Page 65 of Thorulf

“Yes, I have.” Though he wanted to take her again, she needed to eat. Gain her strength. Besides, he wanted to talk. Get to know her. Learn about her life in the future. He popped more meat in her mouth. “Don’t forget, I had you...before you.”

“Very true.” She fed him a slice of cheese and smirked. “Which, thanks to me teaching you what a girl wants in bed, definitely makes you the best any other woman has had since.” Her amusement faded, but her anger seemed better managed. Not just that, but her sentiments somewhat matched his. “I think we need to talk, Thorulf. Get to know each other beyond what we see in each other’s thoughts.” She pressed her lips together and hesitated a moment, struggling with it, before she continued. “I think we need to talk about all the others we’ve been with. Help not just our human halves but our dragons understand the interactions beyond what they see. Beyond their own emotions.”

He knew she was right. This was the only way. That didn’t make it any easier, though.

“There have been many, Jade,” he said softly, wishing there hadn’t been. Wishing he didn’t have to see the hurt in her eyes.

“I know.” She sighed and set her drink aside, choosing sobriety for this conversation. “There have been for me too.” Grim, her eyes met his. “And I want you to understand them all. From the ones I shouldn’t have slept with to the better ones you might have liked. I think if I do that, if you do that, it’ll help us push past the anger and jealousy. The emotions still simmering inside us, just waiting to create havoc again. Havoc that keeps us in Evil’s grip.”

While some might say what they did that night, settling in and sharing every sordid corner of their past, was unwise, for dragon mates, there was no such thing as ignorance being bliss. They were firmly inside each other’s minds now, their hearts and souls laid bare, and the connection would only grow stronger if they became fated mates. If they opened themselves up that completely to each other lifetime after lifetime. So best they came clean on all fronts.

In the end, as the hours wore on, he discovered it wasn’t as bad as he thought it would be. Some parts were hard, bringing tears to both of their eyes, but Jade had a sense of humor that went a long way. So there was laughter too. Then some teasing and, of course, moments of anger. But at the end of it, once all was said and done, one thing mattered above all.

One thing that made everything else tolerable and, in time, accepted.