The Dragon's Secret Baby

by Jasmine Wylder

  "My friend, Esther. Skaldi had her," Dominique said, pushing the implications of the king's words from her mind. "I don't know if she killed her."

  "Your friend lives," Skaldi muttered. "I thought I might use her to stop you. Now I wish I had killed her."

  Dominique would have responded but Virdi didn't give her a chance. He practically fell over her in his haste to capture her attention. Both of his hands clasped hers and his eyes were bright as he stared at her. Dominique's heart jumped to her throat, realizing what had just happened–the king had just told him that she was pregnant. She hadn't gotten the chance to tell him herself.

  Would he be angry at her for not saying it? Did he already suspect? Did he even want children?

  "You're pregnant?" he asked, his voice pitched higher than normal. "For real?"

  "Yes. I found out when Alom was holding me captive. I've only been with you, it's your child but I didn't know how to tell you. I didn't think it was possible that we were mates, we didn't even like each other. I wanted to tell you. I'm sorry I didn't."

  Virdi pressed a finger over her lips. "Darling, darling, don't cry." He brushed tears from her face. "Don't cry."

  Dominique sniffed, too full of emotion not to cry.

  "I love you," he whispered. "I'm surprised, but I'm happy. Actually, I'm not all that surprised. There were plenty of signs and I thought you might be. But I'm happy. I'm so happy. You and I have a long, long life to look forward to and I'm not going to waste a minute of it."

  Dominique threw herself into his arms. The tattoos around her arms faded away but the warmth that filled her when she had embraced the shade of her son remained. She closed her eyes, grateful for Virdi's embrace. What would she do if he wasn't here with her right now?

  Well, she never had to know. He was with her, and that was all that mattered.

  ***

  The king's 'palace' that they were taken to so that they could have peace while they recovered wasn't the same sort of palace that Dominique had seen so far. It wasn't cramped stone and built in the classical Maya style like he had to prove that he deserved his title. This one was more of a mansion than a palace. It was fairly small but felt larger because it was so open and airy. It was built in a modern style and all the furnishings were up-to-date and could have been found in house design magazines.

  She and Virdi were given their own room, which was only about as big as the average hotel room but had an attached balcony that added a lot of sun to the room. They spent the first couple days there in bed, resting and adjusting to the fact that they were going to be mates for life. It made them both happy but they were still getting to know each other's secrets.

  On the third day, the king came to see them.

  "Your friend Esther has been recovered," he told Dominique. "We conducted a raid on Skaldi's palace and were able to find her easily. She is reported to be in good health and is being brought here to be checked over and reunited with you."

  Dominique let out a sigh of relief and smiled at that. "Good. I'm glad."

  "Skaldi has been arrested and formally charged with her various crimes," the king continued. "I expect that you both will be asked to testify against her."

  Virdi nodded, his face grim. "Whatever it takes. I know she's my mother but—"

  "But you don't owe her anything," Dominique said fiercely. "Like you said, she's not worthy to even be called a mother."

  Virdi squeezed her hand and smiled gratefully. "What about the other human? Claire and her mate?"

  "There has been no sight of them. The Dragons who attacked your dig were all rounded up and arrested but we believe Claire and her mate fled."

  "I don't care if they ran or not, as long as I never have to see them again," Dominique muttered. "If it wasn't for her, then all those students would still be alive. It's on her head. I hope she never has a good night's sleep again."

  "I'm not sure he's really her mate. She tried to seduce me, you know," Virdi said.

  Dominique shrugged. "Well, then I hope he sees through her and leaves her high and dry. But enough about her. When will Esther arrive?"

  The king considered for a moment. "A few hours. I will bring her to you once she arrives. In the meantime, is there anything I can get you?"

  "No, thank you," Dominique said. "I think we're good for now."

  "Of course." He bowed towards her. "If there is anything you need, don't hesitate to let us know."

  He left the room and Dominique quickly yanked off the pants she had been given. They were just a little too tight and cut into her stomach. She rubbed the red marks they left behind and sighed in relief. When she flopped onto the bed, Virdi lay down beside her, chuckling. Since they had been here, he had been healing quickly. He was still tender but the burns were no longer black and his mobility was much improved.

  "So, are you needing to rest, or do you want to… do something more fun?" he waggled his brows suggestively as one of his hands cupped her hip.

  Dominique sighed in disappointment. "I need to rest. I'm tired. But we can talk."

  He moved a little closer and nodded.

  "First off… I haven't asked anybody about this, because it's a little embarrassing, but am I going to lay an egg?"

  Virdi snorted. At Dominique's glare, he smiled and shook his head. "No. You're not going to lay an egg. Dragons aren't reptiles, we're mammals. We have live births. Your pregnancy will be as normal as if you had gotten pregnant with another human's baby."

  "Good," Dominique said fervently. "I think I've had enough weird stuff to deal with for a while. It's time for a nice semi-normal pace to take up again."

