Well, he's finally figured out that Kenna is his daughter.
As I walk to the door, I hear Cedric ask if she’s his daughter. My heart stutters in my chest. I can’t lose her. “Shh, shh.” I hear him cooing to her, trying to calm her. I see him holding her, gently rocking his body to soothe her as the elevator pings behind him. He pulls back and looks at her. “You’re a dragon.” He says and looks up at me. Her lips quiver as she nods. “Do you not want me because I’m a dragon?” She asks him. She’s worried he won’t want her, and I’m worried that he’ll steal her away from me. “Baby girl, I’d want you even if you were a human. You’re mine. My beautiful baby girl.” He scoops her up and carries her into our apartment as she cries on his shoulder. He kisses her hair, her face and when she lifts her head, he kisses her nose and forehead before looking at her as if he’s never seen a child before. He turns and looks at me. “How? How is my daughter a dragon?” “She’s a hybrid.” I shrug. “She could have been a wolf or a dragon. She got my dragon genes. B
I watch as Tana leaps off the patio banister and shifts, flying away. “Dammit!” “Would you really take me from her?” I hear a soft voice behind me. I whip around, and in two steps I’m in front of my daughter, kneeling down so I’m at her eye level. “Baby girl, I would never take you from your mother. But you both belong with me. You are my daughter, she is my mate, we should be together.” “She’s made a life here, Cedric.” Ishir says to me. I grit my teeth and pick Kenna up, turning to him. “She’s. My. Mate.” He shrugs. “What if it was you? Would you up and leave everything for her?” He looks at me. He knows I can’t. “I have a pack to run.” “And she has a company to run. Why is your life more important than hers?” “It’s not, it’s just….” I run a hand through my hair. “You left her once, Cedric. Now you want her to give up everything and trust you, not only with her heart, but with her daughter? She’s terrified you will take Kenna from her. And I’m giving you fair warning, if y
The next day, Jena and Bastian emerge from her room. She has quite the mark on her neck. It looks similar to mine, whereas the one on his neck is a single puncture, but larger, as if she punctured him with her beak. I guess that’s what she did. I expected to hear from Cedric that day but I didn’t. It wasn’t until the next day that I got the call. “Tana. Are you ready to be claimed?” He is all arrogant Lycan. “I don’t think so Cedric.” “Oh, I do, beautiful. You are mine and it’s about time you realized that. Turn on your phone’s video.” He orders. So arrogant. At first, I refuse. “Tana. You’re going to want to see what I have here.” “Nothing you have will draw me to a battle with you, Cedric. I have no interest in killing you.” “Hmmm, so maybe I should empty this incredible cave of treasures.” He ponders out loud. I snarl, flames licking at my mouth and nose. I can’t turn the video on fast enough. When I do, I see that Cedric is at my cave of treasures. “There you are, gorgeous
I’m exhausted, I’m burned, I have a dislocated shoulder and some broken ribs. I knew claiming Tana would be hard, but damn, my girl is a fighter. I want her to know that I love her and I’m only doing this because I want her at my side. I would never force her submission this way if I didn’t have to. I want a partner in my life, not another pack member. At first, when she blows her fire on me, I think she’s still fighting, until I feel it. The power, the adoration, the love, the submission. She gave herself to me and if I thought I had felt pleasure before when I marked her, this was a whole other level. Euphoria, like I’ve never felt before floods into my system. This is different than what Kenna showed me. It’s the difference between a daughter’s love and a mate’s love. I only have a moment to enjoy it before I’m feeling my body healing. Every broken bone begins to mend, my shoulder snaps back into place, the blisters covering my body soothe and disappear. Her submission healed me.
