Rafe was happy that he was about to fulfill his promise to his best friend. But also uneasy. “I’m not sure if that’s wise. I wasn’t exactly Mr. Nice Guy when I last saw her. Noah’s death hit me hard, and I took some of it out on her, much like I did on you.”
Cupping his cheek, Nikki leaned against him. “Even if she shouts at you, I know you want to see her, Rafe. And you never know, she might look forward to a link to her dead lover. After all, Gwen never found a mate after Noah’s death, according to Kai’s mother.”
“She must’ve loved Noah.”
“It seems like it.”
Rafe could say he didn’t need to see Gwen or her child. There was the public mating ceremony to prepare for. Not to mention as long as he was still employed by the army, he needed to work on pinning down Simon Bourne’s whereabouts.
But Rafe wasn’t a coward. He also owed it to Noah to see through his promise.
Rafe nodded. “Then we’ll go to see her. When can we leave?”
“Right after you kiss me, we can go. I’ll fly you there.”
“Wales is a long way. Will you be okay?”
She frowned. “Even though I won’t be ill when in dragon form, I haven’t thrown up in a week. Our baby is behaving, I’m strong, and Dr. Sid cleared me for flying last week. I’m more than fine to transport you there.”
Searching her eyes, Rafe saw truth and determination in them. If Nikki said she could handle it, he would take her word for it. He nodded. “Okay, although I’m curious about this new armor. I didn’t think the army had devised anything against the laser guns yet.”
“They haven’t,” Nikki answered. “We’ve had various prototypes ever since Tristan was attacked nearly two years ago. We don’t don them very often because it hinders maneuverability when fighting, but it’s not too bad for someone flying at a steady pace.”
“I somehow can’t see Kai wearing one.”
Nikki smiled. “He probably won’t. I’m only conceding because of my recent attack and your protectiveness of our baby.”
He raised his brows. “So, my growling has finally worked on you then?”
She stuck out her tongue. “Of course not. I made the decision for myself. To protect our child, I’ll even wear ridiculous clunky armor.” She blew out a breath. “The lengths I go to. Next, I might have to give up sparring for a while.”
Pulling her closer, he murmured, “Not until it’s absolutely necessary. I want to win our next match and end the tie.”
Her fingers lightly brushed the back of his neck. “Oh? You’re confident you can beat me next time, huh?”
“Of course. What man wouldn’t want to pin the most beautiful woman in the world under him?”
“Pretty words aren’t going to bring down my guard, just to let you know.”
“And here I thought I was clever,” he answered with a wink.
Laughing, she patted his chest. “You’re going to have to work a bit harder, Hartley.”
Rafe chuckled. Leaning down, he stopped an inch from her lips. “I love you, Nikola Gray.”
She smiled. “I love you, too, Rafe.”
He took her lips in a rough kiss. Pulling her tighter against his body, Rafe showed Nikki just how much he loved her.
Chapter Twenty-Five
Rafe tightened the thermal blanket around his body as Nikki glided over Snowdonia National Park in Wales. Kai flew slightly ahead of them, the faint sunlight dancing across his golden hide.
After hours of flying, they were finally approaching their destination, which was nestled within a group of mountains.
As cold March wind blew, Rafe cursed. He had no idea how anyone could live here. Clan Snowridge must be made of hardy souls.
Still, despite the cold and wind, Rafe enjoyed the steady rhythm of Nikki’s wings. Looking up at Nikki’s underside, he admired the fading sunlight glinting off her hide not covered by her armor. Maybe one day he could fashion a harness and ride on her back. He’d just have to be careful about how he proposed his idea to his soon-to-be mate. Being harnessed probably wasn’t her idea of a good time. But if he hinted about her having free rein to dive and scare the crap out of him, she might warm up to his proposal.
It was hard to believe they would be mated in a little over two days. A public ceremony wasn’t his first choice, but if it meant staying with Nikki, he’d gladly wear one of the traditional dragon-shifter kilt things in front of all of Great Britain in a rainstorm.
As Nikki slowed down the beat of her wings, Rafe checked his pocket for his gift. The solid outline told him it was still there. He only hoped Gwen would listen long enough for him to apologize and give Noah’s gift to her and her child.
