“I didn’t know what else to do,” she could hear the desperation in her voice. “Please, make sure that Blaze gets that, he’ll know what to do with it. It’s very important.”
Something flashed in the big guy’s eyes. He recognized Blaze’s name, she was sure of it.
“This female doesn’t know what she is talking about,” the mean one laughed. “There is no one here by that name either. Do you really think we would fall for this bullshit?”
She ignored him, kept her eyes on the other one. “Please,” she needed to convince him and decided to go out on a limb. “Blaze is a dragon shifter. Make sure he gets that.” She looked at the letter in his hand. “He knows who Granite is.”
The mean one narrowed his eyes. “Who the fuck are you?” he demanded. “Dragon shifters …” he shook his head. “You need mental help, female.”
She kept her eyes locked on the other one. For what felt like a long time, they just stood there. Then he gave a nod. “I will do as you say. You need to be careful how you talk and who you talk to.”
“Titan, what the fuck!” the mean one spluttered.
The big guy ignored the other one. “It could land you in big trouble.”
“I’m desperate, or I wouldn’t have come here. Please help me.”
Titan nodded. “I will give the letter to my kings and will ensure that Blaze receives it, but from there, I can’t guarantee anything.”
She sighed. “Thank you.” Louise turned and headed for her car. She walked quickly. Her back prickled more and more with each step. She half-expected to be grabbed and carried away.
She could hear the two men arguing behind her.
“Why did you agree?”
“I don’t have to explain myself to you,” soft-spoken.
“Bullshit! I—”
“The last time I checked I outranked you. I made the decision and it’s final.”
“Fuck that I—” There was a loud thud. “Ow, you didn’t have to hit me.”
“Shut it or I will knock you out with the next blow.”
What was it with these non-humans and violence? Then again, they seemed to operate on a more primal level. Louise finally made it to her car. She jumped in and fumbled with her keys. She sighed as she finally got the thing in the ignition. All she wanted to do was floor it and get the hell out of there, but she forced herself to take it easy.
For whatever reason, she trusted that the big vampire would do as she had asked but she had no way to know if Blaze would get the letter in the end, or if he would even give it to Granite. She’d tried emailing both Blaze and Granite but they all bounced back with a delivery failure. Louise didn’t know what else to do.
The Cockpit had been a dead-end. The vampires were her last hope. She put a hand on her belly. The top button of her jeans was undone. Some of her clothes were starting to get too tight. Granite might not want her but he would want this child. The thought scared her.
Chapter 30
One week later … (7 weeks pregnant)
The energy that buzzed around him was off the charts. The scent of sweat mingled with testosterone filled his nostrils. Hundreds of males filled the valley in front of the Fire lair. It was mere minutes away from the start of the next Hunt.
Granite wasn’t feeling it. He lurked somewhere at the back of the crowd. The thought of chasing after a group of humans didn’t hold any appeal to him. He bit back a yawn.
What the fuck was wrong with him?
Once he got going he’d be okay. Once he caught sight of one of the females it would be game on. The thought of becoming a father appealed to him. He envied Volcano. His baby nieces were utterly adorable and he wanted what the male had. Granite put a hand in front of his mouth to hide a yawn. It was big, wide and unstoppable.
The fuck!
He needed to get back on track. The only way to do that was to win a female. To get her underneath him as a matter of urgency. There was no tightening inside him. No ‘zing’ of need that moved through him.
The buzzer sounded and the males surrounding him took off with yells of excitement. There was also a fair bit of pushing and punching. A couple of warriors fell, others staggered. The sound of shouts, snarls, growls and meaty thuds filled the air. The scent of hormones was nauseating.
Granite set out at a walk. He would wait for the crowd to move off. He was a king, it wouldn’t take much to get ahead at a later stage. His body felt heavy. Lack of sleep was taking its toll on him. In short, it was completely fucking him up. He took a few more steps and then stopped. There was always the next hunt. Or the one after that. He’d gone without a female for many years, a few more months wouldn’t matter. Once he was sleeping better, he’d have more energy, more drive to pursue a mate. Even his chest hurt as of late. A dull ache. If it persisted, he’d go and see one of the healers.
