Charlotte stared at the interior of the luxury jet. “Holy cow, you weren’t kidding!”

Rurik leaned against the plush leather seat closest to him as he watched her. A smile crossed his lips, one he couldn’t seem to stop, nor did he want to. She made him want to hoot and holler like a child, her innocence was so infectious.

“I’m glad you’re pleased.” He found he wanted to be more formal around her now, to play the gentleman the way he had with the queens and princesses of old. Charlotte brought that out in him; it was amusing and a little disturbing. He’d always been good at adapting to the changing times, yet with Charlotte he felt his past self coming back, the old-fashioned side of his dragon that would cherish and guard her.

“Rurik!” A voice from the plane’s open door made him jerk in surprise. Grigori and his mate, Madelyn, were coming up the steps.

He blocked his brother’s path to the plane’s cabin. “Grigori, what are you doing here?”

Grigori arched his brow when they came face to face. Neither dragon flinched. “You tell me you want the plane to show Saint Petersburg to a girl? I’m guessing this is the same girl who asked for snow? So I am curious. I want to meet the woman who’s enchanted my baby brother.” From behind Grigori, Madelyn gave a stifled giggle.

Rurik curled his lip in the face of this age-old brotherly challenge.

“You can meet her later.”

“I’ve already told the pilot that he’s taking four of us.” Grigori punched Rurik playfully in the arm, and Rurik, still sore from the bullet wound, winced. Grigori didn’t miss his reaction, and his eyes narrowed.

“What’s wrong?”

“Not here. I’ll fill you in later,” Rurik whispered. Charlotte was approaching. He didn’t want to explain things to his brother with her around. “Charlotte,” he said, changing his tone, “this is my brother Grigori. He and his wife, Madelyn, have decided to join us.”

“Hi.” Charlotte beamed, shaking hands with Grigori and Madelyn. “It’s so nice to meet you. I take it you helped arrange the plane? Thank you so much.” Charlotte’s cheeks pinkened, and Rurik’s body grew hard. Would it be such a bad thing if he shoved his brother out of the plane en route? He could fly, after all. He wanted Charlotte alone so he could introduce her to the mile-high club. A meddling older brother would only get in the way.

“It’s a pleasure.” Grigori shook Charlotte’s hand, and Madelyn did the same.

“Come on, let’s sit down. I have so many questions.” Madelyn tugged Charlotte to the back of plane, and they seated themselves in two chairs side by side. It gave the brothers a few minutes to talk alone. Rurik had no interest in being lectured by his brother, but it seemed it was inevitable.

“What happened?” Grigori asked, studying his brother. “Who hurt you?”

“I was taking Charlotte home from the club last night. A sedan pulled up and opened fire on us. I took a few bullets. They were made of pure iron.”

Grigori’s eyes widened, and he leaned in closer, touching Rurik’s shoulder.

“Are you all right?”

“Yes. Charlotte is good in a crisis, it turns out. Fortunately, they hadn’t gone deep. She dug the bullets out of me. I’ve almost healed.”

Grigori jerked his head toward the back of the plane. “Then she knows what we are?”

“No.” Rurik grimaced. “I altered her memories so she remembers my jacket as stopping most of the damage.”

Grigori relaxed, his features losing the harsh tension. “Good. But this news concerns me. We will have to talk more of it later, when we are assured of more privacy.” He sighed and smiled. “Let’s sit so the plane can take off.”

Rurik followed his brother to where Charlotte and Madelyn sat, their heads bent together. Madelyn said something, and Charlotte blushed and laughed. Rurik sat spellbound by the sight of Charlotte laughing and smiling so easily. Grigori joined them, choosing a seat across from her. She smiled again, her expression open and free. In that moment, when Rurik watched her with his family, how open she was and how easily she fit right in with them, as though she had always been there, his heart jolted.

She could be my true mate.

Charlotte was slipping past the barriers he’d erected around his heart. But he could not let her in, could not let her become a part of him.

If I let her, she could destroy everything. She would live another seventy years at the most, and I would die with her. Then who would protect my family?

With a ruthless heartbreaker smile, he joined them at the back of the plane. He sat next to Grigori, facing Charlotte.

“So, Grigori, tell me—what was Rurik like as a child?” Charlotte asked as she grinned at Rurik. He couldn’t resist chuckling before he turned to his brother.

“Choose your words carefully, Grigori, or I’ll start sharing your secrets with Madelyn.”

When his brother laughed, the sound was infectious. How long had it been since he’d heard Grigori laugh? Too long. Being mated had been good for him, just as it had been with Mikhail and his mate. Both of his brothers had relaxed ever since they’d found the women fate had chosen for them. Madelyn was a thunderbird, an immortal in her own right, though she hadn’t known it until recently. Piper, Mikhail’s mate, had triggered an ancient dragon stone and became a dragon shifter herself. But the odds of such luck happening with Charlotte to make her immortal? Impossible.

