Page 21 of The Dragon of her Dreams

“You have been the best thing for the Black Mountains,” Marienne declared, reaching up to cup her husband’s face. “And for me.”

“But Damon already has two legitimate sons,” Jessa said, frowning at her father-in-law. “Do you really think Barry and Theo will just step aside for a man they don’t even know?”

I tried not to feel angry toward my sister’s tone, but I couldn’t help but take exception. This was my mate she was talking about.

“We’ll see,” Uncle Erik said. “Normally there wouldn’t even be a discussion about lineage, but with Jaegar being significantly older and baring the dragon king tattoo—”

“He could be king,” Marienne said. “I’ve seen it. But that vision is only one possible version of the future. He could walk many paths.”

“He wouldn’t have to be king,” I said. “He could live here with me in Bravadok.”

Erik and Marienne smiled and nodded as though they agreed with me, but there was a caution in their eyes that told me there was more to the story.

But perhaps instead of getting the information second-hand, it would serve me well to speak to the man himself. “Would you all excuse me?” I said, moving to step past Marienne. But a friend of my dad’s came and spoke to me, then another, then another. By the time I’d spent time with everyone who wanted to say, “Happy Birthday”, and made my way over to where Carlak and Anthony were, Jaegar was nowhere to be found. “Where’s he gone?” I asked.

Anthony quirked an eyebrow at me. “Hey, Vanya, how are you? We’re great, thanks for asking. How’s your night going?”

I glared at him, then conceded. “Sorry, that was rude.”

I need to find my mate.

“If you’re looking for Jaegar, he headed off with Cass a few minutes ago.”

“Oh,” I went up on my tiptoes, looking around frantically. My stomach gurgled as it digested little more than a glass or two of champagne.

Anthony stopped a waiter as he walked past with a plate of herbed, roast chicken sticks. “Vanya,” he said, his tone commanding. “Eat something.”

I didn’t question the sorcerer’s advice. The last thing I needed tonight was to faint in front of everyone. “All right.” I grabbed some chicken and sank my teeth into the flesh, my stomach growling in response as I chewed absently.

Carlak snagged another glass of champagne from another waiter and handed it to me. “You’re the birthday girl. You should be enjoying yourself as much as possible.”

I nodded and kept eating, surprised at just how hungry I was. “I agree.” A tingle coursed up my spine, and I swallowed the moan that rose in me as a hand slid around my waist and moved into my side. How could Jaegar be so familiar to me? It was as though I’d known him forever and shared every intimacy imaginable with him. His touch was perfect, as was the very scent of him.

And as he leaned closer, he whispered into my ear, “We need to get out of here before I ravish you in front of everyone.”

I couldn’t help the thrill that shot through me, but I turned my head and lifted my gaze to his. “I can’t leave.”

He frowned and his lips thinned as he pressed them hard together.

I could see he wanted to assert his dominance over me, but what he didn’t realize was that I was the daughter of King Stavrok, and I wasn’t taking orders from anyone—not even my fated mate. I straightened my spine, but still had to tilt my head to look up at him.

Damn, he’s tall.

“The party will only go for a few more hours. Have something to eat and drink.”

And calm down.

I knew what he was feeling. It was an incredible ache that started deep in the belly and heated the very blood. But this was my birthday, and my triplet siblings were here to celebrate with me. It was the whole reason for this event. I couldn’t just run off with a man that I barely knew. He may be my fated mate, but that didn’t change the fact he was a virtual stranger to me. “Have you met my sister, Jessa, yet?”

His eyebrows flickered up in the faintest expression of curiosity.

“Or Iain?” Anthony suddenly said, bursting through the bubble around us and reminding me that we weren’t alone. “I think they just arrived, actually.”

The doors to the hall flew open and in walked my baby brother and his fiery wife—the Dragon Daughter herself.

I couldn’t help but roll my eyes and grin at Anthony. “Did they have to upstage us?”

Anthony grinned back. “Of course they did! Go, see them.”

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