Four Bonds

by Kelsey Soliz

  If for some reason they don’t like they idea, then we can go back to the drawing board and figure out another way to make it happen. One way or another, I think we’re onto something here. We will find a way to make it happen.”

  I clapped my hands and leaned forward to give her a hug, thrilled that one of my ideas would be put to the public for thought.

  “Oh, thank you! I’m still trying to figure out where I fit in here, I don’t want to step on toes or get involved where I’m not welcome.”

  “You could never do that, dear. Would you find it helpful to meet with me more regularly so we can have lessons? I could start teaching you what it is exactly that I do, what’s expected of me, and at the same time give you more information on the history of our people and help you to understand how we do things in general.

  I’m not sure when my husbands and I will retire, and we certainly don’t expect you to take on a whole litany of new responsibilities right now, but if you would be interested in getting your feet wet in the leadership of Nogalia then I would be happy to help you out. I would also greatly enjoy the time with you, and we could get away from all that testosterone!”

  I giggled again because it seemed funny for some reason to hear the queen talk about being irritated sometimes by the kings.

  “You’d do that for me?”

  “Of course! When you decided to marry my sons, you became mine as well. Now that your sister has gone back to America and your Grandmother is no longer with us, I’m sure you’ll need someone you can come to with questions or for support or just to chat.

  I’m not sure if you’ve made friends here yet, but I can certainly help introduce you around and help you find some ladies that you’d get along with? I want us to be close, I’ve always wanted a daughter and I want to be here for you in any avenue you’ll have me.”

  I blinked back tears, touched by the turn in conversation. “Thank you, Alina, that means the world to me. Gran and I were always pretty close, even though she was a little wild. It has been hard without Josephine here, we text and call often but it’s just not the same. I’d like that as well, I missed out on having a mother my whole life and I’ll definitely have questions.”

  “Anything, anytime.”

  I picked up a cup of tea for something to do, trying to work up the courage to ask my other questions.

  “Well I suppose I have some questions about my new body. I thought I knew everything about it, but being a dragon isn’t quite the same as being human, is it?”

  “Not entirely. There’s some significant differences, some I’m sure you’ve already taken notice of.”

  “Yes, my dragon and I are kind of learning together, I’ve definitely noticed how quickly I heal from minor injuries and feel so much stronger now.”

  “And have my sons spoken to you much about dragon pregnancies? I don’t want to give unwelcome advice or make you feel like I’m begging for grandchildren. I mean, I am, but I also know you all will make that decision when the time is right and when you all feel ready to.”

  “Well, they’ve told me that it’s a shorter pregnancy term than humans, and that symptoms will be accelerated. They told me that I’d know when it happens, that there was no need for pregnancy tests, but I’m just not sure I understand what that means.”

  Alina took a sip of her tea and offered me a tray of cookies. I took a bit of a shortbread dipped in chocolate and nearly moaned it was so buttery and tasty.

  “With my first pregnancy, I wasn’t sure what that meant either. Our dragons live within us and have front row seats to what’s happening within our bodies. As shifters, when we become pregnant, our dragon will start to become quite protective of our growing child. We lose the ability to shift for the duration of the pregnancy to protect the delicate life that is growing. Your dragon will make it her full-time responsibility to monitor the child and lend it her strength while the child grows, which is partly why the pregnancies are shorter than humans’.”

  “I see. Thank you, that’s very helpful. So there’s no hard and fast way to be sure?” I nibbled my lip a little, scared to say the words out loud that would definitely change everything.

  Alina set her tea down and really looked at me, taking both my hands in hers and letting her expressions often.

  “Do you think you’re pregnant, Isla?”

  I nodded slowly, unsure how what her reaction would be and unsure how exactly I felt about it yet.

  “I’ve been suspecting for the past few days, but I’m too nervous to actually try and communicate with my dragon. I wasn’t sure I was ready for her to tell me I wasn’t if I wanted to be.”

