His Devoted Dragon (Divine Dragons Book 4)

by Jill Haven

  Ace’s hold on me tightened at the mention of him, and I snuggled into him a bit further to reassure him that I was there and wasn’t going anywhere.

  “Do you think there are any left?” I wasn’t certain how I felt about most of my clan being gone. I didn’t miss them, really, especially not after what had happened. But was that all of them?

  “I don’t know,” Harland admitted. “It’s been a while since I talked to anyone in the clan.”

  Ace growled in his throat, clearly displeased with the answer. I smiled and lifted up one of his hands so I could press a kiss to his palm. Harland looked at us with a mixture of disbelief and amazement, like he hadn’t ever expected to see me like that.

  Not that I had ever expected to see myself like that, either.

  “We’ll figure it out,” Ace said firmly, his tight hold making it clear that I wasn’t going anywhere without him.

  “You’re good for him,” Harland said quietly to Ace. “I can tell.”

  I wanted to ask how he would know, since he had only been back in my life a few days, but it wasn’t the time. Instead, I tried to smile at him. It was tremulous, but emotion threatened to drown me whenever I thought of the last few weeks. While I wouldn’t have given Ace up for anything, I could have done without the kidnapping and having to leave my farm.

  Rubbing my hand over my belly, I felt the hint of kicks, and it never failed to stun me that there was a baby in there. A person. At the very least, I couldn’t go back to Georgia until I had the baby.

  Not a sentence I thought I would ever think in my life.

  The weeks passed quickly after that, and I continued to get bigger. Haiden had assured me it was normal, Seth had told me to be glad it wasn’t an egg, and Evan had tried to be helpful and instead, occasionally caused more chaos. Ace had hovered enough that I was close to kicking him out for a day, just to get some alone time. I loved having him near, but with the pregnancy hormones, he was starting to get on my nerves.

  You could love someone and want to kick their ass at the same time. Not that I was capable of doing that at the moment.

  “We’re here,” Ace murmured, drawing me out of my thoughts. He spoke the words quietly, reverently, as he stared up at the brick building. It was late, the parking lot empty except for one car and ours. Carlisle and Mason had referred us to a shifter doctor named Anniston Jacobs, who had invited us to his clinic for a check-up.

  After-hours, of course, so no one saw the pregnant man and started asking questions. While Mason had handled Seth’s and Evan’s pregnancies, he was in the middle of moving his practice and Dr. Jacobs was already settled. I’d been reluctant, since I at least knew Mason in the vaguest sense, but I would take the referral because it was best for the baby.

  I flapped a hand at Ace until he helped me out of the car. I wasn’t huge-huge yet, but I was carrying low, and my balance was screwed. Lifting myself up wasn’t as easy as it used to be, even when it came to simple things like getting out of the car. I was starting to give up on dignity as a concept, and I had a feeling it was only going to get worse as the pregnancy continued.

  When Ace pushed open the door, there was an older gentleman waiting not far inside. He was graying with round spectacles and looked almost like a zany doctor out of a movie, complete with the long white coat. I wasn’t entirely certain what to think of him, but he had been recommended, so he couldn’t be that bad. I hoped.

  “You must be Beau,” the doctor said pleasantly, extending a hand. I shook it, trying to smile. My lips were trembling, anxiety attempting to ruin the moment.

  All I could think of was what if something was wrong with the baby? What if I’d missed a sign? What if we should have done this sooner? What if, what if, what—

  “Babe.”

  When I opened my eyes, which I hadn’t realized I had closed, I discovered I was wrapped in Ace’s arms and he was pressing kisses to the side of my face. Dr. Jacobs was frowning, his concern showing. “Sorry,” I mumbled. “I got lost in my head.” I waved a hand in front of me, over my baby bump, trying to make it clear without having to say anything.

  Ace just kissed the side of my head again and Dr. Jacobs smiled. “Let’s go see your baby,” Dr. Jacobs said, his voice warm. “I think that’ll help.”

  I let out a deep breath, Ace reaching over to take my hand and twine our fingers together. Then he squeezed, reminding me that no matter what happened, he was there. We would get through it together.

