Dragon Wish (42 page)

I’m accustomed to on Earth.”

“It’s strange you put it that way.”

She looked at him, frowning over the way he made the

comment, as if what she’d said amazed him.

He shrugged and continued. “I never once thought like

that when I arrived on Avaris. You have to keep in mind that

I knew I was going to die if I stayed where I was, so there

wasn’t a choice of me hurrying back to Earth.”

When he continued, he studied her. “You were different.

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There wasn’t a threat to you. Or was there? Were you happy

on Earth or were you just going through life, waiting to die?”

His question took her by surprise. “Not fair. You’re not

the psychic, I am.”

“Hit a raw spot?”

She blinked, glancing away, hoping to hide the burning

tears in her eyes. “Sort of.”

“So do you love him?”

Swallowing the rise of tears clogging her throat, she

whispered. “Yes.”

“Then what’s the problem?”

“He didn’t trust me.”

“He does. He wants you here.”

She shook his reasoning aside. “He’s never once told me

he loves me.” She stopped as a thought occurred. Paladin

mentioned love before, but was it the same here like it was

on Earth? “Does everyone on Avaris even know what love is?

You know, the same way we do?”

A laugh started in Leo’s belly, low and full of mirth. “I

hope so, or my wife lied to me all the years we were

together.”

She smiled in response. “I suppose it’s one emotion that’s

universal.”

“Hate is too.”

A sudden wave of exhaustion clouded her mind. She

struggled to keep her eyes open and pay attention. She had to

repeat his answer twice before the words registered. With a

nod, she pushed off the ground with her hands and stood. “I

supposed all emotions are. Sorry to cut this short, but I’m

going in, for some reason, I’m tired all of a sudden.”

He stood, offering her a hand. “Sure, honey. Do me a

favor? Give Paladin a chance. He does care for you. A lot.”

“We’ll see. I used to think that, but after this, I’m not sure

anymore.” She said, taking a few steps in the direction of the

stairwell. The third step, a spurt of liquid hit the ground

between her feet. Surprised, she stopped and stared at the

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small puddle.

“Uh, Seren, are you all right?”

Embarrassed, she hoped she hadn’t released her bladder.

Checking for any signs of pain from the baby, she found

nothing wrong. Had her water broken? Everything felt fine.

No more liquid came out. Cheeks heated, she looked over her

shoulder at Leo, shaking her head, her hands clasping her

rounded stomach. “I can’t believe I did that.”

He grunted, a considering frown creasing his brow. “You

go on down. Clean up and we’ll see.”

She agreed and started down the stairs leading to the

caverns. Midway, heat spiraled from the center of her lower

back and shot around to the front. She gasped, coming to a

stop on the steep stone cut steps. Eyes wide, she counted the

seconds her belly tightened.

When the tension released, she met Leo’s worried eyes. “I

don’t think I wet myself.”

Panic flashed across his face. “Oh, Lord, Lord, Lord.

Come on, you need to get to your room now.”

She didn’t argue. This labor was so different from when

she’d had Mandy. One thing, her labor with her daughter had

been induced. The flood of pain-filled memories poured

through her mind, sending strands of panic through her.

Another flare of heat started in her back at the bottom of the

steps.

“This isn’t good. I must be in hard labor. The contractions

are irregular. They’re coming too quick.” She tried to sound

normal, but the pain came sharper than the last one.

“Don’t talk, walk. Once you’re in your room, I’ll find

Largin and Paladin. Master Largin’ll know what to do.”

She giggled, for some reason the idea of the elderly

wizard assisting her in having the baby sounded ridiculous.

“I know what to do, but if it’ll make you feel better, bring the

old man.”

Concentrating on breathing through the increasing pains,

she glanced up to see Paladin walking in the long-legged,

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slow way she’d grown to love toward the entrance. Without

thinking, she called to him. He stopped, found her with his

gaze, and changed directions, weaving through the multitude

of people moving around the room.

When he drew nearer, she smiled. “Ready for a baby?”

His eyes widened with surprise. The next moment, he

scooped her up into his arms. “Why are you walking?”

“I had to go to my room.” She wrapped one arm over his

shoulders and massaged her belly.

Leo hurried away from them in search of Largin. She still

couldn’t figure out why Leo wanted him there. Was he the

equivalent to a doctor here on Avaris? She should have asked

Leo about it.

Moments later, Paladin entered her room and set her on

the small cot. She pointed to the chest at the foot. “Grab my

robe. I need to change out of these wet things.”

He retrieved her long white robe and handing it to her.

His hands trembled. She glanced up at him, surprised. “Are

you all right?”

One corner of his mouth lifted. Even in this state of

disarray, she brought happiness to him. “My first child is

about to be born and you have to ask?”

She started to laugh, but another heated pain swept

across her abdomen, turning the sound into a groan. The

pain this time was much sharper. Nausea bubbled in her

stomach. Taking deep slow breaths, she waited until it ended

before responding to him.

“Sorry, I forgot. I’ve been through this once so I know

what’s going to happen,” she muttered, unwrapping the sash

around her waist. He moved her hands away and loosened

her clothes so she could slide them off. Warmth climbed up

her neck. He hadn’t seen her nude in weeks. With his gaze on

her cumbersome body, heated embarrassment flooded her

face.

