Little Lords (The Dragon Demigods Book 3)

by Charlene Hartnady

  “Thank you.” She puts a hand to her still flat belly. I see her expression soften. I know how she feels. I’m starting to show just a little. I’m at that stage where I look bloated instead of pregnant. The top two buttons of my jeans don’t close anymore. I’m using an elastic band to fasten them and wearing my roomier shirts. I need to go shopping for some maternity clothes soon. I feel excited at the prospect. Then there’s the nursery to consider, but I’m getting ahead of myself. One step at a time.

  “Another one bites the dust,” Trident mutters, shaking his head. He looks disgusted. “I never ever thought you would get suckered in. Then again…” He looks like he is thinking it over. He glances Shannon’s way and gives her a meaningful look. “Shannon does smell like breasts, and she looks like that. I happen to find pregnant women sexy.”

  “You did not just say all of that.” Night shakes his head, narrowing his eyes. Dragon demigods can be possessive. Trident is playing with fire. “Shannon doesn’t smell like breasts. She smells like jasmine,” Night mutters, his eyes narrowed.

  Trident smiles. There is a twinkle in his eyes. “And breasts…more so now that you’re pregnant.” He winks at Shannon.

  Night growls. It’s a growl I’ve heard before, only Forge’s voice is deeper.

  “How far along are you, Shannon?” Lyre asks. I’ve only ever met him once or twice before on account that he’s always at the hospital. He’s a hotshot heart surgeon. He seems like a nice enough guy. Pretty easy-going as far as this bunch goes. His hair is on the longer side and a little wild because it has a slight natural curl to it. He has a beard, but it’s trimmed and neat. His skin is darker, and his eyes a vivid green. There is intelligence there. I like him. He’s not as irrational as some of the others.

  Shannon looks at Lyre like he came from another planet. It takes her a few seconds to pull herself together. Poor thing. These guys can be intimidating, and she’s under the spotlight. “Just a few weeks,” she says. “I’ve made an appointment with a gynecologist. We’re going next week.”

  He nods. “That’s good. I’d like to be involved.” He looks over to us, and I feel nervous for some reason. “With your care as well, Ava.”

  “Lyre has the power of healing,” Night explains quietly to Shannon. “That’s not a bad idea.”

  “Thanks,” Forge says, holding my hand a little tighter. “We’d appreciate it.” He nods.

  “So, does this mean we are permitted to find mates?” Jarrod leans forward, looking excited at the prospect.

  Before anyone can answer, Rage stands up. I’ve seen him a couple of times now, but I don’t know what to make of him. He usually sits there and glowers, and then leaves. “Now I get why Bolt didn’t come.” His voice is smooth and melodic. Yet, there is a disquiet about him that is unsettling. “I need to leave before...I lose my shit. People might die.” He heads for the door.

  I frown. I’m not sure what he meant by that. Forge squeezes my hand and gives me a reassuring smile when I glance at him. I still feel like I have to pinch myself. I’m so in love with this man. I’m so excited about our future. I’m not worried about Rage or any of the others. I know that Forge will protect me.

  “He’s in a mood,” Trident mutters, rolling his eyes. “I, for one, am happy to keep playing the field. No settling down for me.” He shakes his head, looking every bit the player he is. I know that lurking beneath all of that macho bullshit is a really nice guy who is going to see his ass one of these days. It will take one special lady to tame all of that. I can’t wait to see it.

  “There is this woman I’m—” Jarrod starts to say.

  Lyre puts up a hand. “I think you should wait. We have no idea how these pregnancies are going to progress.” He looks at the four of us, particularly from Shannon to me, and then back again.

  My heart beats faster because he looks concerned. It’s in his eyes, in the frown lines marring his forehead.

  “I’m sure everything will go well. I’m sure the babies will be just fine,” he adds. “Nothing to worry about, but…I think anyone considering a serious relationship should wait. It would be the responsible thing to do. I would advise against any new pregnancies.” He looks around the table at the rest of the guys in attendance. My heart thumps.

  “Night—” Shannon begins. I can see that she is panicking a little. Her eyes are wide, and she licks her lips.