  "I know. Although I doubt anything will be 'normal' again. But I will be here for you, no matter what. I just wish…"

  "What?"

  He shrugged. "I wish I hadn't taken so long being an idiot at the dig. When I think of all those years I wasted…"

  "A drop in the bucket compared to what we have ahead of us." Dominique stroked his arms. "Years and years and years. Just wait, by the time we're both white-haired and wrinkled, we'll be sick of each other. We'll be a cantankerous old couple who can't even pick a movie without bickering over it."

  "That may be true, but right now it sounds like paradise. Being with you forever." He kissed her lightly, firing passion in her bones.

  Dominique almost forgot about how tired she was and moved closer, loving the heat of his skin. She moaned slightly but pulled away after a moment. She stroked the hair at the back of his neck and shrugged at his raised eyebrow.

  "I guess I'm a little nervous about what happens now," she confessed. Nerves fluttered in her stomach as she thought about the future. It wasn't just her and Virdi she had to worry about. "Our baby… He hasn't even been born and there's already so much pressure on him. I don't want him to grow up like that. I want him to have a normal life, with a normal family. But is that something we can even give him?"

  Virdi pressed a hand to her stomach. He frowned for a moment but nodded. "Yes. We'll fall off the grid and go live in Canada or something. I can get a job."

  "I can work, too, once he's older. And I'll introduce you to my mother. That's going to be fun…" She grimaced but after what she had been through, it didn't worry her as much as past times introducing boyfriends to her had.

  "As for our son, we just won't tell him about this great destiny of his until he's sixteen. That will be old enough to decide what he wants, won’t it?"

  "It will be old enough to start thinking about it, at least. Ah, forget it. I want you." Dominique flung a leg over his hip. "I do have to rest… so let's make this quick."

  Virdi grinned and rolled her onto her back, kissing her eagerly. Dominique laughed as she pulled him closer. Whatever the future had in store for them, this moment was perfect.

  *****

  THE END

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  Mated to the Wolf

  Description

  Beauty, brains, and a killer instinct; What more could I ask for in a woman?

  Doris Davis was just supposed to interview me for a story. I was fairly used to it since I became a star baseball player. I don’t mean to toot my own horn, but it sure is fun; especially when it’s totally true.

  But from the moment I saw her I realized that there was something different about Doris. It was more than her killer wit, her beautiful face, or her amazing BBW curves. She was a wolf, just like me.

  No wonder I’m drawn to her so deeply… I need her, I must be with her. I’ve never felt this way. I’m in love with her.

  And she desperately needs my help, because there is an evil force after her who wants us both dead.

  Time to howl…

  Chapter One

  Rob Thompson was ready.

  He took a deep breath, feeling the adrenaline pouring through his body, as he got ready for whatever Greg Nelson had for him. Rob did his best to shut out the roar of the screaming fans in the packed stadium. They were all there to see the Diamondbacks win this game and move forward to the playoffs. They would not be let down if he had anything to say about it, that was for sure.

  He felt like he’d been preparing for this moment all his life. Since he was a child playing little league he’d dreamt of the time when he would be on the major-league field with a crowd full of adoring fans behind him, waiting for him to make the clutch play that would send his team to the highest reaches of stardom, and he along with them.

  Now he’d finally made it. He was a major league baseball player for the Arizona Diamondbacks; he was a star. He briefly replayed it all in his mind, the endless hours growing up practicing, leading his high school to their first state championship two years in a row, and then leading his college team to league champions. After his second year of playing college ball, he had been handpicked to walk on to a major league baseball field.

  The fans were hesitant at first, but with his bat, his swift speed, and his uncanny athleticism he’d taken the team by storm and showed the world he was a force to be reckoned with. And it was even better than he thought it would be. He loved being a star. The fame, the adulation, the money, the perks, the parties, and the women. Oh, most of all, the women. Ever since he’d lost his virginity at a young age he had been all consumed by his desire for women. It was almost as strong as his love for baseball.

  But he couldn’t say he had ever come close to being in love. Rob was not a one woman kind of man. He didn’t lie to women, but most of them automatically assumed that he cared more for them than he really did. Sex did not equate to commitment in his mind; it was just a physical good time. A lot of women did not understand that, and they were hurt by it. That was never his intention though. He was just a man who loved to experiment and chase new experiences.

  And, of course, he had a secret. The secret was something he could never let anyone get close to; it would have put them in mortal danger if he did. And if it was ever exposed to the world who he really was—what he really was—then his entire life would be over. Everything he’d worked and strived so hard for would be gone.

  No, he could not let anyone get that close to him.

  But he couldn’t think about that now. He had to focus, had to concentrate. This was crunch time. It was like something out of a twelve year old boy’s fantasy, but it was real this time; it was here and it was happening now. It all seemed like slow motion as Rob watched it unfold.

  The Diamondbacks had a one run lead. It was the top of the ninth, one out, runners at second and third bases. A base hit could score two runs and lose the lead. Or even a long fly ball would tie the game. Rob gritted his teeth. No matter what, he would not let that happen.