She tensed as his hands passed over the skin on her

shoulders. “Wait, I can do this...please.”

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He stopped and stared at her. She waited. He shifted

back, stood, and turned away from her.

“Are you in a great amount of pain?” he asked, his voice

soft, gentleness flowing across the distance separating them.

Hurrying to remove her tunic and pants, she shook her

head, forgetting he couldn’t see her. When she realized it,

she’d slipped the robe on and sat on the bed. “Not yet. I

expect it’ll be worse. You can turn around. I’m done.”

He faced her, and she took in his haggard features.

Hoping to relieve his worries, she said, “I was in labor with

Mandy for thirty-six hours. The doctor talked about doing a

C section on me, but he didn’t have to. She came out fine.”

Before he could say anything, a knock came from the

doorway. Leo entered followed by Largin and Ren.

She eyed them in curiosity. “Uh, Leo is there any reason

why they have to be here?”

“They’re wizards. They can help.”

“With what? I am perfectly capable of giving birth.” She

scooted until her back was against the wall behind the cot.

Trying to relax between pains, she studied the four men.

“Isn’t there some women here who know what to do? Or isn’t

that how it’s done on this planet?”

“You would do well to let them help you.” Paladin knelt

by the side of the cot. He reached for her hand.

She pulled it out of the way, glaring at him. “Why? Did

you forget to tell me something else?”

“No.”

Another pain started to migrate and she asked through

clenched teeth. “Then why are they needed?”

The elder wizard stepped closer. “Dragonseed babies have

a habit of releasing their magic at birth to the detriment of

the person helping to deliver the child. It would be best if

Ren and I were here to prevent any harm to you or the child.”

Ah, so this explained why. Poor Paladin, he probably

thought she was becoming a shrew with this pregnancy. “My

baby is not going to do that.”

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Determination lighting his eyes, Paladin clasped her hand

and pulled it to him. “Seren, this baby has been blessed with

all of the seven great dragons’ magic. We don’t know for sure

that he will not blow the caverns apart. With them here, they

can prevent this from happening.”

Between pants she managed to answer, “All right, just be

quiet. I’m trying to concentrate here. The pains are coming

faster than when I had Mandy. They’re not as severe, but

they’re beginning to hurt.” She angled another glare at

Paladin. “Bad, too.”

There, she’d answered his question from earlier. Still hurt

and angry at him with his deception, right now it seemed

unimportant with the baby coming.

He raised a brow, stood up, and sat at the head of the

bed. “Come, lean against me.”

Wanting to reject his offer, but knowing it would be petty

of her, she moved so she sat flush between his spread legs,

resting against his body. He placed his hands on her

ballooned stomach and spread his fingers over each side.

She sighed and tried to relax. The two wizards stood

facing each other across the room. The length of the bed plus

some feet separated them. They placed their hands, palms

against each other at chest height and muttered some type of

spell she couldn’t hear. A diagram appeared on the stone

floor, another circle like the one Ren used to clean the

cavern. This one held more lines, strange shapes, and odd

writing inside of it. The lines gleamed with golden hue. The

light dissipated, leaving black marks imprinted on the floor.

After they finished, Leo and Ren came to the cot, one at

the head, and the other at the foot. Paladin eased from

behind her and helped them lift the bed. They carried and

positioned it in the center of the circle.

When Largin spoke, he stared at Paladin. “Perhaps you

should wait outside.”

Despite her anger at Paladin, a wave of panic built inside

her at the thought of him not being there with her. She

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started to argue, but Paladin interrupted her.

“I will be here when our son is born.”

She sagged in relief. “Thanks.”

He met her look, his gentle and caring. “I won’t leave you.

You will be safe in my arms.”

Tears burned the backs of her eyes. He returned to his

position behind her. She wanted to embrace him, but

another pain, harsher than the other ones, cut from her back

around to her lower belly. She panted, agony rendering her

speechless.

The wizards moved to their previous positions at the edge

of the circle and knelt, their hands flat within the diagram.

Again they spoke in lowered tones, snatches of words coming

to her here and there. “Power...bound...subdue...protect...”

All the words between were too obscured for her to make

out.

Lights radiated from the marks, surrounding them. An

invisible, heavy weight came down and the very air

thickened, pressing on her. Paladin gasped, and concerned,

she struggled to look up at him. His eyes dilated to the point

where very little blue showed.

She opened her mouth to say his name, but another pang

sliced into her. She cried out, clutching her stomach. Her son

pushed all thoughts from her mind. Bare seconds separated

the pains.

The contraction ended, and she managed to snap at

Largin. “This won’t hurt my baby?”

“Not at all. It only ensures the child’s power will be

repressed enough to allow it to be born. Nothing more. You

and Paladin, of course, will feel the effects as well. Not to

worry, little mother. They’re simply safe guards. We have

never had a dragonseed born who has been blessed with all

the clan leader’s powers. I can only hope it is an

uncomplicated matter.”

Uncomplicated? Seren snorted in response. Since her

arrival on Avaris, complications sprouted around her like

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weeds.

Her world centered on her pain. Nothing else mattered

but Paladin’s arms around her along with his encouraging

whispers close to her ear. A woman—one of Ren’s servants,

she wasn’t sure–arrived and checked her. She grinned