by L J Andrews
A nagging ache along my spine caused me to wince as I lowered onto our bed. Teagan placed his swords against the wall, watching me. “Everything okay?” he asked cautiously.
“I am a dragon,” I muttered, swinging my legs over the edge of the quilts, sighing when I found a comfortable place against my large pillow. “I’m not as large as Thane in true form, but I’m not tiny. In this moment, I feel larger than I’ve ever felt and weaker than I think is normal. Surely humans don’t feel this way with each child. And they must carry them so much longer. Perhaps humans are stronger than I thought.”
Teagan chuckled and slowly crept along the blankets until he pressed his palms on my round stomach. “Don’t tell Mitch you thought they were weak. I wouldn’t really know about babies and pregnant women, but from what mages have told me, and what my mom has said, I think it’s normal to feel uncomfortable. What can I do—anything?”
I sighed, leaning my head back. “No, I shouldn’t complain,” I said running my hands over his. “I’ve actually enjoyed most things.” I jolted and Teagan smiled, opening his hand wider over my middle. “See, like that. Did you feel it?”
He nodded, kissing the spot where the surge of energy and movement had happened. “I felt it. I can already recognize the energy,” he whispered. “It’s unique, but powerful.”
“Are you still afraid?” I asked after we’d remained in silence for several moments.
Clearing his throat, Teagan met my eye. “Yes,” he said firmly. “But only because I love you both so much.” He kissed my stomach once more before creeping toward me and pressing his mouth on mine gently.
“I don’t feel anything will harm us,” I said against his lips, my eyes locking with his electric gaze in the fading light. “I mean that, it’s not something I say to ease your mind.”
Teagan smiled, but there was still a sadness in his eyes—as though he kept some deeper thought from me. “Nothing will happen to either of you. I know that too. Soon, this will all be over.”
Teagan wrapped his arms around me—it was the only position I found comfortable lately. Listening to his steady, powerful heartbeat was the thing that lulled me to rest in the muggy nights. I hoped he slept too. Most mornings he was awake before me, and even with my dulled energy, I knew he was troubled. He spent days working on protecting the caves, but there was more. The ancient mage, Gumma, was teaching him something—hopefully how to embrace his powers to the fullest.
Tonight, Teagan’s arms were strong as they held me. When I was a few breaths from sleep, I smiled when his fingers stroked my hair and he rested his cheek against my head. It seemed the miraculous night with Onyx had added a new level of peace for us all. I wasn’t a mage, but I wasn’t blind to the surrounding darkness. Nag was coming—I could feel his piercing black eyes close—and Bron wouldn’t be far behind. A war that had never ended was coming to a head. It would be soon. Yet, despite the tensions building in the cave, it seemed Teagan and I might find a bit of calm tonight.
Until, in the early darkness of the morning, someone stabbed me.
I knew that’s what had happened because of the shocking pulse in my middle. Gasping, I shot up in the bed, clutching for my child to protect them from my attacker. There was no one there. Teagan groaned and rolled onto his side. Never had a man slept so soundly, I was certain. Scanning my middle, I found no blood, nothing but the remnant of a fleeting pain.
Then it came again.
All the air ripped from my lungs, until I found the strength to release a trembling sob. My body was naturally filled with fire, and it had never harmed me before. Tonight, it seemed as though flames licked across my skin, scorching every inch of me. My forehead beaded in sweat, and my breaths finally came in sharp, rapid puffs as I battled against the searing pain.
My stomach clenched and throbbed, and if I didn’t know better, I would have thought my ribs were splitting apart. Doubling over, I held my breath and clenched my fists, pounding desperately against Teagan’s shoulder.
He only muttered in his sleep. I was positive I might kill him.
When another scorching wave spread down my spine, then my legs, before shooting back up through my chest, I found what little dragon-queen strength I had left and punched Teagan’s shoulder. He shot up, disoriented at first, one hand instinctively reaching for a sword that wasn’t on his back, until he found me clenching the quilts, hardly drawing in a breath.
“Jade!” He clasped my arm. His touch brought another stabbing ache through my center. I couldn’t hold the cry in any longer. Now, Teagan Ward was awake. “What’s happening?”