“Are you alright, my lord?” a familiar voice sounded behind him.
Granite turned. It was Rock. Shame filled him. “I am fine.”
“Why are you rubbing your chest?” His eyes widened. “If you don’t mind my asking?”
Granite looked down and sure as fuck, he was rubbing his sternum. He stopped and dropped his hand to his side. “No reason. I’m tired, I’m going to give this Hunt a skip.” A weight immediately lifted. In that moment, he realized that he hadn’t been looking forward to this. In fact, he’d been dreading it. He’d be up for the next one, of this he was certain.
Rock nodded. The male smiled. “I am skipping the Hunt as well. I finally convinced Quartz to mate with me.”
“That’s great news!” Granite couldn’t help but smile too. “How did you get that right?”
He stood there in silence for a few beats. “I have you to thank.”
Granite frowned. “How so?”
“I am told that Quartz was frantic with worry after you knocked me out.” He looked down at his feet for a moment before looking back up. The animated look from earlier was back. “She was very worried and sat at my side until I gained consciousness.”
“About hitting you …” Granite rubbed the back of his neck. “I shouldn’t have done that, I—”
Rock shook his head. “No, you don’t understand, I’m glad you punched me. Quartz realized how much she loves me. She realized that she can’t live without me and has since agreed to mate me.”
“I’m glad things worked out for you.” Granite took a step back. “I’m going to …”
“She has feelings for you, my lord. The doctor …”
“What?”
Rock held up a hand. “Please don’t hit me.”
“Then keep your thoughts to yourself.” Granite started walking in the other direction.
“Hear me out, please, my lord.”
Granite stopped moving. Fucking hell! He pushed out a heavy breath. “Fine.” He owed the male that much.
“Quartz has loved me all along. She was too afraid to commit. It was fear holding her back. She thought that I would regret my decision to be with her but she was wrong. There was so much blood and my nose was flat against my face,” the male gave a chuckle. “It took her thinking that she had almost lost me to realize that she couldn’t live without me.
Granite folded his arms. “What does this have to do with me?”
“Don’t let fear ruin your chances at happiness.”
“Again,” he tried to keep the menace from his voice and failed, “what does this have to do with me?”
“I suspect that Louise …” Rock flinched as he said her name.
Granite felt all his muscles pull tight. Finally, adrenaline hit his blood stream. He clenched his jaw but didn’t say anything.
When Granite didn’t react, Rock went on. “I suspect she had a good reason for leaving. I suspect that something must have happened between the two of you.”
“This is none of your fucking business.” A tendril of smoke spiraled from his left nostril.
“All I know, my lord, is the way she looked at you. At first, they were sto
len looks filled with lust. Later, after … the Stag Run, those looks became more … much more,” Rock paused. “You are angry that she left but you are wrong in your assumptions as to why.”
Granite felt his scales rub, he clenched his fists. More smoke drifted, this time from both nostrils.
Rock swallowed hard, Granite could scent his fear. “If you have any feelings for the female—”
“I don’t!” he snarled, a little too quickly, a little too loudly.
Rock nodded, his head bobbed up and down. “Okay, fine. Like you said, it’s none of my business. If one day you wake up and discover that you do feel … something, anything … for that female, go to her. I urge you to set your anger aside and go and get answers … real answers.”
Granite shook his head. “I’m sure she has moved on.” He thought of that puny human. The male would be sniffing around if he knew that Louise was back. More smoke; this time it billowed. If he had been a Fire dragon, there would be flames.
Rock shook his head. “What? Move on in the same way that you have moved on? I suppose …” Rock looked at where the others had long since disappeared.
“I’m tired. My not joining the Hunt has nothing to do with … her.”
