The Bride Hunt Box Set Books 1 - 3

by Hartnady, Charlene

  Torrent buried his head into her hair, breathing in her fruity scent. She sat up and turned to look at him. “Thank you. I feel so much better.”

  He could see that her eyelids were at half-mast. She spoke slowly.

  “You’re tired.”

  She gave a lazy smile and yawned, making a sound of agreement.

  “Go and have a nap, I’ll wake you when dinner is ready.”

  She shook her head. “Let me help you.”

  Torrent raised his brows. “You’re already very busy.”

  “Like hell,” she smiled. “Doing what?” She choked out a laugh.

  “Growing our baby.”

  She gave him another lazy smile. “I suppose so.” Her eyes were so damned beautiful. The color of the deepest ocean. Her hair was like spun gold. Not for the first time, he longed for a daughter with hair of gold and eyes like the ocean. The feeling soon passed as he pictured his son. The male would have his eyes and hair but her features. He was sure of it. He couldn’t wait to meet the little one. It was all he could think about.

  Candy gave him a quick kiss and attempted to get up. Her belly really was in the way. Torrent gripped her ass and gave her a push. Yup, in five weeks, six at the most, he was going to be a daddy. Excitement surged through him.

  “I’ll wake you, sweetheart. You rest.”

  She turned and gave him the sweetest smile. The dogs jumped onto the bed and curled up beside her, one on either side. He pretended not to notice. Anything for his mate.

  Chapter 27

  Seven weeks later …

  Torrent concentrated on putting one foot in front of the other, until he hit the solid wall that marked the end of the hallway, and then he marched back. He turned sharply, yet again, and made his way back. Every muscle was bunched and ready. Adrenaline coursed. He was ready for war. Ready to take on the enemy. Ready to fight. The only problem, his foe wasn’t physical.

  Torrent picked up his pace.

  “Stop that,” Tide cautioned. “We should go. It is customary to wait in the great hall.”

  Torrent didn’t answer. He clenched his jaw tighter and continued to march. Back and forth, back and forth.

  The moans started up again. If he didn’t know better, he would think that she was being tortured. Skinned alive, broken, battered, bleeding. That she was dying.

  No!

  Fuck!

  He stopped marching for a second and clenched his teeth, trying to drown out the sounds.

  “Brother,” Tide’s voice was softer. “Why are you doing this to yourself? Come with me. We spoke with the healer twenty minutes ago, all is well with your female. You do not have to be here.”

  Torrent shook his head. “She is human.” His voice was thick.

  “It does not matter. It is tradition that …”

  Tide continued to talk but Torrent no longer heard him. He could only hear his mate, his beloved. She was in agony. He could hear how she tried to be quiet. How she tried to hold it in.

  Fuck that.

  It wasn’t right. He knew that she needed him and yet, not once had she called his name. She was trying to be strong. He hated it.

  He rushed to the door and barged inside.

  “Torrent.” Her face was a mask of hurt. Her hair was plastered to her face. Her cheeks red. Her eyes glassy.

  “Fuck,” he growled as he walked to her. The elderly she-dragon gave him a look of disapproval.

  “This would’ve been over by now if she had been in one of the tidal pools,” the healer stated.

  “The queen is a human.” He took her hand. It was customary for female water dragons to take to the sea within the shelter of the pools. They gave birth there. Candy was not a dragon. “What can I do? I’m so sorry for not coming earlier,” his voice mirrored the tension he was feeling. He had been out in that hallway the entire time but it wasn’t enough.

  Torrent could see that she was fighting her way through a contraction. She was breathing deeply, her belly looked tight. Instead of answering, Candy moaned. It was a guttural sound from deep inside her throat.

  After about another minute, she slumped back, completely out of breath.

  “I should have come sooner.” He cupped her overly warm cheek.

  She shook her head, swallowing thickly. Her eyes didn’t focus on him properly. This is what thirteen hours of labor looked like. The last four had been hard. Impossible even, but his female wasn’t giving up. She had both strength and stamina in spades. She was the greatest warrior he had ever seen.