Cedric doesn’t seem to realize the power that he now has over me. He seems surprised that I’m not fighting him like I have been up until now. It’s my duty, as his dragon, to explain to him what it means to be a rider. As I fly him back to our cave of treasures, I think about how long it’s been since a dragon has had a rider. My parents and many other dragon couples were two mated dragons, so they didn’t have to claim one another. To my knowledge, it’s been a couple of centuries since the last dragon was claimed. Many humans and supernaturals have tried and they lost their lives in the process. Because of that, the humans started writing stories about the ferocity of dragons and then they wrote stories about the noble dragonslayers who would save the kingdom from the mighty, ferocious dragon. In reality, all that happened simply because they wanted to tame a dragon and they weren’t strong enough to do it. Obviously, Cedric is strong enough and he’s the first and only dragon rider in t
It’s been four days since I claimed Tana. Four glorious days, but I know life is waiting for us and we both have responsibilities we have to get back to. Most importantly is our daughter. After another marathon love making session, I pull Tana up to go to the lake we found nearby. We both need to wash the sweat and sex off our bodies. I’ve waited to have this conversation because I was concerned about Tana’s impression of what life with me would be like. While I want her by my side, I also know that she has created a life for herself, and I need to know that she is willing to argue with me to have what she wants. But now, it’s time for us to think about heading home and we need to decide what we are going to do. We, not me. “Tana, we need to talk about our plans, next steps for us.” “You want me to quit my job.” She states. “I want you and Kenna with me. I want to talk about how we can make that happen.” I take her hand, pulling her with me into the water. “What do you want, Tan
I didn’t think. But I should have known. Avani warned me. He said we’re more fertile with our mates and after only four days, I’m pregnant again. And I have no idea how Cedric will react. We’ve only just come together and we’re still trying to find our way. I needn’t have worried. “You’re pregnant? Are you sure?” He asks. “Well, no. But last time, it only took that one time together and a couple of days later, I couldn’t call on my dragon. It wasn’t until Ishir caught up to me and smelled Kenna that I realized why. But that was the only time in my life when I couldn’t call to my dragon form.” His smile is dazzling. He pulls away and looks down at my stomach before looking back up at me. “Really?” “You’re not upset?” He grabs me, spinning me around in a circle. “I’m thrilled. Do you think it’s a boy or a girl?” I shrug. “I don’t know. Ishir could smell Kenna’s cinnamon scent, but you know how good his nose is.” He drops to his knees in front of me, sniffing my stomach. “I can onl
After Avani left, we all settled back into the living room, Palila putting on a pot of tea for all of us. “What do you mean we need to talk about where we’re going to live.” Ishir starts as Palila comes back into the room. “Well, I need to speak to Edur, but Cedric obviously wants me to live with him.” Tana turns to look at me, and I take her hand. “And I won’t be able to be away from him for longer than a few days at a time now, so we need to figure out living arrangements.” I turn back to the room. “Tana and I have already talked about keeping this apartment. If she’s able to work contract or remote, she’ll still need to come to the city on occasion and I’d rather have a place that’s comfortable for everyone.” “You can continue living here, Ishir, just as you have been.” Tana tells him. “What about me? I won’t have a job any longer, not without anyone here to look after.” Palila says and I can tell she’s nervous about the prospect of having to start over all alone. “Actually,”
Eight Months Later “Momma, Kenna blew her fire on me!” My young son comes running into the room, his arms raised and big alligator tears streaming down his face. I reach down and pick him up, putting him on my hip around my growing, pregnant belly. “It didn’t hurt you, did it?” I ask. Our son, even though he has the Lycan gene, is immune to our fire. He got enough of the dragon blood to give him immunity from the dragon's heat. It had taken much longer this time to get pregnant. I was worried that it wouldn’t happen, since my uterus ruptured with Liekki’s birth, but Cedric had promised to try as many times as needed to put a pup or dragon in me. And he didn’t fail me. I’m considered a high-risk pregnancy, but so far, three months in, everything is going well. Kenna comes walking in behind Liekki. “I warned him, Momma. I told him if he touched my gemstones that I would blow my fire on him. He didn’t listen. He touched my gems, Momma.” “Sweetheart,” It’s so strange talking to Kenna
Two Months Later I haven’t gotten Tana pregnant yet. We knew that it would be difficult after her uterus ruptured with Liekki, but my mate wants another pup or dragon and I’m doing my best to give her one. I can’t say that the constant trying to get her pregnant isn’t fun. But I know she’s becoming more and more convinced that she’ll never have another baby. We still haven’t found The Chief. We’ve gotten close, found old facilities and learned how he detonates the explosives he puts into the dragons’ brains, but we haven’t found him yet. Ishir did find a doctor that would help us. He’s human, in his mid to late thirties, but he doesn’t seem to care that we're part of the supernatural community. Or, more specifically, he fascinated by us, especially the dragons. At first, I thought I might have to kill him. He kept staring at Tana and Kenna. But when Avani, Zephyr and Kaylani showed up, I realized it has more to do with the beauty of the dragons than my mate and daughter. Ishir expl
