It cannot be easy to raise a dragon child alone. Daegal felt deep regret at the length of his absence, even though he knew he'd had no other choice. Ludovic's return would be detrimental to everyone, not just his mate and child.
He thought about where the other dragon could be, but the world was an enormous place. With all the bodies of water around, especially here in Kahului, Ludovic could be anywhere.
A soft sound from the nursery put Daegal on high alert.
He sat straight up in the bed, pulling Sara up with him. The sound continued—a soft rustling. In seconds, Daegal was out of the bed. Sara, soft and mussed, stared at him, bewildered.
"What is it?" she whispered.
Daegal didn't bother to put on his breeches before he rushed out to the other room. The door to the nursery was ajar, and Daegal knew it was closed beforehand. Foreboding rushed through him as he pushed the door open.
The crib was empty. His son was nowhere to be seen. A roar began in his chest and emerged from him in an earth-shattering scream. Sara fell to her knees, sobbing hysterically.
Daegal leaned over and pulled a vellum note from the crib. It was scratched in Ludovic's handwriting. On it was the location of a meeting place. He crumpled it in his fist and tossed it away.
"He was toying with us the entire time," he said. His voice sounded strange. Defeated. Daegal straightened to his full height. Rage flowed through his entire being. He turned to face his mate. She was still on the floor. He helped her up and gripped her by the shoulders.
"Sara."
She wasn't listening, lost to her grief. Her shoulders shook and tears streamed down her face.
"I will find our son," Daegal vowed. "You have my solemn word."
He carried her out to the living room only to see everyone standing there. Gregor reacted first.
"Where is the prince?" he demanded.
"Ludovic," Daegal answered. It was all he needed to say.
In seconds, Gregor, Edvard, and Sebastian were dressed for battle, once again.
Sara motioned for Daegal to put her down. Even though she was still in shock, she spoke. "We go where you go."
"Nay, woman," Gregor said. "You have no magic and are no warrior."
The look Sara gave him would have shriveled a lesser man's balls. "That son of a bitch has my child. I do not care about magic or weapons. I'll kill anyone who takes my child with my bare hands."
Gregor took a step back and gave her a strange look.
"And I'll help her do it," Ella said as she stepped forward.
"Me too," Carrie said.
Jillian stepped forward. "And someone has to keep everyone from dying, so I'm in too."
Daegal started to speak, but Ella beat him to it. "If you leave her behind, she will follow you. Best keep her in your sights."
Daegal's shoulders slumped. The smart one was right. "Fine. But you stay with us and listen to what we say. It's the only way we can keep you alive."
Sara nodded.
Daegal exchanged looks with his men. He could see none of them were pleased, but they didn't have a choice. The women were safer with them than left here where Ludovic could reach them.
"Pack some water and some small snacks. I do not know how long we will be gone."
Sara nodded and rushed back to her room. When she returned, she was carrying a small backpack and a pair of strange shoes. She sat down on the couch and slipped her feet into them. She tied the loose strings into a knot and went back into the kitchen to pack some water, he assumed.
When all the women were ready, they headed out the door to the meeting place.
If he was to die today, he'd die a happy man knowing he was able to meet his son. But he could not leave his mate and his heir in Ludovic's hands. Whatever he had to do, he would do it.
10
Sara
* * *
They were in a no man's land. She'd never seen this part of Hawaii, and it had been barred from visitors after volcanic activity. She and the rest of her friends hesitantly walked forward until she stopped.
In front of her loomed a massive dragon. The sheer size of it took her breath away. Fifty feet long at minimum. Dark green scales covered his body and when he moved, they shone a brilliant blue. It was stunning.
"Hello, mate of Daegal," the dragon said.
Sara stilled. The sound of it resonated through her. His sibilant voice, ancient and terrifying.
"Hello, Ludovic." She was impressed at how steady her voice was.
He held her child by a claw. Sara swallowed hard, her mouth making a dry click.
"I have a proposition for you, human."
She stood a little straighter. "I'm listening."
The dragon huffed steam from its nostrils. "It's simple. Your child's life for the head of the Dragon Prince. If he or any of his companions take their dragon forms, your child will die."
Sara turned to stare at Daegal desperately. Her mate gathered his men around him. Their heads bowed as they discussed their options.
Sara took a few steps closer to the dragon. She studied him. "You are quite beautiful," she said.
The dragon chuckled, the sound shaking the ground beneath her feet. "Did the Dragon Prince mate a slut, then?"
Anger, hot and bitter rose within her. "Why don't you come see?" she said, her voice low and husky.
Interest flared within the dragon's eyes. Seconds later, a large man stood in front of her. He was wickedly handsome. Jet black hair flopped over one eye. The other eye was harsh blue, the color of an angry sky. His mouth was a cruel slash against his face, but his cheekbones were so sharp they could cut glass.
"Do you desire me, child of man?" Ludovic asked. He held her child in the crook of one of his arms.
She had one chance to do this right. Even then, she couldn't guarantee she'd make it out alive. Sara beckoned the dragon closer. "How could someone like me not desire a beast forged from the bowels of hell?"
