Page 18 of The Dragon’s Surprise (Tahoe Dragon Mates #7)

Gently cupping her cheek, Kyle wanted to tell her it would be okay, that he could save her right then and there.

But he couldn’t. She needed to be scanned and possibly have surgery.

Normally, he’d already be barking orders to prepare the carrying trays used for rescues. It was one of the few times they could legally fly humans—when they needed to be moved to safety and for medical attention.

And yet, as he stroked her overly warm cheek, all he could do was imagine the worst.

Despite the fear roiling around in his belly, he managed to ask, “And what about Ethan?”

Daniel replied, “He was here, but we haven’t found him yet. We’re looking, though, and won’t give up. And I can see you’re torn, Kyle. But take her back to MirrorPeak and get her help. Dr. Alvaro might need you. We’ll find Ethan, I vow it.”

He finally tore his gaze from Lexi’s still form and met his friend’s eyes.

His dragon spoke up. We’d trust Daniel with our life. Let him find Ethan. Right now, Lexi needs more help, or she might die.

Even though his beast was right, he hesitated. Ethan was his son. It felt wrong abandoning him after just finding him.

Daniel said, “Go with her. None of the Protectors will allow you outside of the medical area here, anyway. We’ll find Ethan, no matter what. Trust me, Kyle. I won’t abandon your son.”

Even a month ago, Kyle might’ve balked at trusting others to help him. He’d kept himself apart, and he’d grown distant.

However, in recent weeks, he’d gotten to know his friends and clan better.

So he nodded. “Thank you, Daniel.”

Daniel grunted. “Of course. Now, go. Lexi was the only one who needed immediate medical attention. The nurses can handle the rest for now.”

With that, Kyle barked orders to ready the carrying basket. And once Lexi was in it, he stayed with her, holding her hand and telling her she’d better pull through or he’d never forgive her.

Kyle paced the private waiting room, waiting for Dr. Alvaro to give him an update.

She’d been in surgery for hours trying to save Lexi, who had a bleed in the brain. And if the dragonwoman couldn’t stop it, Lexi wouldn’t survive.

While he was grateful that Dr. Alvaro’s specialty was neurosurgery—even though she could do routine surgeries too, like any dragon doctor—he still didn’t like how she’d banned him from even watching the operation.

His dragon spoke up. You would distract her. It’s hard enough performing brain surgery without having someone staring her down.

He grunted. That might be true, but I don’t have to like it.

Before his beast could reply, there was a knock, and the door opened. He expected to see the doctor or one of the nurses, but Ethan rushed in. Joy and relief rushed through him as Kyle dropped down, opened his arms, and caught his son as he jumped into them. “Ethan! You’re safe.”

The boy hugged him harder.

As Kyle stroked his son’s head, he asked, “Are you okay?”

The boy nodded, but didn’t say anything. Kyle slowly moved back until he could see Ethan’s face. His pupils flashed rapidly, but he wouldn’t meet his eyes. “What’s wrong?”

“I shouldn’t have believed him.”

“Who?”

“That man. He said you were my real dad and didn’t want me, gave me away, and that you were going to sell me to the dragon hunters.”

“Wait, slow down. Tell me everything.”

And as Kyle listened to how Ethan’s maternal uncle had filled the boy’s head with doubts, making him think Kyle really didn’t want him, he began to understand why his son had gone with that male.

At the end, Ethan finally met his gaze. “Is it true? Are you my dad? My real dad?”

Even though he rather would’ve waited to talk about this, Kyle nodded. “Yes. I didn’t know you existed, Ethan, or I would’ve made sure you knew how to be a dragon-shifter. I promise you that.”

“And now? Do you want me now?”

Kyle placed a hand on his son’s shoulder, squeezed, and nodded. “Yes, I want you. And not just because you’re my son. I love you, Ethan, and I want to help you learn to be a dragon-shifter, to become a grown male, to do all the things you want to do, and to be a family.”

Ethan hesitated and then blurted, “And what about Lexi? Will she die?”

He didn’t want to lie and struggled with how to answer. “Dr. Alvaro is doing everything she can.”

“I don’t want her to die.”

He pulled his son into another hug. “Neither do I, Ethan. Neither do I.”

As he continued to hold his boy, Dr. Alvaro entered the room. Kyle’s heart pounded since he couldn’t read her expression. But she spoke before he could ask anything. “Lexi pulled through. And provided she wakes up, she should make a full recovery.”

Ethan turned. “Will she wake up?”

The female doctor’s face softened a little. “I think so, but sometimes we don’t know what will happen when someone’s hit on the head. The brain is in your head, and sometimes it does what it wants to and we can’t predict it.”

Ethan’s face looked uncertain, so Kyle added, “But we’ll visit her as soon as we can and make sure she knows we want her to wake up.”

Ethan bobbed his head. “I’ll tell her over and over again. She was always so nice to me, and I don’t want her to die. Or leave. Can she stay here?”

Kyle smiled. “I hope she stays here. I’ll have to convince her as much as I can, once she wakes up.”

“When can we see her?” Ethan asked.

Dr. Alvaro answered, “Soon. You two should eat something and then you can visit Lexi.” Kyle opened his mouth to protest, but the doctor beat him to it. “Ethan needs something in his belly to help erase the last bits of drugs in his system.”

Anger spiked at knowing his son had been drugged. He studied Ethan’s face, and he noticed some signs of fatigue he’d overlooked at first. Probably because Kyle hadn’t slept in nearly a day himself. “Okay, let’s go get some pizza for you and we’ll come back and see Lexi.”

Kyle stood, took Ethan’s hand, and said quietly to Dr. Alvaro, “Thank you.”

She inclined her head. “Of course. You’ve already done me a favor, even if you don’t know it.”

Before he could ask what that meant, she exited the room.

Ethan tugged on his hand and said, “Let’s hurry and get some pizza. I want to see Lexi.”

“Just for a little while and then you need to get some sleep.”

“But—”

“We can set up a cot in Lexi’s room, if you want. But it’s been a long day and you need some rest to feel more awake and like yourself again.”

“Okay, I guess.”

He resisted smiling at Ethan’s petulant tone. “Come on. The sooner we eat, the sooner we can see Lexi.”

And as Kyle took care of his son, he hoped one day soon Lexi could be there with them, eating pizza and talking about inner dragons with Ethan.

His dragon spoke up. We’ll let Lexi know as many times as it takes that she needs to wake up and complete our family.

His dragon’s words made him feel a little better. I’ll also tap every favor I have if Lexi needs more medical assistance or a specialist.

Good. The sooner she’s better, the sooner we can claim her.

While Kyle wanted that more than anything, he only hoped Lexi hadn’t been scared away from dragon-shifters after her ordeal. He wouldn’t blame her, seeing as trying to help Ethan had made her a target of the League.

However, Kyle wouldn’t let that hold him back. Lexi was his. He’d ensure his clan would protect her, and he’d make sure she knew it.