Chapter 16

Vanya

EVEN WITH TEN LAYERS of clothing hidden under my dress, as well as thick socks and boots, I was still freezing when we stepped outside into the township. I tried not to shiver and clung to Jaegar’s arm as he gave me the tour of the North Kingdom.

The streets and homes were small and unkempt when compared to my father’s kingdom, but I knew it wasn’t fair or reasonable to compare the two. Mom had told us stories of how badly affected the Kingdom of the North had been by King Damon’s father, and how hard they’d all fought to rebuild—to keep everyone alive in the harsh and inhospitable climate.

“The homes here seem to be built differently,” I said, gesturing to the stonework of the closest house. The stones were smaller and a darker blue than what our kingdom used for construction.

“Yes,” Jaegar said, sounding strangely short and angry.

“Oh, I meant it more as a question,” I rushed to say. “Is it for insulation? To ward against the cold?”

Jaegar softened slightly, his terse tone dropping as he explained that the external walls of each home were at least two stones thick, usually three, while the roofs were thatched and steepled, made to withstand and shed the intense amount of snow they received.

The people were dressed in plain clothes that looked thick and warm. The children were running in the streets and playing, despite the biting wind and the threatening rain overhead.

We walked up the winding streets towards the large, looming castle overheard.

I gasped when we finally stood squarely before the kingdom. “It’s so... ancient,” I managed to say in wonder.

Jaegar nodded. “Yeah. According to the elders, this kingdom was the first one built out of the five. But it was the first to fall, too.”

I glanced over him with curiosity. “You said something about my dad saving your town from the wolves?”

He nodded. “Yes. Don’t you know the story?”

I shook my head and grimaced. “Not really. Mom mentioned some things to us about that years ago, but not a lot of details. Can you tell me more?”

He lifted his arm and slung it over my shoulders, his mood seemingly slightly improved at the chance to talk about his beloved homeland. “I was only young, of course, but I remember being so afraid. The wolves from the woods came to attack the castle, and we all had to hide. My mother was terrified, but we survived.”

“And my dad?” I asked again. “He was there at the time?”

Jaegar nodded. “He came and fought for us. He was the first fire dragon I’d ever seen, and he was amazing. He was injured, but once the battle was over, he still flew all the way home. I assume to go back to your mom.”

I stared at him, my chest tightening with the emotions his words invoked. “They’re fated mates,” I whispered. “Their love is amazing.”

He nodded, then turned away, offering me his arm. “Let’s get you to the castle.”

“Don’t you want to show me anything else?” I asked, assuming he did. “You love this place. Surely you have shops... schools...” I hinted.

He shook his head and pulled me up toward the castle. “No, it’s fine. Come on.”

It took a while, but we wove our way, up the steps and to the huge front door of the castle.

Jaegar let go of my arm and went straight up to the ornately designed steel door, knocking hard. When the door opened, he stepped back and put his hands behind his back, clasping his hands together as though he were standing at attention.

The butler opened the main door, his eyebrows drawn together in surprise. “Sire, are you home early?” he queried.

Jaegar nodded quickly. “Yes, we arrived this morning. Could you please see to Vanya’s needs until the king and queen arrive home tomorrow?”

The butler nodded. “Of course.”

I stared at Jaegar. His voice was so strong, and his posture was as straight as an arrow. He had the presence and bearing of a king, even if he didn’t yet realize it. I followed after the butler, walking toward the alluring warmth of the castle, only to find that Jaegar was pulling back. “Aren’t you coming with me?” I asked.

He shook his head, his lips pulling tightly into a thin line. “No. I’m afraid I have some things to work on today. I can’t delay.”

“But you’ll come sleep here with me, tonight, right?” I pressed, turning to stare at him. Surely, he didn’t mean to go back to that draughty, tiny little house all on his own? Not when the castle and its royal family had welcomed him as a long lost son.

“Well, I—”

“Please, Jaegar,” I said over the top of whatever excuse he was going to come up with. “I don’t want to stay here without you.” And I didn’t, which was the truth. If I’d believed that Jaegar would abandon me the moment we’d arrived, I would never have come.

Jaegar’s ice-blue gaze bored into me until finally, he nodded, a short, curt motion of his head. “All right. I’ll be by later.”

I took a step toward him to kiss him goodbye, but he bowed his head and rushed away to attend to whatever it was that was so important.

I stared after him, gobsmacked. What had caused such a significant turnaround?

“Come inside, Princess Vanya,” the butler called out, interrupting my thoughts. “You must be cold.”

Jaegar was out of sight now, so I turned and ran inside the castle. “Freezing!” I agreed, shivering for effect.

The butler hurried me into the main dining room, where a large fire heated the room.

“Oh!” I hurried over to the fireplace, putting my hands out to feel the heat on my palms. The doors behind me opened and I turned around to see who it was.

Sharon walked in, the regular housekeeper. “Princess Vanya,” she greeted me, her arms full of dresses and other clothing. “I heard you had arrived and were dressed in clothes that weren’t yours.”

