by Judith Leger
something happen we don’t know about?”
With a shake of her head, she spoke low. “I’ll tell you
later.”
He nodded in response. She moved with him so he could
greet Ren and Paladin. For a few minutes, they stood in a
circle discussing the increase in dragon activity over the
desert. Largin expressed his concern that this sudden influx
from the rogue lands showed signs of an upcoming attack.
White hair still sticking up in spots, the older man looked
at each of them. “We must be prepared for that moment.”
“Preparations are almost complete,” Ren reassured him.
“Are they? I received word from Valhaven this morning.
A village along its northern border took a full force attack.
The dragonseed soldiers managed to evacuate the people.
They remained and fought valiantly, but the masses overtook
them. All would have been lost had that great black beast,
Sinimal, not arrived and drove the rogues away,” Largin
informed them, a concerned frown on his face.
The news tore at Seren’s heart. “Is this the only attack
you’ve heard about?”
Lines of worry bracketed the older wizard’s mouth. “The
rogues are uniting under Arcane’s authority. With this
attack, it appears he is having difficulty controlling them. As
for other attacks, there are none that I’m aware of, but this
does not mean outlying villages have survived.”
“All of it could have been avoided if I’d gone home.”
Without meaning to, her gaze met Paladin’s. He stiffened at
her comment.
“Not necessarily.” Ren moved closer. “If anything, your
staying has held Arcane back.”
Surprised at his comment, she tried to understand what
he meant.
He continued explaining. “Arcane wants to destroy you,
but he learned when he took you, he cannot do any physical
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harm to the child while he is inside you. He’s biding his time
until you give birth. The babe will be at his weakest, unable
to fully use his powers. Nothing more than a helpless
newborn.”
Horror at what Ren suggested replaced her surprise and
sent streams of fear for her baby through her body. “Then
he’ll attack.”
“There would be no better time. Arcane cares little what
the lesser dragons do to occupy their time during the wait. If
you had returned to your home, he would have started the
reign of destruction immediately,” Ren said.
Turning away, he faced the entrance to the cavern and
started to move to it. “We need not worry for your safety for
now. It’s only after the child is here that the true battle will
begin.”
Watching the dark haired man stride away from their
group did little to relieve Seren. She jumped as a strong arm
wrapped over her shoulders. She lifted her gaze and met
Paladin’s. Unable to stop, she wrapped her arms around his
waist. “So it really is better I remained here?”
“I do not know.”
“I haven’t forgiven you,” she muttered against his chest.
“Nor would I expect you to.” His hand passed over her
hair, fingers dipping to massage her scalp. His sandalwood
scent enfolded her, soothing her rattled nerves. Knees weak,
she slumped against him.
“I just want to make sure our baby is safe.”
She needed him to understand nothing else mattered as
long as their baby had a chance to survive.
“And so it will be. This I swear on my very blood. Our
child will live to be King.”
His answer seemed final, almost like a warning of his
eminent death. She stiffened and stepped away. The very
thought, even angry at him, of losing Paladin, never seeing,
touching, and sharing precious time with him, brought more
anguish. The baby rolled inside her.
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Together, they walked to the caverns. She’d been honest
with him. She still hadn’t forgiven him, but right now even
that wasn’t important. They had to work together to fight
against Arcane and his army. If they didn’t, none of the
humans on Avaris would survive.
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Chapter Twenty-Four
For the next few days, the tension within the safe haven
increased. News arrived every day of more attacks.
Obviously, Ren Murdock knew what he spoke of when he
told them the night Largin and Leo arrived that Arcane was
waiting until the baby’s birth to launch his major assault. The
closer her delivery came, the more the rogues vented their
hatred for humans.
Heart aching, Seren stopped listening to the reports.
Often, Seren went and sat on the roof of the caverns, staring
off into the distance across the dunes. Leo found her there.
Almost two weeks had passed since he and Largin arrived.
She was thankful he’d given her time to stew some before
searching her out. Still confused and defensive, the added
days had helped calm her.
From the corner of her eye, she saw him approach and sit
next to her on the smooth limestone.
“Well, what happened?”
She half-smiled, knowing what he meant. She’d avoided
telling him anything of her relationship with Paladin. It still
hurt too much to believe the man she loved hadn’t trusted
her. “He made a wish.”
“He’s making a habit of that.”
With a low laugh, she nodded. “He doesn’t seem to have
good luck with his wishes. First, me, and now me again.”
Leo frowned at her. “That doesn’t seem like a bad thing.”