  “You shouldn’t be here,” the she-dragon chided him.

  “I’m so glad you came.” His female grabbed ahold of him. “Please don’t leave me. Please. I tried to be brave, but I’m scared.”

  “I’m here now and I’m not going anywhere.”

  The healer cleared her throat. “My lord, you …”

  “I’m not going anywhere,” his voice was a deep rasp.

  “As you wish.” The she-dragon didn’t sound pleased. She was the opposite of pleased. He couldn’t give a shit.

  There was a creaking noise as the door closed. Tide had decided to leave him to it. Good. He was the king and if he wanted to be at his mate’s side, he would be here. It would take an entire army to remove him and even then, it wouldn’t be without casualty.

  “Oh god,” Candy grit her teeth. “Here comes another one. It’s happening more quickly—” Her face turned red and she groaned while grabbing her belly.

  “What should I do?” He felt desperate.

  “Breathe, my lady,” the healer said.

  Candy began to suck in air, pushing it in and out in hard pants.

  The healer looked at him. “There is nothing you can do. The baby will be here soon, we are nearing the end of the birthing process.” She peered between Candy’s legs.

  His female breathed as though her life depended on it. Deep inhalations. Her eyes went from being wide and anguished to tightly shut and back again. She seemed to barely be holding it together. It seemed to last for an age before she slumped back. The shirt she was wearing was damp and clung to her body.

  She looked delirious. Her eyelids drooped. His female began to shake. “C-cold,” she whispered. “I-I’m really c-cold.”

  “What’s wrong with her?” he tried not to snarl.

  “Calm down, my lord. The baby has entered the birthing passage. This too is normal.” The she-dragon pointed to a blanket on the sofa. “Put that around her shoulders.”

  Torrent nodded. He raced to fetch the woolen blanket and draped it around his female’s shoulders and upper torso. A few minutes later, Candy began to doze off.

  “What’s going on?” he asked the healer. “Why has it stopped?”

  The she-dragon signaled for him to be quiet. “All is progressing as it should. It is the calm before the storm. Let your mate rest.” She shook her head. “It won’t last very long.”

  Not even five minutes later, Candy moaned. Her eyes opened and her face contorted with pain. She gripped her distended belly with both hands. “Oh god!” she groaned. “Oh!” She pushed the blanket away. “I’m too hot,” she moaned.

  “Won’t be long now,” the elderly female said. “Breathe, my queen.” She began to huff and puff.

  His mate locked eyes with the she-dragon for a beat and copied her. This went on for about a half a minute. “I want to push,” she ground out between pants.

  “Not yet, my lady.”

  “I have to,” she ground out. Torrent could tell that she was already bearing down.

  “Do it then, but not too hard. Slow and easy.”

  Candy pushed. She made a grunting sound.

  “That’s it. Slowly. Keep breathing.” The healer glanced from between Candy’s legs to his mate’s face.

  After about another half a minute, she slumped back, breathing hard. She pointed to a glass of water on the side table.

  Fuck! He was so damned useless. Torrent scrambled to grab the glass and almost fell on his ass.

&n
bsp; Candy smiled as she took the glass from him. He helped her sit up so that she could drink. “Here.” He brushed the hair from her face. “You’re doing great.” He kissed her temple.

  She gave him a smile that spoke of exhaustion. “I don’t know how much longer I can do this.”

  “A couple more contractions and the young prince will be born.” The healer gave Candy a reassuring smile. “You are doing well, my lady.”

  Candy clutched Torrent’s arm and rested her head against it.

  * * *

  Her break didn’t last long. Her contractions were coming fast. It felt like it was happening one after another with barely enough time to catch her breath. Her whole body felt achy. Candy had never been more tired in her life. It was like she had just run a marathon and was being forced to drop and give one hundred pushups.

  There was no backing out. No stopping it. She could feel her belly tighten. Her muscles gripping tighter and tighter. It felt like her entire midsection was being ripped in half. She cried out, gripping her belly. It was so hard. There was a pushing sensation down below. Like she needed the toilet ten times over.

