“I’m not allergic,” Candy said.
Bay left the room, quietly closing the door behind him and Tide took his place. Not looking! “Yes, but according to the reports I have read, children born to non-humans are more like their fathers. In fact, all have been males. It shows that non-human genes are dominant. None of the children, however, have ever been tested for the allergy.”
Torrent nodded. “That is correct.”
“I need to verify this before we begin, but it stands to reason that they will be affected.”
“I’m sure this will be the case,” Torrent said gravely.
“Therefore, your child will most likely also be allergic. By going through the motions of desensitizing you, we hope to improve or even to eradicate the allergy in your unborn son.”
Torrent nodded. He looked worried.
“Like I said,” she went on. “I will take every precaution. We will monitor both Candy and the baby, every step of the way, to ensure that all is well.”
“I’m still not sure.” He shook his head.
"I typed up a full report. It will give you a good idea of what you can expect over the next few months leading up to your son's birth. It will outline every procedure. Obviously we need to remain flexible, and, I can tell you now, the desensitization program will need to be altered as we go along. I'm hoping that at least one of the children, either yours or Sky's, will be born free of the silver allergy. Obviously, both would be the ideal situation."
“Do you really think it will be possible to create a vaccine from the blood of a dragon baby born without the affliction?”
She nodded. “Yes, it’s an involved, complicated process. It’s also groundbreaking work but I know it can be done.”
“In other words, it’s not a tried and tested method.”
She shook her head. “No, in fact, there are scientists who don’t believe it’s possible. I’m not one of them.”
"It seems like an awful lot of risk for something that may just be pie in the sky," Torrent's voice had taken on a rasping tone.
“Honey, don’t be rude.” Candy clasped his arm and the little girl on his lap squirmed. She giggled. Rain was looking at Tide, who pulled another face. The little girl giggled again, trying to get off of her father’s lap.
Torrent finally let her go with a sigh. Rain tottered over to Tide, who picked her up. Rain laughed wildly. Torrent turned towards his brother. He must have given him a dirty look because Tide put up a hand. “Sorry, I’ll take Rain outside for a few minutes. Leave you to talk.” He held her tight with one arm and tickled her with the other. Rain squealed with glee. The door clicked closed, drowning out the noise of the little girl’s laughter. She obviously loved her uncle. It was strange to see how good he was with her. Moving on!
“Sorry about that,” Torrent apologized. “Tide takes his uncle duties very seriously.”
She nodded. “I understand. Back to our conversation.” She certainly didn’t want to think about how cute the little girl had looked in her uncle’s arms. Or how good Tide was with her. He was still a jerk. “It’s called a prophylactic injection. There has been some success in creating this type of non-infectious vaccine for cancer, as well as with type 1 diabetes. Look, it is new and completely revolutionary but I believe strongly in my research. I’m this close,” she held two fingers together, almost touching, “to developing a vaccine against asthma. Not only do I believe it’s possible but I’m going to make it happen.”
“I know this already,” Torrent went on. “It is why you are here. I’m just not convinced.”
“I understand your fear. Thing is, I strongly believe it’s possible to create a vaccine that will cure you of your allergy to silver. Worst case scenario, through immunotherapy in the pregnant women, in your wife, I believe that we will either eradicate the allergy in the children completely. Or at the very least, significantly decrease their reaction to silver. It’s a process though. Here …” Meghan stood up and reached for her leather sling bag. She removed the file she had prepared. “This outlines and explains everything. I took Doctor Parry’s findings and combined them with my research and have come up with a detailed plan. In a nutshell, we will slowly increase the exposure to allergens. In your case, Candy, we will monitor the fetus closely. In the case of Sky, I will monitor both mother and child throughout.”
“Thank you for this.” Candy held up the file.
Torrent gripped her hand in a firm grasp. “If we decide to proceed with this, you will take every precaution imaginable. I will be here for every session.”
“Darling, I—”
“No, my love,” his voice turned thick with emotion, “I cannot abide the possibility of anything happening to you.”
Meghan felt awkward. She wasn’t sure where to look as Torrent cupped his wife’s cheek. “Oh, my love,” Candy whispered, “I will be fine. You heard the doctor.”
“You should let Sky—”
“No!” Candy shook her head. “We will take every precaution. I need to do this, for our people, but most of all I need to do it for him.” She stroked her belly. “For our son.”
Torrent cupped her other cheek and put his forehead to hers. Meghan looked away. Maybe she should leave the room. There was a sucking noise. She glanced back at the couple, who were kissing at this point. Tongues and all. George busied himself counting and noting down stock.
She looked down at the notepad on her lap and added some doodles. She couldn’t think rationally while the two of them …
The door opened. “Hey, you two,” Tide said, putting his head around the jamb.
“Oh,” Candy said, as Torrent released her. She rubbed her lips with the tips of her fingers.
Tide grinned, he shook his head and pushed the door all the way open. Rain was still in his arms.
“Mama,” she yelled as she caught sight of Candy.
“Hey, baby.” Candy smiled. Both she and Torrent stood up. Tide put the squirming girl down.
