“It is.”
“Together?”
“I love the sound of that,” he whispered.
So they jumped.
“Oh!”Scarlett shrieked, popping up.“That is freezing.”
“The water comes directly from the mountains.”
“Luckily, I have hot food and cold.We can warm up in the whitelight’s heat.”Scarlett swam the length of the pond and back.“I’ve had my swim.”
Ransom laughed, and she loved the glimpses of his dragon and his natural humor.
“I have something to tell you,” she blurted.Her pulse raced because even though they were mates, she wasn’t sure of how he’d take this news.“And something for you.”
“A gift?”
She nodded.Weren’t children a gift?
“All right.Let’s dry off and warm up,” he said.“Then you can tell me.”
Scarlett produced the robes Kaya had suggested, and once dry, she slipped into the warmth with gratitude.She’d liked Gryffnn and his mate.Soon her hands cupped a mug of warm soup, and she could no longer dither.
“I made you something.”She set aside her cup to open her jewelry equipment bag and pulled out the ring she’d made for him.“On Earth, it is a tradition to exchange rings.It is a physical sign to non-shifters that one has a mate.Hold out your left hand.”Scarlett slid the band onto his ring finger.
“It’s stunning,” Ransom said, and his sincerity shone through.“I have a necklace I created for you.It’s in my chamber.But meantime, I give you dragon words of joining.I promise to love you and our children.I will honor you and care for you in sickness and in health.You are the mate of my heart, and with you at my side, I am the luckiest dragon on Narenda.”
Tears stung her eyes as emotion squeezed her heart.“Have you thought about children?”
“When you’re ready.When we’re both ready.I might visit Viros to see if there is a market for our jewelry.”
“Viros,” she whispered.
“I would take my mate with me.The royal family has invited me to stay at the castle.What do you say?”
“I’d enjoy that very much.”Scarlett nibbled her bottom lip, nervous about telling Ransom of her pregnancy, her belly swirling with her anxiety.Or it could be the dreaded morning sickness thing.She grabbed a dry biscuit and nibbled on it.When she glanced up, Ransom was studying her in concern.
“What’s wrong?”
“I must tell you something, and your possible reaction worries me.”
“We are mates.”He tapped the mark she’d given him.“I wear your mark, and the goddess has seen fit to bestow us with a mating bond.Whatever it is, we will deal with the problem together.”
“I’m pregnant,” Scarlett blurted.
Ransom blinked.He stared at her.
“Did you hear me?”
“Pregnant, but how?”
She wrinkled her nose.“The normal way.We made love, and during the fun process, a reaction started.”
“I know how to make babies,” Ransom said.
Surely, he didn’t think she’d slept with another!“It’s yours.”