“Rurik as a boy… Where do I begin?” Grigori tapped his fingers on his chin in mock contemplation. “He was an absolute rascal. Always scrambling off to places he shouldn’t go or doing things he knew he shouldn’t. And he was tough. He had a knack for wrestling, far more than Mikhail or me.” Grigori shared a glance with Rurik, a twinkle in his blue eyes. There was a compliment there, one rarely given between the brothers, and it made Rurik want to puff out his chest with pride.

“Of course, he’s also stubborn and reckless, but I’m sure you’re figuring that out just by being around him.” Grigori laughed again, and Charlotte nodded.

“I am.” She laughed, but it wasn’t at him. “He certainly keeps me on my toes.”

They continued to talk as the plane rose into the sky. After the flight attendant brought them refreshments, they relaxed for a while, enjoying their newfound companionship.

Madelyn suddenly paled, holding one hand to her stomach. “Grigori?”

“What is it?” Grigori was out of his seat in an instant, taking her hands in his.

“I’m feeling nauseous. Can you help me to the bathroom?”

Grigori unbuckled Madelyn and walked her to the bathroom.

“Is she okay?” Charlotte asked. Her concern warmed his heart.

“I suspect it’s morning sickness.”

“That’s right, you mentioned she was pregnant.” Charlotte’s eyes softened, and Rurik wondered if Charlotte ever dreamed of having children. He couldn’t imagine her not wanting them. She was warm, sincere, loving, and brave, everything that made a good mother. But if they mated, he could never give her children. Only a dragoness or another of the immortal kin could have drakelings. Or would it be a thunderling? He honestly had no idea how this would work out, and it caused him some concern.

“Yes, only a couple of months.”

“Wow, that’s wonderful. She and Grigori must be thrilled.”

“They are.” Rurik changed seats, settling in beside her. He buckled up and reached over to take Charlotte’s hand, stroking the back of it and studying the delicate veins just hinted at beneath her skin. So fragile and so beautiful. She’s incredible.

“I like your family,” she said softly, ducking her head. He cupped her chin and raised her head so that she peered up at him beneath those dark lashes. His body flared to life at her seductive yet shy gaze. The woman knew how to turn him on without even trying.

“Seems like they like you too.” He leaned over and traced his fingers down her cheek. He gazed at her lips, neither too plump nor too thin—the perfect shape for both kisses and smiles. His hunger to taste her in every way he could was almost overpowering, and her intoxicating virginal scent was damned hard to ignore. He’d teased Grigori mercilessly about how he hadn’t resisted Madelyn, but now he understood his brother’s loss of control. A true mate was difficult to resist, a virgin true mate all but impossible.

“Are you going to kiss me?” she asked.

His lips quirked into a wicked smirk that earned a giggle from her. “Maybe.”

She made a soft little noise of excitement as she gripped the collar of his jacket with one hand and tugged him toward her.

Their lips met in a mix of searing heat and sweetness. Joy ran through his veins, like the old lullabies his mother had once sung when he was a drakeling. There was tenderness, fire, sorrow, and delight all mixed in their kiss that rocked him to his core. He held a hand at the nape of her neck as he kissed her more urgently, demanding she open herself, give him everything she had. The burning desire to connect with her went beyond physical need. Behind his closed eyes he saw his home, the Fire Hills of Russia, the rippling shades of fiery leaves in the fall, the joy of flying low over the valley. His body surged with adrenaline and excitement as he shot up through the clouds and into the bright light of the morning sun.

Then the images changed. He saw a little girl chasing two blond-headed boys across a sandy shore, laughing as she tried to catch up to them. They stopped, each holding out a hand to her. Their palms, much bigger, much stronger, curled around her small fingers as they led her to the lapping waves. She screeched in delight as the cold water kissed her toes, then rushed forward to clean her feet of sand before the water pulled back out. The eldest boy smiled down at her. “Don’t worry, Charlotte, we’ll protect you.”

“Yeah, always,” the other boy agreed. Their sunny smiles and dark-blond hair seemed familiar, and the heartache that poured through him was strong enough to drown him. Something about this made Charlotte’s heart heavy, and he was feeling that through her as they kissed.

The vision faded as he and Charlotte broke apart. His arms were locked around her, and she was clutching his jacket as though her life depended on it. Ghosts of tears clung to her lashes. Her lips were parted, and he could sense the questions on the tip of her tongue. It was as though his mind and hers had been on the verge of becoming one.

“What was that?” she panted, a little frightened.

“I…” He couldn’t tell her the truth, or that he’d made a dangerous mistake. Shared memories and emotions were a sign of a mating in progress. He could not ignore it or dismiss his fascination with her. This was infinitely more. He’d never let things get this far with Nikita—he’d been far more careful around her.

A true mate… But to claim her would be to defy my father. He could already hear his father’s voice in a commanding tone.

“One to lead, one to gather jewels, one to protect. That is how it must be. We have no other children, so you must each bear a burden.”

And Rurik’s burden was living the rest of his long immortal life alone.

“Rurik, what’s the matter?” Charlotte asked, her brows knitting together.