  “It’s fine.” Night puts an arm around her. “Lyre is cautious by nature.” He speaks gently. It even helps to calm me down. I’ve already been to see an OB-GYN twice. Everything was just fine with our growing baby. I’ve taken to calling him/her Bean because the little one looked like a bean at our first scan. I swallow thickly and take a deep breath. I see that Forge is looking tense.

  “We are a completely different breed,” Lyre continues. “There are no others like us. We have no idea what will come of this. I’m especially concerned about you, Shannon, since you’re a human. At least Ava has some blood of the gods running through her veins. She’s stronger.”

  “Night!” Shannon is panicking now. She puts a hand to her chest. She’s breathing fast. Her eyes are wide and filled with tears.

  “I think you should stop right there, Lyre,” Night growls. “You’re scaring Shannon. We know now that there are demigods who have been born from human women.” He puts an arm around Shannon.

  Lyre shakes his head. “We don’t know the statistics. Maybe mortality rates have been high.” He shrugs, his eyes troubled. “We have nothing to go on.”

  “Oh my god.” Shannon is desperately trying not to cry, and she puts a hand over her mouth. I’m feeling it too. There is a lump forming in my throat. I never really thought this through before. Lyre is right. We just don’t know. There don’t seem to be very many pure demigods out there. Surely there should be more?

  “I don’t mean to scare you, Shannon,” Lyre speaks softly. I really like him. It’s easy to see what a great guy he is. “The fact of the matter is that we have no idea how this will go. I’m not going to downplay it. I’m not going to sugarcoat it. A dragon demigod has never sired a baby before. I am going to do everything I can to make sure it will all work out.” He smiles at her, trying to reassure her.

  “It’ll be fine.” Night rubs her arm. “You’ll see.” Then his hand trails down her back.

  I’m not as panicked as she looks right now, but I’m not far off. I’m about to be the first woman to give birth to a dragon demigod baby. I’m the guinea pig in this. Although, as Lyre pointed out, I’m quarter demigod, so we don’t actually know what’s going to happen with either of us. “It’ll be fine,” Forge puts his arm around me, and I realize that I’ve spaced out. That my eyes are prickling. That, and my throat feels constricted.

  “Yes.” My voice sounds weird, so I clear my throat. “I’m sure it will be.”

  “I’m going to take over from your OB-GYN right away. When were you due for your next appointment?” Lyre asks me.

  “Funnily enough…” he frowns, “also next week,” Forge says.

  “I will need his or her details. I’ll organize to take over.”

  “Won’t it be strange having a heart surgeon handle a pregnancy and birth?” Night asks. I had the same question floating around in my head.

  Lyre shakes his head. “Not if the pregnant woman has a heart condition. Besides, I worked my residency in the ER. I’ve had my fair share of births.”

  Forge frowns. “They don’t have a heart condition.”

  “Your gynecologist doesn’t know that.” He turns to Shannon. “It’s easier when it comes to your pregnancy. You can cancel your appointment, and I’ll take over.”

  “We will,” Night agrees.

  “Okay,” I say, my voice sounding stronger. “We’ll send you the details of my OB-GYN.” I’m sure that this pregnancy will be textbook. I find myself putting my hand on my belly. I can’t help it. I haven’t felt the little one move yet. I’m sure it will happen soon. I suddenly need to feel that first kick. To know t
hat everything is okay.

  Shannon still looks terrified. Night is speaking softly to her, reassuring her. They make a lovely couple. “We have some news,” I say, trying to defuse the situation. Everyone looks our way.

  I look up at Forge and give him a small nod. “Ava and I have set a date for the wedding,” he announces, smiling broadly, and my heart melts. “Six weeks from now.” He tells them the exact date. “You’re all invited,” he goes on. “I’ve asked Tri to be my best man. Ava has asked her best friend to be her maid of honor.”

  “I wanted to have the ceremony before I get too big.” I smile, feeling lighter.

  Thankfully, Shannon looks more relaxed. She even manages a smile.

  “I just wanted to check that it’s not going to clash with you guys,” I say, lifting my brows, my eyes still on Shannon.

  She frowns. “Clash with what?”

  “With your wedding,” I clarify, hoping I haven’t just put my foot in it. “I assumed you were engaged.”