Once they reached the flat landing area, Kai descended first and shifted back to a human. Thankfully, Kai tossed on some clothes before Nikki made her descent.
Maneuvering her body, Nikki gently laid the basket carrying Rafe on the ground. Then she moved to the side. Kai removed her armor and turned around before Nikki finally shifted back to human. Rafe didn’t waste time tossing her a long, warm jacket.
Just as Rafe climbed out of the basket, an older woman approached them. Studying her features, Rafe noticed the faint resemblance to Kai in the shape of the eyes and color of her hair.
The dragonwoman smiled at each of them in turn. “Welcome to Snowridge, Rafe and Nikki.” She moved to stand in front of Nikki. “Kai has told me a lot about you. It’s nice to finally meet you. I’m Lily Owens, Kai’s mother and your official guide during your time here.” She turned toward Rafe. “And Rafe Hartley. Kai spoke well of you the last time we talked.”
Kai grunted, and Rafe tried not to laugh. Rafe found it hard to believe Kai would praise anything about him, but he wasn’t about to call out the man’s mother. He nodded. “Mrs. Owens. Thanks for meeting us.” He looked behind her, but there was no one else. “Will you be taking us to Gwen?”
Mrs. Owens bobbed her head. “Gwen’s daughter was just waking up from a nap, and she didn’t want to take Cora right out into the cold.”
Noah’s mother’s name had been Corinne and Rafe had a feeling Gwen had named her daughter after her human grandmother.
Not that he was going to discuss it with Mrs. Owens. “Would you take us to her?”
“Sure,” She looked to Kai. “You can go visit your sister while I take them. They’ll be safe enough with me.”
Kai crossed his arms over his chest. “My job is to watch over them.”
Mrs. Owens raised her eyebrows. “Do you think I would put them in danger, Kai Wilbur Sutherland? Gwen is sweet and somewhat quiet these days. She hasn’t been a soldier for a long time. She won’t hurt them. Besides, Delia has been going on about her reporter dreams. I think she wants to go undercover for practice. You might be able to talk her out of it. After all, she’s only sixteen.” Kai raised his brows, and his mother sighed. “Okay, Rhydian charged me with watching over Nikki and Rafe. But I wasn’t lying about Delia’s half-arsed plans. Go talk her out of it, Kai. She listens to you.”
Kai turned toward Rafe and Nikki. “Be careful, you two. While I trust my family, I don’t know everyone on Snowridge.”
Rafe nodded. “Of course. We’ll be fine.”
Mrs. Owens motioned with her hands. “Then follow me.”
Nikki was instantly at his side, and Rafe wrapped an arm around her shoulders. Even as they walked in silence, he was grateful to have Nikki there. Rafe had only ever been on Stonefire’s lands and had no idea what to expect on another dragon clan’s lands.
The flat landing area soon turned into a narrow walkway carved between the rocks. Mrs. Owens turned right, and they followed her inside the the mountain.
Unlike Stonefire, which was a collection of cottages, Snowridge had dwellings carved into the mountain. At least, that was his best guess from the doors appearing every so often along the corridor. He wondered about the differences and how they stayed warm in the winter. Before he could distract himself from thinking about the meeting for
much longer, Mrs. Owens stopped to knock on a door. A muffled female voice told them to enter. The older dragonwoman smiled before opening the door.
Nikki squeezed his waist and released so they could enter single file.
Inside stood the tall, dark-haired form of Gwendolen Price. She was a few years older, but Rafe barely noticed. All of his attention was on the young girl on Gwen’s hip.
The girl’s light-brown skin was a perfect mixture of Noah’s dark skin and Gwen’s pale. Her tight, dark curls were divided into two bunches on her head. Her dark brown eyes, which looked so much like her father’s, stared at him as she sucked her thumb.
Gwen cleared her throat, and Rafe forced his gaze away from the child to Gwen. The dragonwoman’s eyes were guarded and her voice tight as she said, “Hello, Hartley.”
While there was so much to say, all Rafe managed to get out was, “Your daughter is beautiful.”
Tightening her grip, Gwen answered, “Thank you.” She looked between Nikki and Rafe. “But I’m curious as to why you’re here.”