“No, but he didn’t give me a choice either time. This time
though, he decided to keep me here without asking me what
I wanted to do.” She slumped against the rock behind her,
staring at the rough stone ground. “It wouldn’t hurt so badly
if I didn’t have feelings for him.”
“You love him.” His words came out as more of a
statement than a question. She looked at him.
He shrugged. “A blind man can see it.”
She released a breathy laugh. “It’s that obvious?”
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“The others didn’t see you after he’d left to go to
Valhaven. I did. I know how much you missed him.”
“I still miss him, but I can’t forgive him yet. I can’t trust
him either. Not so soon.” She looked out over the dunes
flowing across the horizon. “He should have talked to me
before he did it.”
“Did you have time to talk? When he rescued you?” Leo
quirked a brow at her.
“You’re deliberately trying to make me feel worse, aren’t
you?”
“Not really. Just thinking maybe you’re being a little
unreasonable.”
She shook her head. Leave it to Leo to come up with a
feasible excuse. “Just like a man. How am I unreasonable
when he’s the one who decided my future for me?”
“Did he wish for s
omething both of you didn’t want at the
time? Hell, you two still want it. Just because you’re from
Earth and he’s from here doesn’t mean the two of you can’t
be together.”
Was this true? Yes, she’d needed Paladin with a desperate
desire, wanted him so much. Had he picked up on her what
she wanted and combined them with his own to make his
decision? She’d never asked him. Now it seemed too late.
How could she go to him to find out?
“Do I belong here, Leo? Really belong?” She sighed and
shook her head. “I don’t know. I want to be with Paladin, but
then I’m scared to stay here. Nothing is normal, not like what
I’m accustomed to on Earth.”
“It’s strange you put it that way.”
She looked at him, frowning over the way he made the
comment, as if what she’d said amazed him.
He shrugged and continued. “I never once thought like
that when I arrived on Avaris. You have to keep in mind that
I knew I was going to die if I stayed where I was, so there
wasn’t a choice of me hurrying back to Earth.”
When he continued, he studied her. “You were different.
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There wasn’t a threat to you. Or was there? Were you happy
on Earth or were you just going through life, waiting to die?”
His question took her by surprise. “Not fair. You’re not
the psychic, I am.”
“Hit a raw spot?”
She blinked, glancing away, hoping to hide the burning
tears in her eyes. “Sort of.”
“So do you love him?”
Swallowing the rise of tears clogging her throat, she
whispered. “Yes.”
“Then what’s the problem?”
“He didn’t trust me.”
“He does. He wants you here.”
She shook his reasoning aside. “He’s never once told me
he loves me.” She stopped as a thought occurred. Paladin
mentioned love before, but was it the same here like it was
on Earth? “Does everyone on Avaris even know what love is?
You know, the same way we do?”
A laugh started in Leo’s belly, low and full of mirth. “I
hope so, or my wife lied to me all the years we were
together.”
She smiled in response. “I suppose it’s one emotion that’s
universal.”
“Hate is too.”
A sudden wave of exhaustion clouded her mind. She
struggled to keep her eyes open and pay attention. She had to
repeat his answer twice before the words registered. With a
nod, she pushed off the ground with her hands and stood. “I
supposed all emotions are. Sorry to cut this short, but I’m
going in, for some reason, I’m tired all of a sudden.”
He stood, offering her a hand. “Sure, honey. Do me a
favor? Give Paladin a chance. He does care for you. A lot.”
“We’ll see. I used to think that, but after this, I’m not sure
anymore.” She said, taking a few steps in the direction of the
stairwell. The third step, a spurt of liquid hit the ground
between her feet. Surprised, she stopped and stared at the
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small puddle.
“Uh, Seren, are you all right?”
Embarrassed, she hoped she hadn’t released her bladder.
Checking for any signs of pain from the baby, she found
nothing wrong. Had her water broken? Everything felt fine.
No more liquid came out. Cheeks heated, she looked over her
shoulder at Leo, shaking her head, her hands clasping her
rounded stomach. “I can’t believe I did that.”
He grunted, a considering frown creasing his brow. “You
go on down. Clean up and we’ll see.”
She agreed and started down the stairs leading to the
caverns. Midway, heat spiraled from the center of her lower
back and shot around to the front. She gasped, coming to a
stop on the steep stone cut steps. Eyes wide, she counted the
seconds her belly tightened.
When the tension released, she met Leo’s worried eyes. “I
don’t think I wet myself.”
