Water Dragon (The Bride Hunt Book 2)
Page 26
“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 that 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.”
He kissed her again. “I will hold my daughter. I might never put her down.” His whole face softened as he looked down at her.
Candy laughed. “The scary thing is that I think you mean it.”
“Of course I mean it.” Then he locked eyes with her. “By the way, I have some news.”
She frowned. “What news?”
“I ran into Lake earlier.” He grinned. “Sky is pregnant. She is already a few weeks along. After you jinxed them so badly the last time, they decided to wait awhile before telling anyone. I didn’t even know that she was in heat.”
She had to laugh. “That’s amazing news. It makes sense now. Remember, that little vacation they took. We had to look after Maggie.” She paused, remembering how well the three dogs had gotten along. “It was because she was in heat.” Then she pulled a face. “I didn’t jinx them that first time.”
“You so did.” He nestled into her neck and kissed her just under her ear. Then he looked down at their daughter. “Your mom is a jinxer.”
Their daughter made a little noise that sounded like an agreement.
“You tell your dad that he talks through his… you know where.”
Just at the second, there was a farting noise. The little one had farted. They both looked at one another and laughed.
“You take after your mom,” Torrent managed to get out between chuckles. Then he looked down at the little one and turned serious. He even made a strange noise.
“What’s wrong?” She’d had enough surprises for one day.
“Um… it’s nothing.” He gave a small shake of the head. Candy could see that he didn’t mean it.
“Tell me and right now.” She leaned forward but something inside her spasmed. It felt like the start of a contraction. Shit! “I’m about to get seriously cranky.”
Torrent licked his lips. “I’m sure I just saw her eyes slit… like dragon eyes but that can’t be, on account of her being human.” He pointed out unnecessarily. “I’m sure I was just seeing things.”
“Yeah, you must have been.” Torrent was looking intently at the little one. “How would that even be possible? I mean…” The contraction worsened and she gripped her belly. “…could it be possible?”
“I don’t think so.” He shook his head.
Candy tried to suppress a groan as the contraction grew worse.
“Should I call the healer?” Torrent looked concerned.
“In a minute. Hypothetically speaking, let’s say what you just saw was real.”
He nodded.
“How would it be possible?”
“Well.” He shifted in his seat, moving the baby to his other arm and snuggling her to his chest. “You’ve changed in the last few months because of our bond. It’s normal after a mating that the human takes on some traits of the male she is mated to.”
“My eyes haven’t slitted or anything.”
“Yeah, but you are a fully grown adult. It might have affected�
Candy grit her teeth and moaned.
“I’m calling the healer. We’ll talk about this later.”
Candy nodded, her contraction was reaching its peak. Not nearly as bad as the ones she’d experienced earlier, but her body was so bruised and battered that it hurt anyway. Candy made a grunting noise. The baby cried out from Torrent’s arms.
Torrent stumbled as he walked towards the door but quickly righted himself. “Oh hell,” he growled. “Shit.” He chuckled and shook his head before turning back towards her. “I know what I saw this time.” He was smiling broadly. “A tiny patch of scales, beneath the little one’s skin when you made those noises. She doesn’t like that you are in pain.” His eyes were wide. “I guess there is a part of me inside her after all. She must’ve experienced changes because of our mating.”
“You’re saying your DNA affected her, just as it affected me?”
Torrent nodded. “Although she isn’t my biological daughter, there is some of my DNA in her bloodstream. That makes her all the more my child.” He was beaming.
She leaned back against the bedding, her contraction over for now. “I’m not sure what it means exactly but I’m glad.” Candy had to smile back at him.
Torrent shook his head in disbelief. “We’ll have to wait and see just how much my DNA affected her. She smells of human, yet…”
“She’s a miracle.”
Torrent grinned. “Our little miracle.”
Another contraction started up. “Call the healer,” Candy moaned. “This thing is coming.”
Torrent nodded. “I must inform my family, my people. I must meet with Blaze to discuss what has happened. This could change things for non-humans. We will have to wait and see.”
“Call the healer.” Candy would have thrown something at him if it weren’t for the fact that he had precious cargo onboard.
“I’m sorry, my love. I got carried away. I am filled with excitement.”
“I’m filled with something else and it’s coming out as we speak. Call the healer.” Candy fake growled, she couldn’t help but to smile even though it hurt like hell.
“Oh yes.” He walked back to her and kissed her. “Fuck, but I love you.”
“Go now before you make me a widow.”
He grinned wider and finally did what she asked.
Dragon King is available for pre-order now.
About the Author
Thank-you for reading the second book in the series. I hope you enjoyed Torrent and Candy’s story. Blaze is up next, his book is going to be a little bit different.
Thanks to my readers and to everyone who made this book possible.
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I live on an acre in the country with my gorgeous husband and three sons and an array of pets. You can usually find me on the computer, completely lost in worlds of my making. I believe that it is the small things that truly matter like that feeling you get when you start a new book or a particularly beautiful sunset.
