Chapter 12

Vanya

WATCHING JAEGAR MOVE through our town was a lesson in restraint. Every time he spoke with that beautiful, sexy voice I just wanted to kiss his lips right off his face.

He moved like a lion, strong and sure, ready to attack or defend at any given moment. But he was also reserved, even shy, only speaking when spoken to. He was a puzzle, that was for sure.

When we got back to the castle, he’d invited me for a nap. At first, I’d thought he meant for another hot session of lovemaking, but from the way he trudged toward his room, it became clear that he actually wanted to sleep.

Instead, I’d walked him to my room, practically tucked him under the covers, then watched as he passed out. A part of me had wanted to stay and cuddle with the furnace, but I’d been too wired and awake to sleep. So, I found myself wandering up to my favorite spot in the castle, the library on the eighth floor. But I wasn’t alone for long.

“Hey, birthday girl!” Veronica called out, walking into my space, accompanied by both Charity and Kayla, former humans and now princesses of our realm.

“Hey, guys,” I said, putting down my book straight away.

They sat down on the chairs and couches around me, expectant looks on their faces.

“What?” I asked, glaring especially at the Dragon Daughter. She was never hesitant in coming forward.

Veronica laughed. “We want to know about Jaegar, obviously. He’s your mate, right? Does that mean he’s going to live here?”

I glanced at the three girls, all looking at me with bright smiles on their faces. “Um... I don’t know. We haven’t really talked about all that stuff just yet.”

Charity snorted. “Yeah, too busy falling into bed together, I suppose.”

“Yeah, they’re still in that blissful and overwhelming first stage of love,” Kayla added.

I crossed my legs and stared at them with my lips pursed and my eyebrows high. “Judgey, much?”

They frowned at first, then burst out laughing.

“Oh, no!” Kayla said. “You forget that I jumped into bed with even knowing Anselm’s name.”

“And I was no better.” Charity laughed. “Anthony had my heart the moment I saw him. The fated mate stuff is intense .”

Together they glanced toward Veronica.

I focused on her too.

“What?” Veronica asked.

“You’ve never told us much about you and Iain,” I countered. “We thought you two hated each other.”

Veronica shrugged her slim shoulders. “Iain knew I was his mate for ages, he just didn’t tell me because of my age. And when I found out, well, I ran to the human world. I last thing I wanted was to get married off at eighteen.”

I laughed. “Oh, no, you waited until you were all of nineteen. That’s so different.”

“Hey!” she said and reached over to whack my arm. “I had to come back. Dad was hurt and Iain was—” she stopped to gulp, her eyes tearing up a little at the memory.

I reached over and squeezed her hand. “I’m only teasing, Dragon Daughter. We are so glad you found Iain, and he you. You’re great together.”

“Yeah... but did you fall into bed together the first moment you were alone?” Kayla asked with a broad grin. “That’s the real question.”

Veronica rolled her eyes, then laughed. “Of course, we did. Even with Iain’s injuries, we couldn’t keep our hands off each other.”

All the women around me sighed with longing.

Their reactions got me thinking and reminded me that I still had questions. “Does the fire, die down?” I asked, not sure what answer I was hoping for.

“Not entirely,” Kayla answered. “It just simmers down, I guess, to a more manageable need.”

Charity nodded in agreement.

Veronica on the other hand laughed out loud. “Speak for yourselves, ladies. I’m still enjoying the first year of marriage.”

Kayla shifted in her seat, then returned the conversation to Jaegar and I. “Do you think he’ll want to take on an active role in the Kingdom of the North? I mean... not as the king or anything, but I’m sure Damon will want him close by, yeah?”

I glanced at Veronica. “I don’t really know. What do you think?”

Veronica chewed on her bottom lip for a moment. “Honestly? I don’t know. I haven’t had the chance to talk to my parents properly since we only arrived late yesterday. Dad seems to want to be near Jaegar, and Mom’s worried, I can see that.”

“And how do you feel about it all?” I asked her, only just realizing that it was Veronica’s family, and her home, that Jaegar was the most threat to.

She huffed out a laugh. “Oh, I feel everything,” she said. “The gamut! I’m shocked Dad has another son and angry at Jaegar’s mom from keeping him from us all. But I’m also annoyed at Jaegar for not coming to the castle sooner. Then I’m worried about the kingdom and succession, and all that. But mostly, I guess, I’m kind of just happy. It’s pretty cool to have another older brother, actually. And he seems nice. Different than Barry and Theo, but nice.”