“Please go and see her, my lord. You are not tired, you are sad. There is a big difference,” Rock paused.
Sad. It was the stupidest thing he had ever heard. Granite folded his arms.
Rock stepped to the side. “That is the last I will say on it. My mating ceremony is in three days’ time. I hope that you will attend.”
The thought of watching Rock and Quartz take the plunge did not enthuse him. These types of ceremonies never did. Mating was not about putting up a show. It was about two people pledging themselves to one another. It was about biting, tasting your partner’s blood and binding yourself to them. His mouth watered at the thought of how Louise had tasted on his tongue, how right biting her had felt. All a lie. It was his dick talking. Rock was bringing things up best left buried.
Sad?
Like fuck!
“I will try and make it,” Granite said, just before he shifted. He was going straight to bed. His chest hurt. This whole conversation had exhausted him.
Chapter 31
One month later … (2 and a half months pregnant)
“Surprise!” Louise said, as she opened the door.
Hillary’s eyes bugged out. She gave a squeal and closed a hand over her mouth. “What the fuck is that?” Ever since having children Hillary didn’t swear. Not ever!
Louise tried hard to smile. “Um, well …”
“This had better be a joke.” Her friend’s eyes were still glued to Louise’s stomach. Her distended, very definitely pregnant belly. “A bad joke at that.”
“It’s no joke.” Louise lifted her top. “I’m due in six weeks.”
“Oh, good god!” Hillary’s eyes were filled with panic. She stumbled inside and headed for the nearest couch. Her friend sat down hard. “How long have you known?” she spoke to Louise’s belly. “You had better not have kept this from me.” She narrowed her eyes, finally looking up and into Louise’s. “You had to have known. I can’t believe you’re so far along. Is he the father? That Granite guy?”
Hearing his name out loud hurt. He hadn’t come. She had no way to know if that was by choice or not. She didn’t think so. Granite might not want her but he would want the child. She was sure of it.
The little one kicked and she put her hand to her belly. “I had no idea until about a month ago.”
“How the hell could you not know? You’re a doctor, aren’t you?”
“I don’t know how I missed the signs …” Shit! She knew this was coming. Dragon shifter pregnancies only lasted four months instead of nine. She needed to pretend that she had been pregnant for six and a half months without knowing.
“And furthermore,” Hillary looked mad, “why didn’t you tell me sooner? No wonder you’ve made so many excuses over the last couple of weeks. Debbie is going to kill you.”
“I needed to work through a few things first.” All true. “This has come as a big shock. I told you first so that you can help me break the news to Deb.” Again, the whole truth.
“Is the baby his?”
“He,” Louise said. “I’m having a boy.” The only reason she knew the sex of her child was because of the limited brief about human and dragon matings she had received when coming onboard as part of the medical staff. There had yet to be a female infant born to a human.
She gave her belly another tender rub. If she wasn’t so afraid she would be ecstatic. There was a little person growing inside of her. She was going to be a mom.
“A boy. Oh, my god!” Tears filled Hillary’s eyes. “You’re having a baby boy. Oh, my word!” Her friend stood up and hugged her.
Louise’s own eyes filled with tears. She nodded, hugging her back. “I’m having a baby boy,” her voice quivered.
They hugged for a minute. Then they finally released one another. “Granite is the father,” Louise said.
“But that would mean that you guys would have had sex sooner than that night at The Cockpit.”
“Yeah we did.” It felt awful lying to her friend. “I’m sorry I lied. We had sex soon after I got there. One time. He wanted more and I knew I might end up falling for him so I refused. It was impossible. He was impossible. It ended up happening again, you know the rest.”
“You gave in that night.”
She nodded. “Yup.”
“You were already pregnant.”
Louise nodded. “Yes, I would have been.”
“Does he know?”
Louise shrugged. “I don’t think so.”
“What do you mean by that?”
“He was redeployed on some sort of mission. I left some messages for him but have been unable to get ahold of him.”