  “Nope…” she shakes her head, “we’re not.” She glances at Night and smiles. I can breathe a little easier since there doesn’t seem to be any tension. Night doesn’t say anything. He’s frowning.

  “We might be expecting,” Shannon goes on, “but we haven’t been together for very long.” She speaks quickly, her cheeks turning pink. “I guess we’re not in any kind of rush.”

  “What?” Night lifts their entwined hands and kisses her knuckles. “We are in a rush. I can’t wait to walk this woman down the aisle.”

  Shannon’s smile grows, but she looks unsure. “We’re not even engaged, Night, and we shouldn’t rush into marriage. It’s a big step.”

  Night’s jaw clenches. He doesn’t look happy. “We can take it slow, Shan. I understand.” The room has grown quiet. Jarrod shifts in his seat. Crap, I just opened up a big can of worms. “We are getting married, though, at some point. I mean, we’re having a baby, so…the engagement will just be a formality,” he adds, making me wince. No woman wants to hear that.

  Shannon rolls her eyes. “Last of the romantics,” she chuckles, easing some of the tension. Night is frowning. He still doesn’t look happy.

  “I’m glad our date works,” I interject, trying to lighten the mood.

  “We’ve decided to hold a small ceremony at my family’s ranch,” Forge tells them.

  We’re hoping for an outdoor wedding…if the weather holds. “Everyone is invited,” I say, “and everyone needs to be on their best behavior.” I pointedly look at Trident. “My best friend is a human.”

  “What’s her name?” Trident asks, smirking.

  “Hey,” I wag a finger at him, “you need to leave Trudy alone. She’s off-limits to you. To all of you,” I quickly add, looking around the room.

  “We’ll send formal invites during the next week or two, but pen in the date for now.” Forge turns his stare to Trident. “We need to go shopping for penguin suits, bro.”

  “Really?” Trident looks shocked. “We’re going the whole hog?”

  Forge nods. “My Oreo wants a traditional wedding, and that’s what she’ll get.”

  I can’t wait to marry this man. To have his baby. I feel such happiness. Such excitement. I’m also slightly afraid of what the future will hold for our little family.

  3

  Shannon

  We are holding hands so tightly that my knuckles hurt. I don’t let go. Neither does Night. There are magazines on the coffee table in front of us, but we ignore them. Our eyes are trained on the closed door. What is going on inside? They seem to have been in there for ages.

  Night pushes out a breath. He lets my hand go but only so that he can put an arm around me. “It’ll be fine,” he murmurs. “You’ll see.” He rubs my arm.

  “I know,” I say in an upbeat voice. “It’s early days yet, anyway.”

  He looks at me, his eyes narrowed. “What do you mean by that?”

  “Just that…” I shrug, feeling my heart pick up the pace, “all the books and magazines warn that there is a fair chance of miscarriage during the first trimester. We probably shouldn’t have even said anything. Forge and Ava waited longer than we did.” I’m talking too fast.

  His gaze softens. “Don’t say things like that. We need to stay positive about this pregnancy. I never thought I wanted to be a dad, but now I can’t think of anything I want more.”

  My heart swells. “I know and…” I rub my chest, feeling an ache. “I’m just a bit nervous…I guess. I want this so badly for us…but I don’t want to jinx it.”

  “You won’t.” He brushes a kiss against my lips. “It doesn’t work like that, smarty-pants,” he whispers as he pulls back.

  I can’t help smiling. “I guess not. I was—”

  The door opens, and we both look over. Ava walks out, beaming, her face is one big smile. My heart beats faster.

  Forge follows behind. He has his hand to the small of her back and is grinning broadly.

  Night and I stand. Forge catches our eyes. “We found out the sex of the baby!” he booms. “We know what we’re having.”

  “Shhhh!” Ava has her eyes narrowed on Forge. “It’s a secret. Besides,” she grins as broadly as he does, “what’s important is that the baby is healthy.”

