Thinking back to the old times, I tried to recall what could possibly cure basilisk venom. No one knew that I had grown up in the olden times. I was the daughter of the Great Mage Zanic and had lived over three thousand years. As Atticus explained the happenings, a memory surfaced: my father explaining the power of dragon's blood and how it could cure the incurable. That had to be it.
"Tell me about this beloved," I asked.
"He’s odd. He smells human, but there is a power about him. In the meeting when the bloodsucker recounted Bazer's attack, I felt a power surge from him. But he's human! His scent is undeniable. Even if he had magic, I would know," he explained.
He looked at me as I thought.Could he really be a dragon? Could the dragons have returned?One day they had filled the air, and the next day, after they killed my father, they had disappeared. Even the dragons' home, the floating island in the sky, had vanished. In my years, I had not heard or seen them since. A dragon was the only thing that could cure the basilisk venom.
"We need to watch them—the vamp's mate, especially. The only thing that could save and cure basilisk venom is the blood of a dragon," I said.
"Dragon! No way this human is a dragon. They no longer exist," he scoffed.
I looked him in the eye. "It has to be a dragon—and they do exist. Only they choose not to be seen. This changes everything if the days of dragons have returned," I said.
If we could draw out and capture thishumanand if he truly was a dragon, his blood would make my power increase a hundred-fold. "Yes, we need to watch them," I repeated.
Dances and Dilemmas
Ben
AfterthemeetinginMaster Stephen's office, everyone agreed Bazer had something to do with the attack. My beloved was angry, and I could tell he wanted revenge for my attempted murder. Everyone was on high alert; Master Stephen ordered more guards to patrol the territory, and Carson and his men continued to try to track the rogue.
We had the advantage in that Bazer was not an elder and was unmated, so he had to turn to stone during the day. That gave us time to locate him. However, Carson and his group of trackers appeared to have lost his trail; the scent just evaporated. The elder left, stating that the investigation was still open, and he would contact us if more information came in. All we could do was hope that something came of it.
"So, how's bonded life? It's been almost a month now," Devin asked from the treadmill next to me.
I looked up from my own treadmill. I’d begun to get a little baby belly. Apparently, dragon pregnancies only lasted three months. I was determined to stay healthy, and Dr. Rand said that exercise wouldn't hurt the baby.
“Well, how is it?” Devin asked again.
I smiled. I couldn't help it. I was in love. Kris was amazing. It didn't mean it wasn't an adjustment. Kris and I were both used to being on our own. There were little, annoying things, like leaving his clothes on the bathroom floor or putting the toilet paper roll on under instead of over. Everyone knows the right way is over.
Kris could be imperious at times, but he was also loving and kind. When he was a jackass, he admitted it with an apology. I'd had to apologize a few times myself; just because we were destined to be together didn't mean everything was rainbows and butterflies.
The most significant change had come a few days ago when I'd felt our son move for the first time. It was the oddest feeling; one moment, I was sitting on the couch, and the next, it felt like something was dancing in my stomach. It hit home I was really pregnant and growing a life.
"Oh, gods! You've got that sappy grin on your face again," Devin said, pulling me out of my thoughts.
"You'd have that grin too if you would just bite the bullet and bond with Roarke," I said.
Devin stopped his treadmill and stopped walking.
"Ben, it's more complicated than that. You know what happened with my sister and the asshole she ended up with. I just want to get to know Roarke better." He paused for a moment. "And I'm not sure about this whole pregnancy thing. What's it like?"
"It's incredible and terrifying. I don't even know how to describe it. I'm excited to meet him, and at the same time, I'mscared shitless. And not just scared about the giving birth thing, that's a whole other level of terror. I'm afraid of being a father. I don't know what to do with a kid. What if I screw him up? Hell, whenever I saw someone had a baby, I ran the other way. Now I'm going to be the one with the kid," I replied.
"Ben, you're going to be a great father. I know you will. You know how to love and that's the most important thing. And you'll love that little boy with all you've got. I know you will," Devin said seriously.
"Thanks, Dev. You know you’ll make a great dad, too. That’s if you ever get your head out of your ass," I said with a chuckle.
He gave me a mock glare and took a swipe at me as I stopped my treadmill. "I'm done for the day. Kris and I are going house hunting tomorrow. Are you interested in coming along?" I asked.
"I'll have to see if I can. Come on, let's go get cleaned up," Devin said as we started walking toward the door. "Do you have any plans tonight?"
"I think Kris said something about dinner, but I'm not sure. He's with Roarke and Master Stephen trying to get an update on the Bazer situation," I said with a shake of my head. I was tired of coming to dead ends.
"If you don't have plans, let me know. Maybe we all can go out for dinner," Devin said.
I nodded as I turned toward my suite. "I'll let you know. Talk to you later, Dev."
