by Jill Haven
There was a quick and sharp debate about whether to follow my uncle’s plan and have me bitten by some riff-raff alpha in the hope that it would save me and the unborn child, who was weighing so heavily on my insides that I needed to lay on my side if I had any hope of breathing even small gasps of air. My belly was so distended that I felt dwarfed by it. It was a small comfort amongst hours of agony and malaise during the day to rub the flesh, tight as a drum, and feel a strange tingle spread through my palm as I did so. If I let myself get carried away, I would begin to cry from equal parts of hope and fear—that I would get to meet the child inside me; or that I would die trying.
I was crying like this now, and Haiden rushed to my side to comfort me.
“We should consider all options,” Agatha said. Apparently, she was in charge with Carlisle away.
“We’ll wait for Bishop,” Seth said defiantly.
“We should at least think about the other possibility—” Agatha started before Seth stared at her with sharp daggers.
“Evan said he doesn’t want to. You’re going to force him to mate with someone? Wouldn’t you rather die than do that yourself?”
Agatha left the room in a huff and I stopped my weeping and managed a grateful smile for my friend’s loyalty and advocacy. Seth put his thumb in the air and smiled back. If my time was finished on this earth, then at least I’d be surrounded by love when I left.
Love…
In a half-dream, I found myself floating on my back in a lake. I was buoyed and held tightly by a ribbon around my waist that led over the top of sun-kissed rocks and to a grassy bank where Bishop stood, young and beautiful under the summer sun. He held the end like the handle of a kite, and he smiled at me as I floated, safe under his watch. He pulled me in with firm tugs of the ribbon, yanked me onto the bank, and wrapped his arms around—
“Evan.”
Morning light nipped my eyelids. I thought I heard a rumbling voice, but I’d thought that most mornings and had been heartbreakingly wrong. I kept my eyes shut and begged my mind to drag me back to the banks of the lake where I might see my true mate one last time.
“Evan.”
Again, a voice so deep that it rattled the inside of my ribcage. Suddenly, I felt a touch on my hand and my eyes shot open. Bishop…
I gasped and reached for him, though my arms were almost too weak to lift, and he wrapped me in a strong, long embrace. He was solid. He was real! Tension cascaded from my shoulders in an instant, like standing below a waterfall and being pummeled to purity as I sighed all of the breath from my body. I inhaled his scent—campfire smoke, dragon brimstone, with fresh soap and his own intoxicating musk. His hair was wet, and his clothes were clean; much cleaner than mine. I felt filthy and embarrassed, but he held me tight and moaned into the crook of my neck as though I were the most delicious thing he’d ever smelled. “My love…”
“You’re here? You are real?” I touched his face and stared at him in awe.
“I came as soon as I heard. I’m sorry, I—”
“Look what we made.” I peeled back the covers and Bishop’s jaw dropped.
“You’re so big,” he whispered, and clasped his hands together as though stopping himself from touching me. But I wanted him to touch me, more than anything, and more than ever. I took his hands, unpeeled his fingers, and placed his palms flat on the ballooning belly that jutted out from my abdomen.
“Oh… Oh, Evan.” His touch was even more soothing than my own. I closed my eyes and sank into the pleasure of his rubbing touch. “I’m sorry that I left you, my love. I tried to see you, I begged your uncle, I even had Carlisle ask—”
“Shh.” I grabbed at his arm and pulled him closer. “Get in this bed with me, my darling.”
“Have they told you what we need to do? The mating bite?”
“Yes, yes, yes, do whatever you must. Just be with me now. Just… be with me.”
He sank into the bed and I met his gaze, excitement setting my heart aflame. We brushed our lips together with a gentleness we’d only shared when we’d first been together, but in the warmth of the bed and the pressing of my belly against his crotch, Bishop’s eyes flashed a stormy grey and then a fierce silver. His pupils shifted. He moaned with a low thunderous rumble, and suddenly I felt his tongue change shape in my mouth. His fangs nipped at my lips. A pure thrill ran up my spine and my whole body tingled with an influx of energy. I pulled back to simply grab my breath, and then dove back into him.
