“Oh, yeah.” She made a face. “I forgot you are royalty amongst your people. Sorry, go on.”
“Yeah, and there I was expecting curtseys every five minutes.” He half-smiled.
“Good thing you lowered your expectations.” They both laughed.
“Anyway, Granite and the dragon king, Blaze left to see the ruler of the Feral species. He had no idea about what had happened. He did not know of any females amongst his people who would do such a thing. It’s a good thing we gathered evidence because Granite said that King Leukos was reluctant to believe any of it.”
She gasped. “Please tell me you found the memory stick and showed it to this king. Then again,” she laughed, “you must have since you’re here.”
He smiled. “Yes.” Sand’s eyes brightened. “He became angry when he saw the proof. He knew the female. Her name is Leola. She is an unmated Feral female. One of the many infertile non-human females. He had only good things to say about her and was distraught at what he saw on the video clip.”
“I must say,” Macy thought back to the previous day, “I thought I hated her. Leola.” Macy let the name roll off her tongue. “I thought she was a terrible person. When I saw how happy she was yesterday…it…it made me feel guilty. I know it’s stupid but it…it did. I realized in that moment that she does have feelings. It doesn’t matter how callous and cruel she may have seemed, she is a person at the end of the day. Am I crazy for feeling that way? After everything she did, and the way she dropped me out there…” Macy shivered. “I could have been a splatter on the ground.”
“Leola…it feels weird to call her that.” Sand shook his head once. “She was told to drop you. If I hadn’t caught you, there were many others ready to do so. You were quite safe as long as you were away from the female.” His whole stance softened. “And you’re not crazy to feel sorry for her. It’s definitely not stupid, Mace. That’s you being a good person. You care. This whole thing has got me thinking as well. What about our females? What about them? We are so busy organizing our breeding programs with the humans. All orchestrated for our males. We’re so hung up on continuation of our species that we have forgotten about them. What of the unmated, infertile females longing for families? Like Leola, they are just as driven to have children of their own. It needs to be addressed across the species.”
“Yes, that’s it exactly.” Macy nodded. “I mean, we’re not excusing what she did, but something could have been done to prevent this.”
“I have no idea what that something is, but yes, we need to come up with a solution.”
Macy hoped it actually happened. That something was done. “What happened after Leukos was forced into believing what you had to say?”
“He acted quickly after that. Leola must have caught wind of the whole thing. I think she expected us to arrive on Feral territory, but she never expected us to convince Leukos of what was going on. I’m sure she never anticipated that we’d create that video clip. Leola got spooked and raced to you, hoping to grab you and to get away. Fortunately we had someone watching her who sounded the alarm. We all then pursued her. The rest you know.” He shrugged.
“That was scary.” Macy felt her eyes widen and her heart race. “What will happen to her?”
“I’m not sure. They are already on their way back to their village now. That will be for Leukos to decide.”
“She needs to be punished but…I don’t know…I hope she gets help more than anything.”
Sand nodded. “Me too.” He pushed out a breath. “There’s a group of dragons waiting outside right now. We need to get ready to get going.”
She nodded. “I’m almost sad to be leaving, even though I really want to get back to my life.”
“It wasn’t all bad in here.” Sand grinned.
“No, it wasn’t.” She smiled back.
“Talking about your ass…” He gripped both cheeks.
“We weren’t talking about my ass.” She giggled.
“Then I must have been thinking about it. I’ve missed it.” He winked at her.
They both laughed. Then, together, they seemed to realize where they were and what they were doing. Things had changed. At that moment, things shifted between them. They both sobered and moved away from one another. They were no longer caged in. No longer being forced into anything.
“What do you say we get you out of here?” Sand asked.
“That sounds great.”
“As much as I’d love to take you dressed like that.” He pointed at her chest. “Because, don’t get me wrong…you look…” He whistled low.
