Page 84 of A Luna’s Dynasty (Celestial #1)

Asher came running into the meadow, carrying Lita bridal style. He lowered her down next to Caspian. “How was the trip?”

“I felt like it was a tad bit slow,” Lita teased.

“Don’t I at least get a tiny tip?” Asher’s gaze moved to her lips as he inched closer.

Lita swatted at him playfully. Then, as he started to pout and walk away, she reached up and grabbed him by his shirt collar.

She pulled him down to her and planted a hot kiss on his mouth.

When she tried to pull away, he didn’t let her.

Instead, he captured her head with his hand and held it possessively, kissing her and nipping at her lips.

Grayson cleared his throat. “Kahem … There are children present. Even if there weren’t, you can’t go and make us jealous like that. Asher never kisses me that way.”

“Yeah! When I wake up in the morning, he’s already bolted. Talk about making you feel used,” Caden teased as well.

Asher smiled against Lita’s mouth. “You going to root for me?”

“You boys aren’t going all out, right? This is just for fun to show the boys, right?” Lita raised her brows and looked at the two men. This was unquestionably for the two adult kids.

Rosa walked over, holding the two boys' hands. “They basically coaxed the boys into asking them to fight.”

“You two start getting too rough, and I’ll literally light your butts on fire.” Lita folded her arms, giving the men a stern look.

“Aww, Lita …” Grayson whined.

“Nope. We aren’t at home. This isn’t an arena. I don’t need either of you getting all beat up for the trip back.” Lita wasn’t relenting.

“She’s amazing, isn’t she?” Asher swooned while looking at her.

“Shut up, you lovesick puppy.” Grayson growled in annoyance.

“Come on, boys. Let’s move back some. I’ll coach you on all the things they do wrong.” Caden grinned back at Asher and Grayson as he tugged the two boys along.

“If they get too out of hand, I can always blind them,” Rosa offered with a giggle.

“I’ll keep that offer on the table.” Lita grinned and winked over at Asher.

They all left the two men, making sure to give them enough space.

“Wow, his bear is huge!”

“Look how cool the wolf is!”

“This is so cool!”

Chasen and Brody were enjoying themselves. They were at the edge of their seats. Caden was commentating on the fight, making it more interesting for them.

Lita!

Lita’s mother’s voice rang out urgently in her head. Lita, come back to the palace, quick! There’s something wrong with one of the children, and we don’t have a healer here today.

“Watch the kids,” Lita commanded Caden, jumping to her feet. She shifted into Mira and sprinted back to the palace. She could hear Asher running quickly beside her.

I could have taken you back, Lita. You shouldn’t push yourself. Asher was worried about her shifting into Mira while pregnant.

Asher, werewolves shift all the time while pregnant. You’re so overprotective. It’s adorable, at least at this very second. Later, this is going to get real annoying, though.

I just want to keep you safe.

I’m fine. Go back and wrestle with Grayson. I’ve got this.

I’ll wait. You might need my help.

Lita mentally rolled her eyes. Bo was sprinting beside her, his eyes never leaving Mira’s body. He was an overprotective mess, too.

They arrived at the palace and found her mother waiting for her in the garden, a robe for Lita already in her hands. As Lita shifted back, the robe was quickly tossed around her.

“What seems to be the problem?” Lita asked quickly.

“He’s in a lot of pain. We usually have several healers here, but they all went to gather rare herbs.

They only grow this time of year. Of all times.

We have him over at the infirmary,” Alice hurriedly explained.

“He’s from a rare, delicate fairy line. He’s fragile, and I can’t believe I didn’t keep one of our healers here.

I don’t know why I didn’t think ahead.” She was frazzled.

They rarely needed their healers, so she didn’t think about an emergency situation when she agreed they could all go.

“Asher, I have this situation under control. Go back with the kids. I’ll link you if I need you.” Bo rested his head into Lita’s side for a moment before turning to run back to the field.

Lita followed Alice to an ivory building.

It was very fresh and clean inside, so clean it almost made you wonder if dust existed there.

She led Lita down a short hall into a room, where she saw a little boy about the age of five curled up into a ball on the bed.

A man and woman stood near him on either side.

“These are his new parents. He was delivered here after his parents were killed by demons, and he was recently adopted.” Alice explained quietly.

Lita grabbed a few of the familiar objects on the counter and started going to work. The boy had a high fever and severe abdominal pain.

“Do you have a surgical room here as well?” Lita looked up, meeting her mother’s eyes just as her father walked in.

“Yes, we do. It’s down the hall. Why, what’s wrong with him?”

“I’m pretty sure it’s a magical knot … similar to appendicitis. I’ll need to operate immediately.” Lita frowned, seeing the immense pain the child was in.

“I’ll give you a hand, Lita. As you know, I’ve assisted in operations before.” Nathon walked over and lifted the child up.

“We’re going to take him now. I’ll do the best I can,” Lita informed the boy’s parents before rushing out to follow Alice to the operating room.

Alice stood outside the door. “This is the room here. I’m sorry I can’t be of any help.”

“You can be of plenty help. Just go and keep the new parents company. It’ll help calm their nerves.” Lita watched her mother’s eyes light up, hearing there was something she could do to help. She then shut the door and left.

“I know you don’t really need me in here, but you never know when you’ll need an extra hand,” Nathon said, as he gently laid the child down.

“Thank you. We’ll need to put him under.

Wash up and put some gloves on just in case I do need you.

” Lita barked orders to her dad as she walked up to the small boy.

“We’re going to make it better now. When this is all over, you’ll have an awesome battle story to tell everyone.

