Page 4 of Claimed By the Dragon
For the time being, she dressed them by color—Eli in blue and Eddie in green—to make her life easier. Yes, the nurses had put a spot of ink on Eli’s foot so they could tell them apart. But she liked to think that, as their mum, she should be able to recognize who was who sooner rather than later.
Just as Eddie scrunched his nose again, the door opened. But instead of the medical staff, a short, curvy woman with reddish-brown hair and green eyes entered, smiling at her. Her American accent surprised her as she said, “Hello, Grace. I’m Melanie Hall-MacLeod. And I know you’ve been turning away visitors, but I insist on helping you settle in a little. I’m one of the few humans to have had twins on Stonefire, so I figured I could give you some tips.”
She blinked. Even Grace had heard of the American and her book about dragon-shifters. “Er, hello. I’m Grace Butler—I mean, Lewis.”
After walking nearer the pram, Melanie stopped and smiled down at the boys. “I sometimes forget how tiny they are in the beginning. Mine are about to start school soon and aren’t very little anymore. My mate seems to think we should have another baby. And while I love children, my daughter, in particular, is a handful. I’m unsure if I need any more chaos in my house.”
Grace struggled to reply. The American certainly didn’t have trouble sharing personal things, but Grace usually kept everything to herself.
As she tried to think of what to say, Melanie met her gaze again. “Well, enough about my little hellions—who, I love to pieces, mind you—and let’s get you settled. Trahern is doingsomething to help Snowridge, his former clan, and sadly, can’t be here himself.”
Part of her breathed a sigh of relief because she could put off being alone with Trahern for a while longer. One of the DDA’s requirements for matings was that they had to live together to prove it wasn’t a sham. Hers was one, of course, but she had no choice but to live with the dragonman to pretend it wasn’t.
A dragonman she barely knew.
Tamping down her worries—the last dragonman she’d trusted still made her distrust the rest—she tightened her grip on the pram and replied, “Thank you.”
Melanie waved a hand in dismissal. “Think nothing of it. Now, tell me their names and then I’ll take you to the clan’s shop before heading to Trahern’s cottage. You’ll need a few things, for sure, and don’t worry, Trahern said to put it on his account and he’ll take care of it.”
The first of many debts to come.Grace didn’t like it, not one bit. She’d have to find a way to pay her own way somehow, and soon.
Melanie placed a hand on her arm and said softly, “Let him take care of you, Grace. Dragonmen can get extra grumpy if you don’t let them do it at least sometimes. Trahern is a little…different. But he’s still a dragon-shifter, and caring for their mates is serious business.”
Grace raised an eyebrow. “We’re not really mates. I’m sure you know that.”
“Hmm. We’ll see about that.”
Before she could protest, another woman appeared, with brown curly hair, brown eyes, and fair skin. She also had a baby on her hip, who looked like a mini-copy of the woman, albeit with darker hair. She also spoke with an American accent. “Hello! When Trahern told me he had a mate, I had to come see for myself. I’m Kaylee Perry, by the way. My mate is Snowridge’sdoctor, and he’s the reason Trahern isn’t here himself. Which is another reason I had to come and help. Nice to meet you! Who are these two cutie pies?”
Melanie had a more calming presence, but Kaylee seemed full of energy. Grace, on the other hand, still struggled to concentrate on anything after her difficult birth since her brain felt like a thick fog. Which meant being social and chatting about little things was hard.
Still, these women had come to help her. So she touched each of her boys in turn as she said, “This is Eli in blue, and Eddie is in green.”
Kaylee picked up her son’s hand and waved. “Say hello, Aidan.”
Despite all of her uncertainties, Grace couldn’t help but smile.
Melanie gestured. “Come on, Kaylee. We need to pick up some things for Grace, and she probably needs another nap. I know I did after the twins were born. Come to think of it, I probably still always need a nap, and I’m not sure what I’m going to do with all the extra free time once the twins are in school.”
As they walked, Kaylee laughed. “Between writing more books, changing more laws, and possibly having another child, if your mate has his way, I’m sure you’ll keep busy enough.”
Their conversation flitted from one topic to the next, and Grace struggled to contribute. After what her stepfather had done to her mother, she’d kept herself apart and had never really had close friends. She’d always thought that isolating herself meant no one else could hurt her.
And yet, as she watched Kaylee and Melanie, she wondered if maybe she’d isolated herself a little too well.
By the time Trahern had solved Maelon’s problem and helped the other doctor with his formula, it was dark outside.
He expected Maelon to leave immediately to check on his mate and son, but the doctor merely stood, stretched, and studied Trahern.
“What?”
The other doctor shrugged. “I never pictured you having a mate, is all.”
“Neither did I. But she needed help, and I wanted to give it.”
As Maelon studied him, Trahern averted his eyes. While they had discussed formulas, patients, and medical knowledge many times in the past, Maelon had rarely inquired about his personal life. Only after he’d mated Kaylee had he started talking more.
And Trahern wished he’d go back to the old, familiar way.