Macy glanced down. She gasped. The snug blouse had popped all its buttons and was gaping open. She wore one of the sheer bras from the trunk. It was light pink with a little black bow between her breasts. There was cleavage and nipples everywhere. “Oh shit.” She made a face.
Sand chuckled. “Oh yes! I think all the males might get an eyeful.” She was sure she caught a gleam of something that looked like it might be jealousy. His jaw definitely tightened. It didn’t mean anything though. It had just been the two of them, or mostly the two of them, for so long. They had been fuck buddies, for lack of a better term.
“I’ll change.” She climbed off the bed.
“Storm should be here any minute. I thought you would prefer to take the chopper. It would be more comfortable, and we have to be careful…” He glanced down at her belly. “It would be more comfortable,” he repeated, then seemed to think of something. “Unless you want me to take you back, or Rock maybe?” His eyes seemed to darken. “He is here too.”
She was shocked to hear him mention Stone. “I don’t think so. Too much has happened.” She shook her head.
He nodded once, looking relieved, but maybe that was just her hopeful imagination. “I think you should go in the helicopter. It would be better for…” he glanced at her midsection again, “for you right now.” He paused. “I’m sorry things didn’t work out with Stone.”
“Honestly, you can stop. There was nothing between Rock and me. Please drop it already.”
Sand nodded. “Okay, then you get dressed and let’s get you home.”
“That sounds great. Are you taking me home? As in home home? Back to Dalton Springs? I need to find my dog. My puppy…” She stopped when she caught the look in his eyes that told her it wasn’t going to happen.
He winced and shook his head. “We can’t.” He shook his head. “I’m sorry, not until we know whether or not you’re with child.”
“But that could take a while. A test would be unreliable and—”
“There is a way to know sooner.” His eyes narrowed in on hers. “We need to perform an ultrasound.”
“But they don’t work on… Oh…I see.” She licked her lips. “If an ultrasound machine doesn’t work on me, then…” She widened her eyes.
“Then that would mean you are pregnant.”
“What will happen if that turns out to be the case? Would you force me to stay on dragon lands?”
Sand shook his head. “We wouldn’t force you to do anything, Mace. I meant what I said while we were locked up in here. I will be there for you…for them…” He looked down at her belly. “We can make this work.”
Macy had to know. “If I’m not pregnant, you’ll turn around and walk away?” She couldn’t keep the hurt from her voice.
Sand pushed out a breath through his nose. “Let’s wait and see,” he said simply.
“But if—”
“Please, Mace.” He pleaded with his eyes, scrubbing a hand over his face. “We have ordered an ultrasound machine. It will arrive by lunch-time tomorrow. My brother’s mate, Louise, is a doctor, she will perform the ultrasound on you. It is all organized. Let’s get back. Let’s get you comfortable for the night and we’ll find out what’s going on tomorrow. We will plan further then.”
Sand didn’t want to commit if he didn’t have to, and he’d brought up Stone. Tried to pawn her off on the guy. It told her everything she needed to know a
bout their relationship. There was still this crazy part of her that didn’t care. Macy had fallen for this shifter. She had fallen big time. That crazy part wanted him, no matter what. Thankfully, most of her was guided by logic. It was going to be tough to walk away, particularly if she was pregnant, but she would do it. She had to. Macy wouldn’t stand in his way when it came to being a father and being there for the kids, but there was no ‘them’. There was no relationship. Even after all they had been through, he still didn’t see her in that way. Macy headed to the bathroom to change. She needed to wash her face with cold water and try to pull herself together.
Chapter 25
The next day…
Macy sipped her tea. She had a mug in one hand and a baby in the other. The little guy was sleeping soundly.
Georgia held out her arms. “Let me take him so that you can drink your tea in—”
“Don’t you dare.” Macy widened her eyes at her friend. “I’m loving my cuddle time.”
Georgia bit down on her bottom lip for a few seconds. “I can’t believe you might have a couple of your own in six months. Less than six months.”