  The overwhelming urge to push hit her. There was nothing she could do to stop it. Candy gripped the back of her thighs and pushed. The she-dragon was saying something but she couldn’t hear a thing. Pushing brought a strange kind of relief. It still hurt but it also felt … good. Although good wasn’t the right word. It was like massaging a knot on your back. It hurt to do it but it was a good kind of pain. A relief. After hours and hours, she could finally do something other than hang in there.

  She sucked in another deep breath and pushed again, giving it all she had. That feeling of pressure increased.

  The contraction finally eased. Torrent whispered words of encouragement. “Do you want some more water?”

  She nodded. Her mouth felt dry.

  He helped her sit up and held the glass while she drank.

  “You should stay sitting, my queen. That way you can use the earth’s pull to help birth the child.”

  Candy shook her head, she lay back down against the pillows in her semi-reclining position. There was no way in hell she could sit and push.

  All too soon her belly began to tighten and the urge to push took over. It felt like this went on for ages. Contraction after contraction. Rest followed by pushing, followed by more pushing. Her reserves were slowly depleting. Candy kept focusing on her baby boy. She could feel that things were progressing. She knew it wouldn’t be long. She needed to stay focused on the prize. Her son. It wouldn’t be long before they met him.

  Focus on that, Candy.

  “I see his head,” the she-dragon announced.

  With renewed vigor, she gave an almighty push. She normally longed for the moments of rest. This time, when her contraction ended, it felt too soon.

  The healer was smiling. “One or two more and he’ll be born.”

  “Can you still see him?” Torrent asked. His eyes were wide with excitement. He glanced back down at her with such love, such pride.

  The she-dragon shook her head. “It’s normal for the baby to move forwards and backwards once or twice before coming into the world. He is preparing himself.”

  It took two more contractions before his head crowned. Candy could feel him there. She breathed in deeply and pushed like she’d never pushed before. Her nails dug into the back of her thighs.

  “That’s it,” Torrent continued to whisper words of love and encouragement. She felt so much better with him there. There was something cool on her forehead. He was mopping her brow with a wet cloth.

  She felt movement between her legs. The she-dragon was doing something. “His head is out,” her voice was animated. “When the next one comes, you need to push with all you’ve got, he is about to be born, my queen. You are about to meet your son.”

  Her heart raced. She made a laughing sobbing noise. Torrent put his forehead to hers, as he pulled back, she could see that his eyes were glinting. His jaw was tense. She realized that he was trying not to cry.

  “I love you so much,” he murmured as he cupped her chin. He kissed her temple.

  She couldn’t wait for her next contraction. Couldn’t wait to meet their little boy. It didn’t take long.

  “Alright, my lady. This is it. Give it all you’ve got.” The she-dragon was focused between her legs.

  Candy pushed like her life depended on it. It didn’t take much. She felt her son emerge from her body. The she-dragon caught him. Her face was filled with joy. Her eyes were bright. Though soon, the joy was replaced with a look of shock. Her eyes widened. She looked … distressed.

  “What is it?” Candy struggled to sit up.

  “It can’t be.” The healer was looking at her baby. Their baby. By the look on the other woman’s face, there was something wrong. Something very wrong.

  “Is everything okay?” Torrent’s voice shook. “Answer me,” he growled.

  The baby was squirming and gave a tiny yell. His hands were fisted. He gave another cry, louder this time. He sounded fine. His skin was pink but looks could be deceiving.

  “He looks fine,” Candy whispered. “Please tell me he’s okay.” She couldn’t see all of him. Her own body was in the way.

  The healer shook her head. “You have birthed a daughter.”

  “What?” Torrent’s voice lashed through the silence. “There has to be some sort of mistake,” his voice cracked.

  The she-dragon shook her head. “No mistake, my lord. I’m sorry.”

  “Why are you sorry?” Candy could hear the panic in her voice. Her little one mewled and she reached for him … her. This was confusing. Surely they could discuss it. She wanted her baby. It didn’t matter what sex it was as long as the little one was fine.

