Chapter 10

Vanya

WHEN I AWOKE, MY HEART was rapidly beating, and panic was streaking through my blood. Jaegar was beside me, naked in bed, and sound asleep. I couldn’t believe that he was still here.

I eased away from him, carefully and slowly, desperate not to wake him up. Once I made it to the edge of the bed, I lifted the covers and jumped out of bed. Then I raced to the shower, eager to wash off the evidence of my lack of self-control. I’d promised myself I wouldn’t jump into sex with Jaegar the minute we were alone. I’d wanted us to ease into our relationship, fated mates or not.

I’d seriously thought that Aunt Cass and Mom had been exaggerating when they’d talked about what I’d likely experience with my fated mate, but my attraction to Jaegar was even more intense than I’d expected and impossible to ignore.

I turned on the hot tap and water blasted into the huge shower cubicle. I stepped beneath the spray, needing the space and time to think. My skin was on fire, and I was trembling with the aftereffects of something I didn’t understand. Was this truly how it felt when you found your fated mate?

Is it really supposed to feel so consuming?

What I felt left me breathless and overwhelmed.

How can this be normal? It’s exhausting!

When I was done with washing my tender, strangely lethargic body, I crept back into my bedroom to get dressed. Jaegar was still asleep, sprawled out in bed. I quickly grabbed for some underwear and pulled a day dress out of my wardrobe to slip into.

I tried to keep my eyes on the carpet and my hands moving to dress myself, but I couldn’t help but allow my gaze to be drawn back to the bed. To the huge shoulders, ripping muscles, and flat stomach of a man who’d fought to survive in the toughest kingdom in our entire realm.

My stomach lurched and my heart did an uneasy flip-flop. I still couldn’t believe that this was how it was meant to feel. I felt so... uneasy. So, unlike myself.

Shaking my head, I snatched up my shoes and hurried out the door, leaving my fated mate alone in my bedroom. The hallway was mercifully empty, so I took a moment to pull on my knee-high black boots, smooth down my dress, and compose myself.

When I was finally ready, my breathing was still erratic, and I’d developed a headache. The question to answer though, was it from dehydration and too much champagne at the party? Or from the mind-blowing orgasms I’d been gifted with last night? We’d made passionate love again this morning, not long after the break of dawn. Probably why Jaegar was still fast asleep.

I’d ridden him long and hard, until he’d blown apart within me. My legs had been shaking long after, and even now I was exhausted. Sex with Jaegar was unlike anything I could have even dreamed. He was an animal in the very best possible way. As if he was ruled by his passion and instincts alone, and it set the coals of my dragon heart blazing with an unparalleled need.

“Hey, sis!” Anselm called out as he strode along the hallway. “Everything okay?” He stopped in front of me, a frown on his face.

I forced myself to nod, even though I was bursting with questions. “Yes, of course. Are we all meeting for breakfast this morning?”

He grinned at me. “Oh, you missed breakfast, but there might be a few stragglers left in the dining room.”

I pressed my lips together to stop my squeal.

Oh my god!

That would have set tongues wagging with both Jaegar and I missing for the first meal of the day.

Anselm nudged me with his elbow. “Come on. Kayla asked me to go and get a plate of fruit for her to have in our room. She’s feeling a little queasy.”

“Hmm...” I managed to say with a smile. Did Anselm know his wife was expecting again, or was she still hiding the fact from her husband?

“The party went well last night,” Anselm said, walking beside me toward the dining hall. “Jaegar’s appearance has certainly set people’s gossip meters into overdrive.”

“I can imagine.” I sighed.

A true gentleman, Anselm opened the door to the dining hall.

Inside, there were a few people still sitting at the table, while the servants quietly removed plates and glasses from guests who’d been and gone.

“Good morning, daughter,” Dad said, getting up from the head of the table with a big smile. “I’m assuming you didn’t sleep well?” He reached out to kiss me on the cheek.

My insides flared with heat, and I rolled my eyes. “I just slept in,” I lied.

“Yeah right,” Jessa said from her place next to Mom. “You never sleep in. What gives?” she asked, waggling her eyebrows at me.

I sat down at a spare place and reached for the roast potatoes. I didn’t want to admit it to anyone, but I was starving and needed something hearty and filling. “I slept in,” I repeated with a shrug. “No big deal.” I wasn’t ready for a family grilling on my newly blossoming love life.

Gods help me!

Mom glanced at Dad and reached for her juice glass. “And Jaegar?” she asked quietly, “is he also... sleeping in this morning?”

Heat flushed my cheeks again, and I closed my eyes to the shame with a grimace. “Mom!”

Jessa gasped aloud.

The sound made me open my eyes again and reach for the roast beef. I’d barely eaten last night, and it was catching up with me this morning.

“You slept with him?” Jessa whispered fiercely across the table, though there was no one except our family around.

“I’m going back to Kayla,” Anselm said, before taking his plate of fruit with him. “Good luck, sis.” His grin told me he didn’t feel sorry for me.

So, I grabbed my knife and fork and started shoveling food into my mouth, hungrier than I’d ever been. Much to my mental anguish and surprise, it seemed sex really did build an appetite!

