Rising Dragons Omnibus
Page 52
Darius stood in a daze, mouth gaping. When the Council was gone, he looked at Rowan.
“What did you do?”
“What the hell do you mean, ‘what did I do’? They’re a pretty focused group of dragons. Like I could influence them?”
“I’ve just never seen them… like that.”
“Like what?”
“In human form… and leaving the Pavilion… and…” His eyes rested at her waist, his brows drawing together. “You’re with child.”
Rowan wrapped her hands protectively around her midsection. “So?”
“You weren’t a few days ago when you left. Now I can sense the power of the baby in you. Rowan… What did they do to you?”
His concern was endearing enough for her to go to him. Rafe clung to her hand for a moment then reluctantly released it.
“I served their purpose and they served mine. It was a trade. That’s all you need to know.”
Darius looked insulted. His lips creased in a hard line. Rafe moved up behind her, rested his hand at her waist.
“She sacrificed for you, brother. Everything is changing.”
“They heard you?” Darius asked, his expression brightening.
“You and everyone else convinced me I had power over them. Don’t tell me you had doubts all along.” Rowan gave him a playful nudge. “But I get the impression they’d already made up their minds before I made my argument. My willingness to go the extra mile was just their extra little bit of leverage.”
“And they agreed to everything?” he asked.
“They may be a bit distracted at the moment, but yeah, they agreed. Now I’d like to see Trevor. Where is he?”
“He’s recovering from the blast,” Darius said.
Rowan stared at him in incomprehension. “Blast?”
“He took the brunt of it after Issa, I’m afraid. They were coupling when the energy unleashed on the group just before she went into labor. He’s fine. He might take a few days to recover, though. Corey is taking care of him now. I think he feels responsible.”
“Why would the Queen’s mate feel responsible?” Rafe asked.
“Well, Issa had a particular craving...pregnant dragons do, after all. And Corey was just trying to help. The rest were a rather determined group once Corey took control.”
It was Rafe’s turn to laugh. “Corey coordinated it? I always knew he had it in him. It seems like he’s less inhibited during Racha’s absences than he used to be.”
Darius led them out of the Pavilion and down the hill behind the others. Rowan remembered the Queen and her mate from their trip. She and the other female had regarded each other with caution at first. After Racha’s calming breath during the plane ride, they had both relaxed enough to talk and Rowan had assured Racha that she had no desire to subvert her authority. Their more formal meeting later in the Pavilion had thrown Rowan for a moment until she sensed the other woman’s precarious situation. The bitter words had only been a ruse, though there had been some truth to their bite. Rowan just wasn’t sure exactly what had prompted it.
When they reached Kris and Issa’s chamber, the others were too excited to pay any attention to her, however. Except for Trevor, who immediately found her and pulled her into a tight embrace.
“God, I missed you,” he murmured in her ear.
She sank into him, pressing her nose against his neck and inhaling his delicious, clean scent. Underneath she caught the whiff of other aromas that lingered deeper. She pulled back and looked up into his eyes. “Did you have fun while I was gone?” she asked, twitching her lips into a knowing smile.
Trevor’s cheeks flushed brighter than they had when he’d confessed the things he’d done with Roka and Rafe to get to her. “Issa needed all of us. You were gone for three days. It’s not like I could sit it out when everyone else was in.”
“I understand. Sweetie, I’m like her, you know. I wouldn’t share you with just anyone, but these guys are the closest thing to family that I have. If they need my help, I won’t say no. Besides if you can deal with sharing me with the offspring of the entire Court and Council, then I have no room to object.”
“Offspring?” Trevor asked, bewildered. He turned to Rafe.
“It’s true,” Rafe said proudly. “Hope you’re ready to share fatherhood with me.”
Just then, the inner doors opened and the entire collection of waiting dragons and humans in the sitting area rose to their feet at once.
“Speaking of fathers…” Darius stepped away from the group toward the door.
The Council was the first to emerge, the six of them parting to stand on either side, each with similar elated expressions. Kris and Issa strode through next, side by side, each holding a tiny, squirming bundle in their arms.
The proud parents beamed at the group, their happiness washing over Rowan in waves. The room grew hushed when the couple looked at each other. Issa nodded once and Kris spoke.
“Friends, family, treasured mates. It is with great love and gratitude that we present our children, the firstborn dragons of the new generation. Named to honor the lost loved ones of two of you—two individuals that were valued and are dearly missed. Please meet our twin sons, Alexander and Gabriel.”
They both turned the infants in their arms and held them up, letting their lavender-hued wrappings fall. The room let out a collective gasp at the tiny, beautiful creatures. Their skin was a perfect rosy pink, until Rowan shifted her vision and caught the glimmer of their scales, reminding her that they truly were tiny dragons, bound up by their parents’ magic.
Rowan’s vision grew blurry with tears when the room erupted into applause. She placed her hands over her womb. It had only been hours by her schedule since the events of the glade, though it had been longer in this world. She was hesitant to share the news with the others, but she shouldn’t have been. A clear, sweet, feminine voice in her mind said, “My sons and your daughter will be the protectors of our race when they come of age. Will you stay here with us so they can be raised together?”
She held Issa’s gaze for several moments, uncertain how to respond. The babies both let out sudden tiny wails of protest and the sound made Rowan jerk with surprise. They had amazingly strong voices that rang high over the din of excited conversation.
Rafe’s strong hand settled at her hip. “What is it? You look worried.”
“Not worried. What would you say if I decided to stay here until the baby is born? Maybe even longer?”
“I’d say welcome home.”
Books by Ophelia Bell
Sleeping Dragons Series
Animus
Tabula Rasa
Gemini
Shadows
Nexus
Ascend
Rising Dragons Series
Night Fire
Breath of Destiny
Breath of Memory
Breath of Innocence
Breath of Desire
Breath of Love
Breath of Flame and Shadow
Breath of Fate
Standalone Erotic Tales
After You
Out of the Cold
Ophelia Bell Taboo
Burying His Desires
Blackmailing Benjamin
Spankable
About Ophelia Bell
Ophelia Bell loves a good bad-boy and especially strong women in her stories. Women who aren’t apologetic about enjoying sex and bad boys who don’t mind being with a woman who’s in charge, at least on the surface, because pretty much anything goes in the bedroom.
Ophelia grew up on a rural farm in North Carolina and now lives in Los Angeles with her own tattooed bad-boy husband and four attention-whoring cats.
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This is a work of fiction. Names, places, characters, and events are fictitious in every regard. Any similarities to actual events and persons, living or dead, is purely coincidental. Any trademarks, service marks, product names, or named features are assumed to be the property of their respective owners, and are used only for reference. There is no implied endorsement if any of these terms are used.
Rising Dragons
Copyright © 2014 Ophelia Bell
Cover Art Designed by Dawné Dominique
Photograph Copyrights © Fotolio.com, DepositPhotos.com, CanStock.com
Published by Animus Press
UNITED STATES