One of the dragon's brows rose. "I cannot claim Hell," he answered, "but I do claim the sea."
"You're of Daegal's line?"
Anger tightened his lips. "I would never claim his line," he spat. He continued walking closer to her.
"Sara," came Jillian's terrified whisper.
Sara ignored her. "Why ever not? Daegal is strong and wonderful and kind. His companions are as well."
"I would never lie with a human woman." Ludovic's voice was full of disgust.
Sara smiled then, a cruel thing upon her pretty face. "And I would never lie with someone as cold and ugly as you."
The evil smile dropped from his face. He advanced upon her quickly. "You will lie with whoever I tell you to." He reached out to grab her arm. She could see the pockmarks on his skin and smell the musty, watery scent of his breath. Sara darted in closer, steeled herself, and kicked Ludovic right in the nuts.
Her child slid out of his arms as he roared in pain. She snatched Keanu and rushed over to Daegal, who stood there staring at her in stark disbelief.
"Are you mad?" he roared at her.
"Nut shots always work!" she yelled back at him. Her gaze roamed over Keanu for any signs of injury. He appeared whole and unharmed.
"You bitch!" screamed Ludovic. "I will rip you open and scatter your guts from here to Scandinavia!"
Daegal, Gregor, Edvard, and Sebastian didn't wait for him to continue his tirade. They rushed Ludovic while he was still crumpled over.
"RUN!" screamed Daegal.
No one had to tell them twice. Sara clutched her son close to her chest and hightailed it out of the area, her friends by her side. As she ran, she noticed the tide rising. Fear struck in her heart.
"UP!" she screamed at her friends. "Go UP!"
They started to make a desperate climb to get out of the way of the rising water.
Screeches and roars of the battle surrounded them as Daegal and his companions took to their dragon forms. It was an awe-inspiring thing to watch, and such a blur that she couldn't tell any of them apart
. When they finally reached the highest peak of the rocks, they settled down. They were out of sight, but she knew Daegal would be able to find her through their bond.
Roars of pain were all she could hear. Sara shut her eyes and whispered a prayer to a god she wasn't sure she believed in anymore. If dragons were real and walked as gods upon the Earth, was her god too small? She whispered her prayer anyway. The tide continued to rise as the dragon's magic ricocheted off the barren land below them.
"This is the craziest shit I've ever seen," whispered Ella.
"Ditto," said Carrie.
All of them watched the fight with wide eyes, but Sara's gaze kept drifting down to the sea. It was stirring in a terrible motion and she feared a tsunami was rising. She curled Keanu closer to her breast.
"Shit," she whispered.
Carrie reached over and grabbed her knee. "Tsunami," she whispered. Her frantic gaze looked around for anything higher, but they were on the highest ground in the nearby vicinity. Jillian and Ella came closer, and they all huddled together.
"If we're going to die, I'm really glad we died together," Jillian said.
"I don't want to die at all!" wailed Carrie.
They could only watch helplessly as the waters continued to rise.
11
Daegal
* * *
They were disturbing Mother Nature in a way unintended to benefit life. Ludovic was perverting the water with his magic, forcing it to rise and twist into a tsunami.
They had to end this fight before it fully formed.
Daegal extricated himself from the fight and flew over to study the waters. The sky was darkened to an ugly gray. The sea churned beneath them, an ugly twisted thing capable of great destruction.
He sent a pulse of pure magic into the sea but nothing happened. He tried again, sending a larger burst of it down into the once blue waters.
But the sea resisted.
Daegal turned and watched the ugly battle before him. There was nothing he could do. The tsunami was going to happen.
Retreat, brothers. Daegal sent the message through the bond.
A roar of agony sounded through the area. Ludovic was injured.
We almost have him, Sebastian shot back. He's grievously hurt.
A tsunami forms. We must get the women out and place a barrier around the state.
Sebastian took one look at the water and let out an angry screech.
As you wish, liege.
Do not let Ludovic know what's happening. The tsunami could wipe him out if we time it correctly.
Ludovic, Edvard, and Gregor still tangled together—a blur of teeth and claws. Gregor bled from his right haunch and one of his wings was bent at an odd angle.
Edvard fared no better, but both men still tore at Ludovic at a furious pace.
Daegal sent a blast of cool magic to cover the women. He could see the field shimmering around them like a pearl from the sea. They could not win this battle today unless they sacrificed thousands of humans. Again.
Daegal would not.
From a short distance away, a massive wave loomed above them.
Easy, he instructed his brethren. Follow my instructions.
Daegal flew silently above them. As soon as he gave the word, he would swoop down and take the woman to safety.
Sebastian, prepare to erect a barrier as large as you can make it. Understand?
Sebastian swiped out at Ludovic but screeched his acknowledgment.
The wave grew closer. Monstrous and unnatural in size, it ate away the sea, exposing land the sun hadn't seen in ages. Fish, crabs and other wildlife lay on the damp sand, gasping for air.
NOW! Daegal roared.
Edvard, Gregor, and Sebastian disengaged abruptly and flew straight up just as the wave began to crash down.
Daegal flew straight over to the women and his child and scooped them up just as the water began to rise.
