Page 20 of The Dragon of her Dreams

I took a big sip then glanced over at her. “What do you mean?”

Jessa sighed wistfully. “On our twenty-first birthday I looked at Carlak and knew he was meant to be mine. I’d never felt anything like it. The feeling of when he first touched me... it was like lightning sizzling over every inch of my skin.” She ran her hands up and down her arms and shivered as though remembering.

I smiled at my sister. “I never knew that. You’ve never talked much about it, to be honest.”

Jessa shrugged. “We were young, and I was so worried about leaving you and Anselm. We’d never been apart until I found my mate. It seemed cruel in a way, to be separated.”

It was my turn to heave a sigh. “It’s worse being the one left behind, believe me.”

Jessa stepped beside me and rested her arm against mine. “You’re not being left behind anymore, Vanya. And Damon’s eldest son, of all people. It’s quitescandalous.” She flicked her eyebrows up and down in a suggestive manner.

I couldn’t help but laugh. “Scandalous. Me? That seems ridiculous somehow.”

“Have you two arranged to meet up later this evening?”

I turned to frown at her. “Why would I?”

Jessa burst out laughing and almost snorted, her eyes twinkling with mirth. “Oh, sis! You won’t be able to stay away from each other. The fated mate bond doesn’t ask your permission. It just claims you, body, mind, heart, and soul.”

“It certainly doesn’t,” I muttered. “Poor Jaegar barely contained his dragon. He would have destroyed the room if his control had been weaker.”

“Well, that would have been memorable.”

I opened my mouth to ask another question about Carlak, when Marienne and Erik sashayed over, arm in arm.

“Happy birthday, beautiful girl,” Marienne said, leaning forward to kiss me, having already spent time with Jessa tonight.

“Thanks, Aunt Marienne.”

Marienne and Erik exchanged a glance before Marienne looked over at me, her eyes twinkling with mischief. “I hear Jaegar has finally found you.”

I stared at her with my jaw dropped. “You knew?”

Jessa gaped at her mother-in-law, “Why didn’t you say anything?”

Marienne reached out and squeezed my hand. “I’ve been having dreams... visions of Jaegar over the years. I didn’t know what they meant at first, they weren’t very clear. But when I heard that Damon’s son had come out of the stonework, so to speak... I knew that he was the man I’d been dreaming of.”

I swallowed down the feelings of unexpected hurt and betrayal that rose up within me. If I’d known my fated mate was out there, I could have gone and found him sooner.

I’ve been alone so long while everyone else has already started families...

“Why didn’t you tell me?” I asked, unable to keep the accusatory tone from my voice.

Marienne bit her lip. “Because I wasn’t sure if Jaegar would ever choose to come forward. To declare who he was. Your path with him hasn’t been clear to me. Not until tonight.”

“Why tonight?” I asked, biting back on my aggravation.

“He saw you,” she said simply. “Now that he’s touched you, he won’t run. Not again.”

“Again?” I repeated, dumbfounded.

“Well... Jaegar’s attempted to speak to Damon many times in the past, but his pride has always gotten in the way. Now that he knows thatyouare his future, he can step into his true role.”

“And what role will that be, my dear?” Erik asked with a quirked brow. “Another bastard king?”

I stared at Uncle Erik, anger blazing in my belly until I realized that I was quite literally looking at a bastard king. “Oh... you’re...”

Erik smiled and inclined his head. “Yes, that’s right. I was my father’s bastard. I never expected to inherit his throne.”

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