Chapter 6 : Carry My Heir

*Kieran POV*

Holding Ember in my arms was a thousand times better than I ever imagined, more than a dream come true. She felt soft and warm against my body. Her breath was sweet as it fanned against my neck. I couldn't help inhaling the sweet intoxication of her scent.

As I carried her to her room, I couldn't help but feel a sense of completeness wash over me. I didn't want to ever let her go.

Whatever she turned out to be, Ember was special, more special than she or anyone else realized. I was determined to find out more about her, what she was and where she came from. I couldn't wait to peel back her layers and discover everything about her.

She was even more beautiful in person and I had to restrain myself from running my hands up and down her entire body.

I stared at her, allowing my pupils to dilate and burn with fire as I began to use my ability to glamor her.

I took in a deep breath feeling my power emanate from my eyes and heart as I commanded her, "Ember, I want you to carry my heir."

Without the glamor, I realized how unsettling a proposition like this would be.

I didn't like having to glamor her, it almost seemed like I was forcing her to do this. At least the glamor would guarantee she'd do what I ask and she'd be safe in the castle with me. I would be able to defend her better this way and keep her safe from people trying to kill her or use her to their advantage.

“What?” I could hear the alarm and uncertainty in her tone and felt myself falter. Was she fighting the glamor? It would make sense if she was a fire mage. But that only made me want her more.

It wasn't everyday one came across a possible fire mage. Especially a fire mage who had no idea what her powers truly were. This meant she was fighting my glamor without even trying.

She needed to be taught how strong she was, and that her magic wasn’t something to be scared of.

I couldn't wait to help her open her eyes to the power of fire magic.

I pressed my glamor further and even though I sensed her hesitation, I did not expect to hear the decisive, sharp, and curt answer that came from Ember's full and rosy lips.

"No."

My heart felt like an icy bucket of water had been doused all over it. I stared at her feeling confused and wondering if maybe I had heard wrong.

“Excuse me?”

“No, thank you,” she repeated politely.

***

I stood under a cold shower a few evenings later still trying to cool my anger and frustration at her refusal. I knew she was attracted to me, I could smell her arousal the second she recognized me in the cave.

I noticed that she hadn’t seemed upset or creeped out when she said no. There was a note of sadness and longing in her refusal.

That longing in her rejection only fueled my desire for her, and I couldn't help but feel a sense of admiration for her willpower. It was rare to come across someone who could resist the glamor of a dragon as powerful as myself.

I had invited her to join me for a private dinner with me on her last night in the castle and she politely accepted. If I couldn’t glamor her I would have to try and charm her.

I turned off the shower, grabbed a towel, and wrapped it around my waist, walking out of the bathroom to get ready.

When I entered the dining room, Ember was seated at the table, her eyes looking at me with a mixture of curiosity and fear. She wore a simple yet elegant dress, with matching gloves. Her hair was styled in loose waves. Her green eyes sparkled in the light, making my heart skip a beat.

I approached her with a smile, trying to put her at ease. "I'm glad you decided to join me for dinner," I said, taking a seat across from her.

She nodded, her gaze shifting to the plate of food in front of her. "Thank you for inviting me," she replied softly.

I could tell she was nervous, so I decided to lighten the mood. "You know, you don't have to be afraid of me. I won't bite," I joked, earning a small smile from her.

"I'm sorry if I offended you before," she said hesitantly.

"You didn't offend me, Ember," I said softly. "I just wanted to offer you something that could have benefited both of us."

"I appreciate the offer, but I don't want to have a child with someone I barely know," she explained.

"I understand that," I replied, feeling another wave of disappointment wash over me as dinner was served.

We ate in comfortable silence, occasionally making small talk. As the night wore on, I found myself drawn to her more and more. Her intelligence and wit surprised me, and I couldn't help but admire her strength of character.

She leaned back in her chair to indicate when she was full. “Tell me about that orb in the cave. Is it a portal? Is that where you came from?

I took a sip of wine as I hesitated for a moment before answering. I knew that discussing the orb could bring up more questions about my past, and I wasn't sure if I wanted to reveal everything just yet. But something in Ember's eyes made me want to trust her.

"Yes, it is a portal," I confirmed. "And yes, that's where I came from."

"Where exactly is it? And how does it work?" she asked, her curiosity getting the better of her. I gave her a slight smile and she blushed. “I guess I’m not supposed to know about it.”

“I could tell you more if you decided to stay,” I offered.

She smiled as she folded her hands in her lap.

“Ember… I don't understand…" I murmured, feeling my frustration return.

I ran a hand through my hair. This was the only woman I ever wanted and she was the only woman I couldn’t glamor.

