" he questioned, nipping her bottom lip.

"I have got to take a shower. I smell like a drowned rat."

He barked out a laugh. He didn't care what she looked like. He pulled her in and wrapped his arms around her.

"Okay, stinky. Let's get you showered. We can come back so you can explore our treasure." A smile spread across his face, and he led her out of the room.

Faye Adams was the perfect mate for him. His dragon was now satisfied she had accepted them. Exploring the treasure could wait for now. It was time for him to take care of his mate.