I frowned at what she held, not recognizing the garments. “Hello, Sharon. I don’t think they’re mine either.”

She shook her head. “No, of course. Your clothing hasn’t arrived yet, so I took it upon myself to go through Veronica’s closet. Most of her clothes should fit you.”

“Oh, thank you,” I said gratefully, reaching out to touch a midnight-blue dress.

Sharon tsked loudly. “And whose clothes are these?”

I put my hand to the rough cloak I wore, feeling a little self-conscious. “I don’t know, actually. Jaegar borrowed them from a friend, I believe.” I’d been too out of my mind with the cold to ask any questions.

Sharon made a disgruntled noise. “Follow me, dear. The maids are setting up a guest room for you as we speak, and we’ll get you into a nice warm bath, then into some of these clothes. You don’t want to wear those any longer than you must.”

I followed her but glanced down at the clothes I wore with appreciation. The boots were comfortable and well-made and had amazingly kept my feet warm and dry even though we’d walked the whole way in the snow. The cloak was made from rough and worn materials, as was the dress, but that didn’t mean they were beneath me. I didn’t care about being dressed in finery, especially when I’d faced freezing to death.

I would have walked up to the castle wrapped in a blanket if I’d needed to!

Sharon showed me to my bedroom and ran me a bath.

Uncle Damon’s castle was the least fancy of all the castles in the realm, but it was steeped in history. The paintings, the portraits, and the architecture were simply beautiful and ancient beyond memory. The rooms were smaller, the furnishings simple. But the room was clean, and well cared for, and most of all, it was warm.

“Hop in,” Sharon encouraged with a smile as she helped me undress. “You must be cold to your core.”

I undressed quickly and rushed to get into the bathtub and sank beneath the hot water. Goosebumps covered my flesh, and for a moment, I simply shivered beneath the surface. But then a wave of relaxation washed over me as the heat seeped into my bones. “Oh, thank you Sharon,” I said.

The housekeeper smiled and fussed with the clothes I’d borrowed, and retrieved a gown and fresh towels for me.

I sat up a little as the water began to rise, steam filling the warm room. “Sharon, can I ask you something?”

“Of course,” the housekeeper answered.

“How has the family been with Jaegar? I mean, has it been difficult for them? For him?”

Sharon moved closer, her gaze sliding left then right furtively. “Why do you ask, Miss Vanya? Is it true that you are... connected to Jaegar?”

I chuckled softly. The servants sure loved to gossip. “Who told you?” I asked.

Sharon smiled but didn’t reveal her source.

So, I told her the truth. “We are fated mates, actually. But I’m still unsure of what will happen next for us.”

Sharon’s eyes went wide, then a soft smile lifted her lips again. “Then it’s true. He is truly the king’s son.”

I frowned at her. “Of course, he is. Why would you question that?”

Sharon shook her head. “We were all unsure when Jaegar came to the castle. We were afraid of what it would mean for our kingdom, for the royal bloodlines.”

I nodded in understanding, though I couldn’t empathize truly. My father’s kingdom had always been wealthy and well run. This kingdom had many, many years of starvation and desolation. I couldn’t even imagine what the servants had gone through. “So, you believe in who he is now that you know he’s my fated mate?” I asked. “It is because of the royal link?”

Sharon nodded. “It makes more sense now, although, to tell you the truth...” She lowered her voice to a whisper. “I never doubted it, personally, though everyone else did. But it’s in his eyes, isn’t it? And in the way he holds himself. He seems to be what real kings are made of.”

I sighed, running my now warm hands over the surface of the water and watching as the ripples fanned out. “I see it too. He’s a royal dragon, through and through.”

“I’ll leave you to it, then, Miss Vanya,” Sharon said. “But are you hungry? Would you like me to bring some afternoon tea to your room for when you’re done?”

I nodded and smiled. “That would be wonderful. Thank you.”

Sharon bobbed a curtsey and left.

I stayed in the bath until the water cooled, then got out to dry myself by the fire.

Could I live here with Uncle Damon and Aunt Cass?

Surely, it wouldn’t be too difficult. I’d always been close to Veronica, and we could travel back and forth to my father’s kingdom whenever I felt the need to see my family again.

Jaegar and I can find a solution, I’m certain. Fate doesn’t make mistakes! And I know what I feel in my heart...

When my mate finally arrived after dinner was long past, he dragged me straight to bed. There he made love to me with a blazing passion that left me sweaty, exhausted, and breathless.

But when I awoke the next morning, he was already gone.

I’d convinced myself throughout the night that I could move up to the North to be with Jaegar, but that was only if he chose to be my mate, my life partner in a proactive and real way. If he was going to up and leave me alone every waking moment, I wasn’t so sure that was the kind of relationship I could stand.

But what was the likelihood that I could stay away from the man that was my fated mate? Not high at all, I was certain. No one denied a fated mate bond. It was unheard of. Though if there was ever a dragon shifter tough enough to walk away and defy fate itself, it would be mine.