by ERIN BEDFORD
Crossing her arms over her chest, her face went red. “Why don’t you?”
I gestured to my stomach with raised brows. “While I might still be sexy as all get out, I don’t think they would want to get with a woman already pregnant by three other men.”
Raiden and Jack let out a growl in agreement. I shot them an appreciative grin. “Besides, we don’t want sex with me to be on the table. We don’t want them thinking in any direction of my abilities.” I did air quotes as I said it. The last time – the last two times, actually - anyone found out about my powers, they’d tried to force me into being a power horse, someone they could use and toss aside when they were done with me.
Now that I was pregnant, I wouldn’t be letting anyone touch me but the three who made me this way, no matter what some seer said.
“Are you ready for this?” Jack asked, coming to stand to my right side.
I took a deep breath and let it out. “As ready as I will ever be. Are our men in position?” I kept my eyes forward on the waiting party, trying not to give away our ruse.
“They’re waiting just outside the woods near where they are keeping Firestar.” Raiden lined up his steps with mine on my other side.
“Good.” My lips curled up, and even I knew it wasn’t a pleasant grin.
“Remember, be nice.” Jack’s voice danced in my ears, making some of the tension in my shoulders to ease.
“I’m always nice,” I shot back as we stopped before the group. Our own group consisted of me, Jack, Raiden, my sister, the twins, and two guards. We’d agreed upon only bringing a few people to this meeting to keep it from going into bloodshed. The way the men were leering at my sister and myself, I didn’t see how that wouldn’t happen and soon.
“Lords and ladies.” Orion greeted us with a sly grin and open arms. I didn’t trust him already. “I trust the trip was pleasant.”
“As pleasant as can be when pregnant,” I couldn’t help but quip.
Orion’s eyes dropped to my swollen belly barely contained in my jacket. “I apologize for any unpleasantness you might have had on your journey. My wife had a difficult pregnancy herself when she had our boy. Not so much with our daughter though. She seemed too ready to be out in the world.”
The grin on his face was meant to ease me, but I didn’t drop my guard.
His expression wilted slightly before he turned and placed a hand on the male’s shoulder next to him confirming my suspicions. “This is Blake, my oldest. My daughter, Ellie is busy teaching the young ones some Earth nonsense and couldn’t be bothered to attend.”
The way he talked about his daughter told me that he expected her to learn as much as his son did about politics. That was something my own father never cared about, not until my brother died and left him with nothing but girls. Even then, he expected our mates to take care of the political aspects, not the ‘weak’ women. Orion’s distinction made me like him a little bit more.
“We are happy to meet your acquaintance.” I nodded to Blake but didn’t offer my hand. Instead, I gestured toward the rest of our group. “This is my sister, Aeis. The twins are Fujin and Raijin, firstborns of the Eastern Region.” The twins nodded in turn and then I took Raiden’s and Jack’s hands in mine. “And these two are my mates, Jack of the North and Raiden, youngest son of Lord Shen of the East.”
Orion scanned our party, a calculating look in his eyes. “You are quite the collector, I see. The next heir to the West, the nephew of the current Northern Lord and all three of the heirs to the east.” He chuckled, and his shoulders shook with it. “A bit of a siren, huh?”
My teeth ground as I forced myself not to break the truce already. We hadn’t even started to discuss Firestar, and I already wanted to knock this guy’s teeth in.
“What can I say?” I smiled sweetly. “I’m truly blessed.”
“I bet.” The unaligned leader’s eyes trailed over me for a moment but not in a lecherous way. Lucky for him, since I could feel the burning hint of power in the palm of my hand just itching to be let loose.
Aeis stepped forward drawing Orion’s attention and his son’s to her. “I apologize if I’m out of line, but can we see Firestar?” Blake’s eyes stayed on Aeis a bit longer than I liked, though she didn’t seem bothered by it.
Orion’s brows furrowed, and he stroked his jaw. “No apologies needed, but I was under the impression that the fire dragon belonged to your sister here.” He pointed a finger in my direction.
