Page 75 of Hidden Fate

The nerves flowinginto me through our connection had my stomach in knots. Add in the way Thorn’s heartbeat increased, and my pulse thundered in my ears.

The battle was tomorrow, but why did I feel as if it might be right now?

“Hey.” He smiled sadly and touched my arm. “You’re not the one who’s supposed to be nervous.”

I laughed humorlessly. “Kind of hard when I can sense everything you’re going through. What’s wrong? Whatever it is, we can figure it out together.” I needed him to confide in me, not leave me in the dark. This was worse than fighting an enemy.

“Ugh, I’m doing this all wrong.” He dropped his hands, rubbing his palms against his jeans. Then he removed the box from his pocket and got down on one knee right in front of me.

I couldn’t breathe. The anxiety coursing through us turned into something else…but I wasn’t sure what. My heart squeezed as if it’d tripled in size and was about to explode from my chest.

“I know we’re mated and married.” He beamed, but sadness darkened his eyes. “We’re already as committed as any two people can be, by both human and dragon standards, but our marriage was forced…taken out of our control.”

Guilt settled hard. We’d gotten married to keep Drake from claiming me as his wife according to dragon law. I’d been upset, not because I didn’t want to be married to Thorn but because someone else had planned the wedding on their timetable. It wasn’t something Thorn and I had planned and celebrated ourselves, and we hadn’t had a chance to argue about what font to use on the invitation or what Eva and I would pick out as my dress. Someone else had selected everything to their own tastes, and it was nothing we would’ve selected. “It’s fine. I’m not upset about it anymore. You aren’t responsible foranyof that.”

“No, but that doesn’t mean I don’t want to fix what I can—becauseyou’reworth it.” He huffed and settled the box in the palm of one hand. “We’reworth it.”

He opened the box, and I saw three rings nestled inside. One was a diamond engagement ring that was simple and elegant, everything that represented us. It appeared to be a two-carat square-cut diamond with tungsten bands wrapped around one another. The band on top was covered with small diamonds, making it the same width as the central diamond before narrowing into a normal-sized band. The other two rings matched each other, with one slightly smaller that had to be mine. Both bands were tungsten with etchings that resembled dragon scales.

“Thorn,” I breathed, a sob lodging in my chest.

“Most dragons don’t give each other engagement rings, only wedding bands, but I wanted to do this for you. Though we’ll take it off when we shift, in human form this feels right—to symbolize how we met but also to respect that for most of your life, you were human.”

He removed the engagement ring, and I lifted my left hand so he could slip it on. Faint scales appeared as he slipped the ring on my finger, and a tear trickled down my cheek as I realized this ring was perfect for me. I connected, unable to speak,I love it.

Thank gods.He sighed and climbed back to his feet, removing the two bands and putting the box back into his pocket. “The wedding bands are to symbolize our dragon sides uniting as one.”

My hands shook as he slipped the ring on.

“There. Perfect.” He smiled as he came closer, the scales disappearing into his unblemished human skin, and he turned the ring to the side so I could see the engraving.

You Own Me

Unable to hold the sobs in any longer, I let go, my shoulders shaking and more tears trickling down my face. This moment was perfect, and even better, we were alone. No wedding could come close to this.

He’d moved to slip my wedding band on my finger when I croaked out, “Wait.”

His alarm slammed into me, and his jaw clenched.

It was his turn to sweat, but only long enough for me to remove the engagement ring. I said, “The wedding band goes on first, then the engagement ring on top.” He probably hadn’t realized that since he was a dragon…and a man.

Relief flooded him, and he chuckled as he slid the wedding band onto my finger. “I was nervous there for a second.”

I put the engagement ring back on, and the two rings perfectly nestled together. “You shouldn’t be. You own me, too. And now it’smyturn.” I snatched his band from him, and my body tingled when I saw he’d put the same engraving on his.

I slid the ring on his finger and connected,I do.Dragon law could go fuck itself, for all I cared. I wanted to claim him as mine the same way he’d claimed me at the château.

You don’t know how badly I needed to hear you say that.He leaned his forehead against mine, pulling me into his arms.Hell,Ididn’t even realize I needed it.

That was the thing about us. We knew what the other person needed, even if we were clueless.Thank you for this. This means so much to me, and it’s more perfect than any wedding ever could be. You and me alone, together, and having this sacred moment is more precious than any ceremony.

You deserve it all.Adoration filled his face as he gazed into my eyes.Every day, I need you to know you’re more important to me than anything else. Even if we wind up running the kingdom, your happiness and your safety will always be my priority. Maybe it shouldn’t be that way, but I wouldn’t change it for the world.

It might be selfish, but I wouldn’t, either.I feel the same way about you. I will always be on your side…against all odds.

Oh, I’m clear on that. You wouldn’t still be here if that weren’t the case.He ran his fingers through my hair.Tomorrow, when we take the throne, I want it to be clear that we belong to each other in every way possible. That we’re a package deal. I’m not just taking over as king, but we’re leading together to help our people and make things right in this world.

My body heated at his touch and his words. I didn’t know what I’d done to deserve Thorn, but I would never give him up. He valued me in all the ways that mattered: heart, body, soul, and mind.I could be happy anywhere in the world as long as I’m next to you.