by S. J. Smith
“What hospital are you taking her to?” I asked one of the paramedics and they told me they would take her to NY Memorial. Then they rushed her out of the arena. I barely saw or heard anyone as I hurried into the locker room to get my stuff and then went to my car to speed to the hospital, still sweaty and in my uniform and all. I wondered if she had something going on with her medically and didn’t want to tell me to worry me. Maybe that’s what was wrong with her all along.
As I drove, I thought I was an idiot for not paying closer attention to her. Of course she’s been acting strangely. Sometimes I’d catch her pressing a hand to her temple or holding onto a chair after standing. She’d complained about feeling faint twice and then she’s quickly brushed it off when I asked her about it.
When I got to the hospital I quickly parked in the parking garage and ignored all the stares and people recognizing me as I followed signs through the hospital to the emergency room.
“Y—you’re Anthony Rhodes!” said the guard who sat in front of the visitor’s desk, next to an orderly. I nodded impatiently. “I was just watching you on TV man! Great game.”
I sighed and then turned my attention to the orderly who thankfully was attentive as I gave her Tiffany’s name.
“I need to see her, is there any way you can get me back there miss?” I asked. Thankfully the orderly, a short, middle-aged woman, sympathized with me. She told the guard that she was going to show me back to where Tiffany was.
“If anyone asks, just say she has no other family in the city and you are her fiancé.”
The orderly led me to a small room at the end of a corridor. The glass door was closed and the curtain drawn. The nurse slid open the door a fraction so I could step inside and when I did it took me a moment to realize what I was seeing.
Tiffany was awake and relief spread through me like cooling water. Tiffany was on the bed with her belly exposed. A female doctor was using an ultrasound scanner on Tiffany’s belly. Neither Tiffany nor the doctor had noticed I was standing there yet because they both were focused on the ultrasound monitor.
“See there? Those two little dots like little beans? Those are your babies, and they look perfectly fine.”
Babies? Tiffany was pregnant? My eyebrows furrowed and I looked at the screen again, I saw them, the two little round specks really.
“I can’t tell…” Tiffany said with a waver to her voice. There was a lot of static noise on the screen but I could make out the part that was her uterus and the two little white dots inside.
“They’re right there…” I said softly and the doctor turned just as Tiffany registered my voice and her eyes met mine.
“I am guessing…this is the father?” the doctor said and Tiffany nodded weakly while her eyes filled up with tears.
“I—I’m sorry I didn’t tell you when I found out, but I was…I was panicking and I didn’t want you to freak out and lose the game and…” I walked over to her and shook my head so she could stop speaking.
“Don’t you ever put my work or yours before something as big as this, Tiffany,” I said. She stared into my eyes while I tried to convey with a gaze how much I already loved her and that I wasn’t panicking about her being pregnant. Tiffany eventually nodded and I bent down to kiss her deeply.
“We’re having twins!” I said once I broke the kiss and then I realized the doctor was still in the room. “We’re having twins right?” I looked as the doctor to double check and she nodded with a smile.
“Yes Mr. Rhodes. In about eight months or so you’ll be the proud father of twins.”
My smile broadened and warmth flooded my chest as I imagined a family with Tiffany and two little ones running around. The doctor finished up with the ultrasound as I held onto Tiffany’s hand and she gave us a moment alone.
“I thought you’d…I thought you’d be suspicious or something,” Tiffany said and I shook my head at her.
“Of course not, I trust you. I know this wasn’t planned, but I honestly couldn’t be happier…I love you,” I said. Tiffany’s tears welled over. I guessed I would have to get used to the emotions for a while.
“I love you too Anthony,” she said and my face felt like it would crack with all the joy I was feeling. I lowered my head to hers and kissed her until we were both breathing hard.
“So we’re going all the way with this right? We’re getting married and we’re going to be a family,” I told her more than asked her and Tiffany giggled before she nodded.
“Of course,” she said and I couldn’t help but kiss her again.
THE END
Bonus Story 17 of 40
Double Dragons Mate
Emily
“My lady, your mother is growing quite impatient, soon she will come herself.” Alice flitted back into my bedroom with her warning.
I took a deep breath and stood up from the vanity table, there was no getting around what had to happen. She was mating me off to someone, as tradition went, so that I could take the throne and carry on our line as leaders of the clan.
“She’s in the throne room you said?”
Alice was idly standing by the door with her hands held together and her eyes on me. No doubt my mother scared her into making sure I got to the room of men she had lined up for me…literally.
“Yes, I can escort you if you like, she is eager for your presence. I must say the candidates Queen Elise has chosen for you are all quite fitting,” Alice began chattering as she usually did as we made our way to the throne room. Stepping through the giant iron doors, opened by flanking guards, I was almost choked by the testosterone in the room. My mother was sitting in her throne on the raised dais at the head of the room, and there were about six males on either side of her.
“Mother…this is excessive,” I said and she looked up as I walked closer to her.
The late afternoon light that poured in through the floor to ceiling windows around the room played beautifully on the marble flooring. The entire mansion was more feminine and romantic in style than one would expect. It definitely wasn’t something someone would expect to be the capitol house of a dragon shifter clan.