Aeis pressed her lips into a thin line and nodded. “Of course, but as you have said yourself, we have traveled a long way, and my sister isn’t in any position to be standing out in the elements like this for long periods of time. I just hoped you would want to make her as comfortable as you would your own wife or daughter?” Aeis raised a brow, her soft voice countering the condescending words.
Blake blinked. Five minutes. Five minutes was all it took for my sister to win that man over. If his father didn’t think my sister had some sense in her head, then I knew the son did. He’d want to give her whatever she desired just to keep near her.
Thank God for that.
Nodding, Orion turned his gaze back to me. “Your sister is correct. I would be a terrible host indeed and example of the unaligned people if we kept a pregnant woman waiting out here while her mate is held captive inside.”
His words made our party relax slightly, but then he waved a finger in the air. “Except,” he added, “we are not the ones holding him.” He pressed that same finger to his lips in thought. “You have to understand, we accept dragons from all over Waesigar no matter their crimes. Of course, we keep those who might be truly dangerous away from our women and children, but we have to make certain compromises to ensure their safety. That mainly involves us not getting involved in their affairs.”
I scoffed. “You’re no leader then, if you can’t even regulate your own people.”
“Maya,” Aeis warned, but I shook my head.
“No, I won’t hold my tongue any longer.” I stepped forward until I was inches from Orion, my eyes firmly on his dark gaze. “I have tried to be civil about this and all you’ve done is waste our time while the people who have my mate could be killing him right now. I asked nicely for Firestar back, but you’re telling me you can’t help me. Now, my question to you, Orion, leader of nobody, is why you even bothered with this meeting?” I paused and waited for him to answer, but when he opened his mouth, I added, “Think wisely before you answer, my patience is wearing thin.”
I no longer held back the heat in my hand, causing the flame to fill it. I allowed my other hand to crackle with electricity, causing Orion and his men’s eyes to lock onto them. They stiffened, and some even drew their weapons, but Orion held a hand up to hold them back.
“Now, I am the one confused, aren’t you an earth dragon?” There was some curiosity in his eyes but also fear.
I lifted my hands up, and my eyes slid over to the fire and then the electricity. A slow, wicked grin curled over my face as I said, “Why yes, I am.”
“Then how are you …?” he started but was cut off as one of his men decided that they weren’t going to wait any longer.
With a yell, he charged at me their sword drawn, wings of ice sprouting from his back.
Traitor. The thought was followed by my hand flying up. The fire shot out, hurtling through the air and hitting him in the chest. It threw him back a few hundred yards behind the group.
It was like someone flipped a switch. The moment I knocked the guy out, the rest of the men around Orion rushed me.
Almost without even thinking about it, the powers came out of me. Vines burst from the ground wrapping around three of them, holding them in place. The electricity in my other hand zapped the closest one to me, the man wiggling on the ground as he convulsed.
Two came at me from either side, and I stomped my foot. The dirt and grass froze, sharp shards of ice bursting upward to chase after them. They weren’t quick enough to get away. The ice swept up t
heir legs and over their arms, freezing them in place.
I had never moved so fast in my life. Before I was pregnant, I had been pretty fast on my feet, but now, it was like the others were moving in slow motion, and I could anticipate what they were going to do next. Jack and Raiden had tried to push me behind them and block the attacks, but I was too fast.
By the time they got to me, the only unaligned dragons left standing were Orion and Blake. Orion had a restraining hand on Blake’s shoulder, keeping him from coming after me. His own eyes were wide with fear and admiration. Now, that was something I could get used to.
The clearing was quiet for a moment. I relaxed my arms and took in the damage I had done. It’d been a while since I’d been in a fight, and I had to say that even I was impressed. I wasn’t even winded.
“Holy crap, Maya,” Aeis murmured, her eyes wide. “When did you become such a badass?”