Just being with him, it was as though a river of vitality had opened up between us; his robust virility fed my body, mind, and soul with the energy I needed. My maladies escaped my mind and now all I wanted was his skin against me; and all of him inside me.
“I missed you more than you can know.” His words drove me to kiss him harder and deeper. Hope lit in my heart. Maybe this could work. If I already felt so much better, how much stronger would I feel after the bite?
Frantically stripped of our bedclothes, Bishop lapped his long, pointed tongue over my neck, my belly, my inner thighs… I writhed and whimpered. Electric sparks burst from every point of contact and delicious scorching heat prickled where his fangs nicked my skin. Still heavy with some malaise, I moved slowly to urge him up back to kiss my mouth. My erection ached for his tongue, but my neck burned for him to bite me. I needed to be his, now.
Curled behind me, Bishop cradled me in his arms and hoisted up one of my thighs with a strong hand. I leaned into his girthy body, craned my neck, and looked back at him. I gazed into his ethereal eyes and felt that I could see the entire galaxy reflected back at me. He was everything I wanted. He held my gaze as he prepared me with lubricant and two of those thick, meaty fingers.
“I want you. I want you to be mine.” He growled possessively and stretched me wide.
“Never leave me again.” I gasped as he pressed his fingers against the pleasure pearl deep inside me and lifted my leg higher. A long moan bubbled out of me. My erection prodded at the underside of my belly and throbbed so hard that it left a smear of clear fluid there. Bishop worked my hole hard and fast, until he growled so loudly that I instinctively tightened around him. I tugged on his wrist and tried to beg him to mount me but my words came out garbled. Still, he got the message.
He pulled his fingers out and searched for more lubricant, but I was too fast. I reached back and found his beautiful length, positioned it right against my hole and wriggled as far onto it as I could—which wasn’t far at all. The thick head lodged in my opening, but I couldn’t get much more of him inside me without his help. His arm wrapped around most of my belly and he pulled me against him. His hardness prodded deeper and a sharp pain shot through me as he stretched me, but it immediately sparked into pleasure. My moans rang out through the room, and I wondered who could hear me beyond the thick curtains and plush carpet. I wanted the world to know how good it felt to be taken by my true mate.
I let Bishop move me and thrust at the pace that suited him; I wanted him to chase his pleasure with my body. I wanted to live to make him feel good, I wanted to exist in this place of pleasure bouncing between us. As his grunts grew louder, I knew that the knot wasn’t far away. I tossed my hair to the side and lowered my head, exposing the nape of my neck.
“Are you ready? Are you sure?”
“I’ve never been more certain of anything in my life.”
“I’m close—”
“Take me, my love. Claim me.”
He arched back and slammed his growing knot deeper inside me, while curses fell from his mouth, the filth of them making my pleasure all the more incredible. The edge was right there, right ahead of me, and it didn’t take much to push me over. The moment the tips of his fangs tickled the back of my neck, I flew into the abyss.
Pleasure exploded through my body and our cries filled the room. The pain of the bite was nothing compared to the orgasm that raged through me and the powerful shots that Bishop let off inside me. He rutted deeper and deeper and warmth spread through me and
sent sparks crashing through my belly.
I was still riding my ecstasy when the base of his erection expanded to fill me, while slick fluid emptied from my erection all over the underside of my pregnant belly without a single touch to milk it out. My balls pulled up tight and hard against my body and pulsed until they were completely empty. And still, Bishop kept rutting and the pleasure kept rolling.
Our ribbon disappeared again as we became one. I melted into the abyss with him, wrapped up in his arms; his scent, his body, his love. And slowly I came to, from the soft brushing of his lips against the stinging wound at the base of my neck. My mark, from my mate. I was finally his, and I’d never been happier.