My family stared at me as though they’d never seen me eat before. Which was partially true, I supposed. They certainly weren’t used to me enjoying my food with gusto.

“What?” I asked around a mouthful when no one was forthcoming.

“Oh... it’s nothing,” Mom said, reaching for the fruit platter.

“Come on, Van. Spill!” Jessa implored me.

I rolled my eyes. “Jessa... seriously? Here? Now ?” I didn’t want to indicate that both of our parents were sitting right here at the table, but they should know that they were the main reason I didn’t want to say anything here. If Jessa and I were alone, I would have said more. In fact, I had questions.

“Oh, here he is!” Mom said with a big grin and a sidelong glance at me.

The hairs on my arms prickled up as the chair beside me was pulled out.

Jaegar sat down. “Apologies for being late,” he said, shifting in his seat and getting comfortable.

His voice was like silk as it slid over me, making me want to drown in the sound.

“Did you sleep well?” Mom asked, almost managing to sound simply polite.

“I did. Thank you.” Jaegar said, not moving to get any food.

I glanced at him and saw his hands folded in his lap.

Isn’t he hungry?

“Would you like something different for breakfast, perhaps?” Mom asked. “We can get anything you’d like cooked.”

“No. I... was just waiting in case there were some sort of... rules.” Jaegar sighed heavily.

I reached over and squeezed his hand in encouragement. “Just eat. You’re family here with us.” I stood up and pulled the platter of meat and potatoes closer. “If you’re anything like my dad, you eat a lot of meat?”

He met my gaze and nodded, heat searing me right down to my core. “Thank you.”

I sat again and returned to cutting up my morning meal.

Meanwhile, Jaegar began serving himself.

Mom and Dad watched us with keen interest.

It was somewhat unnerving, and I wasn’t sure what to do except change the subject. “So, where’s everyone else?”

Mom answered first. “Most of the families went home last night. Marienne and Erik, Anthony and Charity.”

I glanced over at Jaegar before asking. “What about Cass and Damon? Veronica and Iain?”

“They’re all still here,” Dad said. “But they ate early, and said they wanted to go shopping at the markets in town.”

“How long are they staying for?” I pressed. Wanting to know how soon I’d be losing Jaegar, unless I could convince him to stay here, with me.

“Only another day,” Mom said. “Though perhaps Jaegar might want to stay longer?”

Jaegar lifted his head and stared directly at my mom, “Oh... well, I’d planned to leave with the king and queen, but....” His gaze moved to me.

I managed to smile back at him, my heart racing at the thought of his departure. “Maybe we can talk about it later? Who knows, the way Veronica throws her weight around that family, you all might end up moving here.” I meant it as a lighthearted joke, which my family seemed to understand.

They all laughed at the absurd thought.

But Jaegar reached for his glass of water and frowned. “My home is in the Northern Kingdom. I wouldn’t want to live anywhere else.”

The breath caught in my throat as I stared at Jessa as panic rose within me.

What does that mean for us?

“Have you travelled much?” Jessa asked him suddenly to detract from his awkward statement, fiddling with a croissant on her plate as she did so. “Have you been to any of the other kingdoms?”

“No,” he answered. “Before yesterday I’ve never left my home.”

His words settled over me and gave me hope that maybe, just maybe, I could convince him to stay here.

He doesn’t know what he was missing!

“That’s not unusual,” My father said. “Especially for those in the North. When I had a dinner for the kingdoms, and this was many years ago, we would invite everyone. Damon was almost never able to join us. He hated coming this far south.”

Jaegar nodded again. “Yes, the North is special. Have any of your been to the Northern Kingdom?”

Jessa shook her head.

I mirrored her reaction. “No.”

Mom perked up and grinned. “I have, but only a few times. It’s a long way for me to travel, unfortunately. But when Cass had her babies, I went to keep her company each time.”

“The Northern Kingdom is wild,” my father said, “and beautiful. Of all the kingdoms, it is the toughest to survive, let alone thrive in. Your ability to withstand hardship, Jaegar, is unparalleled in this room.”

Jaegar shifted in his chair as though uncomfortable with the compliment. “Thank you, King Stavrok, but I know the vital role you played in saving us all from the wolves. I was only a young child, but I remember it all the same. Our people spoke of you and your bravery for many years afterward.”

I glanced between the two men at the table, surprised by the kinship I could see growing already. I nudged Jaegar with my elbow. “Well, it sounds like you know more about my father than I do.”

“I wouldn’t say that” he said softly, “but it’s safe to say that I may not be here, alive and well, if your father had not helped us on that day.”

Dad coughed to clear his throat.

My heart ached for the deep feelings being shared in the room.

“The five kingdoms support one another,” my dad finally managed to say, his voice thick with emotion.

“Yes. We do,” Mom said, staring directly at me. “No matter where you go, you’ll always have a home here.”

I gave my mom a small smile, my stomach roiling.

Jessa called for some sweets and started talking about the Kingdom in the Black Mountains.

The rest of breakfast went by quickly, but it left me wanting more time alone with Jaegar. I needed to know what his plans were moving forward into the future, and if he’d consider staying here with me.

Surely, he’ll stay?