"You didn't stop to think about how this would affect me? Or her for that matter?" Conner snapped.
Caroline took a breath, "This is just going to go around in circles. You're angry and I'm going to leave you to it," she moved past him and then stopped, "Know that I don't intend to keep her from you if you decide you want to be part of her life."
Caroline grabbed her clothes from the floor and turned to leave. When the door closed and Conner was alone, he finally allowed his knees to give out as he sat back on the bed. He took a deep breath and prayed that the trembling would leave his hands.
Last night, he would have done anything to make Caroline stay; but now, he couldn’t wait for her to leave. He couldn’t help the rueful chuckle that came out of the irony of the situation.
He wondered if god was having a good laugh.
***
One month later.
Conner was in the back shed, changing the oil on his bike when Rachel walked in.[G3640][G3641]
“Why are you still here?” She snapped.
“I live here,” Conner said a little confused.
“No, why are you here and not taking a one-way flight to Paris?”
Conner rolled his eyes, not for the first time, regretting telling his older sister about Lizette. He hadn't talked to Caroline since that day and he was still trying to figure out what he was going to do about it. Ma wasn't talking to him at the moment; which was fine with him, after all, she had known all along about Caroline's secret. The rest of the family kept giving him hell over the whole situation.
“You know the answer to that.”
“So you’re just going to ignore the fact that you have a kid?”
Conner didn’t respond.
“Coward.”
Conner met Rachel’s eye, “What?”
“You heard me, I called you a coward. You would rather sit here and try to hide the fact you are now a father than go see your little girl.”
Conner closed his eyes and took a breath, “Let it go Rach.”
“No.”
“Rachel!”
“No! Why won’t you see her?”
"Because I don't want to mess her up!"[G3642]
She looked at her brother in surprise.
“What?”
“You heard me.”
“Why do you think that?”
Conner snorted, "I'm not exactly father material. I would rather she grow up happy and well-adjusted."[G3643]
The two were quiet for a second until Conner felt a sting on his cheek.
He was shocked to find that Rachel had actually hit him.
“That was the sorriest excuse I have ever heard. You would be a great father and you know it. I’m tired of seeing you mope around here, you miss Caroline and you want to see your daughter. Damn it, Conner if you don’t go see her, I swear I will never forgive you.”
Rachel then turned around and stomped back into the house. It was more of a furious waddle than actual stomping given she was in her eighth month. Conner sighed and rubbed his cheek; Rachel really had some swing in that one. He considered ignoring her and the ache her words caused. Of course, he wanted to meet Lizette and, dammit he also missed Caroline. [G3644]
He went back to his bike and finished working on it and then went back to the house to clean up. When he emerged from the house it was with his jacket, helmet, and a bag packed with some clothes. Soon he was speeding down the road towards the airport with a twist of uncertainty in his stomach.
***
Paris was just as he remembered it, picturesque and beautiful. He wandered the familiar streets until he found the door he was looking for. With a burst of courage, he knocked. He didn't know what to expect when the door opened; it certainly wasn't a little girl who could only be Lizette.
His daughter.
He gave a small smile, “Do you speak English?”
The little girl nodded.
“Is your mother home?”
She nodded again.
“Could you go get her?”
The little girl turned around and ran back inside. A moment later, Caroline was at the door.
“Conner?” She closed the door before wrapping herself tighter in the shawl she was wearing over her dress, “I wasn’t expecting you.”
Conner ran his hand through his hair, "Believe me, I wasn't expecting me either," he said with a slight hint of a chuckle.[G3645][G3646]
Caroline shrugged, "Would you like to come in?"
“In a minute,” Conner held up his hand, “I’ve been working on this the whole flight over here and if I don’t say it now, I never will.”
Caroline studied him intently and waited for him to continue.[G3647][G3648]
“I am still so incredibly angry that you didn’t tell me about Lizette earlier.”
Caroline tensed but stayed quiet.
“I don’t think I will ever not be angry about it…but I am still so in love with you that I would be a fool to let you slip away again.”
Caroline’s shocked expression made him smile.
“And if your offer is still on the table, I would like to be a father to my little girl.”
Caroline didn't answer and for a second, Conner thought he had said something wrong.
Suddenly Caroline jumped up to wrap her arms around his neck and pulled him in for a kiss. The connection between them was so powerful and charged with a passion that could easily light up the Eiffel tower.[G3649][G3650][G3651][G3652]
When they finally parted Caroline's eyes were shimmering with fresh tears.[G3653]
He looked at her and waited, and when she didn't budge he smiled awkwardly.[G3654]
“Would you like to meet your daughter?” She asked reaching her hand out.
Conner smiled and grasped her hand not really knowing what to expect but excited by what was to come.
***
THE END
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War Bride
Chapter 1
“I’m so glad you’re home,” Lance exclaimed and rushed to meet his brother, pulling the elder, much larger, man into a masculine embrace. They thumped each other roughly on the back and pulled away.
Wesley Anderson let his gaze roam over his younger brother and smiled in approval.
“Leading suits you,” Wes stated proudly. “I left the Kingdom in good hands.”
