He nodded. “I will request that our rooms be on the same floor or next to one another. He would draw the line at having her in his space. Maybe in an emergency or if they could have separate rooms in a suite. They still needed to talk. He really needed to try and understand why she had done this. Kai hoped he could understand. He would need to if they were to have any chance of moving forward and finding some sort of even ground as friends. For the good of the child.
“Okay. Come back in three days.” Becky smiled at them both. “Like Eleanor said, call immediately if anything changes. It’s a waiting game right now.”
“I’ll change back into my clothes.” Ruby glanced at him.
“I’ll wait here and carry you back.”
Her mouth dropped open. “There is no way you would manage.”
“Want to bet?”
“Don’t be a hero,” Ruby said. “I weigh far too much.” She smiled. “You can carry me if it…becomes necessary.”
“Get dressed,” he growled. “I’m carrying you and that’s fucking final.” A need to protect rose up in him. Energy surged through him. Adrenaline pumped. Good, he was going to need all the help he could get.
“One more thing.” Becky had her eyebrows raised. She looked a little uncomfortable. “One last thing we need to discuss. Sex.”
It felt like the floor dropped out from under him. “What about…it?” He couldn’t bring himself to even say the word.
“The two of you had it once and might want to have it again.”
“Not going to fucking happen.” Kai growled and instantly regretted it.
Ruby visibly paled. She put a hand to her chest. A hurt look passed over her face. Had she been expecting for them to become a happy fucking couple? Maybe carrying her wasn’t the best idea. It had given her the wrong impression.
“It’s not like that between us.” He tried to keep his voice even.
Becky folded her arms. “Oh really, because Zane informed me that there is a very good chance of the two of you becoming mates.”
He felt his jaw tighten. Everything in him tightened. “It’s not happening,” he growled.
“There is a very good chance my brother will force us to mate but it will be in title only. We will lead separate lives…I would never expect Kai to…” She turned her beautiful eyes on him and for a second he couldn’t breathe.
“We’ll think of something.” He spoke more softly. “I will talk with Blaze. I’m sure that…”
“He won’t listen. He has made up his mind.” She made a small noise of frustration. “I’m afraid that when he makes up his mind about something, there’s no changing it. Ask me. I know. I won’t expect you to be anything other than a father to this child. I am glad you will be in his life. We can try and find a way around this. Maybe.”
Despite everything. He believed her. He didn’t know how to respond.
“Let’s just say hypothetically that you decide to have sex,” Becky blurted.
“Why hypothesize something if it’s never going to happen?” This whole line of conversation irritated him. He was still attracted to Ruby but there was no way in hell they were having sex. Not a chance.
“Humor me,” she growled loudly. Impressive for such a small human. Then she gave a small chuckle. “The thing is…if you were a couple…I would recommend plenty of sex. Sex is known to speed up ripening of the cervix. It could bring on labor.”
“It’s true.” Eleanor nodded. “I have recommended it in the past, unless of course there is a reason why dragon shifters would avoid rutting.”
Both Eleanor and Becky turned towards Ruby who was looking at the ground. Her cheeks were a bright red. “Um…” She looked up when she realized the attention was on her. “Sex is fine. Our healers would prescribe the same. They tried to get me to accept a male to my bed to…”
Kai growled loudly. The thought of another male with Ruby was unacceptable. It wasn’t jealousy. That was laughable. He was worried about the baby. That was all. He couldn’t care if another male touched Ruby.
“Go on…” Becky said.
“They would prescribe sex to bring on labor, only they warned me against…it’s silly…” She chewed her lower lip.
“What is?” Both Eleanor and Becky said simultaneously.
“No hard rutting is permitted. It’s an old dragon’s tale, but it is believed the egg could become scrambled.” She was talking quickly and looked nervous. “It’s never happened before. That an egg became scrambled because of sex…or any other reason…but…I’ll stop talking now.”
“Okay…good. Thanks.” Becky was trying to hold back a laugh. He could see it. “It would be fine if the two of you decided to have sex. I’m just saying…just in case.”
He bit back a couple of choice words.
The little human continued. “Make sure you take it nice and easy…gentle sex is prescribed.”
Neither of them said anything.
“Hypothetically of course,” Becky added. “Go and get changed.” She smiled at Ruby.
Chapter 13
His best friend leaned against the door outside his room. Kai noted how her expression changed to one of relief as their eyes locked. The look of relief was fleeting, when Jordy glared at Ruby, daggers appeared in her eyes. As the saying went, if looks could kill…in this instance, Ruby would be, not only dead, but obliterated.
“I’m going to take a flyer and assume that this is her.” Jordy folded her arms, and tapped her foot. Her eyes widened as they landed on Ruby’s distended belly. “That’s not yours is it?” When he didn’t answer she made a groaning noise. “Oh my God! It is yours. What the hell, Kai? I wouldn’t believe those goddamn rumors but it’s true.”
“Please can we not do this out here?” Kai noticed how Ruby was clutching her stomach. It irritated him that Jordy was speaking about the female as if she wasn’t even there. Judging by Jordy’s total shock, it looked as if all of the involved parties were heeding Zane and Brant’s request to keep all information quiet. The general population was aware of Ruby’s presence, they just didn’t know why she was here or even who she was.