  The healer lifted her child, holding the baby in both hands. Her daughter’s hair looked wet. “I can scent that …” the healer paused, looking down. “I’m sorry, my lord, the baby’s scent …”

  Torrent howled. It was the most anguished sound Candy had ever heard. He turned and left the room. Left.

  Candy couldn’t help it when a tear slipped out. She had just given birth. This was supposed to be the happiest day of her life. “What’s wrong?” She already knew the answer to her question. She knew deep down. “Why did he leave?” she whispered.

  “Your daughter is perfect in every way.” The older woman put the baby onto her chest. On instinct, she closed her arms around the tiny body. The little one was warm. She squirmed and cried out. Candy felt panicked. Her heart was racing. She was breathing far too quickly. Then she looked down. It was like the world slowed down. Like everything stilled for a moment. She felt a love like nothing she had ever experienced before.

  “Hello, baby,” she managed to choke out through her tears.

  “She is a beautiful girl.” The healer gave her a nod. “You did well, child.”

  “She’s human, isn’t she?”

  The she-dragon nodded. “Yes. Very human and very healthy in every way.”

  “Can you give us a moment please?” Candy looked down at her daughter as she spoke.

  “Yes, but I can’t stay away too long. You still need to birth the feeding sac.”

  Candy nodded. “Thank you.” The older woman walked to the door. Candy looked back down at the child in her arms. The healer was right, she was perfect. Her eyes were big and very blue. The little cherub was almost bald with just a few strands of hair on her head. The soft downy tufts were blond.

  Her baby stared up at her with what looked like wonder. Her heart squeezed so tightly. She needed to hold it together. Needed to be strong for her daughter. Candy swallowed thickly. “It looks like it’s just you and me, kid. We’ll be okay though.”

  “Can I hold her?” Torrent stood at the doorway. He looked stricken. His eyes were dark and anguished. His jaw tight. There were two deep lines on his forehead.

  A tear slipped down her cheek. Was this him saying goodbye? Was this Torrent double-checking tha
t her baby was, in fact, human before he turned his back on them or was it … She chewed on her lip and nodded once, holding the little one out to him.

  He took the baby from her. Holding her like she was the most precious thing in all the world. His eyes were filled with tears, his gaze firmly on her daughter. Seeing the baby in his arms, against his huge frame, made her look even tinier.

  Candy could hardly breathe. Her eyes stung and there was a huge lump in her throat.

  “I’m sorry I left just now.”

  “It’s okay,” she blurted.

  “No, it’s not.” He lifted his gaze from the infant in his arms and directed it on her. “I scared you, hurt you.”

  “It’s … understandable.”

  “I didn’t leave because I’m angry or hurt. I don’t blame you for anything. I left because I …” He cradled her daughter more firmly against his chest. “The truth is, I was scared, petrified.” He paused, his throat working. “I’m not her father,” he stumbled on the words.

  It hurt her to hear him say it. Her lip trembled and by some miracle she managed to keep from crying all over again.

  “I want to be though. I really want to be, Candy. I hope that you’ll let me. It doesn’t matter to me that she—”

  “Yes, of course I want that … I want it more than anything …” A tear escaped. So sue her, she couldn’t help it. “I don’t know how it happened. I was always so careful. It must’ve been that last time, with Charles. The timeframe works.” Her mind raced through all that had happened. “I must have arrived here already pregnant. I—”

  “It doesn’t matter. I have a daughter. We have a daughter.” He looked down at their baby with adoration in his eyes. “I’m the luckiest male on the planet because I have you. It doesn’t matter to me that she is human. Our daughter is a part of you and that makes her a part of me too.” He scooted closer and kissed her. Torrent broke the kiss and looked deep into her eyes. He grinned. “Besides, we’ll make a little brother for her to play with …”

  Candy gave him a playful slap on the arm. “Don’t you dare talk about the next one. I still have to give birth to a placenta.”