Ludovic's scream of pain and rage drowned out the sound of rushing water.
Daegal left his dragons behind as he flew the women back to their home.
He looked back only once to see his brethren flying in battle formation, pure magic streaming from their mouths as they struggled to form a barrier to protect the state from being crushed by the massive, unnatural water formation.
He whispered a prayer up to an ancient god begging that they would be successful.
12
Sara
* * *
All of them sat in the kitchen a few hours later, bedraggled and exhausted. Sara brewed a massive pot of coffee in her old percolator and provided everyone with enough caffeine to stagger a horse.
Her son had slept through every bit of the chaos and when she'd mentioned it to Daegal, a slow grin slid over his face.
"He knew his father, the king, would keep him safe."
Sara stared at him, incredulous. "We almost died."
Sebastian stared. "Define almost, woman."
"You caused a tsunami the likes of which haven't been seen since four hundred years ago!"
Sebastian rolled his eyes. "Are we really to believe historians from four hundred years ago? They still believed leeches were the best way to cure illness and that women couldn't show their ankles for fear men would go hysterical."
"Ankles are the sexiest part of a woman's body," chimed in Ella.
Gregor was staring at her intently. Too intently for a weekday.
Sara looked away. She wasn't sure what was going on with those two, but whatever it was, it was intense.
"I disagree," said Daegal. "The sexiest part of Sara's body is her br—"
"No!" Sara yelled. "Let's not talk about that please." She rolled her eyes but had to laugh.
"We did almost die," Sara said again.
Sebastian grunted his displeasure.
"Plus Ludovic is still out there."
"I will have his head on a pike," Gregor announced.
Sara slid a look at Ella. Her eyes glittered with...something. Was her friend turned on by murderous decapitation conversations? Weirdo.
"That would be nice," Sara said faintly.
"It would be more than nice, woman," Edvard said. "We would claim glory for the rest of our lives and be proclaimed as heroes of the realm."
Carrie sighed. "That sounds so romantic."
Edvard wiggled his eyebrows at her. Carrie gave him a secret smile.
Good lord. Were she and Daegal like that all the time? Because gross.
She took a few steps over to the bassinet and saw her son sleeping peacefully. Her heart swelled. She was worried about the future, but she knew Daegal and his men would do the absolute best they could to keep them all safe.
The tsunami was reported on by news stations around the world, but what they couldn't seem to fathom is why it never went anywhere. The only place destroyed by the waters was the area they were in during the battle. All sea life and all evidence of the fight was washed away, swept out to sea like it had never happened.
It was too close of a call for her comfort.
Epilogue
The house was quiet. Daegal's men and Sara's friends were down at the beach again. The women were still trying to teach the dragons how to surf. Daegal couldn't help but be amused. They were water dragons. Anything in the water came as natural as breathing to them. He'd bet his right arm the men were pretending to be ignorant in order to spend more time with them.
Daegal had a feeling Ella knew this, but she played along. He liked the bookish woman. She had a spine of steel and a tongue like an angry fishmonger. Gregor needed that in his life. He was far too stoic and needed some excitement. Ella would give it to him. Perhaps too much if he didn't get a handle on it.
Sara sat on the couch, her legs curled up underneath her. She cradled a cup of tea in her hand, and it smelled of mint and lavender. She stared out the window to look out on the sea, lost in her thoughts.
Daegal sat down beside her. A soft smile formed on her full lips and the sides of her eyes crinkled a
s she scooted closer to him.
Daegal had been with her for two weeks now. Two glorious weeks of lovemaking and diaper changing. He had not yet told her of all the things his child would be getting into soon. Dragon infants were a handful for their mothers and fathers. They would have to waterproof everything.
At least his son wasn't a fire dragon. Such a child would have required moving into a cave for the first two years.
Keanu slept next to them, quiet and content, in a small, white bassinet. When everything had settled down, he'd uncovered the child and counted ten perfect toes and ten perfect fingers. The mark shone brightly upon his brow, visible to only those of his line.
When he married Sara and she took the vows of the Kingford family, the magic of his heirs would pass into her veins and she would then be able to see it too.
"Is he safe?" Sara asked.
He wished he could say yes. "He will be," was the most consolation he could offer. "Those men out there will die ensuring humanity stays protected from Ludovic."
Daegal turned to Sara and brushed a long curl away from her face. "I am an ancient man, Sara, but in the little time I've been here, I have learned many customs. They are different from my own, but it does not make them any less valid."
He moved off the couch and crouched down upon one knee in front of his mate, the love of his life. From his pocket, he pulled a silver-colored ring with an aquamarine stone. "This is the stone of the seas and my people. It will give you good dreams and protect you from harm."
Sara's eyes began to water, which told him he was doing a good job with his words. He'd practiced them for days.
"I want you to wear this, to bring honor to my house and kingdom and agree to be my wife in all things. You are already my mate, but this will solidify our vows in the eyes of the people."
Sara laughed then. He wasn't sure why. Daegal might be a man without a kingdom right now, but when Ludovic was vanquished, he would return to his homeland and take his place there again.
The Alpha Dragon's Secret (Dragon Shifters of Kahului Book 1) Page 9