  “Thanks, love,” I told him, leaning briefly into him before we followed Dr. Jacobs back through a maze of rooms until he got to one that was labeled ‘Ultrasound’. It had a single medical-style chair, a rolling stool, and two plain chairs that seemed too rickety to use. There was more medical equipment spread out around what had to be the ultrasound station. I eyed it skeptically.

  “Here.” Ace helped me up until I was lying on my back on the reclining chair, pulling over one of the regular ones and settling next to me. He didn’t let go of my hand.

  I felt like a turtle on its back, but at least I was a comfortable turtle.

  “If you’d roll up his shirt, please,” Dr. Jacobs said pleasantly, apparently talking to Ace.

  Ace listened, rolling it up above the baby bump and taking the opportunity to smooth his fingers over my taut skin. The baby kicked, which made me wince and him smile. The baby was particularly active in the evening, and sometimes it was all we could do to lie in bed and just feel, talking about what our child would be like, what our lives would be like.

  Cool gel on my stomach made me hiss, and Ace’s hand tightened around mine. “You’re squeezing too hard,” I said pointedly.

  Immediately, he gentled his grip, looking adequately chagrined. “Sorry.”

  I squeezed his hand gently, but before I could say anything, that ultrasound wand thing was on my giant stomach, roaming around in the gel like it was on a mission. Dr. Jacobs was watching a black-and-white, grainy screen, glancing between it and my stomach every so often to adjust the probe.

  Ace leaned closer to me, both of our attentions fastened on that screen. Then Dr. Jacobs smiled, pressed a button, and turned the screen to us. “There’s your baby.”

  I inhaled sharply, all my attention on the grainy image in front of us. Dr. Jacobs continued to talk, pointing out limbs, showing us the heartbeat. Ace gripped me tighter, and I didn’t mind this time. Awe had swamped me with feelings, and I wasn’t certain I could speak.

  “That’s our baby.” Ace sounded amazed, his eyes wide with a wonder I understood. “Ours.”

  I squeezed his hand, which made him lean in and press a kiss to my forehead.

  “Ours,” I agreed. It was baffling to think that what was inside me was a whole person, one that would someday be on their own, out in the world. We could do our best to guide them, parent them the best we could, but ultimately, they weren’t us.

  It was amazing and terrifying at the same time.

  “Do you want to know the gender?” Dr. Jacobs asked, taking his attention off the machine.

  I looked at Ace and he looked at me. “I sort of want it to be a surprise,” Ace admitted.

  “The carefree one wants to leave things until the last minute,” I muttered under my breath. I would throw in a token complaint, but for some reason, I agreed with him. “I want it to be a surprise, too.”

  The look Ace gave me was grateful and he wrapped an arm around my shoulders and pressed a kiss to my forehead. “I love you, and our baby,” he whispered, quiet enough that Dr. Jacobs either couldn’t hear or was pretending he couldn’t.

  I pulled at him until he gave me a proper kiss, although it was chaste in respect for where we were. “I love you, too. And our baby.”

  Dr. Jacobs handed Ace a towel. “You can clean him off and I’ll meet you both out in the lobby?”

  “Okay.” Ace gave him a brief smile, his attention turning back to me. The towel was lightly damp with warm water as he swiped it over my stretched skin, carefully removing the g
el as thoroughly as he could.

  “My shirt is going to stick,” I grumbled, looking at it hopelessly. Shopping for maternity pants online had been awkward enough to the point I mostly stayed in sweatpants, because they fit no matter how big my belly was.

  “I’ll get you a new one.” Ace moved to stand between my legs, his face radiant. I reached up to touch his cheek, not able to stop my smile. We’d had an unconventional start, but I couldn’t deny that I liked where we had ended up.

  “You’re buying dinner.” I hopped off the chair like I had just given an imperial command, heading for the door with Ace right by my side.

  “We’ll go get your favorites,” Ace said with a chuckle. “Even if they don’t make sense to normal people.”

  While Ace had to go through the drive-thru by himself while I stayed at home, it was worth it to get whatever I was craving at the moment, as nonsensical as it was.

  “Thanks, babe.” I beamed at him.