I tried not to smile and simply nodded. Jaegar was holding back his true dragon king feelings, I could tell. He was exhausted just getting through the day, but things would come out soon enough.

“I’m surprised you’re not with him, now,” Charity said. “Anthony wouldn’t let me out of his sight when we were first together.”

“He wanted a nap, and I was too buzzed to sleep,” I confided. “Jaegar isn’t used to being around so many people, so it’s draining him a little.”

“And he’s the center of everyone’s focus, too,” Charity said with a sigh. “I don’t really like that part either. I can tell he’s nervous, and it makes me nervous too.”

“But he is a dragon king,” Veronica interrupted, “or he could be. Surely that means that he’ll get used to us, and the kingdom, and everything? He has the tattoo, right? That’s how it works.” She sounded hopeful for my mate, which was nice to hear.

I shrugged. “I don’t know at this point. I just know that I’m grateful he came forward at all. Unlike you, Dragon Daughter, I’m thirty years old, not nineteen. I didn’t think my fated mate would ever find me.”

Footsteps down the hallway made us all turn as one.

“Speak of the devil,” Veronica whispered, jumping to her feet to greet her brother.

He rounded the corner looking well rested and a little ruffled. “Hey,” he said, nodding at the group.

“Feeling better?” I asked with a smile.

He nodded.

“How’d you find us?” Charity asked, sending me a sly look, before glancing back at Jaegar.

I had no idea why she’d ask him such a thing, but when he frowned and didn’t answer immediately, I got curious.

We waited with bated breath, the silence drawing out.

“I don’t know, I just started walking,” he said eventually.

Veronica laughed. “You just accidentally managed to find us on the eighth floor?”

He shrugged and didn’t say anything more.

“I think we’ll head back downstairs. Come on, Ronnie,” Charity said. “Dinner will be on soon, and I need a shower before I change clothes.”

“Change clothes?” Jaegar asked, an air of panic whistling around him like a fire sparking to light.

“Yeah, everyone dresses up for dinners in the castle.” Kayla answered. “But whatever you packed is fine. Stavrok and Lucy aren’t ones to stand on ceremony.”

Jaegar’s smile was tight as they left, then he turned to me. “I didn’t pack anything. The queen did everything for me.”

And by “the queen,” I was pretty sure he meant the Queen of the North. “Don’t worry,” I reassured him, “Aunt Cass is always prepared,” I assured him. “She’s been in this game a long time.”

He heaved a heavy sigh and ran a hand through his long hair. “I don’t like not knowing what everyone expects.”

I stepped closer to him so I could touch him and placed both my hands on his chest, the heavy beat of his heart thumping beneath my palms. “That’s why you have me,” I said soothingly, “I grew up in this world and can help you navigate around whatever you need.”

He nodded and exhaled slowly. “Okay.”

So many questions were on the tip of my tongue, but I could feel how overwhelmed Jaegar was. So, instead, I offered something I’d never thought I would. “Since you’ve seen my kingdom now, do you want me to come home with you and see the Northern Kingdom? You know, when your family returns home?”

His eyes lit up and his hands moved to encircle my waist, pulling me closer in return. “Would you really do that?” he asked.

I laughed, glad to see him so perked up. “Of course, but I’m warning you, I don’t like being cold!”

His laugh was rich and warm, just like him, and it made my heart melt. “Well, we’re going to have to get you a really thick coat.”

I nodded and went up on my tiptoes, lifting my chin to kiss him. When he pressed his mouth to mine, I immediately began to moan and sigh. He tasted and felt so good against me.

When he finally lifted his head, his eyes were glittering with silver and I could feel the hardness of his cock, pressing into my belly. “How long do we have until dinner?” he asked.

“Um... I don’t know,” I answered, no idea what the time was, my head swimming in desire. “A few hours maybe?”

His grin was wicked this time and my heart raced. “Time enough for me to feel your naked body against mine?”

I nodded enthusiastically and grabbed his hand, holding it tight. “Absolutely. Follow me.”

We ran down the hallways, laughing like children.

I’d always thought I was happy in my life, and in my home, but the joy I felt in knowing Jaegar and being by his side, was a happiness I’d never known, and I knew without a shadow of a doubt as laughter bubbled out of us that I’d do just about anything to hold onto it.