Page 26 of Fated to the Dragon King (Alpha Dragons’ Fated #4)

Hayley

Two Months Later

I rose from my knees, my stomach still roiling. The taste of vomit clung to my tongue and throat as I stepped away from the toilet. Rinsing my mouth helped to some extent, but the acid flavor didn’t give up the fight easily. I drank a glass of water, then left the bathroom.

Busy packing the few items he didn’t want to leave behind, Alaric eyed me with concern. “Are you okay? I heard you hurling in there.”

I sat on the edge of the bed, sweating lightly and unsure of what to say. This is not a good time for this. How will he take it? I should be turning cartwheels with happiness, but instead I’m scared through and through. I wish Willow was here right now.

“Hayley?”

I looked up. His gray eyes, once so stormy and cold, were warm, loving, and worried. Taking his hand, I guided him to the bed beside me. Gripping tightly, I drew in a deep breath.

“I’m pregnant.”

His jaw dropped. “P-pregnant?”

“Yeah. And I’m scared shitless.”

“Lanokota, be praised!”

Laughing, Alaric hugged me, kissing every part of my face that he could.

I suspected he didn’t hear the I’m scared part, for he stood up and twirled around in an odd sort of dance.

I watched him, the nausea leaving my stomach little by little.

But the stress that kept my belly churning didn’t depart so easily.

“I’m so happy,” he howled, throwing his head back and whooping. “We’re gonna have a kid!”

I grabbed his hand before he danced out of my reach. “Alaric. This isn’t good news.”

Alaric halted. “Why not? Is the baby okay? Not okay?”

“The baby’s fine,” I replied.

He sat back down. “So what’s the problem?”

“Flying.”

“Flying?”

I itched to slap him for his idiocy. “You’re going to have me ride on your back at over forty thousand feet for eight hours straight. That can’t be good for the baby.”

Alaric caressed my head, smoothing the hair from my face. “You’ll have an oxygen tank, beloved. The furs I’ve ordered will be here soon. Thick wolverine fur from Finland will keep both of you warm up there.”

“I’d take the plan better if I wasn’t pregnant, Alaric.”

He rested his palm on my stomach. “We can fly lower, but then we’ll risk being seen by aircraft. They’ll catch us on their radar.”

“Not if we fly below radar.”

“Would you feel better if we did that?” He shook his head. “We’ll have to fly at night, then.”

“I’ll feel much better if we did that.”

He grinned. “Then it shall be as my queen commands.”

I gripped his hand. “So tell me, please. What will our baby be like when he’s born?”

“Whatever do you mean?”

“Will he be a baby dragon?” I quivered with nerves, trying to imagine giving birth to a full-fledged infant dragon. “Or a human baby?”

“Well, first, you’ll lay an egg.”

“What?” Standing, I jerked away from him. “An egg ?”

“Well, we are part reptile, you know,” he replied blandly. “Reptiles lay eggs. Right?”

“But I’m not a reptile,” I shrieked, stalking around the bedroom while dragging my hands through my hair. “I can’t lay a fricking egg, you moron. Oh, lordy, this can’t be happening.”

Alaric caught me in his arms. His brow pressed against mine, he smiled into my eyes. “I’m kidding. Our baby will be born like human kids are born. Just with the ability to shift into dragons.”

I shrieked again and made to slap him. He caught my hand, laughing, and kissed me.

“You’re gorgeous when you’re angry, my queen.”

“Don’t do that to me. Yeesh!”

Holding me against him, he said, “Just think. By tomorrow morning, you’ll be my queen in truth. My people have been notified of our coming, and I’m told there’s going to be one hell of a party.”

“Yeah?”

“Yeah.”

From downstairs came the slamming of the front door and Willow’s voice calling, “Are you two decent?”

“Yes,” I yelled back, then hugged my husband, my fated dragon mate, my king.

Willow popped into the doorway. “Everything is set. We can leave at any time.” She halted, staring at me. “Why is Hayley glowing?”

“Because she’s pregnant,” Alaric answered.

Willow screamed. She tore me away from Alaric and embraced me hard, so tightly I couldn’t draw an even breath.

“An heir,” she crowed, pushing me away enough to hold me by my arms. “A royal baby. The people are going to go nuts over this. Simply nuts.”

Alaric took me back and draped his arm over my shoulders. I looked up into his smiling gray eyes, and felt such an overwhelming love for him I felt tears burn my eyes.

“Our baby,” I whispered. “Our son.”

Alaric bent to kiss me. “I love you, my beloved queen, the mother of my child. I’ll never stop loving you.”

“Nor I you, my king, my wild dragon. I’ll always love you.”

THE END