  Andy Garvey released the pitch. It was a hard, fast ball but too much down the center; that was the wrong pitch to give Greg to hit. He swung the bat hard and connected, getting all of the ball. It was a hard line drive. It was fast, and deep. It was going over the fence. Rob’s mind made several decisions in a nanosecond. He knew that he was not going to be able to do this… as a human. Without any conscious thought, he felt the wolf emerging just slightly. He could not change, not here. It was always a slippery slope, a fine line when he tapped into the wolf’s essence to give himself the slight edge that he needed in crucial situations; and sometimes he was not able to hold it back. He had to maintain control this time.

  He felt his body getting hotter, the anger and rage of the beast welling within him, a slight growl escaped his lips bellowing up from his throat and chest. His body felt lighter than air suddenly, the strength of a God surging through him as his legs moved at the speed of an Olympic sprinter moving at top speed.

  He managed to cover the distance to the wall running as fast as he could. The ball was there, sailing over the top of the fence. Rob jumped as high as he could and stretched his long six foot three inch body out as far as it would stretch, his glove held out above him.

  It was going to be close…

  The ball landed in his glove about two feet above the top of the wall. It should have been a home run. The game should have been over. The Diamondbacks should have lost, but Rob had done it. He’d saved the score. But it wasn’t over yet.

  The runner had tagged at third base just in case, but he was going for it now running as hard as he could, sprinting toward home plate. It was four hundred feet from the wall where Rob was now landing hard on his feet, to home plate. There was no way that any normal man could make that throw in time, but Rob was not going to back down now; he had to go for it.

  Rob stepped, aimed, and threw as hard as he could, once again tapping into the essence of the wolf. A loud roar escaped his throat; no one could hear over the roar of the crowd though. The ball sailed through the air picking up speed traveling at well over a hundred miles per hour in a straight line flying over the heads of the cut off men who were waving their arms at him trying to assist in the Hail Mary futile long shot.

  The ball hit the catcher’s glove; he spun and swept the ground with it right in front of the runner’s legs, tagging him out before he touched the plate.

  “Out!” The umpire screamed. “That’s the ballgame!”

  He’d done it. He had just won the game for his team. Everything was moving in a daze as if everyone was in stop motion animation. His fellow players were all jumping on each other, hugging and slapping high fives. Fans were starting to rush the field as security did their best to hold them back.

  Rob was softly jogging back towards the infield. He did it mostly to avoid the rabid fans that were coming onto the field and to give himself a few seconds to get away from his fellow teammates who wanted to congratulate him. He wanted the praise; he lived for it sometimes, but he could feel the wolf roaring inside of him. It wanted to be let loose. For a few moments, he felt that he might have used too much power to now be able to shut it down and revert back to his normal self.

  If he started to change he would have to duck into the dugout and run into the locker room to hop in the cool shower. That always helped cool him down and get him under control. He just had to maintain though; he didn’t want to waste this opportunity. He had worked for this very thing his whole life. His team was now going to the playoffs. If they won, they would be headed to the World Series.

  “Man that was the coolest thing I’ve ever seen!” Dan Richards, their center fielder said giving Rob a big slap on the back. “That arm of yours is a nuclear weapon! We did it baby!” He said jumping on to Rob’s shoulders for a short ride before hopping down and running toward th
e infield.

  Rob had to smile; Dan was a hilarious guy. He was one of the veterans on the field and everyone admired him; he was a great ball player and a nice guy. Rob was happy to call him a friend.

  The heat wave of excitement was beginning to simmer down inside of him as he joined his team on the infield and began to endure and give out high fives, hugs, stupid jokes, and sentiments. The beer was already flowing as the team began tossing back cans and pouring half of it on each other. It was as if winning a game suddenly turned them all into college frat guys at a toga party.

  Rob took a few deep breaths, feeling the cold sweat all over his body. He felt tired now, as he always did after using his wolf to gain an edge, or the certain times when he did lose control and fully wolfed out. There was something about it that left him tired and drained for several seconds.

  Someone handed him a beer and he quickly tossed it back, feeling the cold liquid slide down his throat. It was actually a great way to tame the beast and stuff it back into its cage; alcohol was a nice depressant that occasionally did wonders for him when he was out of control. And what he needed now was to relax.

  The next twenty minutes was almost a blur. Rob was suddenly surrounded by a slew of reporters who were trying to get the scoop and ask him the same question twenty times. He thought about answering and giving them what they wanted, but he figured that there would be plenty of time for that. Besides, he didn’t like to lay it all out on the table; it was better to remain a bit mysterious.

  Thus was the total conflict of the man. He loved the adulation, the glory, and the attention for his athletic prowess, even when he did get some extra help; but at the same time he did not like to expose himself to people. A lot of it had to do with being born a shifter; when you were born into that you had to be careful of everything that came out of your mouth, of what you presented to people. It was like being onstage all the time, even when you were in the background and no one was looking your way.