“I hardly think so, I handpicked them myself. Any of these suitors would do well for you.”
I wanted to roll my eyes, it was beyond embarrassing to have her line up a bunch of men for me to pick and choose from.
“You couldn’t have set up individual meetings?” I asked in a softer tone, though with all the heightened hearing in the room I doubted that was necessary.
“That would have taken months and you will be of age soon, so you must choose one or two suitors to begin the courtship.” She stood up from the throne and walked down to take my hand and pull me face to face with the first male in line. I would crawl back to my bedroom if that got me out of this situation.
“My lady, it is a pleasure to meet you.”
I was distracted from my thoughts by the deep voice that came from the gorgeous male in front of me. He took my hand without it being offered and kissed my knuckles, and his sky blue eyes met mine with a smirk.
“I am sure this must seem daunting for you. Choosing from a dozen shifters for your possible life mate. I can assure you it won’t be that difficult,” he gave me a charmingly confident grin and I couldn’t help but giggle.
“You are…quite confident,” I commented and he gave a slight shrug.
“I can only hope I am not overly so.”
I was surprised that he appeared as both modest and confident. That was an interesting mix.
“Mother, who is this?” I turned my head slightly, she had been watching our exchange with amusement and forgot to introduce her first suitor.
“Oh this is Rune, son of Marx, your father’s second in command. He’s studied closely under his father and would provide an excellent partner for you, especially since you’ll soon rule the clan.”
I blinked at Rune in surprise.
“You are Marx’s son? How is it we’ve never met before?” my eyes scanned h
is features. He was gorgeous in a rugged way. His jaw strong with a cleft chin. He had a straight nose, never broken, either because he’s never lost a fight or has never been in one I had yet to find out. Rune had light caramel colored skin and curly brown hair shaved on the sides and pulled back into a ponytail. He also had an intense silver blue gaze and eyes framed by long and thick lashes. “He has spoken of you…often. But I’ve never seen you,” I reiterated to try and cover up my staring.
“Well father always sends me on errands. He calls it hands on learning. When I came of age to learn under him I hardly saw the castle and regretfully…our beautiful future leader as well. Perhaps if I were around more this…would not be necessary,” Rune gestured to the line of suitors and I chuckled.
“You’re interesting…” was all I said and let my eyes peruse the length of his body. He was a more than a head taller than me and had an athletic build and I loved the color of his skin. I itched to touch his arm, bared by the vest he wore, but stopped myself.
“I will take interesting as a positive assessment, Rune, we’ll be in touch,” my mother dismissed him and he bowed deeply before winking at me and striding confidently from the room.
“Next is…” I tuned my mother out as I watched Rune reach the end of the room. He glanced back at me and smirked before he disappeared around the doorway. “Emily, greet Vick,” my mother nudged me and I blushed for my lapse in manners. Getting through the line was dull and awkward. There was only one suitor left and at that point I was only speaking with the men to please my mother.
“This is Luke, son of Erin. Luke is our youngest and most prized warrior. He will soon be head of the special guard.”
I smiled, almost in relief that he was the last male in the room, at Luke.
“A pleasure to meet you,” I said and he actually laughed.
“I mean no disrespect my lady, but I can see you truly mean quite the opposite,” his voice and entire demeanor was good natured and I warmed to him instantly.
“This has been the longest two hours of my life,” I said and my mother rolled her eyes next to me.
Luke chuckled and then he remembered to greet me with a kiss on the hand.
“I won’t keep you too long talking myself up,” he said and I laughed.
“I have to thank you deeply for that.”
Surprisingly enough, Luke was quite the pretty boy. He had gorgeous golden colored eyes and a face any male model would kill for. His cheekbones weren’t too high, he had an angular jaw, full lips and his nose had definitely never been broken in a fight I was sure. He had tan skin from being outside often and his golden brown hair was loose and shoulder length.
“So your duties as a warrior, what are they like?” I asked out of genuine curiosity. My mother and father often dispatched warriors, and guards were always around, but I never visited the training grounds or spoke to any other than an occasional guard leader.
“I’d love to tell you all about it when you aren’t so tired after interviewing a room full of possible mates.” Luke held my gaze intently and I felt a strange rush from his focus on me.
“I will take you up on that,” I said and Luke bowed with a sweet smile.
“It seems then that I will only have to fight my way through one other suitor then. Rune correct?”
I was surprised that Luke was so forward and I glanced at my mother who quirked her brow at me.
“Ah yes…but you don’t have to fight anyone,” I said and Luke chuckled.
“For a woman as beautiful as you, I would cut through an entire clan,” he gave me an intimate smile before inclined his head to both my mother and I then made his exit.
“Well, I think Rune and Luke are excellent choices for courtship,” my mother smiled as if the afternoon were a successful one and I simply sighed. I just wanted to find a good mate out of this.