19
Bishop
The color came back into Evan’s skin like a flood of light. He was lit up again and even his hair seemed more alive. As the orgasmic tingles eased out of my limbs, I buried my face in his locks and breathed in his scent. Lilacs, honey, and baby powder… Enchanted by it, it took over ten minutes for my knot to shrink enough to allow us to move, and his soft whimpers and sighs of satisfaction almost had me rutting into him again.
By the time he was able to slip off my length, I was so dazed and full of his scent that I could barely think straight. But when he heaved and rolled his big belly over and threw his arms around me, a clarity rushed over me. I had claimed my mate! My dragon, satisfied, loved knowing that he was mine, tied to me with a bond that would last all of eternity. A smile burst across my face and crinkled my eyes as I kissed his cheeks that were glowing healthy pink. Satisfied, he held me close with his face buried in the crook of my neck. I traced my fingers over his and found that the mark on his nape was already healing.
Evan. My mate. My finest treasure.
“I’m yours now, aren't I?” he murmured.
“You are.”
“And you’re mine?”
“Forever.”
My heart felt whole, and completely unscarred—as though the gaping hole of sorrow that had bitten at me and anguished me for weeks earlier was never there at all. He pulled back and smoothed a hand over my face, as though soothing me from that past pain.
“I know we had problems, we have some things to work out, but I’m so happy to see you. We’ll make it work. The three of us will make it work.”
I boomed with happy laughter and lifted him up so that he straddled me with his big belly jutting forward. I caressed it while he told me all that had happened while I was gone, and I admitted how devastated I’d been when I thought we were never to be together again. He was moved by my attempts to rescue him “like a princess from a castle in a fairy tale” and gave me his word that he forgave me for leaving when I did. By way of explanation, I admitted to the romance I’d had with the omega in my past, who I wasn’t permitted to be with.
Evan cocked his head and his cascade of hair spilled over his shoulder. “You swam in a lake together?”
“I loved watching him swim. I often stood at the bank and admired the way he floated.”
His eyebrows shot up and a funny laugh came from his belly.
“What? Why?”
“No. No reason. I can’t say that I’m sorry about what happened then, or I wouldn’t have you now. But I am sorry you went through that pain.”
“And I’m sorry you were alone when you needed me.” I kissed his fingers and he tickled the stubble on my jaw.
“It’s the past. We’ll move forward together into the future, won’t we?”
“I want you by my side every step of the way.”
“I want to believe that, but what is this… mission you left for?” He frowned and put his hands on my chest as his face took on a very serious expression.
“Hm. I’ve been thinking about that. Have you heard of the Enforcement Council?”
He shook his head, and so I gave him a brief history lesson, and smiled as his eyes grew wide when I spoke about dragon hunters, the myths and realities, and the invitation I’d received from the Council.
“And you took the job, right?” he asked excitedly.
I chuckled and nodded and smoothed my hands over his silky arms. “Yes, I took the job.”
Evan chewed his bottom lip and shifted on my lap. “It seems important.”
“It is.”
“It seems quite dangerous.”
“Very. It’s very dangerous.”
“Hm.”
“Would you come with me?”
His eyes shot wide open and he gaped at me with excitement. “Yes! I thought you’d never ask. I do, I really do, but…” His face sank and his eyes gazed at his belly. I sat up and held his face with gentle hands.
“A support role. I am allowed to have my own team, and I want you on it. I never want to be away from you again. You can work in the background, off the front lines. It will still be dangerous but… I can’t bear to be away from you and our child ever again. Please. Come with me.”
He gasped and clapped his hands excitedly. The energy in his eyes was equal parts adorable and relieving—when I’d first entered the room just hours before, he had looked like a limp, lifeless version of himself. Now he was full of vitality and intrigue, back to his joyful self. I adored him, and ran my fingers through his long, silky hair to show him so.
“I absolutely want to join you. As long as we can find a way to make it safe for me and the baby, I’ll do it. Besides, if things get too dangerous for our little one to come with us, Uncle Vince will always babysit for us.”
I snorted and smirked. “I’m sure he would. He must miss having you around, getting into trouble.”
“Hey!”