  We followed the signs to the lobby, thankful that we weren’t completely lost, when one of the doors opened. I froze, a hand immediately going to my belly as I watched someone step out. Blond like Ace, but smaller and petite, the green-eyed man was maybe my age or a little younger, and his eyes went straight to my stomach. Shock seemed to root him to the spot.

  Shit.

  “Are you divine?” the man blurted out, his eyes wide.

  Ace immediately moved between us, using an arm to guard me. “Who are you?” He wasn’t angry, not yet, but he would protect me and our baby with whatever he had. I squeezed his forearm, trying to get him to relax.

  “Are you two okay? I heard—oh…” Dr. Jacobs’s words fell in intonation as he came into view.

  “Sorry,” the other man said, holding his hands up. “I was just finishing some records, and—”

  Dr. Jacobs sighed, cutting him off. He looked resigned, like it was something he knew was coming but had hoped to avoid. “It’s safe,” he told Ace, apparently hoping Ace would back down.

  That was never gonna happen.

  “This is Khyler, my grandson.” Dr. Jacobs paused. “He’s also a divine omega.”

  I moved closer to Ace and to Khyler, curious now.

  “Have you been hiding him?” Out of the corner of my eye I saw Ace had already pulled out his phone, typing quickly but still paying attention to what was happening.

  Dr. Jacobs grimaced. “We should probably talk in my office.”

  Khyler was pale, but he followed all of us into one of the bigger offices. There was a large desk with a computer and two chairs on the far side, like it had been used for consults or talking to patients.

  “I messaged Carlisle,” Ace said carefully. “He’s on his way.”

  Dr. Jacobs winced. “I wished you hadn’t involved the Princeps Draco.”

  I gave him a pointed look. I wasn’t a dragon, but I was starting to catch onto some of their politics. Talking to Haiden had given me a better idea, because we’d been living with him and Carlisle for so long. “So you have been hiding him.”

  “I’ve been in plain sight,” Khyler argued.

  “But the Blood Dragons didn’t know about you,” Ace retorted. “In fact, your grandfather went out of his way to say nothing about you.”

  Khyler was the one who winced this time. When he opened his mouth to speak again, the good doctor caught his eye and shook his head. I was relieved, I had to admit. I didn’t think anything good would come out of the argument, especially not before Carlisle arrived.

  Thankfully, the clinic wasn’t that far away from Carlisle’s office, and he was already in town. “I’ll go let Carlisle in,” Dr. Jacobs said with a sigh. “Please stay here.” He stood and left, leaving the three of us in an awkward silence. Khyler was staring at me, then Ace, then my stomach, a trinity he repeated over and over again like he couldn’t believe it.

  “You’re pregnant,” Khyler blurted out.

  I glanced down at my belly. “No, I just swallowed a watermelon,” I muttered. Pregnancy did a number on my body and on my mind. The guards I had fought so long to maintain were shattering, taken out by the sheer fatigue that tried to drag me down.

  Tapping my fingers on the rough wood of the doctor’s desk, I tried to keep calm, but it wasn’t really working. My tension ratcheted up as I heard the mumbling of voices, neither of them pleased. It was like they were arguing but politely, even though I couldn’t make out most of the words.

  Carlisle stood in the doorway, looking us all over. His silence sent shivers down my spine. He didn’t look angry, but he didn’t look pleased, either. He moved just enough for Dr. Jacobs to enter and sit behind his desk, and when Carlisle spoke, his words could cut the tension with a knife. “Is this him?” Carlisle’s voice, unhappy though he was, was familiar and reassuring, almost enough to make me weep.

  Stupid hormones.

  Dr. Jacobs didn’t answer until Khyler had fetched another pair of chairs so we were all sitting facing him. “Yes. This is my grandson, Khyler. He’s a divine omega.”

  “And you never mentioned him.” Carlisle didn’t sound thrilled.

  “You know how targeted they’ve been,” Dr. Jacobs said stiffly. “I did what I thought I had to do to protect him.”

  “We could have protected him,” Ace pointed out.

  Dr. Jacobs turned to look at him. “It was easier if they just didn’t know he existed.”

  Khyler was rubbing a hand over his forehead like he wanted to be anywhere but there, and I couldn’t blame him.