“Let’s not even go there.” Macy shook her head.
“Sand is a really great guy. He comes across as all macho, but I think he’s just a big softy. I told you what he did to help get Shale and me together?”
Macy nodded. “Yes, you did.” She forced a smile, putting her mug down so that she could reposition the baby in her arms. They were both so perfect. Little bow mouths. Sand’s…make that Shale’s eyes. Georgia’s red hair. Cuteness overload.
“He pretended to be interested in me and flirted with me. It drove Shale nuts. It worked, in the end, to get his head out of his own ass. Although, my head was up my own ass as well.” She rolled her eyes. Georgia laughed softly.
Macy smiled. “You certainly can’t blame all your earlier issues on poor Shale.”
“Yep,” her friend gripped her mug in both hands. “It takes two. It’s the same with you guys.”
“I know that,” Macy interjected. “I know that only too well. I have feelings for Sand. I’ll admit it, but it doesn’t matter.”
“What do you mean? Of course it matters.” Macy shook her head. She briefly explained what had happened the day before. About how Sand had placed himself firmly in no man’s land. Georgia looked like she was thinking it through, she asked a question every now and then.
“I haven’t seen him since he brought me here yesterday.” Macy took a big sip of her tea, trying to swallow down her hurt.
“He’s hiding from you, from the situation. Maybe he’s trying to figure things out?”
“Maybe, but I know where I stand on this. I also know that if he truly cared about me and truly wanted to be with me, he would have said something yesterday. He would have at least checked in since we arrived here. I might be pregnant with his children.” She sniffed, her eyes stung, and she felt emotional. There was a huge lump in her throat.
“I’m sorry.” Georgia moved to sit next to her. “Guys can be so stupid. They’re not like us. They don’t always know what they’re feeling. They run and bury their heads sometimes. They’re bad at dealing with emotions. I’m sure he has feelings for you.”
“Feelings,” she snorted. “He enjoys having sex with me. I think he enjoys my company, but I don’t think there’s more. Not out here.” She looked around them. “Everything has changed. We’re not the same people anymore. Not the same people who were initially locked in that cage, and not the same people as the ones who were forced into staying in there. Forced to be together. What if I’m pregnant?” Her voice hitched, and a tear escaped.
“It will work out.” Georgia squeezed her shoulder. “You’ll see. Even when you think it can’t possibly…it will. Look at what happened with me.”
“You were lucky.” More tears leaked out, rolling down her cheeks. “That kind of thing doesn’t happen often. You found your person after a night together.” Macy smiled. “I’m so happy for you, but stuff like that doesn’t happen in real life. That’s why it’s so darned special.”
“You know you have me, right? You have Shale and me, we’re right here for you. I know how it feels. I was alone for my entire pregnancy. Sand will be there, maybe not in the way that you want him to be, but he will be there.”
“You’re right.” Macy sniffed, working hard to pull herself together. “I need to stop crying.” She wiped at her face. “You said that Sand was coming to fetch me. He’ll be here soon to take me for that ultrasound.”
“You have every right to be emotional. To be scared and to feel out of sorts. No one will look at you strangely for crying. Do you want me to go with you? I can…” Just then, Gossan gave a yell over the monitor. Someone knocked on the door.
“I think you might have your hands full.” Macy smiled.
“Let me take him,” Georgia said. “You get the door, if you don’t mind. It’s probably Sand.”
Macy handed little Granite over to her friend. “That would make him ten minutes early,” she said, glancing at her watch, feeling sick to her stomach.
Time was a weird thing. On the one hand, it felt like it had flown since arriving there the day before. On the other, it felt like it had dragged on endlessly. She desperately wanted to know what the outcome was going to be, but at the same time, she didn’t want to face up to whatever the result was.
“Exactly. That means I have ten minutes to pack a bag and to settle Gossan.” The little one yelled again, louder this time. There was another knock at the door. It was like baby and man were in sync or something.