Panic flashed across his face. “Oh, Lord, Lord, Lord.
Come on, you need to get to your room now.”
She didn’t argue. This labor was so different from when
she’d had Mandy. One thing, her labor with her daughter had
been induced. The flood of pain-filled memories poured
through her mind, sending strands of panic through her.
Another flare of heat started in her back at the bottom of the
steps.
“This isn’t good. I must be in hard labor. The contractions
are irregular. They’re coming too quick.” She tried to sound
normal, but the pain came sharper than the last one.
“Don’t talk, walk. Once you’re in your room, I’ll find
Largin and Paladin. Master Largin’ll know what to do.”
She giggled, for some reason the idea of the elderly
wizard assisting her in having the baby sounded ridiculous.
“I know what to do, but if it’ll make you feel better, bring the
old man.”
Concentrating on breathing through the increasing pains,
she glanced up to see Paladin walking in the long-legged,
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slow way she’d grown to love toward the entrance. Without
thinking, she called to him. He stopped, found her with his
gaze, and changed directions, weaving through the multitude
of people moving around the room.
When he drew nearer, she smiled. “Ready for a baby?”
His eyes widened with surprise. The next moment, he
scooped her up into his arms. “Why are you walking?”
“I had to go to my room.” She wrapped one arm over his
shoulders and massaged her belly.
Leo hurried away from them in search of Largin. She still
couldn’t figure out why Leo wanted him there. Was he the
equivalent to a doctor here on Avaris? She should have asked
Leo about it.
Moments later, Paladin entered her room and set her on
the small cot. She pointed to the chest at the foot. “Grab my
robe. I need to change out of these wet things.”
He retrieved her long white robe and handing it to her.
His hands trembled. She glanced up at him, surprised. “Are
you all right?”
One corner of his mouth lifted. Even in this state of
disarray, she brought happiness to him. “My first child is
about to be born and you have to ask?”
She started to laugh, but another heated pain swept
across her abdomen, turning the sound into a groan. The
pain this time was much sharper. Nausea bubbled in her
stomach. Taking deep slow breaths, she waited until it ended
before responding to him.
“Sorry, I forgot. I’ve been through this once so I know
what’s going to happen,” she muttered, unwrapping the sash
around her waist. He moved her hands away and loosened
her clothes so she could slide them off. Warmth climbed up
her neck. He hadn’t seen her nude in weeks. With his gaze on
her cumbersome body, heated embarrassment flooded her
face.<
br />
She tensed as his hands passed over the skin on her
shoulders. “Wait, I can do this...please.”
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He stopped and stared at her. She waited. He shifted
back, stood, and turned away from her.
“Are you in a great amount of pain?” he asked, his voice
soft, gentleness flowing across the distance separating them.
Hurrying to remove her tunic and pants, she shook her
head, forgetting he couldn’t see her. When she realized it,
she’d slipped the robe on and sat on the bed. “Not yet. I
expect it’ll be worse. You can turn around. I’m done.”
He faced her, and she took in his haggard features.
Hoping to relieve his worries, she said, “I was in labor with
Mandy for thirty-six hours. The doctor talked about doing a
C section on me, but he didn’t have to. She came out fine.”
Before he could say anything, a knock came from the
doorway. Leo entered followed by Largin and Ren.
She eyed them in curiosity. “Uh, Leo is there any reason
why they have to be here?”
“They’re wizards. They can help.”
“With what? I am perfectly capable of giving birth.” She
scooted until her back was against the wall behind the cot.
Trying to relax between pains, she studied the four men.
“Isn’t there some women here who know what to do? Or isn’t
that how it’s done on this planet?”
“You would do well to let them help you.” Paladin knelt
by the side of the cot. He reached for her hand.
She pulled it out of the way, glaring at him. “Why? Did
you forget to tell me something else?”
“No.”
Another pain started to migrate and she asked through
clenched teeth. “Then why are they needed?”
The elder wizard stepped closer. “Dragonseed babies have
a habit of releasing their magic at birth to the detriment of
the person helping to deliver the child. It would be best if
Ren and I were here to prevent any harm to you or the child.”
Ah, so this explained why. Poor Paladin, he probably
thought she was becoming a shrew with this pregnancy. “My
baby is not going to do that.”
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Determination lighting his eyes, Paladin clasped her hand
and pulled it to him. “Seren, this baby has been blessed with
all of the seven great dragons’ magic. We don’t know for sure
that he will not blow the caverns apart. With them here, they
can prevent this from happening.”