  “Absolutely!” Forge pretends to zip his mouth. “I won’t say a thing, Oreo.” I think the endearment is cute. Night calls me ‘smarty-pants’ sometimes. That’s the closest he’s gotten to one. I got a little upset the other day when he was so flippant about us getting married. Like it was just a formality and that we were going to rush into it. I know he didn’t mean it like that, but…it still hurt. It made me snap back at him. I told him I wanted to wait, but that’s not what I want at all. I want him to ask me properly. I guess I want what every girl wants. What we all imagine when we’re growing up. Getting engaged to the man of my dreams should be special and memorable. That’s what I would dearly like to have happen. Not just for me, but for us.

  “That’s wonderful,” a middle-aged lady from across the room says, snapping me out of my own head. “I can still remember my first pregnancy. I had a boy,” she says wistfully. “I ended up having four sons.” She laughs.

  “Wow! Four! I’m sure you were very busy,” Ava remarks.

  “I can’t imagine,” Forge says, then he picks Ava up.

  Her feet come off the ground, and she shrieks. “Put me down!” she protests, but I can see that she is saying it half-heartedly. Ava puts her arms around him, and they gaze into each other’s eyes.

  I see that she is clutching an ultrasound picture in her hand. My heart beats a whole lot faster. A lump forms in my throat. I hope all will be well.

  It will be!

  Of course, it will be!

  I’m a little on edge after the conversation at the gathering the other day. That’s all. “Morning,” Lyre greets us as he comes up behind them.

  “Morning, doctor,” the same middle-aged lady says, her jaw dropping open as she stares at Lyre. “Are you filling in for Dr. Flanagan?” she asks, eyes wide, a hopeful expression on her face.

  Lyre smiles. Like all the shifter demigods, he’s handsome. There’s something about a white coat and a stethoscope that adds to the appeal. I’m head-over-heels for Night, but I can see what she’s in a flat spin over. I have to bite back a laugh. “I’m using Dr. Flanagan’s office to see two of my patients. He’ll be in…” Lyre looks at his watch, “in time for your appointment.” He winks at the lady.

  “Pity.” She bites her bottom lip. “I think I might be a special case. I’m pretty sure I just popped an egg, despite going into menopause six or seven years ago.” She laughs at her own silly joke.

  Lyre’s smile broadens. “That’s not as uncommon as you would think. Ovulating after menopause.” He winks again.

  “Not around you, it’s not.” The lady gives him a sultry look.

  Ava giggles. I can only manage a tight smile. I’m still too nervous for anything more.

  Forge puts Ava back d
own. They are both still smiling broadly.

  “I’m glad everything is going well,” Night says, glancing at Ava’s belly. It’s definitely popped out since I saw her last week. It has a defined pregnant curve even though she’s still small.

  “Congrats,” I say; my mouth feels dry. I’m trying not to be envious. I think, once I am a couple of months along, I will be able to relax and enjoy being pregnant. I don’t know what I will do if I lose this baby.

  No!

  I’m not going to think like that. Night is right. We have to stay positive. “That’s really great. I’m so glad everything is on track.”

  Night is already stepping forward and patting Forge on the shoulder. “That’s really fantastic, bro!” he is saying. “Congrats, Ava.” He gives her a quick hug. “Are you sure you don’t want to tell us whether you guys are having a boy or a girl?”

  “Thanks!” Ava gushes. “We’re going to reveal the gender at the wedding. So, no, we’re not telling.”

  “What fun!” I’m so happy for them. “You could pop a balloon or something.”

  “We’ll think of something awesome.” They exchange a look.

  “You ready?” Lyre asks me.

  I nod. I can’t wait to see our little one. I need everything to be okay.

  “You look like you’re going to be sick,” Ava says, drawing me out of my thoughts.

  I widen my eyes. “I don’t think I’ve ever been so nervous.”

  “I was the same,” Ava reassures me. “You should have seen Forge.”

  Forge chuckles. “I was a mess.” He runs a hand through his hair. “I still am. I need that little bundle safely delivered and in our arms.”

  “Then your worries will really start.” Lyre grins.

  “You’re really fantastic at putting your patients’ minds at rest.” Night glowers at Lyre. The one side of his mouth is pulled up in the start of a smile, which tells me he’s teasing.

  “I’m the best at what I do, but I’m honest,” Lyre responds. I like him. He has bright, intelligent eyes and a calm disposition. More importantly, I trust him.