Lance scoffed, his smile widening to reveal dual dimples and a boyishly soft radiance that only youth offered.
“And being a soldier definitely suits you,” Lance praised and Wes caught a glimpse of the baby brother who eagerly followed him everywhere. Even though Wesley was fifteen years older than Lance, from the moment his little brother came along, Wes had taken role as both guardian and teacher. They’d been inseparable for decades. Then their father had died and the mantle of leadership fell heavily on Wesley’s shoulders. He’d gone from being a carefree, fun-loving big brother, to being keeper, leader and protector of an entire Faction of subjects.
Wes waved his brother’s kudos aside with a mere flick of his wrist. Shortly after assuming control of the throne, Wesley knew he needed far more than his father’s legacy to hold the Fire Elementals’ reign. Needing guidance, structuring and discipline, he learned the U. S. Army was renowned as the best so he’d enlisted in the Human military as an everyday soldier.
He’d managed to hide his true self and age for more than twenty years before Prince Jaxen Monroe, leader of the Earth Elementals revealed the Dragons’ existence to the world. Wesley took Jax’s lead and revealed himself to his commanding officer. After a whirlwind of meetings and evaluations, Wes found himself promoted from grunt to leader of a newly formed branch of the U. S. Military - Species Interactive Negotiations or SIN for short; the division comprised completely of Dragons from each of the four factions.
SIN was called in when the best of the best failed. They always managed to get the job done - right a
nd on the first try. They trained vigorously, endlessly and sometimes to the point of insanity. Seeing as though they weren’t exactly Human, their bodies needed a lot more resistance.
After five years of successful missions, Wesley finally decided it was time to fill his role as Prince Heir of the Fire Dragons. That had been a mere day before Elder Seraphina had contacted him on behalf of Prince Damien, leader of the Water Elementals. She’d informed him of the happenings he’d missed: the marriages of his three fellow leaders and the Elder Coffer’s rebellion.
The High Council of Elders had split down the middle, each half calling support to their side. Even though the Four Faction Princes had a peace treaty in place amongst them, their subjects weren’t all on the same side. Numerous Dragons from each of the Factions deserted their own people when they joined the malevolent Elders’ coup.
Now, it was pretty much each Dragon for him/herself. The other three Princes were up to their eyeballs in ferreting out spies amongst their people and Wes couldn’t allow his little brother to shoulder such a dangerous task alone; hence another reason for his retirement.
Dragon-kind in its entirety had invoked a Civil War when Coffer was defeated by Prince Damien. Now, their species was divided into two armies: those who supported Coffer in wanting the Ancient ways reinstated and those who didn’t. Coffer didn’t care who died in the cross-fire, so long as his side won. He sought power beyond anything a sole Elder should harness.
He wanted to combine all Four Elemental Factions under one rule; with himself on throne as the King.
After kidnapping Damien’s mate, Jasmine, the Water Prince tracked her down and almost killed Coffer. Elder Sera had stepped in, declaring they should follow protocol thereby giving Coffer a trial by his peers. Sera and her five allies took him prisoner and transported him to a safe, well-guarded facility.
No one, other than those six Elders, knew of Coffer’s location. However, regardless of Coffer’s incarceration, his minions initiated the next step in Coffer’s evil plan.
Wesley had immediately appointed a new leader of SIN and retired to the family estate in Death Valley, California. As one of the hottest places on earth, the Fire Elementals found comfort in the excessive heat.
Buried deep beneath the desert surface, Wesley’s faction had managed to carve out an entire city, large enough to house his entire Faction. Returning his attention to Lance, Wesley moved past his brother and slid behind his desk. Although the majority of the Faction lived underground, Wesley maintained the estate above-ground for business purposes.
“Well, it was time I retired and left the fighting to the young ones,” Wesley quipped, hoping to convey his false calmness over the entire uproar.
“Too bad the Four Factions have declared war on the Elders,” Lance observed. “You were called out of one war to fight in another. So much for retirement, huh?”
Wesley chuckled in dry amusement. Apparently Lance had no clue to the real danger they faced. That realization alone angered him beyond reason. It was the Throne Council’s responsibility to aid Lance and it was their job to know every detail. Either they were in on the coup and planned to throw Lance to the other side or they sincerely didn’t know.
“Well,” Wes mused, brushing his anger aside. He’d deal with the Council soon.
“I decided it was the perfect time to resume Father’s mantle. Why fight the Human’s war when we have our own? SIN in its entirety was given leave so that my soldiers could return to their homes and prepare for our own Civil War.”
“Out of the frying pan and into the skillet, eh?” Lance quipped.
“Exactly,” Wes agreed. “And I have a decree I’ve yet to follow.”
Lance’s eyes widened and a faint blush crept across his cheeks.
“You did send for her?” Wes asked, his body tensed at his brother’s hesitation.
“She’s on her way here now,” Lance confirmed. “Under tight guard and maximum security. I wouldn’t chance her safety after the two previous mates being taken hostage. I don’t know exactly how the females play into Coffer’s coup, but I wanted to ensure her arrival.”
