Page 60 of The Cursed Queen

"Why didn't you tell me?"

"Daenerys, I may be the dragon lord, but that doesn't mean it's my place to divulge the personal lives of my den members. It wasn't my place to tell you. It had to have been their choice. I'm guessing one of them told you?"

"Drayce told me," I confirmed.

"And what do you think of that?"

"I think they make a beautiful pairing. Drayce obviously loves Ryu, and that's all that matters. My only question is why fate paired me with two individuals already in a relationship. I still don't understand why I have multiple fated mates in the first place."

"We may never know the answer to that. Fate has its own agenda, and unbeknownst to us, we follow the path that it created for us. It's unavoidable, unpredictable, and at times, unprecedented. Maybe it's foreshadowing. Maybe there's an event that'll take place in your future that requires you and your mates to come together, but we'll never know until that time comes."

More mysteries. More waiting. It's rather bothersome if I were honest with myself. All I'd done since learning the truth about dragons was wait and try to solve mysteries. I hated not having answers to my questions, or not knowing where to find them. Even in the books I'd been reading, there were no clues as towhy I would be fated to more than one shifter. It never seemed to happen to another shifter, so why was I special? The only factor that made me different from others was my hybrid bloodline, but that couldn't be the reason for having multiple fated mates, could it?

"I don't know what to do," I said, since I didn't know what else to say. Nothing made sense to me, and all I'd been doing so far was taking every day as is.

Using his scepter for leverage, Lord Igneel pulled himself to his feet. "Daenerys, I know this must be overwhelming for you. It hasn't been long since you've joined the den, and you are still learning your abilities. I wish I could say or do something to make things easier for you."

"You and my mates have done everything for me and Virgil. I could never thank you enough." I huffed out a breath and began pacing, my hand going up, and ran my fingers through my thick curls.

"If I'm destined to be with all my mates, does this mean I don't have to choose between them?" I asked.

"You don't want to pick only one to mate with?"

That answer was crystal clear to me if I allowed myself to be honest. "No. I know Ladon doesn't want me, and logic would say I should let Drayce and Ryu go so they could stay together, but even now I could feel fate's pull towards each of them. It was easier when I thought Andriel was my only mate, but the little time I spent with the others had shown me more possibilities."

"Like what?"

I pursed my lips, not knowing if I should tell my father this. Not that I wanted to keep secrets from him, but it was rather personal. "I never felt love before. Not in that way. I've never been allowed a romantic partner before. Now I suddenly have three, maybe four, mates who are bound to me? Is that even proper?"

Lord Igneel shrugged. "There may be some who would say it isn't, but that's when you remind them that fate deemed it so. Daenerys, this is your life. Your choice. One you should make for yourself. Also, talk to your mates instead of me. Find out where they stand on the matter, then make your decision. Whatever you decide, you know I will support you."

It felt strange having a parent tell me he would support my decision, considering Verania always did the opposite. She would often ridicule my ideas, my desires, andmy wishes. She would make me feel foolish for wanting more in my life than being the sick little princess who was incapable of protecting her kingdom.

My, how the tides have shifted.

I sniffled as a wandering tear ran down my cheek. "I wish we hadn't lost so much time together. I'd have given anything to have been raised by you."

Lord Igneel's adoring smile already told me how he wished for the same. To think he spent all this time believing I was dead, but now we were here together. He barely knew me, but deep within my gut, I knew he loved me. This was actual love.

"Let's not waste time dreading what we lost, and what we can't change. We're here now, and if the gods are willing, we'll have the rest of our lives to make up for lost time," he breathed.

There was nothing more that needed to be said after that. I sauntered over to Lord Igneel and embraced him in a tight hug. He laughed as he patted my back. And it was the best feeling in the world.I was elated to be his daughter. Eventually, the rest of the den will know who I really am.

Andriel

"Okay, I think that will be all for now," I announced to a panting, hunched over Virgil after two hours of combat training since before the sun rose.

We'd made this our standard routine since letting him live with me, and he never once complained about it. Usually, I'd train on my own or ask Drayce to spar with me. But Virgil's dedication to getting stronger, and the need to monitor him, had shifted my focus to him. Despite being much smaller and relatively weaker, his tenacity had proven his greatest asset. He never wanted to stay down, even when he should. He was a young man with something to prove; to himself and the den.

Many shifters had ogled him and snickered every time he plummeted to the ground, but that didn't seem to slow him down. He paid none of them the attention they wanted. No, he had his eyes on the prize. My respect for him grew.

"Already?" Virgil asked between heavy pants. The young druid was drowning in sweat, his white hair stuck to his forehead.

"Yes, already. I admire your will to push yourself to the limit, but it's just as important to know when to stop as it is to train. You're no good to anyone if your body shuts down from exhaustion. Your movements would slow down, and your focus would be hazy. Knowing your limitations is important."

I waited to see if he would protest, but he was smart enough to know when to listen. If there was anything I could credit the Zeffari Kingdom, it was the discipline they drilled into their knights. Virgil seemed to grasp that it was best to listen to your superiors. Hell, that was a lesson several of the young dragonlings still lacked while training. Virgil could actually teach them a thing or two.

"Very well." Virgil dropped on his behind, leaning back and taking a long, much-needed breath.