A few weeks later, we’re joined by Avani, his elf friend, Merethyl, Kaylani and Ishir. Ishir is the best tracker in the group. With the work he does searching for missing humans and supernaturals, he travels all over and has the potential to find the hidden bunkers where the Chief is creating his hybrids. “We have to consider the fact that there will be more dragons.” Bastian says. His mate, Jena, recently delivered their baby, so he’s been out for awhile. I left him here while we went to bring down the arena. He wasn’t happy about it, but I needed him focused, and protecting his mate and unborn child had him laser focused on protecting the pack while we were gone. “Not only will there be more dragons, but we need to figure out how this Chief is able to kill them from a distance.” I have an idea about that.” Merethyl says. “I asked my brother to do some research for us and he found that, in the past, hunters would insert small mini explosive devices into the brains of supernaturals
We’re halfway home from the battle at the arena when we hear Kaylani’s lament. “Something’s wrong Cedric. I need to go to her.” “Then, let’s go, Tana. I’m with you.” “I am too, Momma.” Kenna says. Ishir decided to run home before meeting us back at the pack, so Kenna isn’t carrying anyone. We turn and follow the sound of Kaylani’s cry. I’ve never been on this end of a dragon’s lament, and it’s heartbreaking. When we find her, we land, and I immediately see why she’s crying. She is standing over the young dragon. I shift quickly, rushing over to look at the young dragon who is lying broken on the ground. “Kaylani, what happened?” “I don’t know. We were talking and flying when she screamed. Then she just fell from the sky. I tried to catch her, Tana. I swear I did. But she just dropped so fast.” I lean over the young dragon. There’s blood coming from her mouth, nose and eyes. I lift her eye lids and see that her eyes are blood red. Not the pupil, what is supposed to be the lighter
I was nervous about helping Kaylani heal, but she’s a great instructor. She’s patient even when she’s in pain. She helps guide me through healing her and how much energy to push into her, especially since she’s not a fire dragon. Because we were together, I knew something was wrong when we heard the other dragon. “Kaylani what’s going on?” I ask her. My hands are still healing the hole in her wing, but I turn to see another dragon flying in our direction. “I don’t know, but she’s not a dragon we know.” As soon as the hole is healed, she’s up and flying over to where I can see Tana is trying to not fight the young dragon. A dragon that looks very much like her and Kenna. Kaylani turns back to me. “Help Avani, he’s still trapped.” I look around and see the tides are turning. My pack is taking out the hunters and those that are left are starting to run off. My pack is chasing them down. I race back over to the arena, rushing into one of the entryways. I see Kenna struggling to get t
I only watch Cedric fighting Troy for a moment. Kaylani and Avani both still need help and Cedric looks like he’s holding his own against Troy. I turn back to Kaylani. “I’m going to shift and try to pull the harpoon out.” As I shift, I see hunters fighting past the pack. They are trying to get to me and Kaylani. I begin throwing fire balls at them, setting them on fire. They begin shooting at us and while silver doesn’t impact me, I know the paralytic will. I’m sending more fire balls at them, but there are too many. I’m standing in front of Kaylani who is using her water where she can, but she doesn’t want to douse my fire. Suddenly, I see the hunters start going down on my left. I turn, focusing my attention to the hunters getting through on the right. Cedric emerges on the left from the smoke and fires still burning the flesh of the hunters. He runs over to me, dropping his sword and grabbing my arms, looking me over. “Are you alright, Tana? Are you hurt?” “No, I’m okay.” “Wh
When Tana dropped me off, I had one goal in mind. Kill Troy. However, as soon as I got out of the fire and could see, I realized that the hunters were going after the pups. I immediately jumped in, protecting them, killing the hunters so my pack members could get them away. The rest of the pack that isn’t still underground begins fighting along side me. The pack will always fight to protect its own, but when it comes to our pups, we’re fierce. I make sure the group with the pups gets away safely before focusing on the group of hunters that is following my pack out of the underground. I can see the she-wolves that were captured are exhausted and starving, but they are fighting. It makes me so proud of my pack, proud to be their Alpha. As I’m fighting, I hear a dragon scream and I look up to see Kaylani has taken a harpoon to the wing. It looks like she flew in front of Kenna and took the harpoon to protect my daughter. That’s twice Kaylani has saved my family. I don’t know if I can e
The next morning, we’re all up early. The pack is split in half, half coming to attack the arena and the other half staying to protect the pack and pack lands. Kenna and I shift, and Cedric and Ishir grab their bags of grenades. Cedric has his sword thrown across his back as he puts the harness on me. He grabs his bag then walks up my wing, getting himself settled on my back. The pack members coming with us shift, grabbing their bags and begin running to the arena. Once Cedric makes sure everyone is shifted and on their way, he gives Kenna the signal and she lifts into the air. Once they are far enough away, I lift up and we begin making our way to the arena. About halfway there, we meet up with Avani and Kaylani. I notice the Avani has a female on his back. I’m surprised, but I don’t have time to wonder about it. We lift up higher into the air so that we can see the arena from high above the clouds. We watch for Cedric’s pack and when we see them getting closer, he gives the signal.
When Tana and Kenna arrive back at the pack, it doesn’t take long for news to spread that we have two additional dragons on our pack lands. The warriors with missing mates all came rushing to ask about it. We are meeting in my office when they find us. “Alpha, did you find them?” “Have a seat.” I tell them as they come in. “Just tell us.” Another demands, causing me to growl a warning at him. Tana steps up to him. “All of you, have a seat. We have much to discuss and not much time to do it. Any time wasted arguing is time that we should be planning how to rescue your mates and pups.” They all walk in and sit, but they are restless. “So, you did find them?” “Yes, your mates and your pups are all alive.” Ishir tells them. Almost as one, I see their noses go up as they sniff the air. “This is Ishir. He’s a tiger and was in the arena with me and Tana. You can trust him. This,” I point to Avani, “is Avani, the earth dragon. And this,” I point to Kaylani, “is Kaylani, the water dra