  “And do you want to be?” Alina’s eyes were shining now, tears starting to slip past them.

  “When I first found out about the curse, I was sure I wanted to wait awhile. I wanted time with your sons to establish a good foundation, to learn to live with one another and find our happiness. I didn’t realize then how quickly they would cement themselves in my life, nor how quickly and deeply I would love them. They were very supportive with whatever I chose, making sure I knew that if I wanted to wait we could. When I was…taken, before the weddings, it was devastating to think I might not get my happily ever after with them after all.

  I kind of had an epiphany when I was rescued and receiving medical care, and when the doctor asked if I was interested in any form of birth control I turned him down. I also feel that the whole of the country has been waiting over 20 years for this curse to be lifted, and I’ve seen first-hand how excited the people out there are about dragons returning and how integral they are to society.

  It seemed selfish for me to put off a pregnancy that would enable everyone to become who they were meant to be. If there was a way to gift it back to those that didn’t get it, I would in a heartbeat. But knowing that no babies will be born with a dragon mark until I birth one, I couldn’t make them wait for me to feel one hundred percent ready because honestly? I just can’t say I’ll ever feel one hundred percent ready to become a mother. I only know I have four supportive spouses that already go above and beyond to take care of me, a more than comfortable home, and now I even have you and your husbands to guide me and give me a full family.

  I didn’t tell the guys until we were coming back from our honeymoon that I opted out of birth control, but I know they’ve been anxiously waiting news and I just wanted to be certain before I told them…”

  Alina was full on crying, somehow still managing to look the graceful queen she was. She grabbed a tissue and tried to dry her eyes, but it was a pretty pointess gesture because more tears just replaced what she wiped up.

  “H-have you b-b-been able to sh-sh-ift?” She was blubbering at my news.

  “Not in about 3 days. Luckily I tried last time when I was by myself, otherwise the guys would be suspicious.”

  “And w-what is your dragon doing?”

  I closed my eyes for a minute, checking in with her for the first time in days. It was nice to have support here with me while I did this, someone to confide in if I was wrong in my guess. When I reached out to my dragon I found her curled protectively around something, a happy glow on her face and then a slight tickle in my tummy. I sucked in a breath, feeling crazy for thinking what I was. If I was pregnant, I was only like a couple weeks in. No way I’d feel movement. Right?

  The tickle happened again and my dragon chuffed in adoration. Shit. My hands flew to my stomach and my eyes opened wide, and a feeling of acceptance washed over me as I put everything together.

  “Did you feel something?”

  “How…?”

  “Dragon pregnancies are accelerated. Your baby will still be quite small but with your dragon inside you, you’ll be able to feel every little flutter as if it’s amplified, even if your baby should be too small to feel. You’ll likely start showing in about a month or so.”

  Now I was full on crying, though I’m pretty sure I wasn’t as pretty as the queen when I did it. Alina rushed over to me, wrapping h
er arms around me and rubbing my back as we reveled in the newness of the baby growing in my belly.

  “You have no idea how loved this child will be. When will you tell my sons?”

  “As soon as I can, I guess. As soon as they’re all together. Dinner tonight maybe?”

  “I wish I could see the looks on their faces. You must tell me how they react. Come with me, I have their baby blanket somewhere upstairs. You can take it with you, I used the same one for all four of them. My mother knit it when I found out I was expecting Declan.”

  ✽✽✽

  Later when Lander and I were driving back home, I had the blanket safely tucked away in a protective box, and even though Lander kept asking what it was and shooting me furtive glances when I told him not to worry about it, we somehow managed to get all the way to the house without me flapping my gums. I really wanted all the guys to find out at the same time, and I knew I wouldn’t be able to keep the secret to myself for more than another hour or so before I was sure I’d burst.

  I busied myself with a book in one of the studies, pretending like I was super engrossed in it so I wouldn’t have to talk to anyone. When I saw Atticus return home finally, I waited a few more minutes to ensure everyone was around the table before making my entrance. Maalik came to get me for dinner and I grabbed the box with the blanket in it and carried it with us like it was no big deal.