“I’ll be fine.” Macy plastered a smile on her face and headed to the door. She didn’t want Georgia offering any more support or making any type of kind gesture, in case the waterworks turned back on.
“Hey.” Sand smiled at her as soon as she opened the door, but it looked forced. It probably matched the smile on her own face. “How are you feeling, Mace?” He leaned forward and hugged her.
She put her arms around him for a second. It felt stilted and awkward. “I’m good,” Macy said as she pulled away.
“Did you sleep okay?”
“Fine, thanks.” That wasn’t true. Macy had hardly slept at all, but this felt like polite chatter. Everything was always fine and great when a person made polite small-talk. Next, they’d be talking about the weather.
“You ready to go?” he asked, looking over her shoulder into the apartment.
“Come in for a sec.” She stood to the side so that he could enter. “I just want to say goodbye to Georgia. We still have a few minutes.”
Sand walked inside, looking around. “Where is my gorgeous sister-in-law?” He smiled, it looked genuine for the first time since he’d arrived.
“Here I am.” Georgia walked out of the nursery. She was carrying Gossan. “He messed his diaper. Must have happened soon after I put him down. I need to get him back to sleep ASAP or their routine will go to hell in a handbasket.” She looked a bit frazzled.
“Shale will be here soon,” Sand offered. “Do you need me to help you with anything right now?”
Georgia smiled and shook her head. “Not unless you have a milk-filled breast.”
He held up his hands. “Can’t help you there, I’m afraid.”
Georgia giggled.
“I’ll manage. You guys go on, I’m sure you’re both eager to find out.” She looked at Macy. “Come straight back here, please. I want to know.”
Macy swallowed thickly and nodded. “Okay.”
Gossan wriggled in her arms, kicking his little legs.
“Please excuse me.” She looked down at the baby in her arms. “My son needs me.”
Macy felt her chest tighten. That could be her in the not too distant future. She forced another smile. “We’ll see you in a little while then.”
Her friend clasped her hand before she could turn away. “I’m thinking of you.”
“I know. Thanks.” Macy quickly headed out before her eyes
could start prickling. Before her throat clogged up again.
They walked in silence for a few moments. She followed Sand, who glanced her way. “Are you warm enough in that thin sweater?”
She nodded. “I’m fine.”
“It’s rainy and the temperature has dropped some.”
There it was…talk of the weather. That hadn’t taken long at all. She realized that she had her arms tightly folded, so it probably seemed like she was cold. Macy forced herself to relax, or at least to make it seem like she was calm. “I’m perfectly fine. This top has long sleeves and I’m in closed shoes.” She wore sneakers.
“I must say,” he grinned, “I miss running around in boxers.”
“Or naked.”
“Yep, there were some upsides to our…situation. I enjoyed seeing you in those negligées.”
He missed her ass.
He missed seeing her in a negligée.
They were all sexual reasons. None of them held any weight whatsoever. Hearing him say it hurt her, but Macy didn’t say anything. There was no point.
“Are you okay, Mace?” His eyes were filled with concern.
She nodded. “I’m just nervous. I can’t help thinking that I should have taken those pills.” Even though she said it, she knew she wouldn’t have been able to, regardless of what would have been the logical thing to do.
“No, you shouldn’t have. You made the right decision. We made the right decision.” He said it with conviction.
“Look, you said yourself you didn’t want to discuss it until we knew the outcome of this ultrasound. Let’s stick to that, unless, of course, anything has changed. Unless you have something to say to me before we go in there.”
Panic. It rose up in him. She could see it in the way his whole body tensed up. She could mostly see it in his eyes, how they flashed from her to the ceiling and then back to her. Slightly wild. Sand was definitely in the middle of a panic attack. One which he couldn’t show. His throat worked more than once as well. She almost felt sorry for him.
Slave Dragon: Earth Dragons Series: Book4 Page 18