Page 15 of The Dragon of her Dreams

Any words Jaegar had planned to say were lost to a feral warning growl.

My father responded in kind, not letting my arm go.

Jaegar’s eyes flashed from blue to silver in a mere second. He looked strong, predatory, and incredibly handsome as his inner dragon reared up within him.

My heart jumped with adrenaline, racing inside my chest like a prized stallion. If I didn’t stop this, we’d end up with two fighting dragons in a room filled with people. “No!” I found the courage to say and put out a hand toward Jaegar. “Stop. He’s my dad. He won’t hurt me.” I tugged my arm, but my father refused to let go. Then help came from an unexpected place.

“Stavrok, let her go,” Mom said, her voice soothing. “Jaegar’s not going to hurt her. You know that. Now, calm down.” Mom tugged at Dad’s arm until his fingers loosened their grip.

I stumbled toward Jaegar the moment I was freed.

He grabbed my arm and pulled me to his side so fast I was seeing stars. His arm went around my body, holding me so close, protecting me and shielding me from the world.

In such close proximity, I could smell his skin and feel his heat beneath his shirt. I didn’t know this man, but as a soft moan left my lips, I tucked my nose into his neck and took a deep breath.

It’s him. My mate.

My heart sang. I knew it beyond doubt. He smelled like home.

This time Jaegar’s growl was more like a rolling purr, and he wrapped his second arm around me as well. “I found you,” he said, sounding as though he was panting or in shock. His chest was rising and falling too fast, and although part of me was afraid that he’d shift, the dragon shifter part of me was blissfully happy at the fact.

Mom walked closer, despite my dad calling out to her. “Jaegar, sweetheart...” she was saying softly. “Can you control yourself? Or do you need to get outside?”

Jaegar was trembling and the sheer power that it took to hold his dragon inside made me smile. He was so impressive.

“I. Don’t. Know,” he admitted, each word punctuated with a labored and desperate pause.

Mom continued. “Vanya... darling... I think you’re going to need to wake up and help Jaegar out here. I’m not a dragon, but you are. Do you know what he needs?”

I opened my eyes and stared up at him. My blood was hot, flowing in my veins like lava, and every part of me was intoxicated by the mere scent of him. I’d found him.

Finally. He’s real.

“He’ll need to shift,” Damon interjected from beside us.

I hadn’t even realized he was still there.

Jaegar wasn’t growling at his father, which was interesting, but his hands tightened on me.

“Do you want to fly with me?” I whispered. “We could both go.”

“My. Clothes. Queen. Cass,” Jaegar gritted out as he battled for control.

Damon chuckled softly. “She won’t care if you tear them to shreds, but if you have the control, Stavrok might have somewhere nearby that you can both safely disrobe before shifting.”

Jaegar nodded in a jerky fashion. “Yes. Please.Now.”

Mom began to walk backward. “Come on. The south balcony. Quickly!” She gestured toward us, encouraging us to follow.

But Jaegar didn’t move.

Somewhere deep in my foggy, intoxicated brain, I knew he needed my help. It was my turn to step up and guide my mate. “Come on, let’s get out of here,” I said to him, lurching after my mother. “Jaegar.Please.”

That got him moving. He followed me by sheer force of will, still clinging to my hands, refusing to let me go for a single moment.

Mom and Dad hurried ahead, pushing open the doors to the balcony, then pulled the curtains shut around us once more.

I burst through the curtains and inhaled sharply as the cold air blasted me in the face. It was an incredibly welcome relief to the fire I felt blazing inside.

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