Betrayed (Elesian Dragon Mates Book 2)

by Sammie Joyce

Gavin’s hand on her cheek pulled her out of her contemplation. “Rose? You blanked out for a moment. Are you okay?”

  “I’m good. More than good. I think it should be six pieces because there’s not just five of us. There are six. I’m pregnant.”

  Nerves were pressing against her chest, but Rose needn’t have worried. Gavin let out a whoop and threw his arms around her. Jagger was next. Mace was laughing as he joined the group hug and Asher barreled into them so hard that they all fell to the ground, though he took the brunt of the fall.

  Mace’s hair was in her face, and for a moment Rose couldn’t tell who was kissing her, but she quickly realized by the feel of his lips that it was Jagger. She got caught up in the laughter, her joy bubbling up as her nerves faded away.

  Eventually, they broke apart, though Asher kept his hand on her stomach. “We should celebrate! Drinks are on—oh no, we can’t do that, can we?”

  “That’s why you stopped drinking halfway through the festival ball,” Mace said quietly. “You found out then, didn’t you?”

  “Yes. I got dizzy and Maria examined me. She told me then. I’m sorry I didn’t tell you at once. I just wanted to find the perfect time.”

  “Good thing you told us now. I was beginning to wonder about your sanity, turning down that champagne at the festival. It was the best I’ve ever tasted. If you decided you didn’t like it, I might have had to forcibly re-educate you.”

  “Shut up, Jagger. You did not think that.”

  “I did.” His eyes were gleaming. “You have restored my faith in your sanity.”

  “We shouldn’t get the tattoo today.”

  “No way, Gavin, you are not backing out again!” Rose shoved him gently with her shoulder. “If I can take the pain, so can you!”

  “I’m not worried about my pain.” He rolled his eyes, as though this should be perfectly obvious. “I just don’t want you to be in pain. You’ve just given us the best news of our lives. We should celebrate it with something fun, not with having needles shoved into our skin.”

  Even Asher looked like he might be won over by that argument. “Perhaps we could go flying, and have a picnic at one of the clan mountain spots. You should see the views there, Rose. It feels like you’re on top of the world.”

  “Not a chance. I’ve spent the past week psyching myself up to do this today. We’re doing it.”

  Rose had never done anything as daring as getting a tattoo—at least, until she met Asher. He was certainly rubbing off on her.

  She laughed as she realized just how much she had changed. When she had first joined the Areva coven, she never would have expected to face down hell beasts and fall in love. Rose couldn’t decide which of those was more incredible.

  “Fine,” Asher grumbled. “But we’re talking to Maria first. If there’s any chance of the tattoo hurting the baby, we’re not doing it.”

  Rose hadn’t thought of that. What if Asher was right? She would have gone right ahead with the tattoo, possibly harming her child, if he hadn’t thought to take precautions.

  Mace led her to a chair, urging her to sit. “You’ve just gone as pale as a ghost. What’s wrong?”

  “What if I’m a terrible mother? What if I hurt our child without meaning to? What if I mess up so badly that there’s no way I can ever fix it?”

  Her eyes turned automatically to Asher. He was the clan leader, and used to soothing others’ fears.

  “You won’t be. Most parents only have two people, but we have five. We’ll work it out, together.”

  “If Gavin isn’t dropping him on his head.”

  “Like I’ll be the greatest danger. Remember the time you tried to paint me blue? I was in the hospital for a week!”

  “How was I supposed to know it was lead paint? I was five.” Jagger’s mock-offended expression didn’t last long. “I would never hurt our child.”

  “Not on purpose,” Gavin muttered sourly.

  “Who says it’s a him, anyway?” Rose was glad that Mace stepped in. She was used to Gavin’s and Jagger’s bickering, but she didn’t want the joy of the moment to end just yet. “It could be a girl.”

  “Or it could be neither,” Jagger pointed out. “Maybe we should just say ‘it’ until it’s old enough to decide its own gender.”

  “We are not calling our child ‘it’ for the first years of its life!” Rose realized what she’d just said and shoved Jagger again. “For the first years of their life. You’re terrible.”

  “You love me.”

  Rose softened. “I do.”

  “’Them until we know the gender.” Asher gave Jagger a stern look. “Which we will find out as soon as possible, if only to shut you up.”