“I’m dying! That’s what’s happening, or my body is breaking open,” I gasped angrily. “I need your mother! I need Eisha.” I tried to stand, but the racking agony ripped through my body again. Teagan’s arms wrapped around me, and though it was subtle, I could feel the way he trembled as he held me. This wasn’t what humans felt, I knew for sure. They wouldn’t survive. No, this is what it felt like to have a dragon mage leave my body. Excitement carried me through the blinding agony long enough to meet Teagan’s eye.
“Get them, please. Now!”
Teagan positioned me back against the pillow, nodding incessantly. I’d seen Teagan face lindworms, the dark High Priest. I’d seen him accept the truth that he was a mage, that dragons existed, but I’d never seen him paler than tonight as he backed out of our room, darting through the cave.
Chapter 21
The Dragon Mage
Eisha slept two doors away from us in a small cavern she’d claimed when Jade started showing more and more. No one knew exactly when a dragon mage was normally born. Since I was the only dragon mage we knew of, all I had to base my guess on was my own birth. It had taken a little over five months for me to be born, according to Gaia. Eisha had told me it had taken nearly three months for Jade’s birth, since her mother had carried her in human form. What was glaringly obvious was the only time a wyvern or mage aged quickly was in the womb. Once out, time seemed to slow. I’d now known I was going to be a father for some time now. By the way Jade had cried out, I was positive this was the night everyone in the cave was anticipating.
It seemed Eisha had never gone to bed when I threw back the thin linen that covered her makeshift room. She’d snapped to attention, grabbed a few towels, some of her gemstones, and rushed out of her room when she recognized my terrified expression. It was a bit of relief knowing Jade wasn’t alone as I darted toward my parents’ room. The wooden door slammed against the stones as I slipped through their narrow opening. My mother jolted in her bed, propping on one elbow when I bolted through the passageway. She waved one hand and all the lanterns in their room burst to life the same moment I rounded out of the doorway.
“Teagan,” she gasped, her eyes wide. “Are you alright?”
Thane groaned and rolled onto one side. Gaia shoved him until he lifted his head and cracked his weary eyes. I could see where I got my ability to sleep through the apocalypse. My words stammered across my tongue as I pointed to the door. “Jade…it’s really painful…she needs you.”
“What’s wrong?” Thane snapped, his eyes widening quickly. He scrambled to find a shirt to cover his bare chest, but soon gave up and simply darted out of bed the same as Gaia.
My mother grinned and kicked off her sheets, reaching for a satin robe that made her look like a queen. “Nothing is wrong,” she squealed. “It’s time!”
Gaia rushed past me, squeezing my arm as she went, but I wasn’t her focus tonight. I leaned back against the wall, closing my eyes and taking just a moment to catch my breath. I needed Thane’s typical shoulder clench tonight. When his grip found me, I took strength from his hold.
“What do I do?” I gasped.
He chuckled. “You do whatever those women tell you to do.” His face fell slightly when he looked at me again. “Son, be strong tonight. I was positive your mother was going to die when you were born. A lot of power comes with a dragon mage. Jade will be fine, but you don’t fal
ter for her sake.” I nodded, swallowing a wave of fear when my father smiled once more. “Alright, then. Go, I’ll tell the royals.”
Thane’s warning was what saved me from shouting at my mother to save Jade’s life when I returned to the room. Eisha was rubbing Jade’s head, whispering soothing words as Jade sobbed. My mother placed her hands over Jade’s stomach, and a calm washed over the room. Three other mages had beat me back and were rubbing minty sweet oils along Jade’s neck and shoulders, then would place their palms along her body when her muscles convulsed. It seemed to help; Jade found the strength to open her eyes and find me frozen in the doorway.
Eisha turned and jerked her head. “Sit behind her, Teagan. Tonight, your bond will be the most helpful.”
I didn’t say a word. I wasn’t sure if my brain was even processing my own functions. All I had in my sights was Jade. On Eisha’s direction, I sat behind my mate, wrapped an arm around her shoulders, and held her tight against my chest.
“Teagan,” she gasped. “I…I don’t…”
“Jade,” I whispered against her ear. “You are the strongest person I know. You can do this.”