  “I get it,” I blurted out, drawing surprised looks from Carlisle, Ace, and Dr. Jacobs. “My Dad did the same thing. Well,” I amended, “not the same-same thing. He hid me with my grandparents, because it was too dangerous.”

  Carlisle leaned back in his chair, resigned. “I wish we had known sooner, but now we do…I do understand,” he added softly. “You’ve heard how difficult it’s been for the divine omegas we have.”

  Dr. Jacobs’s eyes softened as he looked at his grandson.

  “Grandpa’s the only dragon I know,” Khyler said quietly, looking between his grandfather and us. “I’ve never met another divine.”

  I reached out to pat his hand with mine. “I was the same way a couple months ago.” I glanced at Ace, then Carlisle. “It seems we’re becoming a clan out in the woods, and there are more of us if you would like to meet them.”

  Khyler’s eyes widened with what looked painfully like hope. “Really?”

  “Really,” Carlisle answered, his face getting that sappy expression it always did when Haiden came up.

  “His mate is one of them,” Ace said gleefully. “Which is why he looks like an idiot.”

  Carlisle gave Ace a stern look. Ace did not care.

  “I’d like to get to know you guys better,” Khyler said quietly, most of his attention on me. “I want to know more about what it means to be a divine omega.”

  As sore as I was, I smiled at him, feeling a rush of sympathy. “There are four of us, and we’re a handful, that’s for sure.”

  Carlisle chuckled, then turned to Dr. Jacobs with a more serious expression.

  “I think it would be good for him,” Carlisle said, his voice steady. “We’ve seen what happens when some of the more complicated details of being a divine omega are withheld until they have to be revealed.”

  If I hadn’t already known what Carlisle was talking about, I wasn’t certain I would have been able to figure it out, but having heard Seth’s story, and knowing mine, the whole able-to-get-pregnant thing was left out of any talk I’d ever had.

  Khyler looked at Dr. Jacobs, who let out a small sigh before he nodded. Then Khyler’s smile brightened and he met my eyes. “I look forward to meeting all of you.”

  I smiled back. “Welcome to the club.”

  24

  Ace

  “Ace!”

  I mumbled something and rolled to the other side. Beau was getting shouty, even in my dreams.

  “Ace, wake the fuck up, right thi
s second!” Beau’s voice was getting louder. “This is your fault, you stupid—” A groan cut him off.

  That was when it hit me it wasn’t a dream, that it was actually Beau talking to me, and Beau who had just managed to cuff me over the head. Blinking, I sat up, trying to situate myself. We were in bed, in our new place, closer to the city but not actually in it, and it was very clearly the middle of the night. It was a compromise between the two of us. Rural enough that we were close to Carlisle, Haiden, Mason, and Seth, but also close enough to the city that I could travel quickly if Ten or Bishop needed me. Right now, though, Beau was the one who needed me. I turned to look at him, panic gathering in my middle at his pinched expression, the way he seemed to struggle to breathe.

  “Contractions,” Beau muttered, rubbing a hand over his belly now that he could breathe again. “I thought they were false alarms, but they’ve been happening closer together.”

  I squeezed his hand to try and reassure him, but he squeezed mine back until I was pretty sure I was numb. But, if it made him feel better, I would do anything.

  Another groan escaped him and he bent over as best he could, almost whimpering in pain. There wasn’t anything I could do to take it away, and it gutted me. I stood, pacing back and forth. What should we do next? I knew there was something we needed to do, someone I needed to call, but for some reason, all my brain wanted to do was scream and run in circles.

  “Get the hospital bag,” Beau breathed, his words managing to convey that I was being an idiot without him having to say it.

  I gave him a quick kiss and went into our closet, grabbing the bag we’d stuck by the entrance. “I’ll call Dr. Jacobs?”

  “I’m sure as hell not goin’ to do it,” Beau said sharply, wincing as another contraction swept through him.

  Thankfully Dr. Jacobs picked up after two rings, then sent us his address. While we’d gone to his clinic for the ultrasound, there was no way we could go to the hospital. Instead he’d set up a delivery suite in a wing of his house, and being somewhere with a doctor was better safe than sorry. After hearing about Evan’s delivery, my anxiety was starting to skyrocket.