dragon archives 05 - forever a dragon
Page 34
“You laid an egg!” Lleland finally said. “My wife laid an egg.”
“I can see that, Lleland!”
He reached out a claw towards it, but drew back hurriedly as Lydia growled. “Don’t touch it,” she snarled. She dropped to the ground and pulled the egg to her side with her tail, wrapping herself around it. He stepped backwards, and her expression changed to remorse. “I’m sorry,” she said. “I’m being a dragon!” Lleland smiled as she uncurled her tail. “Come look at our, er, egg.” Lleland stepped forward and peered at the object. It was a brilliant white, and from one end to the other, measured about two feet.
“How’s this even possible?” he said.
“I don’t know.”
“How long do you think it will take before something, er, hatches?”
“Something?” He looked up to see her eyes glittering dangerously.
“Our child.” She smiled. He tentatively reached with his claw, pausing to see if Lydia protested, then touched the smooth, white surface. It was as hard as stone, and rocked slightly beneath his touch. He withdrew hurriedly, glancing at Lydia, but she just smiled.
“You can go now,” she said. “We’ll be fine without you.”
“Are you sure?”
She nodded. “Just make sure you hurry back.”
He leaned forward and touched his snout to hers. “I love you,” he said. “You’re amazing.” He pulled back with a laugh. “You laid an egg!”
“How’s Lydia this morning?” Zach asked later that morning, joining Lleland as he walked towards his classroom.
“Well …” Lleland started. He turned and met Zach’s gaze with a grin. “She laid an egg!”
“What?” Zach’s expression turned incredulous. “You’re jesting.”
“No.” Lleland’s grin grew wider. “My wife laid an egg.”
“Well.” Zach stared at Lleland. “I’m not sure I have the words.”
“Quite!” Lleland said.
Lleland rushed back to the cave after his classes were done to find Lydia sleeping, her body curled tightly around the egg on the ground. She had moved it to the shallow hole she had dug the previous day, and nestled it in some furs. Her body had lost the extra weight of the last week and was back to its usual, sleek form. The egg rocked slightly, and Lydia opened her eyes. “You’re back,” she said with a smile. She glanced at the egg. “He’s been doing that all day.”
“He?” Lleland settled down next to her, his head next to hers, and his body curled around both of them.
“Yes. Definitely a boy.”
He smiled and tapped lightly on the egg. “Are you a boy?” he said. It started to rock, and Lydia smiled.
“He knows your voice,” she said.
“You think so?” Lleland placed his paw on the egg and leaned forward to whisper against the shell. “You took us quite by surprise, but I’m looking forward to meeting you.” The egg began to rock more violently, and a tapping sound was heard from within. Lleland’s eyebrows flew up and he looked at Lydia. She looked as surprised as he felt.
He leaned forward again. “Are you as eager to meet us?” he said. The tapping grew louder, and a crack appeared on the hard shell, spreading along the surface. There was another loud knock, and the shell fell open. Curled within, eyes blinking furiously, was a baby dragon, as white as glistening snow. It lifted its tiny wings and gave a little yelp as sparks fluttered through the air. A long neck uncurled, and it looked up at the two dragons staring down at him in shock.
Lleland glanced at Lydia, then back at the hatchling. “Hello, son,” he said.
Thank you for reading this ebook. If you enjoyed it, please take a moment to review it at your favorite ebook retailer.
Thank you,
Linda K. Hopkins
Other Books by Linda K. Hopkins
Books in The Dragon Archives series:
Bound by a Dragon
Pursued by a Dragon
Loved by a Dragon
Facing a Dragon: A novella (a free ebook for subscribers only)
Dance with a Dragon
Forever a Dragon
For more information about these books go to www.lindakhopkins.com. May sure you sign up to receive free access to short stories not available anywhere else (including Facing the Dragon, which covers the time period between Books III and IV), updates about new books and a chance to enter into prize draws. You can also connect with Linda on Facebook.
Acknowledgements
Thank you, Tara, for so diligently reading my books and providing valuable feedback! Couldn’t do it without you!
About the Author
Linda K. Hopkins lives in Calgary, Canada, in the shadow of the Rocky Mountains, with her husband and two daughters, but originally hails from South Africa. She also spent a few years living in England. Linda loves reading, dark chocolate, coffee and travel. Sometimes she even tinkers on the piano, her teen daughter is the better musician!
Table of Contents
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Chapter 12
Chapter 13
Chapter 14
Chapter 15
Chapter 16
Chapter 17
Chapter 18
Chapter 19
Chapter 20
Chapter 21
Chapter 22
Chapter 23
Chapter 24
Chapter 25
Chapter 26
Chapter 27
Chapter 28
Chapter 29
Chapter 30
Chapter 31
Chapter 32
Chapter 33
Chapter 34
Chapter 35
Chapter 36
Chapter 37
Chapter 38
Chapter 39
Chapter 40
Chapter 41
Chapter 42
Chapter 43
Chapter 44
Chapter 45
Chapter 46
Epilogue
Other Books by Linda K. Hopkins
Acknowledgements
About the Author