Dragon Star (A Shifter Football League Novel) (17 page)

B
efore the heat consumed her
, she cried out for what she would lose.

There was so much life waiting for her.

Nico broke free from Jae and soared down into the cavern, but he was nowhere close to saving her.

In that final second, which seemed to last a lifetime, she saw what she would be missing. A life with Nico, a family, a place to settle down, time to simply enjoy life. She saw children running about her as she lay in Nico’s lap. They were on the mountain in Maine, but there were flowers in bloom all around them, it was sunny and warm and peaceful.

It was cut short by the heat.

As her body tumbled into the lava, she thought of soaring. It didn’t hurt as she splashed in.

Maybe she was already gone, and these were the remnants of her thoughts, drifting to nothing.

Then it was all white around her. She thought she could see Nico in front of her, reaching for her hand, telling her that it was all going to be okay.

And she believed him. Because he was right.

If Nico was there, she would be okay. She’d be just fine.

The bubbling, noxious lava was away from her, this air that she smelled seemed to be clean, and she seemed to be much
bigger
than normal.

Cass was looking down at Jae. Looking down at Nico too, who was at the foot of the pit.

This is me, drifting off to the afterlife.

But she heard flapping.

“Fly,”
she heard in her head. It was Nico.

Sure, she’d fly to Heaven, why not? It was all over now.

“Your dragon is beautiful.”

It was his voice again.

This time she said,
What?

Her dragon?

That’s when she realized that her wings were flapping. She seemed much bigger, because she
was
bigger. It was reality, not a dream. Strength surged in her as she began to twist slowly about, feeling all of her muscles, how powerful she was.

This was no dream. She’d Turned!

Looking down at Jae, she felt pity for him. But she could not spare him.

Drawing deep within her, she found her fire already waiting. It all came naturally to her. A single thought of justice sparked the barrel of explosive liquid in her gut, causing her jaw to shoot open, the inferno from deep inside her unable to be stopped.

All she saw in front of her was a bright white flame. White blanketed her eyes, but she kept spewing out the fire, knowing where it was headed, right at Jae.

The red dragon roared but Cass couldn’t be stopped.

This was for her, and for Nico, and for Nico’s parents, and the rest of the dragons that had been fooled. This was for a new age, one that would be marked by his death.

It seemed never to stop, drawing from deep within her. She could have continued, but she knew that Jae was gone. He was ashes, floating away. He was nothing now.

Her dragon settled. Cass suddenly became aware that there was another part of her that she would have to watch over. It was not an enemy, but an ally. All the same, she would need to watch over it.

She fluttered down to the craggy ground and Nico flew over to meet her. They met, staring at one another. It seemed that he wasn’t quite sure about Cass.

Then he nuzzled her. He rubbed her chin and she began to laugh.

It was good to laugh, so careless and free.

It’s all over now.

Now it’s you and me forever.

O
pen blue skies
as far as she could see. The world was hers to explore. Skimming the surface, Cass twirled in the air, her orchid colored scales reflecting off the crystal clear water below. The ocean streaked behind her as she peered down at her dragon.

Slowing, Cass needed to flap her wings. With a splash, she took off higher into the air. A month ago she was terrified and confused about her place in the world.

Now the world was
fun.
She was alive, and looking at it from up high, where nothing could touch her.

It hadn't been easy. She'd almost lost everything—herself, the love of her life Nico, and the chance to carry the love who was growing inside her.

Cass was pregnant. She'd confirmed it with a human doctor yesterday. As far as he could tell, she thankfully wasn't going to be laying an egg, either.

When asked more about a dragon baby, the doctor looked stumped. “Maybe...ugh, you could ask your mate about that?”

Doctors were clueless about dragons. Once this was all over with, Cass would be adding a tome about their species.

She'd become so powerful in her mind and body that she'd been able to block him from sensing it before the doctor visit. Also, it helped that Nico knew next to nothing about babies, so when she'd been throwing up one day, she'd blamed it on flying too long the day before.

She couldn't keep it inside her anymore. It might be bad timing, since this was also the day of their wedding. This past year had taught her that some things simply shouldn't wait.

Her wings were beating steady as she rode the drafts easily, lifting her higher. Then she dropped, her head light from the speed. A shadow loomed on the horizon. It was the volcanic island on which she'd almost lost her life.

She often flew here and thought. It was easy to think she'd been lucky. No doubt she had been somewhat lucky.

But there was no doubt how hard she fought.

Cass descended slowly to the small island. Its surface was covered over with cooled lava. As she waited on top of a jutting piece of rock, like one giant scary seagull, she stretched and let the sun soak her scales.

She thought about Jae, how he had tormented her, except it didn't sting like it usually did. Now she just felt pity for him and was reminded how he'd been evaporated by her fire.