Wesley nodded, inwardly pleased with his brother’s forethought. Apparently Lance had grown and learned much in his years on the throne. Wesley was very proud and could think of no higher honor than declare Lance as the Prince’s Adviser. Even though Lance was a Prince in his own right and legally, the next Heir, he could still serve the throne in a more formal capacity.
“Very good,” Wesley praised. “Would you care to remain by my side as my Adviser?” he asked, knowing Lance wasn’t going to leave his side.
Lance grinned broadly, his chest puffing like a frog.
“I wouldn’t have it any other way my brother,” he replied.
Wesley nodded curtly and smacked his open palm on the solid wood desk.
“That’s settled then,” he concluded. “Now we call a meeting of the Throne’s Council. We have things to discuss and a game plan to formulate.”
Chapter 2
Beth lowered her book and turned to stare past the muscled goon and out the tinted passenger window. A convoy of black SUVs had arrived to retrieve her at the airport and a gaggle of soldiers had shadowed her ever since. Everything she owned was packed neatly and tightly in the five rolling suitcases in the storage area of the Suburban.
She’d left behind many beloved books and sincerely hoped her husband-to-be would be willing to replace them. She’d known from a very young age that she belonged to the Fire Elemental’s Heir, however, she’d never met the Prince face-to-face. Other than a few pictures, she had no idea just what kind of person she would spend the rest of her life with.
She’d heard that he was a soldier in the Human military and that told her that he was a very loyal person. She just hoped that trait applied to his personal life as well. Having been raised under the Ancient Laws, Beth knew that most Princes took multiple lovers in an effort to replenish their numbers. Although he could only mate one female, physically he could take as many concubines as he wanted. Seeing as though the female numbers were next to none, she hoped she’d at least have him to herself for the better part of the next century.
Of course, she wasn’t exactly what men of his stature looked for in a mate. At five-feet-eleven inches tall, Beth was what most would call a “healthy woman.” She’d developed long before other girls her age - Dragon or Human. She wasn’t ashamed of her voluptuous figure, she just hoped her fiancé wouldn’t mind the few extra pounds.
After Beth and Wesley’s union, all Four Factions would have dual leaders and babies wouldn’t be far behind. It wouldn’t be long and the number of children would greatly increase.
She just wished that their world was more stable for those poor souls about to enter it. Being born during a Civil War wasn’t something she wished on anyone. But her first priority was to give the Fire Elementals a new Heir.
“ETA in ten minutes,” the driver barked and the other six men checked their weapons and coms.
“Locked and loaded,” the soldier on her right called. The man to her left, a younger version of the driver, turned toward her and smiled.
“Welcome home, Princess,” he murmured.
She returned his smile with a tight-lipped one of her own and watched as they cleared several security checkpoints before finally rolling up a circular driveway. She marveled at the bounty of greenery surrounding the brick and mortar estate. Small saplings lined the driveway all the way from the highway to the front door and a multitude of shrubs and shade trees littered the thick, green grass covered lawn.
A twelve-foot, metal security fence surrounded the estate for miles on either side and replica iron bars covered each window. Once they’d rolled to a stop, she waited for her flank guards to exit the SUV and then slowly stepped out behind them. Glad she’d pulled her long crimson curls into a high bun, she sighed when a gust of hot, dry air hit her as she left the air-conditioned vehicle.
Sweat immediately beaded between
her breasts and along the back of her neck. She inwardly groaned, knowing that by the time she got inside the house, she’d be sporting a halo of frizz around her head.
Two of her guards preceded her and she fell into step behind them like a dutiful woman should. Grasping her messenger bag tightly, she steeled herself to finally meet her betrothed.
As they approached the massive double oak doors, they swung inward and a young man addressed her with open arms.
“Welcome to your new home, my sister-to-be,” the man greeted and Beth instantly identified him as the young Prince Lance. She peered around him and frowned when she noticed that he was alone in the open entryway.
Her guards separated, each taking a post on opposite sides of the front door, leaving her to walk in alone. She closed the distance between herself and Lance and suddenly found herself in a warm embrace. Only a few inches taller than her, Lance enveloped her as if she were a long-lost sister returning from seclusion. She relaxed somewhat and gently patted him on the back to convey her thanks for his thoughtfulness.
“It’s nice to finally meet you in person,” she responded. “The estate is very beautiful.”
“Yes, well, Wesley wanted to go for the ‘inviting’ atmosphere should any visitors deign to grace us,” he quipped conspiratorially. “The Estate house is merely for stage performances, so to speak. The royal palace is deep beneath our feet and much more extravagant than this,” he informed and waved his hands to encompass the house. “Why don’t you follow me into the Library where we can wait for Wesley to finish his meeting?” He swept his hand toward the open door to his left and then offered her his arm. Smiling at his gentlemanly ways, Beth slipped her hand through the crook of his arm and nodded graciously.
Although deep inside she was extremely disappointed that her fiancé hadn’t greeted her himself. She hoped he wasn’t one of the New Age Dragons. She’d studied and practiced the Ancient Ways and thought those who didn’t were uneducated and uncouth. Was that what she faced in her new life? Was she about to marry into the wrong side?
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