"What?" she asked, raising her voice slightly as if she was starting to panic. "Glamor? You glamored me?"

Shit, I said that out loud?

I flashed my eyes at her trying to glamor her once again, "Please forget what you just heard."

She scowled at me, catching on quickly to what I was trying to attempt. "You have glamor powers?"

Unfortunately, she did not forget and folded her arms across her breasts.

She looked anxious and angry. What was I going to do? I decided to just be honest.

“I tried. But, it doesn’t work on you.”

“Why would you try to glamor me?” she asked. But, I could see the unasked question dancing in her eyes. She too was curious why it hadn’t worked.

“I wasn’t trying to force you against your will. I thought it was something you would want. And I wanted you to stay here with me.”

She looked at me curiously as I explained.

“It’s not safe for you out there. You said so yourself, and I know that if you were here with me you’d be the safest you’ve ever been in your life.”

“And in exchange I would be so grateful that I'd carry your child?”

“I thought it was a win-win situation.”

"We just met in real life, Kieran.”

“As you’ve already pointed out.”

“I appreciate you for assisting me back there with my attackers, and asking for a doctor to examine me. I appreciate everything you've done for me so far. But I don’t know you well enough to live with you or produce a child for you."

As Ember spoke, her eyes seemed to chastise me. She went from relaxed to on edge and looked as if she might bolt from the dining room at any moment.

"Yes, I know that. I…" I paused, searching for the right words. "Why don’t you stay and get to know me?"

"Exactly how many girls do you bring to your castle and try this with? Does it always work?" Ember asked with an accusatory tone.

I felt my eyes go wide.

Was she really insinuating that I had done this with other women? She was even asking how many! I wasn't that kind of dragon, and I felt hurt that the thought had crossed her mind. I needed to correct that.

"Hey," I snapped, feeling frustrated. "I have never done this before. You are the first woman I have ever invited here and the first woman I have ever even considered to have my heir. I don't just do this every day, Ember."

"Why did you think you could ask me?" She clapped back with a fire in her eyes.

"You're special. I initially felt a connection to you… Flameheart," I said. “I thought I lost you when you wouldn’t return my texts and–”

"How the fuck did you even find me?" Ember interrupted, as her face turned red.

"Well, I mean your bookstore has quite an interesting name you know," I gestured to my phone. "It wasn't hard to find the location. Once I had the location I knew it would be a bad idea to just show up. I came up with a plan to get you here."

"So… because we connected online you thought you'd lure me here?" she asked with her voice full of shock.

"Well, I was curious about your hands too. When I saw them glow and how frightened you looked when you realized I saw them… I also wanted to know what kind of powers you hold," I stammered and cleared my throat.

She was having some kind of wild effect on me.

Her expression darkened as she looked deep into my eyes.

"So you lured me here because of my hands? You think because my hands glow that I have some kind of power and that is why you want me to bear you an heir?" she questioned again, raising her eyebrows.

The look in her eyes confused me. I was at a loss for words. Nobody ever spoke to me this way. Nobody. And yet, Ember dared.

She was frustrating and captivating all at once!

"You've mentioned you haven't always felt safe out there in the world. Here at the castle you will be safe. Under my watch and care. I can protect you–"

She cut me off looking away from me saying, "I've already heard your offer. In exchange for your protection I need to give you an heir. No, thank you."

"Please, Ember. Please hear me out.”

She scoffed but let me continue speaking. She was so beautiful even when upset. I needed her to understand where I was coming from.

"I can give you protection plus offer you money in exchange for being my surrogate like a business transaction. How does 20 million dollars sound?"

"No. I said no," she fumed, no longer meeting my gaze.

I knew that she wasn't going to hear what I had to say anymore. I could be sure of that. The way that she had faced away from me and wouldn't meet my gaze was enough for me to catch on. Her body language was screaming at me to leave her alone.

I didn't want to make her more uncomfortable so I just nodded and said, "All right. I hope you've enjoyed dinner and the tour. Please have a good night."

I stood up quickly and hurried from the dining room. Every step I took away from her was more painful than the last.

She was the only woman who’d ever made me feel something beyond attraction and curiosity. There was something about her that I couldn't quite place my finger on. It was like a need that I could not name.

As I entered the hall, I ground my teeth wondering what course of action would need to be taken next. I didn't want Ember to be unsafe back at her bookstore. But there was no way that I could prove to her that I had no nefarious intent and keep her here.

I couldn’t bear the thought of going to bed alone.

I went to my study to find some work to distract me. But once I was there, I just threw the papers off my desk out of frustration. I paced back and forth thinking about our interactions, and what I could have said that maybe would have changed Ember's mind about me.

Why did my heart hurt so much? What had gotten into me?