He opened the door to his room. “Go in. I’ll be back in a few minutes.” He gestured to Jordy. She was his best friend ever since they were kids. Even though he was a little pissed off with her right now, he owed her an explanation. He knew her behavior stemmed from her worry over him.
“What about her?” Jordy threw Ruby another filthy look.
“Go into my room or you can leave, you choose,” he said between clenched teeth.
“Fine,” she huffed. “I can’t believe you. How did this even happen?” She muttered the last as the door slammed behind her.
“Was that your female?” Ruby’s voice was timid. “I didn’t think you were with anyone. I’m sorry if I have caused trouble for you. We really need to talk. I need to explain…”
“They’ve assigned you a room just three doors down the hallway from me.” He ran a hand through his hair and then gestured in the general direction. From the dark smudges under her eyes, he could see Ruby was tired. Beyond tired. “Let me take you there.” He started walking and she followed. When they arrived at her door, he turned to face her. “You get settled in, maybe lie down. I’ll come by in a couple of hours and we can talk then.”
Although she looked disappointed, she nodded. “Alright.”
Kai opened the door and gestured for her to go in, in much the same way as he had done at his own door just minutes earlier.
Ruby looked thoughtful, she walked in and turned, taking a hold of the door so that her body was mostly positioned behind it. “Kai.” Her voice was timid and had a questioning ring to it.
“Yeah.”
“Do you think they were right? Becky and Eleanor…the healers…do you think this baby will be fine? That nature will take it’s course, as it should, and that he will be fine?” Those beautiful amethyst eyes were wide in her head. Their entire focus directed at him.
Just yesterday mor
ning, he’d wished for one more chance to meet this female. One opportunity, no matter the cost. And here she was. It was nothing like he hadn’t envisioned. He certainly never thought he would be on the cusp of fatherhood. That the child in question would be in jeopardy.
His heart raced, pumping blood through his veins, helping him prepare for battle against an unknown foe. He wished he could tell her everything would be fine. But despite the uncertainty, that everything would be okay. The fact of the matter was, they were two very different species. Maybe too different for this to turn out well. He hoped not.
“You heard Becky.” He took a step forward, putting a hand on either side of the doorjamb. “We have to stay positive.” He swallowed thickly. “I may not have known about this child yesterday.” Kai shook his head and sighed loudly. “One day later and I already love him. I am here for him in every way, which means I’m here for you, as the mother of this child. We will get through this together, regardless of what…”
“Don’t say it.” She closed her eyes, blinking away the tears. “It’s going to be okay. It has to be.” It looked like she was trying to convince herself. Maybe she was trying to convince him.
Kai nodded.
“What will happen after he is born? Will I stay here or…?”
“There is plenty of time to talk about it.”
She shook her head. “We need to discuss these things sooner rather than later. Despite what Becky said, I know my release is coming soon.”
Thank fuck vampires didn’t have heart attacks or he would have dropped right there and then. Her release was coming soon. He couldn’t wait. At least once the egg was there, they could relax. That was if there even ended up being an egg. There was so much that needed to happen first. “You first need to tell me why you were in that bar. Why you abducted me. Why me?” He held her gaze. “You knew your heat was coming and yet…”
It was her turn to hold up her hand. “We’ll talk about it when you come back. I’ll tell you everything.” He could see how she held back a yawn. “I can’t right now. You’re right, I need to rest. You need to go and see your female.”
Kai nodded. “Yeah.” He tried to soften his voice. He didn’t correct her about Jordy. “I’ll see you later.”
“Later.” She closed the door.
Kai just stood there for a few minutes, staring at the wood like it might give him the answers he needed. It would have to wait.
When he opened his door, Jordy stood at the window in his living room. She slowly turned around as he entered. Her eyes were red rimmed, like she’d been crying. “I cannot believe you kept this from me. I thought we were friends. Best friends. Dammit. There were some rumors flying around the castle but I refused to listen to them. I didn’t believe it. I was so sure that you would’ve told me if…”
“Calm down.”
“Don’t tell me to calm down! No wonder you’ve been acting all weird. It makes sense now. I just wish you had trusted me. A dragon shifter.” She was two parts angry and one part upset. “A dragon bloody shifter. What the hell were you thinking? I can’t believe you didn’t tell anyone. I can’t believe you didn’t tell me…your best friend.”
He ignored the comments about Ruby being a shifter. “I didn’t know she was pregnant, I swear.” He took a step towards her.
Jordy made a snorting noise. She rolled her eyes. “Yeah right. Like hell you didn’t know. It’s an impossibility. Her scent would’ve driven you mad. You wouldn’t have been able to keep your hands off of her. You’re not some teenager anymore, Kai. Hell, you were with me that one time when…”
“You don’t have to remind me. I remember,” he growled. “Damn near scarred me for life.” Kai had to smile.