While the improvement in Evan’s health remained, morning sickness from his pregnancy was marked. The next morning, I awoke to a pattering of kisses across my brow and opened my eyes into a tangle of hair. The room glowed golden through the curtain of his locks, and I pulled him closer to bury myself in his scent.
“Good morning, my darling,” he whispered, and peppered the top of my head with pecks.
“Good morning, my mate.”
“Mm, I like that.” He wriggled from my grip, parted the golden curtain of his hair with a flick of his wrist, and lay beside me. He looked sleep-softened and flushed with renewed vitality, and impossibly handsome stretched out on Carlisle’s opulent bed sheets and fine furniture. He was a prince, and this was a close approximation of a modern castle. Not quite the Redcap stronghold, but fine enough.
“This suits you.”
“Hm? Nudity?”
I laughed and it lit a smile on his face. “No, the room. The furnishings. Having a beautiful home.”
“You suit me.” He caught the insecurity and worry behind my words. “You have to take me with you on the mission, there will be no backing out now!” He flung a leg over my hip and urged me closer.
I smiled in agreement as I moved toward him and cupped his lily-soft cheek. “Hm, certainly. But I’m building you a castle when we’re done.”
“I wouldn’t have it any other way.”
Our lips brushed and a warmth danced between us. Evan pulled back suddenly and cupped his hand over his mouth.
“What’s wrong? Are you okay?”
“Queasy.”
I propped up and looked him over with concern.
He waved me off and shook his head. “Queasy but alive. Strong. Don’t worry.”
“We should talk to Mason or Mabel.”
“They’ll just worry.”
“I’m worried.”
“Hm, fine. If it’ll bring you comfort, we’ll let them poke around. Gather my bedclothes for me?”
He wouldn’t let me carry him downstairs, so we walked—and waddled, in his case—to the kitchen where Carlisle, Mason, and their mates were preparing breakfast. Baby Charlotte cooed from her place on Haiden’s hip, while the infant dragon screeched and thundered across the tile floor, scrambled up the side of the cabinetry, and let out a small flame as he balanced on the top of the refrigerator. Seth strained to reach for his bub, and hu
ffed. “Again? Again? Brant! How many times have I said that’s a no-no?”
Mason grinned proudly at his kin, and Seth shot him daggers. His gaze dragged over his mate’s shoulder and his face lit up when he saw us. He rushed to give Evan a hug.
“You’re up!” Seth offered a high-five, but quickly lowered it when he saw the color of Evan’s face. “Yikes, dude. You look more alive, but also… more green.”
Mason urged Brant down into his arms and inspected Evan’s forehead. “The fact that you’re upright is a miracle. A lot more color in your face. Clear eyes, wonderful. That’s good.”
“Would you mind checking him out?”
Mason nodded, handed me the wily hatchling, and led Evan into the dining room. I stood in the doorway and watched the consultation as Brant scaled my shoulders and tried to make a nest in the back of my shirt, until Seth came over and took him off my hands. He reassured me with a squeeze of my shoulder, “He’s going to be fine.”
“He’d better be.”
“It’s just morning sickness,” Mason reported to us across the room. “Ginger ale, please, Seth.”
“Yes, doctor.”
But it wasn’t as simple a case as he’d made it sound. Evan had the worst morning sickness of the three Divine Omegas; Haiden and Seth had gotten off easy. He was barely able to keep any food down and was hit with headaches and dizziness.
“Guy can’t catch a break.” Seth watched over Evan while Mabel and Mason took his vitals, and I paced the length of the house. I did a lot of walking over those few weeks—to every room in Carlisle’s grand home, to the store for ginger ale, to the woods for air. Anxiety gripped me like a python and squeezed tight around my chest whenever I heard Evan throwing up in the bathroom by our room or groaning in his sleep. Carlisle accompanied me on many of my walks through the forest and spoke words of comfort, painted a future for me that was just weeks away—Evan would birth our offspring, he’d recover quickly, and our baby would behealthy. I wanted to believe it, but I felt like a black cloud hovered above us.