  Going to my usual seat, I carefully slid the box into the middle of the table and stood to get their attention.

  “I just wanted to say that you all have made me happier than I’ve ever been, and happier than I thought I ever could be. Getting to see you all everyday as we go about our different tasks is something I look forward to constantly. I’m always counting down to the next minute I get to see one of you, and I’m enjoying learning more about Nogalia and all the people that make the cogs run here.

  Also, thank you for sharing your family with me. I had a great time with your mother this afternoon, she has agreed to help me learn more about the country so I can understand my role within it better, and I will be having lessons with her a few times a week from here on out so I can learn the ins and outs of everything.”

  The guys all looked a little confused but pleased by my words, so I took a deep fortifying breath as I prepared to deliver the rest of my speech that had been running through my head the past hour.

  “She also passed something along to me, something she thought might be useful for us soon. Declan, you’re seated at the head of the table. Would you mind…?” Maalik slid the box down to Declan and everyone peered over at him curiously as he ran his fingers lightly over the edges of the box. He pulled off the lid and looked at me and everything I hoped he’d feel was swirling around his eyes and broadcasting back to me. Love. Bliss. Pride. Excitement.

  Declan dropped the lid in shock and Maalik took it out of his hands as Maalik came to my side, dropping onto his knees in front of me and burying his head in my stomach. My dragon recognized it was our mate there, otherwise she would have been kicking some ass to protect our child from whomever dared get so close.

  My hands shook as I embraced Declan back and then the other guys were looking at me a little hesitantly, as if afraid to say out loud what they thought I was telling them. I simply nodded at them, hugging Declan to me tighter and said the words that would change everything for not only us, but also for the whole of Nogalia.

  “I’m pregnant.”

  ✽✽✽

  Thank you all so much for taking this journey with me! I hope you enjoyed living through the next part of Islas’s journey, please leave me a review on Amazon so I know what you’re looking forward to in the next and final book and what you liked about this one! The final book in the Four Betrothals series, One Family, is set to be released on September 15, but I gave myself plenty of time so it wouldn’t be rushed. You can preorder it here

  but there’s a good chance it will come out sooner, so follow me on facebook here so you can stay up to date on it’s release! If you enjoyed this book, I hope you’ll consider reading another project that I’ll have coming out in the next few months as well, here’s a little sneak-peak for you. Stay safe out there!

  Excerpt from Getting Back Me, releasing summer 2020

  I walked down to the waterfront and let the salt air breathe against my skin. I saw some couples getting on the big ferris wheel and smiled at how simple it looked to be happy. I don’t think Brad and I were there anymore. If I wasn’t with Brad, what would I be doing?

  That was the million dollar question.

  I had never lived alone before. I would need a new job, maybe Cara would let me crash on her couch? Oh my God. Was I really thinking so calmly about a potentially life altering-decision? Why wasn’t I panicking? Why did the thought of being single not freak me the hell out? Time to bring in backup.

  I picked up my phone to call Cara, my best friend. Unlike some people, that girl would drop everything if I needed help. This definitely qualified as one of those times.

  After a few rings, her breezy voice came over the phone.

  “Hey girl what’s up?”

  “Um, I think I need you.”

  “Everything okay? What’s going on?”

  “Am I happy with Brad?”

  “Shit. We’re there, huh? Where are you?”

  “Um, I’m just downtown by the ferris wheel.”

  “You’re not at the office?”

  “No, I was feeling a little claustrophobic and took the day off.”

  “Shit this is serious. You never play hooky. Okay, give me ten minutes and I’ll be down there. Don’t move.”

  This was why Cara was my bff. She had earned the title. Cara owned her own business, and even though it was just a smallish wine bar, she actually looked forward to going to work everyday. Something I knew nothing about.

