“You are so much more than you know,” he murmured. He cut off her response with a kiss that seared her doubts away. “You’ve always been more.”
Bryn slid off the bed and stood naked by the nightstand as she poured a glass of water from an icy pitcher. “Why didn’t you tell me?”
Sven rolled over onto his back and covered his eyes. “I wanted to. I started to. That day you found your ring. That was why I took you to my office, so I could tell you. But for a dragon, I pretty much turned into a chicken.”
With a cheeky grin, she flapped her arms. “Bawk, bawk.”
“Smart ass.” He groaned and rolled to his side, propped up by his elbow. “I was afraid you would freak out and leave.” He bit his lip. “I’m really surprised that you’ve taken the news so well.”
She shrugged and took a drink. “I knew there was something different. I’ve always had an ability to notice things about people, if that makes any sense.” She couldn’t even explain it to herself. “I never asked because I couldn’t put my finger on what I noticed.” She put her glass down and sat on the bed. “And then it just didn’t matter. No matter how mad I was at you forrearranging my life, I just couldn’t make myself care enough to find a reason to leave.”
“Not to mention someone almost killed Eva thinking she was you.”
“And that.” Bryn stared at him. “Is she a dragon? Can’t you like, heal yourselves or something?” She suddenly had no idea how much she knew about dragons was fact or fiction.
“Eva is not. And somehow, Magnus has found, or created, a toxin that prevents us from healing. That’s why I couldn’t heal after being hit with the arrow. It was dipped in that toxin. Martin is trying to break it down to find an antidote.”
“Is he a… you know.” She felt silly to continue using the word.
“No, he’s not. But like Eva, his family has been in service with the castle for generations, so they’re well trusted. He can actually do some tests on you to get some answers, if you’d like.”
“Of course I’d like.” She twisted her ring. “Do you think this ring has anything to do with it?”
“You were obviously drawn to it, so it has something to do with your history.” He pulled her to him and kissed her softly. “We’ll figure it out.”
She wrapped her arms around his neck and pulled into a deep kiss. “Why do I feel so safe with you?”
His strength steadied her as desire pulled them under. She gave herself to him fully, not just in body, but in trust. She knew that she should be upset with him for avoiding details, but her heart had already forgiven everything, whether she knew it or would still learn about it later.
The air thickened with heat and their shadows raced across the wall from the reflection from the firelight. She didn’t fully understand the ritual, but every kiss and every thrust of their bodies together felt like invisible threads that bound them together.
The fire in the hearth burned lower as Bryn lay nestled against his chest. Their breathing had slowed after their passion had played out. Sven stroked his hand down her back and she planted a kiss on his pec.
“What now?” she asked him, her voice just above a whisper.
“Hmmm?”
She ran a finger down his chest. “Now that the ritual has been consummated,” she felt heat flood her face, “a couple of times, what’s the next step?” She tried to push intrusive thoughts out of her head. She had told him that she wanted the ability to leave. Now it was the last thing that she wanted. “I don’t think you told me everything about this ritual.”
He shifted and kissed the top of her head. “You would be correct. I didn’t give you the gist of the whole tradition.” Her head rose as he took a deep breath. “The bottom line is that the ritual is to produce an heir.”
“So I was supposed to… or I am supposed to… get pregnant?” Once again, she was rather surprised that the news didn’t bother her at all.
“Under the proper moon, yes. Once a legitimate heir is conceived, I no longer have to participate throughout my reign.”
“That’s comforting to know,” she teased. She didn’t think she could handle the thought of him mating some other woman to produce a baby. “And if a baby is, err, was, conceived, what happens to me?”
“The ritual has been consummated.” He tightened his grip on her. “And child or not, you are my mate. By magic, by choice, I don’t care. I felt the pull of atruemate, something I’ve never felt before, before we ever came in here. I think it was established the first time we met.”
“Another detail you forgot to tell me. Is that how the ritual works?”
“Technically, if no heir is conceived, then it’s the last time I see the woman. If you’re pregnant, you would be my mate for life.”
She leaned up and kissed him soundly. “Then let's hope we created a perfect little…” Her eyes flew wide open. “What? A baby? A dragon?” She sat up. “Can I get pregnant with a dragon?”
He laughed and kissed her hand. “I’ve already spoken with Martin. You’ll be fine. And since we suspect there’s something unique about you, it’ll be more than fine.” He ran his fingers across her abdomen and sent sparks across her skin. Her nipples instantly peaked as goose bumps raised across her body. “Our child will be the most loved ever. And my grandmother will be absolutely thrilled that she lived long enough to see the next generation of royals.”
“She’s a tough old bird,” Bryn advised. “I don’t think she’s as sick as she is lonely. Having a nurse just keeps her company without her asking.”