I clicked my tongue and smirked. “What do you think I’ve been doing cooped up in my room all day? Playing cards?” Raiden and the twins chuckled, but Jack simply stared at me. “What?” I cocked my head to the side. “It’s not me. It’s your kids who are the badasses.” I gestured to my stomach with a grin.
The sound of Orion’s throat clearing drew my attention back to him and his son. “I think we got off on the wrong foot,” Orion stuttered and then cleared his throat again.
Licking my lips, I offered them a fanged grin. “Now, that’s more like it.”
13
Orion and Blake led us into the heart of the unaligned camp. Similar to Firestar’s when he was working against his father, this settlement had a homier feeling to it.
It was probably because of the children running around and the mothers chastising them to behave. A little girl with auburn hair tied in pigtails not more than six stopped playing with her doll the moment she saw us. She ran in our direction and pointed a finger at my stomach.
“Why are you so fat?”
My mouth dropped open as Aeis giggled. Snapping my mouth closed, I glared at my sister before turning to the little girl. With a soft voice, I explained, “I’m pregnant, not fat.”
“So, you have babies in there?” the little girl tilted her head to the side, her nose wrinkling so her freckles stood out more.
“Yes, three of them.” I smiled as her eyes widened.
“How’d they get in there?”
The question was so innocent it’d have been cute, had I not been sideswiped by it. I felt like a gaping fish as my mouth opened and closed. I didn’t want to lie to the girl, but I wasn’t sure it was my place to tell her about the birds and the bees. I glanced back to Jack and Raiden, begging them to help me out with my eyes.
Jack crossed his arms over his chest and turned to ask Orion, “Do the children usually have such freedom around the camp?”
Orion grinned hesitantly. “We try not to let them run too wild, but as long as they don’t get past the eastern tent, they’re fine.”
“What’s near the eastern tent?” I asked, happy not to have to answer the little girl but it was her who answered.
She cupped her mouth and leaned in as she whispered, “That’s where the naughty people go.”
I knelt to her eye level and put my hand over my mouth like her. “Who are the naughty people?”
She started to answer but then glanced toward Orion and clammed up. Instead, she said, “If you want to get a husband, you shouldn’t eat so much, or no one will want you. At least, that’s what my gran says to my aunt.”
Aeis snort-laughed beside me.
That was it. No more Mrs. Nice Guy.
Keeping my voice low, I met the girl’s eyes. “I’ll have to keep that in mind the next time I eat a baby. The three I have now are giving me a real tummy ache.”
The girl gasped, her eyes round as saucers, and then she ran away to some lady sitting by a fire with other women. The woman glanced my way with a mean look that would have Lady Nariko jumping in her skin.
“What’d you say to her?” Aeis asked as Orion led us toward his tent.
“Nothing,” I replied, not wanting to hear another lecture, “but my kid won’t be anything like that one.”
Aeis giggled. “That’s what all parents say. Just watch. She’ll be like that and more, especially if she’s anything like her fathers.”
I glanced toward my guys, trailing after Orion and Blake. The thought of a cute little white-headed or dark-haired girl running around made me smile. Even a redhead like the little girl would be fine. As long as they looked like them and not like my late uncle Albert who had a hooked nose and a birthmark that covered the majority of his face. Not that I wouldn’t love my kids no matter what they came out to look like, I just wasn’t naive enough not to think that a pretty face would make their lives a hell of a lot easier.
“I’m going to have my hands full, aren’t I?” I sighed and tugged on the edge of my braid. We stopped outside of a tent that wasn’t any larger than the others but had purple flags waving from the door poles.
“Oh, you bet you are, and I’ll look forward to spoiling the crap out of those kids too.” She winked and darted inside before I could argue.
I started to go in after her, but something caught my eye. In slow motion, I turned my head completely toward what I’d thought I’d seen. A pale head of hair and a glacial set of eyes pinned me in place.
“What is she doing here?” I growled and then turned on Jack who had waited with Raiden for me to go inside.
