Page 74 of Warlord's Mate
Dra’Lera really was Paradise. Marcy stood at the door of her stone cottage, a mug of tea that was bitter enough it tasted more like coffee warming her hands. The sky was a clear blue with only a few clouds hanging low over the mountain top. Two dragons were circling the wide expanse of the volcano opening and seeing them always took her breath. Today was no exception.
She took a sip of her tea. People were moving along the streets already, the sun not even high enough to chase away most of the shadows lingering over the city. The moon flowers hadn’t closed yet, their curling petals still open, but the day was bright enough you could barely make out their soft glowing luminescence. Not only was she serenaded by the humming flowers, they dotted the ground everywhere here and illuminated the pathways and made it seem as if she was living in some magical enchanted forest.
Dra’Lera was nestled inside an ancient volcano, the ground beneath her feet always warm which was nice now that the seasons had changed and it was getting cooler at night.
Someone laughing made her look toward the uninhabited section of the city. Several people were headed down the neglected streets to clear away more of the vines and overgrowth that still covered most everything. Dra’Lera had lay abandoned for hundreds of years but slowly, the Draegon people who had survived were bringing their home back to life. They were helping as well. Those the Draegon let in pitched in where they could, herself and Jorrick included.
Noise behind her made her look over her shoulder. Jorrick had finally crawled from the bed and was walking across the room, his naked backside drawing her eye as he headed to the bathroom. It wasn’t entirely like an earth bathroom, but there was running water and an odd looking contraption that worked like a real toilet so she wasn’t going to complain. It beat the stinky hole in the ground they’d had back in the old camp.
Her life had changed so much since being abducted and as much as she’d hated it when she’d been left here, she didn’t entirely miss Earth anymore. She missed her family and knew they would spend the rest of their lives looking for her but had she been given the choice to go back home, she didn’t think she’d go. She loved her family, but she loved Jorrick, too. Her life was with him now and turning her back on him was unfathomable, which is why they’d spent so many months camped outside Dra’Lera. It took a long while before Tharius trusted them enough to let them inside the city walls but the moment they were shown through the secret passage in the side of the mountain and came out the other side, she knew why they guarded it the way they did.
Living here made it feel as if she were on an entirely different planet. Things were so different inside the dormant volcano. There was food aplenty and everyone was happy. They no longer had to fight to survive, which made life easier, the sense of community that dwelled inside the walls of the city made it feel as if they were all one big happy family.
Strong arms wrapped around her and she jumped, startled as Jorrick hugged her to him. He kissed her neck, his hands making small circles over her swollen stomach. She smiled, knowing he was greeting the day as she was—thankful for all they had and waiting patiently for the little one growing inside her. Claudia had told her the baby’s gender a few days before. She hadn’t told him yet, but knew he’d be pleased. What man didn’t want a son?
“How do you feel this morning,e’mahn neok?”
“Starved.”
“When are you not hungry?”
“When I’m sleeping.”
He chuckled and kissed her neck again before letting go of her. “Then I’ll go see what’s cooking on the main fire and bring you something back.”
“I’ll go with you,” she said, turning from the door. “Sara said Janie was going on about making cupcakes since Kelskar had finally found a root that was sweet enough to use as a sugar replacement and this is one pregnant lady who is craving some empty calories.”
She grabbed her shoes and slipped them on and turned to find Jorrick by the door watching her. “What?”
“Just admiring your beauty.”
“Oh, you’re a sweet talker. That will get you everything, you know.”
He grabbed her and pulled her close, kissing her breathless before saying, “I already have everything.” He touched her belly. “I have a beautiful mate who carries my child. What more could a man ask for?”
She leaned into him as he held her and knew he was right. They did have everything they could possibly want. The circumstances that brought them here weren’t ideal, but they had a beautiful home and friends they could count on. Come end of the day, that’s all anyone could ask for.