Earlier on, I saw Cassandra getting into a carriage with white horses. She was leaving Rivenna for good. I have no idea what she thinks about her guard being a fraud all this time. She didn’t say a word as far as I know. I’m just glad she’s gone…
Jorgen puts his arms around me and I feel warmth spread across my back. I turn, coming face to face with his dazzling, intense blue eyes.
I can’t stop analysing what happened, and how I missed all the signs. I should’ve known Falcon was too interested in my magic, and I could’ve prevented him from hurting my Pixies.
“I’ll kill him myself,” I say, with determination in my voice.
“Astri, why… why didn’t you tell me about your parents?” he asks after some time. I don’t know what to say. My past in complicated, and my nightmares have always been a part of me. I made a mistake, but it’s too late to explain what happened.
Heavy silence stretches between us for a long moment.
“Because I wanted you dead from the very beginning. I dreamed about you for eleven years without knowing about it. A few days before the contest I finally saw your brother’s face. I had no idea that Ruscal was behind my parents killing. Then I overheard Pollock talking about the contest and I thought it would be a great way to get close to you,” I explain, thinking about everything that went wrong, and that final moment in the mountains.
“No one’s supposed to know about Ruscal. Besides, it’s a long and complicated story. Unfortunately, that bastard’s my brother. It would’ve been easy to mistake us. Your vision showed you the truth–only it was my twin. I never met you before. I never met your parents,” he says.
“I know, I realise that now–I suspected as much for some time,” I admit.
“Astri, you’ve gone through a terrible ordeal and in a way I’m responsible. You lost your parents because of my brother’s twisted obsession with some kind of crazy prophecy that I’m not sure even exists,” he continues. “I’m so lucky you decided to take part in the contest and to have you in my life. I broke the news to my father an hour ago. I told him things would never work out with Cassandra. I’m not marrying her, Astri.”
My fingers twitch, but I don’t want to think about this right now. Jorgen has no idea he’ll most likely regret making this decision once he learns the truth about me.
“Why would you do such a thing?” I ask, in almost a whisper.
“Because she’s not right for me. I’ve been fighting conflicting emotions for weeks now, trying to convince myself you aren’t good for me. The truth is, I can’t deny my feelings any longer. I’ve been a fool pushing you away,” he says as he takes my hand.
I’m paralysed, staring into his burning, blue eyes. My heart pounds when he leans over and gently brushes his lips over mine. The rush of sensations nearly breaks me apart and sparks of hope swells in my chest once again.
He wants me, he’s always wanted me. I should be happy, but in my heart I know my secret can destroy whatever’s growing between us.
“Jetli’s going to be all right and I’ll find a way to get my dragon back,” he says, pulling away from me.
Jorgen may love me now, but everything’s going to change once he learns I stood silently by and watched how the leader of the wild shifters ripped away his dragon and destroyed his magic.
Because of me he’s suffering and it’s up to me to help him get his dragon back. Even though the cost is great, knowing once he learns the truth, he may never forgive me. It’s a risk I’m willing to take–for him.
The end of Book 2
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