“I…” Again, he was at a loss for words. Thankfully, Grigori and Madelyn returned at that moment.

“Sorry. Sometimes I get a little sick,” Madelyn said, her face still pale, but she was smiling. “I’m pregnant.” She touched her belly gently, and Grigori sat down beside her, lacing his palm over hers.

“We’re pregnant,” he corrected with a warm smile, and his mate leaned in to nuzzle him.

“Oh yeah? You can carry the baby for a few months then,” Madelyn retorted, but she returned his nuzzling embrace with a soft smile.

Rurik watched them enviously. He could never have that. Charlotte was watching them too, and the longing and loneliness in her eyes broke through the cool distance he’d tried to put between them. She may not be a mate he could claim, but he could still provide her with comfort. He slid an arm around her shoulders and lifted the armrest between them so she could slide closer to him. She was stiff only a few seconds before she settled against him with a sigh.

“Congratulations to you both,” Charlotte said, smiling. “You must be so happy.”

“Thank you,” Grigori replied. “We are indeed happy.” He murmured something in Madelyn’s ear, and she blushed.

Rurik bit his lip to keep from laughing. Big, scary Grigori—a warrior in corporate boardrooms and a fierce dragon in his own right—was grinning like a young boy and whispering sweet words of love in his wife’s ear. Grigori noticed Rurik grinning and frowned before he leaned over and socked Rurik in the arm.

“Ow!” Rurik snapped.

“Whatever you’re smirking about, brother, I will repay it in bruises,” Grigori warned.

Madelyn laughed and glanced toward Charlotte. “That has to be a brother thing. I’m an only child. I don’t know how brothers do it, always tussling, punching, growling.”

“It is definitely a brother thing. I’ve got two myself. They shove each other all the time. Sometimes they do it to me, but not intentionally.”

Another pang of jealousy hit Rurik as he listened to Charlotte speak of her brothers. Two men who would have the rest of their lives to spend with her, while he would have to walk away, leaving only these fleeting moments with her and a lasting emptiness inside.

“Would you ladies like another drink?” Grigori asked.

“Water would be great,” Madelyn said.

“Yes, water, please,” Charlotte echoed.

“Come on, Rurik.” Grigori pulled him away from Charlotte, and they walked up to where the flight attendant stood ready to serve them.

“Two bottles of water, please,” Grigori said. He and Rurik then stepped away to a careful distance.

“You’re playing with fire, Rurik.”

“How so?”

Grigori stared hard at him. “Charlotte is a virgin. You know that. But there’s something else—there’s something about her that is intoxicating even to me, which it shouldn’t be, since I’m mated.”

“If you get any ideas…” Rurik raised his shoulders slightly in defense.

“Don’t be stupid. My point is, something doesn’t feel right. You must take care. I see the way you two are together. It’s only less than a day, and you are already fixated on her. I want you to be careful.”

“It’s a temporary fascination,” he lied. “It’s not as though she is my mate.”

Grigori slid a finger under his collar and then loosened his blue silk tie.

“I’ve never seen you like this before. Not even with Nikita. Are you sure she’s not?”

“She’s not,” he lied again, the words stinging his lips.

“How do you know? I see a different side of you. The burden you bear as a family battle dragon takes a heavy toll on you. But around her it seems to fade.”

“And that’s my burden to deal with,” Rurik growled. “Not yours, not Mikhail’s.”

Grigori’s gaze turned soft in a way that reminded Rurik of their beloved mother.

“You’re going to let Father’s old nursery rhymes of our duties define your life forever? He should never have told you that you could not have a mate. With our dwindling numbers, he was wrong. What’s more, you deserve happiness. If that means taking a mate, Mikhail and I will both support you.”

“I can’t,” Rurik whispered.

“Why?”

Because Nikita’s death wrecked me, and if I had a real mate, it would someday kill me. And if I die, you won’t stand a chance if Drakor rebuilds somehow and strikes again.

“I am…” He hesitated, searching for the words that would hide his fears. “I’m not like you and Mikhail. I’m not cut out to have a mate.”

“I didn’t think I was either. I was obsessed with work and forgot how to live. Having a mate changes everything. You can’t imagine going back to your old life once you find her.”

Grigori took the bottled waters back to Madelyn and Charlotte, leaving Rurik feeling torn and alone in a way he never had before. He couldn’t ignore his father’s instructions. It had kept the family safe for thousands of years. His father had been the eldest of three brothers, the established leader. His two younger brothers, Rurik’s uncles, had died centuries ago during a battle with Nordic ice dragons on a quest for special gemstones, ancient and mysterious in nature. One had watched his mate die and had vanished, most likely perishing in the icy mountains. Since then, Rurik’s father had trained his sons to fill their roles as leaders, guardians, and battle dragons. If Rurik turned his back on his father’s wishes now, everyone he loved could die.

My family must come before my happiness.

But as he looked at Charlotte, tiny fractures in his resolve seemed to splinter wider and wider. He had to face the rising truth. He didn’t want to lose her.