“We will let you know what we decide,” Torrent said.
“Thank you.” Candy picked up her daughter and gave the little one a kiss on the top of her head. “We’ll be in touch.”
“You shouldn’t carry heavy things.” Torrent took Rain from her mother’s arms. “Come to dada.” He smiled at the tiny girl.
"I will need to visit the various dragon kingdoms and to test every child, particularly those born to human women. Maybe one of them has a natural immunity, in which case, I can develop a vaccine that way. I'm afraid I'll have to start soon after that. Your pregnancy is much shorter than that of a human to human pairing. So the window of opportunity is a small one."
“Oh, I didn’t realize you planned on visiting all the kingdoms. I thought it was just Doctor Parry.” Torrent raised his brows.
She shook her head. “No, I need to visit them all and test all the children, whether royals or not. I will also need permission to test Rain.”
“That’s fine.” Candy nodded. “As long as it won’t hurt her or make her sick.”
"No." Meghan shook her head. "At most, she would have a tiny red mark on the inside of her arm. That's if she is allergic. It would disappear within a few hours. Maybe less. Again, I assure you, I would take every precaution."
They said their goodbyes. Tide kissed the little girl on the forehead. “You be good.” He tweaked her little button nose. “Or the tickle monster will come and get you.” He proceeded to pretend he was going to tickle her. Rain squealed and laughed, crunching over against her father to protect her mid-section.
“You need one of your own,” Torrent said, smiling.
“Maybe one day.” Tide gave Rain another soft kiss on the temple and they left. Tide walked out into the hall.
Ignore him! Maybe he was going to stay out in the hall. A girl could hope. Meghan walked over to her desk but before she could sit down, the door opened and Tide entered with another guy. “This is Ice,” he announced.
She wanted so badly to ignore him flat out, bu
t that would be rude to the new guy in the room. Meghan nodded. “It’s good to meet you.” She chose to focus on Ice, still ignoring Tide.
“Good to meet you too, Doctor Roberts. You must be George.” He looked towards the back of the lab. George held a test tube tray.
He put down the tray and walked over. “Ice. That’s an interesting name.” There was a gleam in his eye and a smirk on his face.
Meghan had to work to keep from rolling her eyes. Ice had dark hair and very blue eyes. He, just like the others, was really good-looking. George was having an absolute field day.
Ice’s smile grew bigger. “Water dragons are named after anything to do with water. I’m sure you have come to realize that by now. Our chest markings have green threaded through them.”
“Why are your makings silver, while some of the others I’ve seen have been golden?” George asked, his eyes roving all over Ice’s chest as he spoke.
“Royals have golden markings. Tide is a prince.”
“Interesting.” George nudged her with his elbow. “Isn’t that interesting, doc?”
She made a noise that showed her disinterest, pretending to look at something in the notepad.
“Ice will be your assigned guard. He will introduce you to his reliever at change of shift,” Tide said, speaking to George. “Ice, will you please show George around a bit? There is something I need to discuss with the doctor.”
“Actually, George is busy at the moment.” She looked up from her notepad and into his eyes. His very blue, very gorgeous eyes. It irritated her how attracted she still was to him. Her body didn’t seem to care that he was a grade-A ass.
“I’m sure you can spare him for a few minutes. Ice, if you will?” He gestured to the door.
Asshole!
“I would prefer it if …”
“It’s fine,” George responded, he widened his eyes at her, trying to tell her to drop it. “I’ll be back shortly. If Ice is going to be my guard, then we need to get acquainted.” He winked at Meghan and she battled to keep from snorting.
“Fine, but I need you back here in five. We have a lot to do.”
The door closed behind them as they left and the room seemed to close in on her. Suddenly the ceiling wasn’t as high. The air seemed to thin as well because it was harder to breathe. Her skin prickled with awareness. She hated how she was reacting to him. Hated. It. “What happened to us ignoring one another?” She looked at him with as much malevolence as she could muster. “That was the deal.”
Chapter 10
There was definite venom in her eyes, which were narrowed on him.
“There are a few things I need to say, and then, for the most part, we will ignore one another, if that’s really what you want.” He shrugged. If it made her feel more comfortable, then so be it. He had thought that maybe she would have calmed down by today, but he was obviously wrong.
"It is." She folded her arms. She really was pissed at him, although he wasn't sure exactly why. Was it his treatment of her when they first saw each other again yesterday or was it his mention of the fact that he didn't rut human females twice? She hadn't liked it when he had said that he was done with her. He got the feeling it was a bit of both. Her feelings had been hurt. Also, it was his experience that human females wanted more from him. Meghan was no different. It couldn't be helped. However, he needed to be clear where things stood between them.
“Fine with me,” he said, folding his own arms across his chest.
“What did you want to tell me?” She pursed her full lips. Definitely pissed.
“A couple of things. Firstly, a warning. Shall we sit down?” He gestured towards the couch.
Meghan shook her head, her ponytail bounced. “I’m fine.”
