Total pages in book: 47
Estimated words: 44553 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 223(@200wpm)___ 178(@250wpm)___ 149(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 44553 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 223(@200wpm)___ 178(@250wpm)___ 149(@300wpm)
“I need to undress, Keres,” she whispered.
Immediately, he freed her of unneeded clothing. Her scream quickened his efforts. Wrapping his arms around her straining body, Keres supported her weight.
“I’ve got you, Snowflake.”
“You’re never touching me again,” she groaned.
Keres grinned from behind her. That prediction wouldn’t come true. “Let’s worry about our future sex life later, hmmm?”
“Never,” she spat out like a curse before screaming again. “Something’s happening, Keres. Help me shift.” Acting instinctively, Rimi listened to her dragon’s demands. Keres was by her side the whole way. His strength supported her from behind as she allowed nature to take over. Keres filled her mind with encouragement to bolster her energy and surround her with positive thoughts as he continued to drain the pain through their mental connection. After an hour of struggle, her brilliant dragon form curled around a sparkling crystal egg. Keres’s darkness formed a protective barrier to any threat.
Keres inched his beast’s head forward to sniff at the gorgeous shell and about lost half his snout. His mate was a bit protective. He would keep his distance until she would allow him to check out their offspring.
Retreating, Keres took a protective stance over his mate. He would give his life to keep them safe. A wave of love wafted his way from Rimi. She was counting on him.
Chapter 9
Rimi? What is happening?
At the sound of her twin’s voice resounding inside her mind, Rimi blinked her eyes open and spotted Keres standing guard over her. Instantly, his gaze met hers. She nodded that she and the hatchling were okay.
Oldrik. I am fine. Keres is here with me.
We all felt a wave of distress. What is going on? Did Keres attack you?
A growl of anger resounded around the cave. Rimi sent reassurance to her bristling mate.
No, Oldrik. Keres would end himself before hurting me or the hatchling.
The hatchling? Astonishment echoed in his voice. What hatchling?
The one I’m currently wrapped around to keep it warm.
She felt his attention shift slightly and then heard Oldrik say to Skye, You knew? Let me see your picture.
What’s in Skye’s drawing, Oldrik? Rimi asked.
It’s the pose from the cave. With an addition. There’s a sparkling white egg next to you, Oldrik reported.
I wish Skye had clued me in, Rimi said with a mental chuckle.
You’re okay?
I’m really good, Oldrik. I have no clue what I’m doing, but the hatchling seems to let me know what it needs.
It? Can you tell if it’s a male? Oldrik asked.
It hasn’t told me, Oldrik. Do I sense Ardon close by?
He is on the first watch outside the cave. Ask for whatever your family needs, Rimi. The horde is protecting you.
Keres joined the conversation, including all the members of the horde. Thank you. Remain outside. My dragon is not tolerant at the present. Seeing our mate in pain was torture.
It wasn’t too much fun on this side, either, Rimi chimed in.
We will make sure no one disturbs you, Drake promised.
Rimi met Keres’s gaze to reassure him before dropping her head back to the ground to rest. Her family was protected.
One week later, Keres emerged into the sunlight. The brightness made him blink as his eyes adjusted. Spotting three dragons circling above them and two standing guard a short distance away, he drew Rimi through the opening. The hatchling filled her arms to almost overflowing. Its adorable head rested on her shoulder.
Aahs filled the air as the mates got their first glimpse of the baby. Obviously warned by their dragons, Skye, Lalani, Brooks, Ciel, and Aurora stood away from the opening. Each held binoculars to their eyes so they could get a close view of the hatchling.
“So cute!” Aurora called, and the others chimed in with their good wishes.
The hatchling didn’t rouse. Having recently shared the dragon-family-sized feast delivered earlier by Keres’s staff, the small dragon had a full belly and snoozed deeply. As if on cue, the beast shifted into human form in Rimi’s arms, drawing more admiration from the crowd before reverting back to his dragon.
Rimi glanced at Keres and nodded, as if urging him to say something.
“Thank you all for the many hours of vigilance you have given our offspring. We would like you to meet Slate. He is a perfect combination of my mate and I,” Keres announced.
“It’s a boy,” Oldrik announced with relief.
“We would have welcomed a girl with equal excitement, but yes, Slate is male. Be warned, he has an evil streak from his sire and wisdom from his mother,” Keres shared.
“So, he’s wickedly smart? That’s not a good combination,” Drake said with a chuckle.
“Of course it is,” Aurora corrected him with a glare.
“We will take our son into our mansion now that he can change into human form,” Keres shared. “He is able to defend himself now.”
“He’s still a baby,” Rimi said quickly.
The dragon shifters all looked at her indulgently. Dragons grew quickly. For their survival, they were only vulnerable for a short time. Once they could shift, they doubled or tripled in size each day until they reached full size. Slate’s tail extended a few more inches to drag on the floor before their eyes. Rimi wouldn’t be able to carry him after today.