Page 46 of Destined By Dragonblood (Blood Born #2)

“I know who I am, but I continue to struggle. I told you about my father and the supposed truth he’d poisoned my thoughts with when I was a child.

” I heaved a sigh and studied the coffee mug in my hands.

A sip allowed me a moment to attempt to collect myself, but the rich roast from Elijah’s French press distracted me with memories of sharing mornings with my ex-lover.

I glanced around the wide-open living space where we’d attempted to love each other, noting the softer touches from a female creating a home to nest in.

Fresh flowers sat atop the coffee table, which suggested they’d flown or had driven to his place in Manhattan not too long ago. Two other throws draped across the couch’s far arm, and a pile of yarn and knitting needles lay in one corner.

A bassinet stood beside the fireplace.

My gaze jerked toward Dakota. “Are you…” I swallowed, glancing down at her stomach. “Might I inquire if…”

She placed her hand on her belly, which I hadn’t realized protruded thanks to Elijah’s shirt.

“Yes. We found a doctor with dragonblood in North Conway two days ago. After I showed her a vision of her future like I did with you, she believed the truth of what we were. Needless to say, her life has been turned upside down, but she verified my pregnancy that is progressing much faster than a human’s.

The three of us had been aware of our daughter’s existence not long after conception, but an ultrasound allowed us to see her perfect little profile and button nose. ”

She has conceived.

Throat swelling, I lifted welling eyes to Dakota’s, flicking my gaze over both of her mates and back again. “You’ve created life,” I croaked, joy overflowing for the three of them and the possibility of having a similar future.

“We have.” Elijah kissed the top of Dakota’s head.

“Damned right we did.” Pride laced Jon’s words, and I couldn’t blame him.

“Congratulations to you all,” I offered, my smile returning even though my eyes remained wet. “I—I hope for the same someday.”

“You’ve found your mates?” Dakota asked, leaning fully against her alpha, hand still on her lower abdomen.

Another rush of conflicting joy and pain flooded me. “I have.”

“Elijah spoke with Ashley and assured her she wasn’t in The Twilight Zone ,” Dakota said. “What of your alpha?”

“Vanni is…” What was with my voice trailing off when so many thoughts crowded my head?

I huffed a laugh. “He’s incredible. Stoic and yet a hilarious drunk when he lacks a filter.

He’s dominant in nature even if he is more human than beast. He’s also gorgeous, the finest specimen I’ve seen upon this earth. ”

Dakota beamed at me.

Jon muttered under his breath something about Elijah being the hottest on the planet.

Elijah flashed a grin I hadn’t seen in over a decade. “He is able to give you what you need?”

“Yes,” I answered simply, remembering all too well how fulfilling it had been to kneel on the bench in Vanni’s club and experience the strength behind the cane and whip he’d wielded to bring me pleasure.

“Then why are you here when you should be with them?” Elijah asked, not unkindly, his pale gaze full of happiness for me yet questioning my sanity over staying away from them. “You’ve recognized your place, which means you must feel the beginnings of a bond.”

I nodded.

“Then there is no reason to question what has been destined since the time of your birth. They belong to you, and you to them. The three of you will complete one another in ways our parents could never have explained or prepared us for. Trust me.”

Both Jon and Dakota gazed up at Elijah like he was responsible for the sun’s rising every morning.

“You simply need to accept what is meant to be and submit yourself, Dolyn. Fully. No holding back.”

Something I’d never done for him, and now I knew why. Elijah had never been mine, and I’d wasted ten years searching for a female who didn’t exist for us.

Home.

Mates.

“I have to go.” I stood, suddenly striding toward the door.

“Dolyn!” Dakota called out, halting my momentum.

She left her mates’ side and approached on near-silent feet, hand outstretched. “May I?”

Swallowing hard, I nodded, remembering all too well what had happened the last time this gifted woman had touched my skin. I’d seen a vision of my mates and had experienced a bit of her own joy through the momentary connection between us.

Her slender hand rested against my left pec, and images rushed through my brain, stealing my breath and causing my cock to swell and tent the blanket wrapped tight around my waist.

“Oh, my.” She giggled and stepped away. “You’d best get home, Dolyn. That bonding, the green fire wrapping tightly around the three of you, well .” She laughed again and fanned her face.

Jon growled.

Elijah chuckled and held his beta’s forearm with a firm grip to keep him from stalking forward.

I peered into Dakota’s eyes, wanting her to see the depths of my thanks for her—and her possessive husband. “I hope you will allow our children to meet some day.”

Her smile dazzled, and I understood Elijah’s infatuation with his female, who was almost as lovely as my Ashley. “I would love nothing more. And if your female gives birth to a male, all the better,” she said with a wink.

Jon snorted. “Not fucking happening, baby. You can get that goddamned thought right out of your pretty little head.”

Ignoring his declaration, I spun away, ready to return to the ones who hopefully awaited my return. It wasn’t as if they could escape the mountain, considering the weather when I’d left, but Vanni had the mental fortitude of ten men.

I wouldn’t put anything past my alpha.