  I toed off my sandals and dug my toes into the thick grass in front of my bench. The sky was perfectly clear today and the Puget sound was sparkling in the sun’s attention. I closed my eyes and felt the light breeze stirring my hair a little and tried to remember the last time I had come down here to just breathe. I couldn’t. When had my life become so boring? I was 25 for God’s sake. I should not be wearing pantyhose and shoes that pinch my feet, I should be going out dancing and kissing boys.

  Shit. I should be kissing boys? Maybe my relationship with Brad was a lot more fucked than I realized. Had we even had sex lately? If I couldn’t remember then clearly it wasn’t anything to write home about. Sure, we were responsible adults ready to get married, but being married didn’t equate with being boring and predictable, did it?

  I felt the bench settle a little bit right as Cara’s trademark perfume hit my nose. Fresh gardenias.

  “What happened?”

  I kept my eyes closed, enjoying the feel of the sun on my skin.

  “You know how I told you that venue we wanted had an opening in a few months?”

  “Yeah, it seemed like it would be a good fit. Is it not?”

  “No, it would have been.”

  “Oh no. What now?”

  “Some conference popped up on the calendar today. Guess when.”

  “Idiot. Brad can’t skip one training seminar to marry the love of his life?”

  “I’m not entirely convinced that title belongs to me anymore.”

  “Harley, what are you talking about?”

  I finally open my eyes, swiveling my body to face her. She looks awesome, as usual. No boring business casual happening there.

  “I asked him if he actually wanted to marry me still. He said yes, but… I don’t know. He had to check his work schedule first to see if we could do dinner tonight to talk things through. That’s a whole lot of time for me to stew on these new revelations. I called you and you dropped everything. Shouldn’t my fiancée drop everything when he learned I was having doubts?”

  “He should, and you definitely deserve that level of dedication. What else?”

  “I was thinking about
how we met in high school, and how he tried for months to get me to notice him. The boy made an idiot of himself in front of the entire football team to ask me to prom. In college he skipped parties to help me study for tests I was nervous about. I asked him if he would have chased me so hard if he met me now instead of then.”

  “And?”

  “He hesitated. I don’t want someone who hesitates. When did my life become this? I don’t sing anymore. We don’t go out unless he has a business meeting. We don’t sneak away for the weekend unless it’s company sanctioned. I feel like his receptionist for sure, but love of his life? The woman he can’t wait to marry? I wouldn’t describe me as that. Isn’t that something I should want?”

  Cara let out a heavy exhale and looked out at the water. She seemed to be thinking about things, I could practically see the wheels in her mind turning.

  “What is your heart telling you?”

  “He hugged me today after our conversation and you know what? It did nothing for me. He smiled at me and I didn’t feel any butterflies. Is that something that just goes away after a while? Is this a normal relationship progression?”

  “It shouldn’t be. I’m not the one to ask for relationship advice, you know I’m having too much fun being single. But Harley, you’re young. You’re not married, yet, and thank God this is happening now instead of after you took his name and moved to the ‘burbs. Does leaving him make you feel broken?”

  “I was thinking about that before I called you. I was wondering what my life would look like if I wasn’t with him.”

  “And?”

  “You know what my first thoughts were? I would need to find a new job. I wonder if Cara would let me stay with her.”

  “Harley, I can’t tell you what to do or where to go from here. I can tell you though that if walking away from him doesn’t send you into a panic-induced spiral, doesn’t make your heart hurt beyond comprehension, then maybe it’s time to start over. Getting married should be exciting. You two should be all over each other and eagerly planning out your future. I get that sometimes things happen and that that might interfere with personal plans, but marriage is a big fucking deal and the fact that it’s been this difficult just to pick a damn date? That just doesn’t sit right with me. You used to be so much fun. In college when we’d go out to a bar you’d be the life of the party. Now you sit at home and are in bed by 9 so that you can get up and workout before getting to the office. I never thought I’d see you as a receptionist, you have way too much spirit to work in such a drab environment. That’s his job. That’s not you.”