Hillary shook her head. “Bastard is probably trying to avoid responsibility. Don’t you have his cell number? Some way of getting in touch with him.”
Louise shook her head. “No, it’s complicated. He works on covert operations and is difficult to track. I know he would want to be a part of the baby’s life. At least, I’m sure he would.” She had also been sure he would come after her and that hadn’t happened, so maybe she didn’t know him as well as she thought. “I don’t know what to do.” Flip! She felt herself tear up.
Hillary grabbed her hand and squeezed. “I’m here for you and I know Debbie will feel the same. We’ve both been there and done that.”
They had their own families, their own lives. There was only so much her friends could do to help out. Louise gave a nod. “I know.”
“Where are the ultrasound pictures? When are you due? Is everything looking normal?” Hillary launched into twenty questions. Her eyes were lit with excitement.
Louise forced herself to breathe. “Oh flip! I left the pics on my desk at work,” she lied. “I’m due in about six weeks.”
“What date did the gynecologist give you?”
Louise had to think quick. She rattled off a date around the time she was due.
“Was it easy to see that you are having a boy? I know with Miles it was hard to miss that part of his anatomy. It stuck out like a sore little thumb,” Hillary giggled.
“Yup,” she nodded. “You couldn’t miss it,” she lied through her teeth. Louise couldn’t go to a gynecologist or any other medical person. They would be able to tell that this wasn’t a normal pregnancy. She was on her own. The thought terrified her. What would happen when she went into labor? Could she manage on her own? What if there were complications? There would be no one to comfort her and talk her through the pain. No one to hold her hand. Louise had never felt more alone in her whole entire life.
2 weeks later… (3 months pregnant)
The cab pulled up to the curb and into the No Parking zone. Another cab pulled in behind them.
“Please wait here. I’ll be out in a minute.”
The driver smiled at her
, his eyes crinkled at the corners. “A lady in your condition should not be frequenting this type of establishment.”
“I need to deliver a letter.” She held up the white envelope. “I’m trying to find the father of my baby.”
“Oh …” He raised his brows. “I see.”
Louise doubted that very much. “It’s not like that. The dad and I … we … Well …” She let the sentence die. It didn’t matter what this guy thought. “Please stay put. I don’t want to have to call someone else. I need to get home and put my feet up.” Her lower back hurt and her ankles were a bit swollen.
“No problem, Miss.” He looked pointedly at her bare ring finger. “I’ll be here when you get out.”
“Thank you,” she sighed and carefully eased herself out of the car. Her belly was pretty big. Okay, it was a lot big. She couldn’t believe she still had a month to go. She gave the air a sniff. Aside from the scent of garbage and exhaust fumes, she thought she picked up Granite’s scent, which was nuts. He wasn’t due to go on another Stag Run for months. She probably just smelled other dragon shifters. Besides, he’d probably already found himself a mate at the last hunt. Her heart gave a clench. It wasn’t the first time today that she’d been sure she’d picked up his scent. It was probably because she couldn’t get him off her mind. Not after deciding to come here this evening.
“Oh and …” the cab driver continued as she stood up. Louise turned back towards him. “Good luck!” he smiled at her.
“Thanks.” She was going to need it. Her hand shook. She was going to try to find someone who she recognized again. More importantly, someone who recognized her; that person was going to take the letter to Granite. Louise was done waiting and hoping. It was time for serious action.
One way or another, she would make them believe that she was pregnant with Granite’s baby. Surely they would be able to scent it on her? She prayed they would. She needed to convince one Earth dragon ‒ just one ‒ and then Granite would get the letter and he would come for her. Okay, not for her, for the baby. Or, he wouldn’t. At least then she’d know for certain that he wasn’t interested. At least then she’d reach a point where she was able to say that she had done everything in her power to try and contact him. Her baby deserved a father.
Forbidden Dragon (The Bride Hunt Book 5) Page 23