Page 6 of Claimed By the Dragon

“Him?”

“The sperm donor.”

He resisted frowning. “You mean the male who tricked you?”

“Yes, that bastard is still out there.” She cupped the cheeks of each of her babies. “Stonefire won’t let him take them away, will they?”

“No, I’ve said as much.”

She glanced at him, and Trahern looked away, to Elijah’s face. After a few beats, she said, “Thank you for your help. But I’m going to try feeding them again and then see if they’ll sleep.”

“Since there are two, you’re following the instructions to supplement with formula as well, right?”

“Yes.”

“I know how to prepare a bottle. I can help you.”

She stood up, and he followed suit, daring a glance at Grace’s profile. Out of nowhere, he wished to smooth back her curly hair, before tracing her cheek like she’d done with the children.

His dragon spoke up.Yes, I like that idea.

Trahern took a few steps back and tugged at his shirt. “So, did you want my help?”

Grace searched his gaze and shook her head. “No. I can handle this, but thank you. You’d better sleep whilst you have the chance.”

Despite the unusual urge to stay and say he was helping, no matter what, he pushed it aside, nodded, and headed toward his room.

Not that he got much sleep. And not because of the babies waking up crying at intervals, either.

No, after he’d left his father’s place at sixteen, he’d always lived alone. It was less stressful when he didn’t have to worry about interpreting people’s faces and words to try to figure out if they meant what they said.

But now he had three people in his home, and he wondered if he would interpret something wrong or make Grace angry. Because for some reason, he didn’t want to upset her.

And when he finally fell asleep, his dreams brought back how at ease he’d felt with his face so close to Grace’s. Unlike with most people, she didn’t make him nervous.

Which scared him.

Chapter Three

The following morning, when Grace blinked her eyes open against the bright light, her sleep-deprived brain panicked for a second at the unfamiliar room. Was she back in that prison?

Then her eyes fell on the two bassinets next to her bed, and she let out a sigh of relief. No, this was Trahern’s cottage, not the prison.

She rose slowly and stared down at her sons, who were mercifully still asleep. While it would be crazy to think Trahern’s words had worked, her babies had been more cooperative after his chat. He’d mentioned something about inner dragons understanding language sooner, or something. Was it true? Grace had no idea. From what little she’d known, inner beasts didn’t start speaking to a dragon-shifter until they were school-aged.

It was yet another question for her ever-growing list. So she wouldn’t forget, she took out her mobile phone and added it to her notes. Melanie had said that she and some of the other humans would stop by at least once a day to check on her and answer her questions.

While she didn’t think their supposed kindness would last, she hoped they would answer enough of her questions to keep her from feeling like she was useless.

Last night had been bad enough. If not for Trahern, she might’ve burst into tears and sobbed on the floor.

Stupid post-pregnancy hormones.She needed to get a better grip on herself because Trahern wasn’t her boyfriend or husband, or in any sort of position that meant she could ask for his help and lean on him. No matter what Melanie said, Trahern wasn’t like the other dragonmen she’d met. He was hard to read and didn’t broadcast confidence or ego, like the others.

Like the arsehole who’d dropped her off at that prison without a backward glance.

Eddie stirred a little, and Grace raced to the kitchen to fill the kettle and turn it on. Tea would make her feel more human and ready to face the day.

However, before the water boiled, she heard the little sounds that would soon turn into a full-blown cry if she didn’t hurry.