Nikki touched his arm, and Rafe drew strength from her love. “First, I want to apologize for being a bastard to you. I had no idea just how much Noah meant to you until you were gone. I never should’ve yelled at you, let alone blame you for his death.”
“I loved him, you know,” Gwen whispered.
Rafe nodded and took a step toward Gwen. “I realized that soon after you returned to Wales.” Pulling out an envelope from his pocket, he held it out to Gwen. “Noah had left a letter to be given to me if he died. Included was a note sealed and addressed to you. I want you to have both of them.”
Gingerly taking the envelope, Gwen didn’t try to open it and read it. He had a feeling she didn’t want to cry in front of strangers, and Noah’s words would definitely bring tears to the dragonwoman’s eyes. Hell, they’d made Rafe tear up.
Instead, he took out Noah’s dog tag. While a little misshapen due to the explosion, Rafe had cleaned it up, smoothed the edges as best he could and put it on a new chain. He turned toward little Cora. “I have a present from your dad, Cora.” He swung the chain, and the little girl watched it. “This is a symbol of your father’s bravery. He died protecting your mum. While he can’t be here, he would want you to have this. It will always remind you of him.”
Cora reached out to touch the engraved metal. “This was my daddy’s?”
“Yes. Do you want to wear it?”
Cora nodded. “It’s like my mum’s. She says hers will protect me. If I have my daddy’s, too, then I should be really safe.”
Gwen’s breath caught in her throat, and Rafe dared a glance. She nodded for him to continue. Focusing back on the little girl, Rafe gently put the chain over Cora’s head. “Now you should be really safe.” He dared to brush Cora’s cheek. “Your dad was my best friend, and you should be proud of him. I’m sure he loved you a lot before you were born.”
Cora stopped playing with the chain around her neck. “Maybe you can be my new daddy.”
Rafe blinked. “What?”
Gwen hushed Cora. “Don’t mind her. She tells every male she likes that he should be her new dad.”
Smiling, Rafe looked back to Cora. “I’m sure your mum will find someone. But I already have my own mate.” Cora looked crestfallen, so Rafe added, “But we’re having our own baby later this year. Maybe you could be friends if your mother allows it.”
Cora looked to her mother. “I don’t have an English dragon friend. That would be fun.”
Gwen smiled, and Rafe straightened up. Gwen replied, “We’ll see, Cora. Mr. Hartley and...”
Nikki jumped in. “Nikki Gray.”
Gwen continued, “Miss Gray will be very busy.”
Nikki moved to Rafe’s side. Threading her fingers through his, she smiled at Gwen. “I’m sure we can find time.”
An awkward silence fell, but Rafe didn’t want to push Gwen too far. Yet after seeing the sadness in the dragonwoman’s eyes and falling for Cora’s charm, he rather hoped their children could be friends. And not just because it might help future relations between the two clans, although that would be a bonus.
Lily Owens spoke up. “Good. Now, if I can just convince Kai to give me a grandchild, we could start a playgroup.” Mrs. Owens smiled at Nikki. “Maybe you could hint at Kai and Jane to get started?”
Nikki laughed. “I don’t think my words will have any effect. That pair could take on the world and win if they wanted.”
Mrs. Owens sighed. “I know.” A smile returned to her face. “But enough of the distant future. You’re to stay with my family for the night before heading back tomorrow. I’ll show you to my quarters if you’re ready.”
Rafe met Gwen’s gaze again. “Once you read the letter, feel free to find me. I know what it’s like to miss someone and want to share memories to keep him alive.”
Mrs. Owens beat Gwen to her reply. “You and Cora should come to dinner.”
“I don’t want to intrude,” Gwen answered.
“Don’t be silly. Gareth and I love nothing more than a full house with lots of laughter. You should come.”
Rafe stared at the older dragonwoman and wondered how the bloody hell the woman could be Kai’s mother.
However, before he could think too long, Cora wiggled in her mother’s arms. “Please, Mummy. I want to play with the English dragons. Their accents are funny and they probably have new games to play.”
Gwen finally bobbed her head. “I suppose, as long as Lily doesn’t mind.”