His eyes followed where I pointed and then narrowed. “I don’t know. Nor do I care. She is not my concern nor yours.”
“She is, if she’s the reason Firestar got kidnapped.” I reminded him why we were here. “What if she’s the one who told them to take him? No one else knew he was leaving but those in the North.”
Jack shook his head. “She was already exiled when Firestar decided to leave.”
“How do you know that?” Raiden asked, his biceps bulging as he crossed his arms over his chest. “If you cast her aside, you shouldn’t know anything about her whereabouts.”
Jack shifted uncomfortably before answering. “I’ve had someone watching her.” When I raised my brows at him, he quickly added, “I just wanted to be sure she left and wasn’t planning something. I wanted to keep you safe.”
I took a deep breath and let it out, forcing myself to calm down. Jack was only trying to protect me. I would do the same. He couldn’t know that the vindictive bitch wouldn’t come after us in other ways.
Placing my hands on Jack’s arms, I met his worried gaze. “I believe you. But believe me when I say, there’s no way it’s a coincidence that she’s here, the same place that Firestar was taken to.”
“I agree.” Jack nodded.
“Me too. The bitch had to be behind this.” Raiden dropped his arms and opened the tent flap for us. “Now, how do we prove it?”
Frowning, I walked into the tent and took a seat next to the twins. My sister sat on the other side of them with Orion and Blake at the head of the room. Jack and Raiden took the spots beside me as we waited for Orion to start.
“I apologize for the way we treated you before.” Orion ducked his head, genuinely ashamed of his actions. “I simply thought you were some lesser dragon nobles trying to flaunt their status into getting what they wanted. I had no idea you would have such power.”
I shifted in my seat at the way he watched me. I didn’t like the direction his mind was going in or the way he said power. This had been exactly the thing I wanted to avoid.
“Why is Gretchen here?” I asked, attempting to change the subject from me. When he looked at me in confusion, I elaborated, “The woman out there, white hair, unpleasant in the way that she tried to kill me.”
Still, Orion’s brows furrowed until his son leaned over and whispered something in his ear. “My son knows the woman you speak of, though I haven’t met her myself. As I said before, we accept all kinds of outcasts, no matter their deeds. This woman has committed no cr
ime to our knowledge, so we didn’t command her to stay with the others.”
“How do you know if someone has committed a crime or not?” Raiden asked, leaning forward with his hands folded in front of him. “They could just lie.”
Orion gave a secret smile, a twinkle in his eyes. “We have our spies as do all the regions.”
“Well, to be frank,” I smirked. “Your spies suck.”
The leader tensed but then inclined his head. “Your honesty is refreshing and appreciated. I will make sure to let our operatives know your opinion of their … skills.”
“You do that.” I narrowed my eyes at him, feeling the threat in his words.
Jack placed his hand on my thigh, not squeezing but just sitting it there. To Orion, he said, “We had a falling out with Gretchen a while ago, but our highest concern is that she might have had a part in Firestar’s capture.”
“How so?” Orion raised a brow.
“I know for a fact that she still has family in the North. Some of them might have mentioned Firestar’s intentions, which she may, in turn, have passed on to some of our other enemies.” Jack’s grip tightened on my leg and then let go, moving back to his own lap.
“Well, the leak in your own village, I can’t help you with but this Gretchen,” - Orion exchanged a look with his son - “I can help with that.”
Suddenly, Blake stood, his eyes settling on Aeis for a moment before he left the tent. Not more than a moment later, he returned, taking his seat beside Orion like nothing had happened. I started to ask what was going on when a shout jerked my head toward the tent entrance. A few seconds later, Gretchen was dragged in by two burly guards.
“What is the meaning of this? I’ve done nothing wrong.” Gretchen’s eyes landed on me, and her struggles strengthened. “You bitch! This is all your fault. You already have my man, you can’t just leave me in peace?”
I snorted. “Like I care enough about you to hunt you down. You’re the one who can’t leave me alone.”
