Chapter 4

Vanya

“BUT...” I STARED AT my sister-in-law, shocked by what she was telling me.

Kayla juggled Rocky on her lap and laughed. “But what?”

“But we can’t have illegitimate kids. It’s not what happens with fated mates, is it? I’m sure Dad always said...” I pressed my fingertips into my forehead where a headache pounded. My thoughts had been an absolute mess the last few days.

The door to the living room opened, and the rest of the family joined us.

I stood up, facing my parents who were walking into the room with Anselm at their side. “Hey, Dad, I thought you said that you couldn’t have illegitimate kids if you were fated.”

My dad’s face went blank with shock at my unexpected question, then he walked over to the bar for a glass of whiskey.

I stared after him.

Did I say something wrong?

Mom came over to me, took my hand, then sat down on the couch. “Sweetheart, you need to relax. This is a lot to take in for everyone.”

I ignored her placation and turned to Anselm. “Tell me about him. What’s he like?” My heart was pounding like a dragon’s wings reaching for the sky. Higher and faster, until I had to force myself to take a deep breath, for fear I’d suffer a heart attack before the answer was given.

“He’s definitely stubborn, and a bit rough around the edges.” Anselm reached out for Rocky, who went to his father with a giggle and a grin. “But he looks a lot like Damon. Same blue eyes and chin. Same height too, or maybe a bit taller even.”

Mom gripped my hand tighter. “Of course, he’s a bit rough around the edges, he grew up in poverty. Damon’s been rebuilding his kingdom for thirty years, but there were many times when there wasn’t enough food or shelter for the township.”

“He’s very handsome,” Kayla said with a cheeky smile in my direction. “But he’s got a chip on his shoulder the size of Texas, which isn’t surprising, really. I can’t imagine growing up like he did. Thinking he had to keep who he was a secret all those years.”

“It’s amazing that he managed for so long,” Dad added with more empathy than I expected.

I bit my lip to keep from saying anything I’d regret.

“So, he’s coming for the party then?” Mom asked.

I shot straight to my feet, my heart in my throat.

“Vanya! Are you okay?”

I hurried over to the fire, putting my hands out to warm them and settle my nerves. “Yeah, yeah, fine, Mom,” I lied. “I’m just anxious about the party, let alone with a stranger coming.” I turned around, letting the heat of the fire warm my back, and forced a smile to my face.

My dad frowned as he took a sip of the whiskey. “I’m not sure why Damon wants us to invite him. It seems a more than a little bit out of line to me.”

“Oh, honey, don’t be like that,” Mom said, walking over to our father to kiss him quickly. “This is Damon’s son , regardless of his origins, and we should welcome him with open arms. No matter what the future brings, nothing good will come from shunning him.”

Dad frowned. “But the lineage—”

“You know,” Anselm interrupted, “Barry has never really wanted to be king. He and Theo often joke about abdicating and letting Veronica and Iain rule.”

My jaw dropped. “You’re joking?”

“No,” Dad said, horror evident in his tone. “They can’t do that!”

Anselm chuckled. “I’m serious. They’re great guys, but they’ve never felt like being king was for them. Veronica’s the strongest of the three, and with Iain at her side, they would make good rulers. I think part of them hopes that in time he’ll step up and want to be king, so that they can get their wish.”

“But Iain doesn’t even want to be King of the North!” I exclaimed. This was getting out of control. How was everything suddenly so up in the air? It was like a cosmic earthquake had rocked the great dragon shifter families, and I wasn’t sure I liked it. “Dad! Surely, this can’t happen?”

My father rubbed his jaw as though he were thinking about it properly. “I don’t know what can happen, Vanya. I was the only son, the only heir. I knew I was going to be king from the moment I knew how to speak.”

“And I’ve always felt the same way,” Anselm said, shrugging. “But what if this... how do you say his name again, Kayla?”

“ Yay-ger ,” she answered, sounding his name phonetically.

“What if this Jaegar is meant to be king, Dad? He is the first-born eldest son. What then?”

The whole room fell silent, and I turned back toward the fire. I’d dreamed about my mate again last night, and it was the hottest dream I’d ever had. We’d enjoyed sex in a hot, steam-filled shower. And the things he’d done to me... I’d never experienced such things before. I was still mentally reeling.

“What are you thinking, sister?” Anselm called out.

I shook my head, unable and unwilling to share my inner most thoughts.

Not now, not ever!

“What’s wrong, my daughter?” Dad asked, reaching out to touch my arm. “Surely, regardless of what happens, this won’t affect our kingdom, so what worries you so much?”

Oh, God... he’ll be here soon.

I couldn’t tell him I feared that Damon’s bastard son was my mate. So, I did the only thing I could do. I continued to lie. “I’m just worried about the party, Dad. This was meant to be a celebration for us , for everything great that has happened for our family, and now this... scandal...” My concerns made me sound more conceited than I was, but I couldn’t reveal my suspicions.

“Don’t you worry about it,” our father said, tugging me in for one of his bear hugs. “I’ll make sure that no one else finds out who Jaegar is, and I’ll ask Damon to introduce him as a friend of the family. We’ll keep the gossip to a minimum, I promise. All right?”