“Suit yourself.” He suppressed a sigh. So damned dramatic. “Right. You need to tread carefully when it comes to this therapy you’re prescribing. If anything were to happen to Candy, my brother would kill you …”
“I’ve made it clear that it’s not without risk. I detailed everything in that file. Any patients I test or run therapies on will need to sign an indemnity. I will explain—”
“We are not human.”
“I know that.” Irritation was laced into every word.
"No, I don't think you do. We are governed more by instinct than by logic, particularly in difficult, emotional situations. If anything were to happen to Candy, Rain or that unborn child, he might very well lash out and literally kill you. As in, end your existence."
Her mouth dropped open and she paled. Good, she’d actually listened to him and had taken him seriously. “I see.” Her gaze moved to the floor.
“I hope that you do. Plan your course of action well. Think very carefully before you act. We would like nothing more than to see our people cured of this affliction but not at the cost of the lives of our mates and children.”
“That is understandable and I assure you that I have …”
He shook his head. “Don’t assure me, Meghan—”
“Doctor Roberts,” she narrowed her eyes, “you can call me Doctor Roberts.”
“Really?” Tide blurted. “I spent the night in your bed. I tasted your pussy and felt your g-spot at the end of my dick.”
She gasped. “That’s inappropriate and I would appreciate it if you never mentioned that night again.”
“Why? It happened. Not mentioning it won’t make it go away.”
“It may have happened, but it’s in the past and quite frankly I regret the whole thing.”
Tide couldn’t help the chuckle that was pulled from him. “Bullshit. It was the best sex you’ve ever had and there’s no way you could scream that loud and say my name so many damn times and have regrets.”
“Want to bet?” Her eyes widened when she realized what she’d said. It might be a bet he was willing to take if goaded enough. “For your information, I’ve had better sex. Way better.” She actually looked serious.
He all out laughed. “Yeah right. I don’t believe you.”
“Believe whatever you want. I don’t care. Now if we’re done, I would like to go back to ignoring you, please.”
“Just because I said I don’t have sex with the same human female twice. That’s why you’re pissed, isn’t it? Did I hurt your feelings?”
Meghan snorted. “No, not at all. It was a one-night stand. Nothing more. You are the total opposite of my type.”
“Oh really?”
“Yes,” she nodded, “really. I know it’s hard for you to believe but I prefer brains over brawn.”
“Right.”
“I can see that, once again, you don’t believe me.” She rolled her eyes. “You have the biggest ego I’ve ever encountered. You’ll just have to take my word for it.”
Meghan … Doctor Roberts … was right, he didn't believe her. Not one bit. "It doesn't matter either way because I won't be fucking you anytime soon."
Meghan began to choke and on nothing. She put a hand to her chest, breathing deeply. “Oh my,” she finally said when she got herself under control. “Your ego is even bigger than I suspected. I have a perfectly good working dildo. I don’t need you or any man for that matter. Now if we’re done, I’d like you to go and stand in that corner and you can stay far out of my way. In fact, I would prefer it if you stood outside of my laboratory. You don’t need to be in here.”
“No!” He shook his head. “I’m staying right here where I can keep a close eye on you.”
“What about when I’m in my apartment? Do you plan on showering with me and sleeping in my bed as well?”
He shrugged. “That can be arranged but you wouldn’t be able to make use of the merchandise.” Tide palmed his cock through his pants. Little fucker liked the idea of being in her bed. Of being inside her. It wasn’t going to happen though.
“Stop it already,” she growled. Her cheeks were red with anger. “You are too much.”
Truth was, he didn’t need to be inside the laboratory. He could just as well stand outside th
e door but she didn’t need to know that. He was a dick, but he liked how flustered she had become. It would be more fun keeping an eye on things from in here. “I will stay outside the door of your apartment. I have fantastic hearing, so be very careful of what you decide to get up to.” He paused. “I will be your shadow at all other times.”
“Fine. Are we done?” She huffed, folding her arms and looking at him like something the cat dragged in.
He shook his head. “Ice mentioned that he finds you attractive. He specifically mentioned your melons.”
“My what?” She turned and walked away, gripping the base of her ponytail. “I literally can not believe what I am hearing.”
He followed her. “You do have a fantastic body. Ultra curvy and soft. You’re exactly what a dragon would look for in a bed partner.” He kept his voice stern and tried hard not to remember how her breasts had bounced while he had fucked her. How gorgeous she had looked as she had come. Especially that first time on the end of his fingers. Like she couldn’t quite believe it was happening to her.
She turned so suddenly that he almost walked into her. “You are disgusting!”
“It wasn’t me who said it. He just remarked on your body. I have heard several males talking about you. You may not have signed that particular clause within the contract, but—”
“Which clause?” She narrowed her eyes, frowning hard.
“The non-fraternization policy.”
“Oh that.” She gave a shake of the head. “What about it?”
“You may not have signed it, but it still stands. There will be no fucking while on dragon territory. What you do back home on your weekends off is your business. Your focus is to remain on your job at hand while here, and it’s my job to protect you. I take my duties very seriously.”
Dragon Prince Page 9