Jade curled forward. I felt the tension mount in her body. Beneath my hold, it seemed as though every fiber in her muscles tensed and rattled through the surge. I pressed my palm against her back and filled her with my favorite energy. I imagined the first time I’d ever kissed Jade Drake. I relived the seal appearing on my back, knowing I was hers for as long as I would breathe. The peace of the forest where we’d spent so much time with each other, the joy in our memories, the hope for our future, slowly dripped from my palm into the bond that connected us. Jade released a long breath and relaxed against my chest again.
A mage rubbed Jade’s forehead with flowery oil. Eisha placed a hand on my forearm and smiled. I must have done what she’d wanted.
“I love you,” I kissed Jade’s neck and held her tighter. She smiled, breathing deeply as her body tensed again.
Over and over, I used what energy I could when it seemed Jade might break from the exertion of what was happening. Every time it brought a wave of relaxation, giving her what I hoped was enough energy to carry on.
My mother clasped Jade’s cheeks after what seemed like hours and beamed. “Once more,” she soothed. “Once more.”
Jade clenched her jaw. I held her forehead with one hand, my other arm wrapped around her shoulders, as I braced her exhausted body against what strength I had to give. Her muffled cry was covered by another sound. I choked on my own breath when her body relaxed and the room was filled with coos and cries of an infant.
Gaia laughed through her own tears while she clutched the baby as Eisha swooped in with a soft blanket. My body froze in my hold on Jade as I watched the women work without pause, wiping, cuddling, cleaning the child. Now, I needed Jade’s strength. I watched my mother, Eisha, and the mages beam—some wiping tears off their cheeks. Jade was breathing heavily against my chest when Gaia handed the bundle over. “Your son.”
Jade beamed, tears dripping down her cheeks as she took the child. I hadn’t looked yet—I wasn’t sure why, but the immediate rush of emotion was suffocating. If I looked at Jade, if I saw my new family, I thought I might break.
“Teagan,” Jade breathed out.
Blinking away the sting in my eyes, I finally found the courage to peek. The knot in my throat only tightened when I saw the tiny body pressed along Jade’s chest. Now it didn’t matter so much if anyone saw the burning tears sneaking out of my eyes. My trembling hand slowly rested along the tiny, warm back of my son.
I smiled and released a haggard breath when my entire body was enrobed in a wash of strangely familiar energy. I felt my power, Gaia’s too, but something so unique it would forever be a fingerprint of recognition for me and my child. Never in all my life had I imagined I might feel such a blinding passion for a moment. How was it possible to fall more in love with Jade, but also in love with a person I’d just met?
Jade kissed the tiny head coated in dark hair. The small cries muffled against her skin until his perfect face turned toward me. Blue eyes—like mine—with a gilded ring surrounding his irises locked with my gaze as though my new son’s power recognized exactly who I was. My breath caught again, but I smiled as I pressed a long kiss against Jade’s head. “He’s perfect,” I breathed. “You’re perfect.”
The others in the room didn’t say anything. They simply watched, crying, laughing, crying some more. As I held Jade against me, as I touched the small ears, the feathery hair of our child, not even Bron could steal the beautiful moment away.
“Oh, he’s a fighter for sure,” Raffi bellowed, staring at the sleeping face of the baby. The entire cave had given us maybe two hours, but when the sun rose over the horizon, the buzzing and insisting we reveal the new dragon mage came.
“He’s tiny and sleeping,” Mitch chuckled.
“Doesn’t matter,” Raffi crooned. “You can just tell.”
“Jade, how are you?” Amber muttered through her constant joyful tears. “I sensed such…agony…we all did.”
“Yes, for all you female royals, perhaps you could keep the males in consideration when you have children. We feel things when you do, you know,” Sapphire chuckled.
“We’ll keep that in mind whenever our bodies are ripping apart,” Amber chuckled.
Laina stepped forward, her pale face bright for the first time in a great while. The lindworm had tied her dark hair back so it draped down her spine, and she seemed younger as she grinned toward my son. Gently, she pressed a kiss to the baby’s forehead. “I gave birth in human form. It is very trying and frightening. Of course, Nag insisted. I think he enjoyed our pain. Four times,” she said. “Each time only made me stronger. You are now forever stronger, Queen Jade.”
“I didn’t know you had four children,” Jade whispered.