“All right, Dad,” I said, closing my eyes and relishing my father’s strength. I’d never known anything but unconditional love as a child. I couldn’t imagine how Jaegar had grown up, knowing he was the bastard of the king and not being able to tell anyone. Kayla was right. It would have been a difficult life to endure.

I pulled back from my father’s embrace and shifted the conversation slightly. “You know, there must be something in the Northern genes. With this son of Damon’s, and Dymitri and Lucian being the sons of the old king, they seem to have sons everywhere they go.”

Mom laughed, her eyes twinkling.

Dad smiled. “You know, you might just be right, sweetheart.”

“Does anyone know when Jessa’s coming home?” Kayla asked. “Is she flying over with Marienne on the day? Or earlier?”

There were only two days until the party, so unless she came today, she wasn’t arriving early enough for me.

“They’re all arriving the morning of the party. Marienne, Jessa and the twins are travelling by carriage,” Mom said. “It will give us time to catch up before the other guests arrive and we can get ready together. The party starts at six, and although my original thoughts were to have a large sit-down dinner, I was told that a mingling party would be better. With lots of... what did you call it, Kayla?”

“Finger food!” Kayla said with a grin. “Though the way you guys do finger food puts every human restaurant I’ve ever seen to shame.”

I managed a half-smile through the stress that was squeezing my chest. “Our men eat a lot,” I said.

“Which means most of the finger food is just meat on sticks!” Kayla joked, though she was frowning as she looked at me, as if she were seeing something more.

“Well, there’s only a few days to go,” Mom said, clapping her hands.

The doors opened, and the servants all came in with dinner. Pots of soup, baskets of freshly baked rolls, and overflowing platters of crisp roasted vegetables and succulent meats. My father’s all-time favorite spread.

“Let’s eat,” Dad said, taking Mom’s hand and leading us all to the table.

We sat, were served, and began to eat. My stomach was gripped by anxiety, which meant I struggled to force anything down. But to avoid bringing further attention to my inner turmoil, I managed some clear, vegetable soup and a generously buttered bread roll, which for me wasn’t bad.

“Are you feeling, okay?” Kayla asked from the place where she was sitting opposite me. We were at the far end of the table so Kayla could get up and attend Rocky if she needed to.

“Of course,” I answered automatically. “How are you?” I glanced at Kayla’s plate to find she only had some potatoes and bread. “Why aren’t you eating?”

Kayla raised an eyebrow at me. “Why aren’t you ?” she countered. “I can tell you’ve lost weight again—and I know it’s not to fit into some dress. What’s wrong?”

I glanced over at Anselm, then back to Kayla. She was paler than normal, and her lack of appetite was unusual. Kayla was all curves like Mom and Jessa. She also wasn’t drinking. Her wine glass was filled with water, which although it was not unusual for her to abstain from alcohol, it was creating a trail of clues I couldn’t ignore. “Are you...” I didn’t want to say the words “pregnant again”, but from the way Kayla immediately colored bright red, I knew it was true.

“Don’t tell anyone, please?” Kayla whispered across the table. “I don’t want to take any of the attention away from the party.”

I gaped at her. “Don’t be silly!”

“What are you two talking about?” Anselm asked, turning around to question us, fork in hand.

Kayla gave me a small shake of her head.

I turned back to my brother as I grabbed another bread roll to pick at. “Nothing much. Just my lack of appetite. I’ll be glad when this party has been and gone. You know how I get.”

Anselm shrugged, seemingly satisfied, and went back to his discussions with Dad.

I grinned over at my sister-in-law, wanting to squeal with joy over how happy I was for her and my brother, but from the look on Kayla’s face, I couldn’t allow myself to show it just yet. So, I poured myself some wine and had some sips to keep the happiness locked away inside. I’d soon have another niece or nephew to dote on and spoil, which was the most wonderful news.

As the wine seeped into my soul and relaxed the ache in my chest a little, I turned to listen to my parents chatting about the kingdom and some of the meetings they’d attended during the day. The liquor worked its magic, warming my insides, and pushing away the fear and doubt of what was to come in the next few days. I’d never been one to pine away for my fated mate, but I couldn’t deny that my loneliness of late had become intense. Especially with all three of my siblings being married.

My mind swam with questions. Could this Jaegar really be the man Fate had designed for me? Would I finally be happy and no longer feel so alone? What would he be like? Surely, someone who grew up in the poorest parts of Damon’s Winter Kingdom would be so incredibly different from me that it would be shocking. And tough... God, he’d put my father to shame with how tough he would likely be.

We will have to be compatible if Fate means for us to be together...

I knew so little about my siblings Fated Mate journeys. Thinking back, I’d been shocked at just how quickly Jessa and Carlak had gotten together, and Kayla had just turned up pregnant and slid straight into our family.

Did they all have dreams about their mates before they met? Did they feel like they had a choice in the matter? And how did they bridge the gap between them?

Damn it, I really don’t know anything about love. So much for being the daughter of a great love affair!

I glanced over at my parents and realized I really didn’t know much of the things they’d overcome to be together. Perhaps it was time I asked. I needed answers more than I needed air at this point!