  Rose loved nothing more than talking to her dragons—except maybe sleeping with them, both the sexy and non-sexy versions of the phrase. Still, as much as she would have liked to stay there and chat for hours, they had an appointment.

  “We should get going. We’re going to be late.”

  “Such a pity we don’t have a witch who could teleport us there instantly.”

  “You know I’m not powerful enough to do that on my own yet, Jagger.”

  “Could have fooled me. Without you, Gavin would be dead and Hellith would probably be sieging this place right now.”

  Rose hadn’t gotten many compliments before she met the dragons. Not that she didn’t have people who thought highly of her, but they simply didn’t often express it. Her dragons never hesitated to heap praise on her, no matter how undeserved.

  “Rose is right, we should go.” Asher’s hand was still on her stomach. He didn’t seem to have any intention to take it off.

  “You know, it’s a little too soon to feel the baby kick.” Rose pressed her hand over his, imagining the tiny life inside her.

  “Since when do I need that as an excuse to touch you?”

  He had a good point there.

  Rose took the lead, heading out of the basement and toward the mansion’s huge garage. Asher had recently purchased a car. He lamented that his motorbike would get lonely from misuse, but it was hardly big enough for all five of them.

  He and Jagger argued about who would get to drive as they walked. Rose knew Jagger was just messing with Asher. He wouldn’t let anyone else touch his car.

  Rose settled into the back seat between Mace and Gavin. Jagger was now teasing Asher about loving the car more than Rose. If he wasn’t careful, Asher would kick him out and make him walk. She leaned her head on Mace’s shoulder as she chuckled at Asher’s expression.

  Gavin had taken Asher’s spot in resting his hand on her belly. He stared at it, entranced, as though he could see their baby through Rose’s clothes and insides. “This child is going to be so spoiled. They’ll be a right little terror growing up.”

  “We’re not spoiling them!” Rose protested. “At least, not too much.”

  Jagger turned around in his seat. “Who do you think you’re kidding, Rose? Asher will be constantly hovering around, shooting fire at anyone who even looks like they might hurt her. You’ll have to drag Mace away to stop playing with her, and Gavin will be coming home with toys more expensive than Asher’s car every week.”

  “What about you?”

  “I need to find some blue paint that doesn’t contain lead.”

  “Jagger!” Rose wasn’t really worried; Asher would do much more than paint Jagger blue if he were to follow through on that prank.

  “So it’s a she now? I thought we were using it.” Gavin smirked at Jagger, who scowled back at him.

  “It doesn’t matter. An heir will strengthen our bloodline further, and serve to seal the unity between dragons and witches.”

  Of course Asher would think of that. Rose had been so focused on her joy at having a child with her dragons that she hadn’t really thought of the wider implications. Their child wouldn’t just be important to them—they would be important to everyone.

  Right now, though, Rose wasn’t worried about that. She put her hand over Gav
in’s, smiling.

  Hellith was trapped in hell. They were all safe, and she was blissfully happy with her dragons, expecting their child.

  “What are you smiling about?” Mace’s breath was warm in her ear, sending little shivers of pleasure down her spine.

  “Nothing.” Rose’s smile widened. “Just thinking about the future.”

  Read Delivered, Book 3 in the series to join Rose and her dragons on a journey that will change everything—and maybe not for the better.

  Read Delivered

  Get the Prequel - Shifting Seasons Series

  There’s a prequel to the Shifting Seasons series and you can get your copy for FREE!

  Download it now to get the start to an awesome series!

  Abiding love honors the past and provides a legacy that will live on forever.

  Aspen, a bear shifter, is happy running through the woods with her best friend, Locklear. The wolf shifter loves her with all he has and ever will be. One day as they run through the forest together, they meet a stranger. Soon this stranger becomes important to them both.

  Tap here to get your FREE copy of The Prelude

  https://dl.bookfunnel.com/su209mo665

  About Sammie Joyce

  Paranormal romance is Sammie’s favorite sub-genre of romance. She loves shifters of all sorts. Protectors. Those who need protection.

  Falling in love and finding love together. Realizing that your mate is standing right in front of you. The magic in those moments. These are some of my favorite parts of romance!

  Writing is one of Sammie’s great loves. Paranormal Romance is her passion.

  http://sammiejoyce.com

  Tap here to follow Sammie on Amazon