Her dragon snorted when she thought about her old scars. Remember how Jae told her she'd always have them as a reminder? It hadn't been true. As soon as she transformed into her human, her skin was soft, smooth, with a glow like being re-born, and those scars had vanished.

Nico.

She sensed him like a tap on the head. Jerking to the east, she peered off into the distance. He seemed far away.

Oh, right.

Her wedding ceremony.

Cass hoped she hadn't spent too long flying. She was probably in trouble.

Flying had become a bit of an obsession. But who could blame her?

On the trip to Nico, Cass pushed herself, trying to see how fast she could meet him. He wasn't making himself known for whatever reason. By this range, he should be able to speak to her telepathically quite clearly.

When she got to where he should've been, right above the Ocean, the California coast with a field of wild violet roses spread over it, she couldn't spot him.

Then a big splash of water hit her in the face.

She spun back as a form sped right past her belly. It was Nico, who had been hiding under the ocean. He flipped around, splashing her in the face again, and then he peered down at her, blotting out the sun.

“Don't you have a wedding to go to?”

Cass laughed. She flapped up to meet him.

“I'm not late am I?”

“No, not yet, but everyone was beginning to get a little worried. It's not normal for the bride to go for a flight before their wedding day. You've got a dress to get into.”

“Fine,” she said to him through their dragon minds. “I'll race you back.”

“Oh, great. Not this again,” Nico groaned, but he was right behind her.

Her dragon was much faster than Nico's. His was beefier, more muscular, so she often liked to challenge him to contests in which she'd win. Cass liked to win, and she liked to fly. Fast.

Like they both thought, Cass got to their wedding spot first. It was almost a tie when she slowed at the last second.

The view was spectacular. It still shocked her that this would be for her. Cass always thought she'd be going to the local church and then after to IHOP—not that Nico wouldn't find a way to make that special too.

There was a heart-shaped courtyard on a beachfront lookout. It was on a field of soft, fresh grass. White arches and stones had been laid out which made it look like it could've been set in ancient Greece, if it weren't for all the flowers—flowers everywhere, tucked and wrapped and hanging all throughout the gardens.

They gave a few of the workers a fright when they were coming in. That really couldn't be helped. They landed at the bottom of the outcropping, and then headed inside past the sand to an alcove.

She waited for Nico there. He was panting and sweating, just how she liked him.

“Very funny,” he said. He looked upon her naked body, the shadows of the cliff hiding her rosy, perky nipples. She pressed her thighs together, getting way too excited.

This was probably the reason why the bride and groom shouldn't meet on their wedding day. If it was real love, they'd be fucking like rabbits.

Nico slipped inside of the alcove. All of a sudden there was very little space inside. She was practically touching him, and then she was, as she looked down and noticed he had a hard-on.

“We can't now. What happened to me being late?”

“It could be a quickie.”

“With you?” She lifted on her heels and kissed his moist lips. “You're going to have to wait for tonight.”

“But it's perfect now, isn't it?”

“It is, but wait until you see me in my dress. You'll cry.”

“I certainly hope not. Those pictures will be on the Internet in one minute.” His cock was raging against her, hot and swollen and throbbing.

Then she was in his arms, facing the beach, his hardness against her back.

With his hands over her stomach, she broke down. “I have a secret.”

Oh, shit. He started to turn her. Cass kept herself grounded.

“What?”

“Nothing. You'll have to wait until later.”

She tried to pry his fingers off her stomach.

“Uh uh. You can't keep a secret from me.”

They were struggling, until he got to her side and began to tickle her. She tried to flee but he caught her hips.

And his cock was still pressing into her. She wanted so badly to slide back and let him enter. But she knew that they'd be worthless afterward. Nico would pass out on the beach, completely naked, while the others above looked around for the groom.

Nico pulled her against his hard chest. She felt his solid abs flexing against her lower back as he curled his massive bicep near her neck. His other hand kept her hips steady.

She wasn't going to be able to keep the secret before the ceremony, was she?

It would be terrible timing to tell him now.

“Tell me the secret,” he said, his hand near her waist now going lower.

Spreading her thighs, she couldn’t resist.

“Or do I need to tease you to get your secret?” His finger played against her pubic mound. Then he stroked between her inner thighs.

“No,” she screamed.

“Shh, they're not supposed to know we're here.”

Cass tried to be quiet. It helped that her breath was taken away when he shoved a finger inside her. She was already wet and sticky between her thighs, and he began to slip his finger in and out until the knuckle, moving faster.

“Fuck,” she muttered. Her body shook as he held her closer. His precum streaked across her back.

Cass clenched her teeth. She stood on her toes. Her dragon was asking to be freed. But then her pleasure burst, and her dragon wanted to stay put. Smart dragon.