Now, count backwards from ten with me. Ten…

nine…eight… seven… six… five…” Lita listened when the boy quit counting. She took a deep breath. Time to work.

“Good job, Lita. You got to it before it burst.” Nathon beamed with pride as he watched his daughter wash up at the sink.

“He’ll need to be on antibiotics for ten days.

When your healers return, they’ll need to check him and see that he’s healing correctly.

He should be just fine, though.” Lita sighed and shrank back into a chair.

She was exhausted and lightheaded. The surgery took about an hour.

By the time she finished cleaning up, she was approaching the two-hour mark.

“You feeling okay? We should get Asher.” Nathon was as nervous as Asher would get. Seeing Lita suddenly become weak reminded him of when Alice used to get weak when she was pregnant.

“Dad, I’m okay. Remember, it won’t kill me.

” Lita let out a tired chuckle. “We need to let his parents know that the surgery went well, and that they can come in and sit with him. He’ll need to stay here for at least 24 hours before going home.

” Lita slowly rose up on shaky feet. Nathon wrapped his arm around her, and she gave him a crooked smile.

“I know, I know … you don’t need me to do this.

Just humor your nervous father and allow me to escort my daughter down the hall.

” Nathon grinned, seeing her nod her head in agreement, and walked her out of the room.

“I was worried when you first left. I didn’t know how to act or what I should do.

I wanted to go to your mother, but I was afraid of leaving too soon.

What if you needed me? You never called to complain, but that was something you would never do anyway.

You look good, though, Lita. You look happy, happier than when you lived with me at home. ”

“I am happy, Daddy. I have a wonderful family with Asher. The pack welcomed me. I have great friends there. I’ve … I’ve never been this happy before.” Lita answered honestly. She hoped it didn’t hurt his feelings, but she wanted him to know just how content she was.

“It shows, Lita. It really does. When Asher said that you were his, my heart fell in my chest. How could the tough Black Ice Pack Alpha possibly treat you right? Would he accept you for who you were? What if he was too rough with you? He was your mate, though. I’m sorry, maybe I should have put up more of a fight.

I regret that I didn’t.” It was true. Nathon felt like he should have handled the situation differently.

She wasn’t only his daughter, but someone extremely precious.

He had hope, though … hope that her mate was given to her for a reason. Just like him and Alice.

“Don’t, Daddy. There’s nothing to regret.

Asher’s the person I’m meant to be with.

I love him, and he loves me. I can’t imagine life without him.

He treats me well. Though he is overprotective, which can be annoying.

” Lita rolled her eyes, leaning into her father’s side.

She was using him a bit more to help her walk, something he could feel as well.

They walked into the waiting area and Lita looked at the nervous parents.

She understood their worries. She would be nervous too, if something happened to Chasen and Brody.

“The surgery went well, and he’s going to be fine.

He’s resting, but you can go to him and be there for him when he wakes up.

” The two parents were visibly relieved.

“Thank you so much,” they both said and then hurriedly went down the hall. Alice walked up to Lita.

“I’m so proud of you. Are you feeling okay? Are you getting weak?” Alice took note of the time. She had been away from Asher for two hours.

“Like you said, it isn’t going to kill me.” Lita gave her a tired smile.

“No, but it is extremely uncomfortable. Call him. I don’t want you suffering,” Alice commanded her daughter. She could see that Nathon agreed. Neither one of them wanted to see her in a weakened state.

Before Lita could even say something, the door in front of them slammed open. Asher’s eyes locked onto Lita. He looked at her and how she was being held up by her father. He strode over to her, taking large strides. He reached out and took her hand, pulling her into his chest.

“I would have been here sooner, but I couldn’t find the infirmary. Are you okay? Are you feeling okay?” Asher nuzzled his nose into her neck, planting small butterfly kisses and breathing in her scent.

Lita giggled. He was worried about her, which was cute. “I’m fine, Asher. I was just starting to get a bit tired.”

I don’t like being away from you that long, Lita. I felt anxious. I need to be near you, too. I need it. Bo needs it. I can’t be calm without you.

Lita smiled and leaned into him. If he was this overprotective now, he would be ballistic when it was almost time to deliver.

Don’t I know it. Asher smirked into her neck. “How’s the kid?”

“He’s going to be fine. He had a magical knot … think appendicitis. I had to perform surgery on him, but he’s going to be okay.”

Asher pulled back and looked into her shining emeralds. “You’re amazing, you know that? Simply amazing.”

“She is. I’m so proud of the person she is,” Alice said as she leaned into Nathon’s chest. They both swelled with pride over their daughter.

If she hadn’t been there, they would have lost the boy.

Nothing bad ever happened there. They never thought that letting the healers go for a day could have ended up being disastrous.

It was a mistake they wouldn’t make again.

“You hungry? Last I checked, they were preparing all sorts of food.” Nathon looked at Asher and Lita, knowing a pregnant werewolf would be ready to eat.

“Yes, I’m starving.” Lita giggled.

“Let’s go get some food.” Nathon pulled Alice along, while Asher and Lita followed them.

“How was your sparring session?” Lita asked, glancing up at Asher.

“We got taken down by two rambunctious bear cubs. They wouldn’t let us fight and wanted in on the action. Those two aren’t afraid of nothing.” Asher grinned.

“Well, to be fair, you and Grayson are nothing to be afraid of anyway.” Lita giggled and felt Asher’s gentle tug on her side.

Asher, I love you. Lita leaned her head onto his shoulder, feeling his gentle hold on her waist.

I love you, too.