“Drop the formalities, Gwen. You’re welcome anytime. Right, then, it’s all sorted. We’ll see you at seven.” She moved to the door. “Come, Nikki and Rafe. We’ll take the long way home so I can give you a tour of the public areas. Rhydian said those parts were okay to show you. Although, given how often that male changes his mind, we’d better hurry.”
As Mrs. Owens exited the door, Rafe looked back to Gwen. “We’ll see you at dinner, then.”
Cora waved. “Bye!”
With a chuckle, Rafe waved back before leading Nikki out of Gwen’s quarters. As they walked to catch up to Mrs. Owens, Nikki whispered, “I think she’s still mourning Noah.”
He squeezed his woman closer. “I think so, too. At least she didn’t yell or punch me in the face. That must be a good sign.”
“I liked your offer about our children being friends. While I love your alpha side, your emerging father persona is winning future brownie points.” She paused before adding, “For the first time, I wish I was giving birth next week so I could see you hold our baby and go all soft.”
“But if you were nine months pregnant, you would look huge on TV for our mating ceremony in a few days.”
She hit his side. “There goes your brownie points. I won’t be huge. I will just have a tiny person inside of me. There’s a difference.”
He chuckled. “I want to say more, but even I know better than to push a pregnant dragonwoman too far. You might ‘accidentally’ drop me on our way home.”
“Now there’s an idea.”
As they looked at each other, they laughed. Part of Rafe felt guilty that he had the love of his life and best friend at his side when Gwen didn’t. But at the same time, he couldn’t change the past. He could only make the best of his future and of those around him.
Giving Nikki a quick kiss, Rafe decided he would try his damnedest to make those close to him happy, Gwen included. Somehow, someway, he’d try to take care of his dead friend’s family.
But in the present, he would take care of his own, which meant surviving a night with Lily Owens and getting back to Stonefire in time for his mating ceremony.
Chapter Twenty-Six
Nikki smoothed the dark purple fabric of her traditional-style dress for the hundredth time. The material draped over one shoulder, hugged her chest, and then flared out to the ground. Under normal circumstances, she wouldn’t be wearing so little outside in March in Northern England with little more than a cloth tent for shelter, b
ut the day was special.
She was about to mate Rafe Hartley in front of possibly millions watching the ceremony on their TVs.
Her stepmother, Delphine, rushed into the partition where Nikki was waiting for her cue to walk out. The dragonwoman touched Nikki’s cheek. “You look so beautiful.”
“You should’ve seen me fifteen minutes ago with my head in the toilet,” Nikki drawled.
“Nikola Helen Gray, this is your mating day. Let’s try not to talk about being sick in a toilet.”
She shrugged. “It’s not my fault. The future Hartley Heartbreaker inside of me has decided something doesn’t smell right.”
Delphine smiled. “Hartley Heartbreaker. I like that.”
Her mother’s smile was infectious. “By the way, I wanted to thank you for making my dress, Mum. Sewing is definitely not one of my skill sets.” She held out the skirt. “I almost feel like a normal female in this.”
“Of course you’re a normal female.” Her mother’s frown eased. “But I’d do anything for you, Nikki. I may not have given birth to you, but you will always be my daughter. And I’m so happy you found your true mate.”
The tears in Delphine’s eyes made Nikki tear up. She sniffed. “Don’t make me cry. I’m already puffy from retaining water. I don’t need to add red eyes, too.”
Engulfing her in a hug, Delphine whispered, “You could be bald and wearing a bin bag and Rafe wouldn’t care.”
“Maybe.” She pulled back and wiped her eyes. “But I’d like my first and hopefully last TV appearance in my human form to be a good one.”
Delphine laughed. “It’ll be fine, love.”
Nikki’s father walked into the tent with a scowl. But it eased when he spotted Nikki and Delphine. “Here are my two beautiful females.”
Nikki sighed. “Where else would I be, Dad? I’m not about to run away.”
“Good,” Hector answered. “I mostly approve of Rafe and would hate to see him left standing out there alone. There’s quite a crowd, you know.”
Surrendering to the Dragon (Stonefire British Dragons Book 7) Page 23