Jordy made a sound of frustration but he couldn’t help but notice how the edges of her mouth curled upwards. It had been his best friend’s first heat. So many years ago. A teenager himself, Kai didn’t know what the hell was happening to him. One minute they had been laughing and joking, and the next he couldn’t stop sniffing at her. There was a need inside of him. He didn’t exactly know what that need was. He told Jordan how wonderful she scented. How he couldn’t get enough of it. Next thing he knew, he was pulling her to him hugging her, wanting to touch her. Wanting things he knew were wrong…at least with Jordan they would be. That’s when she had thankfully realized what was happening and had hightailed it out of there. She’d never let him forget it either. Teased him for months afterwards.
“You may not have known what was happening when you were a fourteen-year-old, gangly teenage boy but there’s no way you could not have known as a grown male. No fucking way.” Her hands were on her hips. For whatever reason Jordy often felt the need to mother him at times. He loved and hated it in equal measures.
Had he known that Ruby was in heat? There had been a nagging voice inside him that had made him ask the question at the time. He’d been very quick to accept Ruby’s bullshit answer. What if she had told the truth? Would he have been able to walk away from her? To stop himself from having her. Not a fucking chance. The fact remained though, she should never have taken him in the first place, knowing full well she was entering into her heat. It was deliberate and deceitful on her part.
Taking him while she was in heat was the same thing as putting a starving male in front of a delicious blood banquet. Or offering someone dying of thirst a vein full of sweet blood and telling them not to drink. Even if he had known at that point, there would’ve been no walking away. At least he would’ve known though. He could’ve done something sooner. Been involved sooner.
He shrugged. “I was there, she was there. I guess I fooled myself into believing she wasn’t in heat. I guess I must have known on some level. Maybe that’s why I’ve been so…like I’ve been.”
“I take it that bitch lied to you about it. She had to have fed you some bullshit story and you fell for it.” Jordy’s eyes blazed. Her skin was flushed.
“Don’t speak about her that way.” It pissed him off that Jordy was right but he didn’t like the way she called Ruby names.
“She lied to you, Kai. You didn’t know she was in heat and now she’s pregnant. Next thing you are going to be telling me how she didn’t know she was in heat. That this was one big mistake.”
He didn’t answer.
“I don’t know how you can even stand to be in the same room with her,” Jordan spat.
“She’s the mother of my child. It is what it is.”
She shook her head. “You’re crazy. You’re too sweet, too damn nice. I don’t want to have to hear how you’ve forgiven her.”
“I know you care about me and that this has come as a big shock. This is between Ruby and I. I hope you will stand by me and support me. These are my decisions to make…not yours or anyone else’s.”
Jordan’s whole demeanor changed. Her shoulders sagged and she huffed out a big breath. “Of course, yes. I’m shocked. I’m a little hurt, make that a lot hurt, that you didn’t confide in me as well.”
“There was nothing to tell.” He rubbed the back of his neck. “I didn’t know.”
“Nothing…really?” She made a sound of irritation. “Do you have feelings for this female? Is that it?” If he didn’t know better he would say Jordan was jealous.
Kai shook his head. “This has all come as a big shock. I’m still trying to come to terms with the whole thing.”
“You do have feelings for her.” Her mouth dropped open. “I can’t believe it. I can tell there is more that you are not telling me. You’re covering for her somehow. This female lied to you. She rutted you knowing full well she was in heat. I can’t believe that some mangy, desperate shifter female did this to you. Why was she even in Sweetwater? Why did she go after you?” She muttered the last.
“Ruby is not mangy.”
“She had to have been desperate to leave her own kind.”
Yeah, she had been desperate. He didn’t know why. He didn’t have answers and even if he did, there was no way he was telling
Jordy.
“Probably a nothing back home. Can’t attract males of her own kind.” Jordan rolled her eyes. “Why the hell did you fall for her lies?”
“You don’t know.” Kai was sure that by now everyone in the castle would have heard, guessed or that someone would have talked despite the kings briefing the guards and all parties involved to keep quiet.
“Know what?”
For just a second, he thought about not telling her. It was crazy to think that this would stay under wraps for too much longer though. Soon everyone would know. “Ruby is a princess.”
Jordy burst out laughing. Her laughter quickly died. “You’re serious?”
He nodded. “Yes.”
“For fuck sakes. You’re serious. Why did she go after you in the first place?”
“Thanks, Jordan,” he mumbled.
“I don’t mean it like that and you know it. What was she doing in Sweetwater at a time like that? A freaking princess. It doesn’t make any sense.”
He wished he fucking knew. Even if he did know, he wouldn’t tell Jordan. It was none of her business. This wasn’t something he wanted to share with her.
“Tell me what went down. Maybe I can help you. You can’t keep this all inside. I’m your best friend dammit.” Jordy looked up at him. “I’m here for you. You need to know that.”
“I know. Thank you. It means a lot.” It did mean a lot to him but Jordy was wrong about one thing. He didn’t plan on keeping it all inside. There was going to be a whole lot of talking going on. It would be a discussion held between himself and Ruby. Although he and Jordan were best friends and although they had always done everything together, this would not be one such occasion.
She threw her arms around him. “I still want to help out, by the way, with that other thing.”
A Mate for Kai (The Program #6) Page 13