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Also by Charlene Hartnady
The Chosen Series:
1# Chosen by the Vampire Kings
2# Stolen by the Alpha Wolf
3# Unlikely Mates
4# Awakened by the Vampire Prince
5#Mated to the Vampire Kings (Short Novel)
6#Wolf Whisperer (Novella)
The Program Series (Vampire Novels):
Book 1: A Mate for York
Book 2: A Mate for Gideon
Book 3: A Mate for Lazarus
Book 4: A Mate for Griffin
Book 5: A Mate for Lance
Book 6: A Mate for Kai
The Bride Hunt Series (Dragon Shifter Novels):
Book 1: Royal Dragon
Book 2: Water Dragon
Demon Chaser Series: (No cliffhangers)
Book 1 Omega
Book 2 Alpha
Book 3 Hybrid
Book 4 Skin
Demon Chaser Boxed Set Book 1-3
Excerpt
The Chosen Series
Book 1: Chosen by the Vampire Kings
Chapter 1
It had been many years since he had been in such close proximity of his birth enemy. Zane looked as arrogant and as full of shit as ever. Barking orders at his royal guard like they were his servants instead of trusted subjects. In some cases, those receiving the harsh treatment were probably his best buddies. Then again, the bastard probably didn’t have any friends. Shaking his head, Brant turned and surveyed the crowd. He felt sorry for the female that would soon be chosen to become queen to the likes of that ruthless king.
It wasn’t his concern though. His own queen was out there. Brant shuddered, praying that the events of one hundred years ago would not repeat themselves. A bloody war between their fathers had been the result of the last choosing. It couldn’t happen again, the vampire species would not survive another war at this point.
As his mind returned to thoughts of his own female, he knew that he would not be able to remain sensible where she was concerned. His focus was on protecting his coven, and he would dispatch the other male without hesitation if he so much as looked at what was his. No matter the odds, and the knowledge of Zane’s ruthlessness, Brant would allow nothing to harm her. She was too valuable, too precious of a gift to him.
Turning, he surveyed the crowd again. Feeling the electric pulse of her closeness. According to the lores, he would be able to sense her and to tell of their compatibility almost instantly even in a crowd full of females. From the noise projecting from outside, he could tell there were many females present. He hoped his chosen would be willing from the start. The last thing he wanted was to force her, to have to go caveman on her and throw her over his shoulder. The thought did not appeal to him, but the choosing was not something that could be ignored. She would feel it as well, whether she wanted to or not.
“Ready?” his head guard Xavier asked as he moved in next to him. His brother’s eyes never faltered as they stared straight into his. Brant knew the reason for the intenseness. Xavier harbored similar feelings of distaste and distrust for their neighboring king. In order to maintain their strenuous hold on the truce between them, it had always been necessary to keep interactions between the two covens to a minimum. This event was no exception.
“Yeah, as ready as I’ll ever be,” Brant replied while taking a moment to scan the room.
“Your eyes are glowing my lord, maybe you should stop looking in that direction.”
Brant looked into Xavier’s clear grey eyes. Always the cool one in a situation. “My eyes have nothing to do with that bastard at the moment, and everything to do with my female. I can sense her, and the urge to mate is strong. I just hope that she’ll be agreeable to a speedy union.”
“I told you to take a female, ease your need. Humans are…easily broken. We don’t want any accidents.” Xavier spoke softly, ensuring that no one else would be privy to their conversation.
“I have a plan.”
“Please, tell me you at least drank recently,” Xavier’s eyes narrowed. When Brant didn’t reply, his brother’s eyes narrowed even more. He made a sound of disbelief and continued, “Brother, should you harm our future—”
“Enough,” Brant growled.
Xavier lowered his eyes.
“I said I have a plan. My future queen will come to no harm.”
Xavier nodded. “Yes, my lord. It is time.”
Brant took a deep breath. He had been raised for this moment. His decision and the events of the next few minutes would determine the future of his coven.
No pressure.
Tanya had seen tabloid pictures of the vampire kings and they really weren’t all that attractive, unless you were into the ultra-big, ultra-built and ridiculously bad non-human types.
She so wasn’t.
The whole choosing ceremony was so outdated to the point of being down right sexist. Yet, every hundred years, all of the eligible women would assemble to be chosen. A queen for each of the kings. The worst part was that vampires and humans never mixed so there was very little known about them. Their traditions, their ways, their expectations, she shuddered.
For at least the twentieth time, she wished that her best friend Becky was there with her. The whole thing was a real circus. Tanya hadn’t realized how many women there were in Sweetwater between the ages of twenty one and thirty. Aside from age, there had been a long list of requirements. Everything from weight and height to a clean medical exam.
Tanya sighed as a group of giggling women squeezed past her trying to find a spot closer to the podium. Becky was divorced, a complete no-no. It had automatically disqualified her from being allowed to attend the choosing ceremony. Attend, hah, not hardly, the right term would be forced. If all aspects of the criteria were met, it was mandatory to be here. For whatever reason, the human justice system went along with this whole farce once a century. Only those wanting a fast track to jail failed to show up. What scared her the most though was the thought of how many of these women were actually hoping to be chosen today.
Vampire queen.
Tanya cringed at the thought. For once she was thankful for being a little curvy. Most men were into wafer thin model types, so she would be safe.
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