Page 37 of Billionaire Dragon King’s Rejected Mate

“Your brother-in-law,” he started and tried to force his brain to make the connection.

“He’s married to my sister.”

Relief hit Chance first. Her sister. Sven was family. That was why she had the Stagholt crest tattooed on her wrist.

Randi, meanwhile, had turned back to Sven, and he saw her expression shift into something more confused. Chance knew she was going to ask why they were there, and he was positive he didn’t want to hear the answer.

Chapter 16

Randi

For a moment Randi forgot where she was.

She hadn’t wanted to go to Chance’s office at all. After her actions the day before with her initiating that kiss, avoidance had been her intention. But Marissa had insisted that she go get his signature on a couple of the contracts for the Clearwater project.

Running into her brother-in-law had definitely been on her gamecard for the day. Seeing Sven standing there in the middle of Chance’s office felt so wildly out of place that the only logical response was to close the distance and make it real.

“Sven, what are you two doing here?” She kept her hand on his arms as if confirming he wasn’t some storm-induced hallucination.

She had to avoid the expression on Chance’s face because she wanted to laugh at the genuine confusion. It was good to see him a bit off-kilter.

“It’s good to see you,” Sven answered and kissed her cheek. “I should have been better prepared and let you know I’d be here. I knew you were in Tampa, but not that you were right here in this building. I was going to check with Bryn and catch up to you when I was done here.”

“When did you get in?”

“We flew in this morning and came straight here from the airport.”

“Wait, are you here with Bryn? Is she in town too?” Hope bloomed in her chest. Independence was one thing, but missing her sister was something totally different.

“No,” he answered gently as though he knew her feelings would be hurt. “She is still in Stagholt. Only Jakob and I came.”

“Oh,” Randi said and felt the wave of disappointment wash over her, brief but real. Curiosity surged back in to take its place. “But why are you here? Both of you?” she added and glanced toward Jakob, who inclined his head in acknowledgment.

Sven and Jakob exchanged a look. Quick and subtle.

“Business,” Jakob responded. The word was clipped and efficient and he offered no elaboration.

Randi frowned. That didn’t make sense, especially not when paired with Chance standing there, unusually quiet. His presence in the room suddenly felt awkward.

She couldn’t quite name it yet, but she felt it. Kings didn’t just appear in Tampa for vague business unless something bigger sat beneath the surface.

Her gaze flicked back to Sven and her eyes narrowed slightly. “Are you thinking of opening a water park in the Northlands where it’s always cold?”

Sven shook his head. “That would be pointless.”

“Then what kind of business could you have here?”

“Randi.”

His voice stopped her. It wasn’t harsh, but it was firm in a way she recognized instantly. He used that tone when he held court or when she asked too many questions.

“Please,” he said, quieter now. His expression softened just enough to take the edge off the request. “Don’t ask too many questions right now. It’s sensitive.”

The word settled between them. Randi held his gaze for a second longer and read what she could in the lines of his face and in the quiet insistence behind the request.

And because she knew both of them and understood the weight of their royal duties, she nodded. “Okay.” She had been in Stagholt long enough to learn a thing or two.

If it was sensitive, then pushing wouldn’t help, and if it mattered, she would find out eventually.