Laina nodded, a sad smile pressed along her lips. “I did. But only one was a son, you see. But do not feel any sadness for me, this is a night to celebrate. Your son is beautiful, and I have a feeling he will be a force to finally unite all the races—mage, elementals, lindworms. Everyone.”
Athika nodded firmly, while Ruby bent down to touch our son’s head. “He’s beautiful. What side do you suppose he’ll favor? The dragon or the mage?”
I shrugged. “He has a lot of energy.” My voice was hoarse, and I knew my eyes were still red, but it didn’t matter.
“Oh, he has night energy,” Ced beamed, clutching Amber’s hand tightly. “I think that’s what Laina meant. He has everything to unite the races.”
I nodded. “I feel it too.”
A strong arm found my shoulders. I grinned at my father, whose eyes were nearly as red as mine. For a wyvern warrior, Thane felt a great deal regarding his family. He could be deadly and fierce in battle, but when he was with his mate, me and Mitch, or Jade—his heart rested on his sleeve. “He’s strong,” Thane said softly. “And special. This is a day you’ll never forget.”
“What’s this?” I asked, pointing to the outside of his bicep. A greenish-gold design had imprinted on his skin. The ribbons of gilded color swirled in an abstract symbol that I knew meant something regarding family.
He chuckled, twisting his arm so he could get a better look. “Well, that showed up this morning—for my first grandchild.”
I beamed, but found my eyes drifting to Jade’s arm. The tension in my throat only built. Already, a new seal had carved into her skin on her other forearm. It looked much like her seal for me, but this one still gleamed bright from the new color. I wasn’t sure she even realized it had come.
“I never thought I’d be witness to a dragon mage coming into the world,” Garwin breathed out.
I glanced up, forgetting that huddles of common dragons and mages surrounded us. Nuka stood by Sapphire, and she smiled widely. Nuka hadn’t interacted much with the warriors other than Thane. She spoke with Eisha a few times, remembering the other warrior who had saved her life had been Eisha’s
mate, Gregor. I knew my mother made her a little nervous, but she was warming up. Tonight, though, Sapphire’s sister seemed as though she was finally at peace.
“It’s truly amazing,” Nuka whispered by Jade. “Now, I feel the same strength I felt with your parents, my queen. Even more so. I am honored to be here with you and your family tonight.”
“Okay, since no one else is going to ask, I will,” Eisha interjected. “What will you name him?”
Jade glanced at me, her smile fading slightly. “We, uh…honestly, we’ve never really mentioned names.”
“Raffi. I thought this was decided long ago,” Raffi stated.
“You wish,” Mitch chuckled.
“Leoch means warrior—I’ll just put that out there,” Leoch smiled.
Jade laughed. Her face was more lively than I’d seen in weeks, and already her brilliant strength that had dulled over the months had returned, but in a new way. She was even more powerful, as Nuka had said. She was filled with regal determination to defend her child along with her people, and I loved her all the more for it.
Clearing my throat, I lowered to my haunches, brushing my thumb over my son’s tiny fingers. “I had a thought a while ago,” I muttered softly.
“You never mentioned a name,” Jade smirked.
I flushed, meeting her eye. “I know, but I didn’t know what you’d think.”
“Well, what is it?” Sapphire insisted when I paused too long for his liking.
Meeting Jade’s eye, I released a deep breath. “What about, Malik? After your dad.”
Thane cleared his throat and looked at the ground. Gaia beamed. Eisha wiped her cheeks. Amber and Ruby both covered their mouths. Raffi nodded. But it was Jade’s opinion I cared about. Her eyes brimmed with tears, and I found I loved the way her chin quivered slightly as she nodded. “I think that’s perfect,” she whispered through her trembling voice.
I kissed her. It was a new sort of kiss. I loved Jade, that was obvious to anyone, but now I felt something different. She held our son tonight. I’d seen her sacrifice her wings, battle pain, and now sit with all the power the queen of elementals should. I kissed her with a new admiration and respect. Brushing her hair from her face, I smiled, hoping to convey privately everything I felt in this exact moment. Just for her. Jade’s eyes gleamed as she placed a hand gently on my face. The warmth spread straight to my heart. She knew. And now I knew, she felt exactly the same.