If he kept going...she was going to come...

She couldn't show up to her ceremony looking sloppy.

No, no, she had to stop this...

“I'm pregnant,” she shouted.

Nico kept going like he couldn't hear her, only for a few seconds, then he slowed and tossed Cass around to face him.

“You're what?”

“I'm pregnant, Nico. We're going to have a baby.”

His jaw dropped.

“We're what?”

“I know you heard me.”

“Yeah, I'm just—this is incredible! I'm so happy.” Nico swung his great arms around her and gave her a big dragon hug. She felt like he was going to squeeze all the energy from her before the big day.

His eyes were shimmering with tears.

“Don't cry now. I didn't want to surprise you like this. I wanted to wait until after the ceremony. But you had to get all sexy interrogator with me.”

“It just gives us even more to celebrate.” Nico brushed her hair back and kissed her neck, soft and cool. She wanted more, but knew it was getting late.

On the beach, their wedding being set up beautifully above, Nico holding his hand out for her to take... this looked like paradise.

“Come on, we have a wedding to attend, Dragon Momma.”

“I have so many questions,” she said, bouncing on the hot sand behind him.

They headed their separate ways once they were on the overlook. She went to find the clothes she'd stripped off before shifting. Back in her clothes, she was so worried about how late she'd be that she didn't notice her whole family waiting in the courtyard.

It was only her mom and dad who were supposed to be there, because tickets were so expensive, and Mom and Dad wouldn't let her fly her younger siblings there on her back.

But this was the whole family. Even neighbors and friends!

Nico must've done it.

She rushed to go meet them, and then was taken to the back with the ladies, where they prepared Cass to look memorable on her wedding day.

They fought and they struggled long enough.

This was going to be one long celebration, and everyone was invited.

T
he walls went
up with a grand explosion. Fireworks rained down on the compound as Nico strolled the hallway to see Cass.

Those great walls to keep people out were down now. Everyone was welcome. Shifter, human, it didn’t matter, this was a giant party for his friends and fans.

After the big party at their wedding ceremony, Nico admittedly liked it too much. He had such a good time that he invited them back a year later.

The smells of the catered food—pastas, meats, salads, and desserts, floated throughout the household walls. They were having quite the time outside with a live band and entertainment and lots of drink and food. It was enough to keep an army happy for a year.

He met his wife in their baby’s room.

Here was the true magic.

Sometimes when he looked at little Olivia, his eyes would fill with tears of joy. Today they did as everyone was happy around him. It was contagious.

All because of Cass, who stood proudly in the front of their treasure room. This celebration reminded him of how he almost lost her. If she hadn’t been able to trust her strength that day, it all might’ve been lost.

She must’ve just laid little Olivia down in her crib. The walls like they had been before were created out of gold, the floor like before was made out of gold, and all around Olivia’s golden crib, there were golden coins.

She was going to grow up to shop just like her mother. Nico chuckled.

“What’s funny?”

“Nothing.”

“She wants to see her father.” Cass leaned on her toes and kissed him.

“Okay,” he said. He took careful steps not to wake her.

Once he got to the crib, he looked down at his beautiful daughter sleeping peacefully.

“She’s too beautiful, like you,” he said and kissed Cass. “She takes after her mother. Proud, powerful…and too smart for her own good.”

“How do you think I found you?” Cass gave him another peck. But he was reaching down for Olivia to cradle her.

Let them have a good time around him. He could join them later. This, Nico never thought he could have.

They had a family now. And Nico wasn’t afraid, or worried, or suspicious. He rubbed Olivia’s soft head and then placed her back down into her crib.

He turned to Cass. “This is all because of you.”

She beamed. She seemed to understand what he was saying.

If it wasn’t for her courage, none of this would’ve happened.  

She squinted with happiness. “It takes two.”

“I suppose you’re right,” he said, looking down at his little girl.

They controlled the narrative after Jae was gone. There were cameras that picked up his kidnapping of Cass, so it was easy. They had time to enjoy one another. They were going to build a new home in California, because the fans wanted both of them back, this time, he had no excuse not to go all the way. The fans forgave Cass and Nico.

He would get that ring. And he’d do it for his new family.

Cass hugged him closely. He wrapped his arms around her as they both looked down on their daughter.

Olivia startled awake. Her big eyes were curious for a moment. A single spot formed on her right shoulder. She began to cry, but then quieted, too stunned as the golden scales broke out over her body. Olivia already knew how to Turn.

“We’re all going to fly together.” Cass hugged and kissed him.

There was nothing stopping them now…

Dragons might be on the endangered species list, but they wouldn’t be once Nico was done with Cass.

They were in love, and their fire would burn forever.