“You think Mei’s mother murdered the true betrothed of the Zhao line?” Oakley was gripping the table tightly.
“Which,” Iris spoke from where she and Jing openly eavesdropped at the entrance, “means I was never meant to be Jay’s mate. His true mate is dead.”
Iris felt Jing’s hand gently squeeze her shoulder when the woman edged her into the space, and she wiped a tear off her cheek.
“You are my true bride,” Jay gave a gentle smile and tugged her into the archives room and sat on a chair and pulled her to his lap. “It was meant to happen exactly as it did.” He pointed to the scroll, “it says very bluntly you needed to be born of the worst of the worst. My mate was never going to be born in any other form than yours.”
“I don’t understand,” Iris whispered all of her fears and the twenty-f