*****
Rune
“Father we should not begin negotiations of merging with another clan so near the date of Princess Emily’s crowning. Too much will be in flux, they could use it as an opportunity to rule our lands completely.” I huffed in annoyance as my father continued to argue the merits of striking up negotiations with the neighboring dragon shifter clan.
“Think of it Rune! Any other shifter kind are all rallied together under one rule, why can’t the dragons follow suit?”
I rolled my eyes, he still wasn’t listening to me. Instead he paced around his study with his curly mane loose from its leather. He was in true rare form after having a drink or nine with King Lucas.
“What are you after father? All dragon shifters being united under our clan’s rule? Or simply all dragon shifters being united? Have you thought about how much of a feat that would be? There are dragon clans all across Europe, forget about them wanting to deal with a clan so far removed from our originating lands. Outside of shifter politics, do you think any European would listen to an American?” I asked and my father snorted a short laugh.
“Funny joke Rune, and I see your point. If I am to be honest with you I have to say I simply want all dragon shifters united. Though with young Emily coming to power soon, I wonder if it would be possible under her reign…”
My thoughts went immediately to Princess Emily. She was undoubtedly the most beautiful woman I had ever seen.
“There your mind goes wandering, I’m trying to have a meaningful conversation with you,” my father tried to urge my attention back to our conversation. But I was well and truly distracted by thoughts of her.
She had a lovely dimpled smile and fair skin, her hair was long and the color of honeycombs. Her eyes were a mesmerizing blue with specks of amethyst and silver. They were framed by long and thick lashes that just drew your attention and kept it. Then she had pink lips that resembled soft rose petals. Her cheekbones were perfectly formed and not too high or defined, her jaw was a soft edge and she had a slightly cleft chin. With a softly sloping nose and naturally arched brows.
“Earth to my son!” my father waved his hand in front of my eyes and shook the image of Princess Emily from my mind.
“I apologize father…as you know I was summoned to the throne room by Queen Elise today…”
“Yes what was all that about?” he asked me and I smirked.
“She was gathering a selection of males for the princess to choose a mate from. I believe I should be receiving an invitation to court her soon from the king,” I told my father and he stared at me in surprise.
“Well then…this changes everything! Surely Lucas will push for her to choose you. You have studied under us nearly all your life, who better than to be king and rule with Princess Emily!” father was very pleased the more he rationalized things.
“If you become king than you can begin to unite the dragon’s under one clan!”
I rolled my eyes and groaned.
“Father that is an immeasurable feat. Our entire clan here in Maine would have to move!”
“Ah that is the least of what would have to be done, the climates of Eastern Europe are not much different from here…”
I sighed and let my father rant until his position was well aired.
“Anyhow, you should go to your mother and ask her about the best ways to win a woman, having the beautiful Emily’s hand would be only the beginning of your successes.”
“Wonderful, now you expect me to unite all seven dragon tribes in one lifetime,” I grumbled and he chuckled.
“That will seem like an easy feat after the mission of winning Emily,” he said and I chuckled.
“I don’t plan to ‘win’ her. She is…intriguing,” I echoed what the princess thought of me and father laughed.
“Aren’t they all? Alas, it is time for me to retire. I’ve aired out all the brandy on you, hopefully it will keep your mother from kicking me out of bed.”
There was a knock on the door just as my father stepped to it to leave. My mother, Nicole, poked her head in and waved an envelope at me.
“A courier dropped this off
for you Rune, it is from the castle,” she said and father ushered her inside. I watched them as she caught the scent of alcohol on my father and comically rolled her eyes.
“Who won the drinking game this time? You or Lucas?”
“As a matter of fact my love, it was me,” he said smugly and I laughed, he said it as if that were something to be proud of.
“Go wash that scent off you, blind dragon,” she chuckled and he gave her a loud smacking kiss before leaving the room. Mother’s attention returned to me and I stood up to take the envelope from her. “How did it go at the palace today?”
“Well I think I made an impression on the princess…” I trailed off as I read the letter from King Lucas. It was what I had expected, he invited me to court Emily. “And I did, I’ve been invited to court her.”
“What do you think of her?”
I glanced up at mother, she was a beautiful woman. I looked more like father, but it was her darker skin tone and her eye color that was passed to me.
“She was enchanting; I look forward to seeing who she is truly.”
“I’m sure she will love you. You just continue to be the charming and respectful boy I raised you to be,” mother kissed me on both cheeks. Before she left she added, “And also it is about time you’ve found yourself a mate.”
And with that she was gone and I was left with thoughts of Emily and how best to court her.
*****
Luke
“You’ve been chosen to court the princess? How did this happen?”
I rolled my eyes as my dumb older brother, Dean, teased me. He was already happily mated and had graced our mom with a grandchild. Though apparently that gave him license to bother me to no end about finding a mate.
“This is…I have to say, this is incredible,” he scoffed and my mother slapped him over the head and took the kings letter from him.
“Don’t tease your brother, this is truly an honor. To be invited to court the princess! Oh I remember when the announcement came of her birth, and oh how the clan adores her. This is just wonderful! You have to win her Luke. Do you even know how to court a woman?”