Page 39 of The Dragon of her Dreams

I shuddered at the thought. All I’d seen were the dirt floors, the threadbare furniture, and the suffocatingly low ceiling. I was so cold and tired, this was absolutely the last place I wanted to be in the realm. I wanted to be back in my castle, in my huge bed, warm and safe.

Lying on top of Jaegar, I did feel safe and warm finally, but we couldn’t stay in bed forever. And he couldn’t be by my side every day to merely ensure my survival. If this was the kind of life he wanted, then I didn’t know what I’d do. Because this was the last thing I needed.

Am I going to be a thirty year old princess living in an icy hovel like a pauper?

I closed my eyes and tried my best not to cry. The idea that he’d lived here all his life was devastating to me. Did he used to have to sleep beside his mother to keep her warm, too? Had he had enough to eat? How had he survived living here, in what was without argument the toughest kingdom in the whole realm?

I knew I was a spoiled, pampered, literal princess, but no one in our entire kingdom lived in a one-room shack. No one. My parents would never have allowed it. Everyone in Bravadok had a much higher standard of living than whatever this was.

I bit my lip and breathed through my nose, tears now dripping down my face to freeze on my cheeks like crystal. Had my beautiful man survived this world, only to now feel totally uncomfortable in the castle, and with the family he should have always been a part of?

Lying here in Jaegar’s hovel, the mountain climb ahead of me now seemed impossible. I couldn’t see how we’d ever be able to make our two lives work. Our differences were just too vast. There was a literal world between us. A wave of depression washed over me, drowning all the good feelings in my mind.

If this is the future my fated mate craves, I can’t be a part of it.

With my tears stinging my face, I listened to the steady beat of his heart and prayed that somehow, we’d find a way.

Chapter 15

Jaegar

WHEN I TRIED TO GETout of bed, Vanya didn’t want me to get up, but I had to. “Let me just feed the fire. I’ll come back straight away, and it’ll heat the place up. I promise.”

She nodded but didn’t speak as she slid off my chest.

I tried not to worry, but something was wrong with her. I could feel it in the pit of my stomach. I rushed over to the fireplace and placed two more heavy, dry logs on the dwindling fire. The flames flickered around the wood hungrily, and I made my way back to the bed. The fire wasn’t making much of an impact yet, but it would.

I climbed back under the covers and sat up against the headboard I’d made years ago.

Vanya immediately clambered back into my lap like a child, curling up into a small ball, and shivering against me.

I gathered the blankets around her once more and wrapped her up in my arms. I’d made a mistake bringing Vanya here. I saw that now. It wasn’t even the middle of winter, and yet the chill of our kingdom was obviously far too much for her. I had to get her clothes that would suit her and help make her comfortable.

I needed her to get to know me properly. She was my fated mate, which meant I was meant to marry her, have children with her, and love her forever. But only if she knew who Ireallywas. Not the princely façade Queen Cass draped me in.

The poor bastard side of me. The real me.

“Are you warm enough yet?” I asked her, kissing her on the head. “I might get dressed and go get you some appropriate clothes.”

She looked up, her heart in her eyes. “Can we go to the castle?” she pleaded. “Veronica’s clothes might fit me.”

I didn’t want to go to the castle, nor take other princesses’ clothes to dress my mate, but Vanya looked truly miserable—so I gave in. “Of course,” I said, managing to extricate myself from her clinging arms, and went straight to my dresser drawers. “But I’ll have to get you a coat and some boots so we can make our way up to the castle.” I had to get her a full outfit, obviously. The castle was probably an hour’s walk from my home, and she wasn’t going to make it without warmer attire.

“I can shift and fly up,” she offered by way of an alternative option, looking relieved and hopeful for the first time since our arrival.

I clenched my teeth, stopping myself from immediately responding. “I can’t shift again,” I said through my teeth as calmly as I could. “I’m too tired. I’m not used to it.”

“But I’m not,” Vanya offered. “I could shift, and go get the clothes, then come back. Would that work?”

I bristled in annoyance. I wanted to yell from the depths of my chest.

No! It won’t work.

It was just another nail in the coffin of our burgeoning bond, further proof that Vanya would never survive in my world.

Maybe fate does make mistakes.

I tried one more time. “Dymitri’s house isn’t far. He has daughters about your size. I could go and borrow some of their things for the journey.”

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