INTO THE FIRE (Forbidden Love) (17 page)

“Yeah?” Leigh answered.

“Jade wants to ask you a question.” She turned to face her daughter. “Go ahead Jade.”

The little girl looked up at Leigh with the biggest green eyes she had ever seen. Her father’s eyes. “Do you want to go to the park with us?” Jade asked. “We’re gonna feed the ducks.” She shoved her little hand out to show she was holding a full loaf of bread.

The first impulse Leigh had was to say no. But the smile on that child’s face was hard to say no to. Her heart squeezed in her chest and for a moment, Leigh forgot that she had even been asked a question. The girl was stunningly beautiful and downright mesmerizing. Leigh had the fleeting thought that her own daughter would be so beautiful. It pained her to think that would never happen. And when the hell had she become such a sap?

“Don’t bother trying to say no,” Brea said with a chuckle. “What Jade wants, she usually gets.”

“I don’t know,” Leigh countered, “Isn’t it dangerous for you guys to be seen with me in public?”

“Don’t be silly,” Brea said. “I may only be a lowly human, but Jade is anything but. And you? You’re a dragon! I think we will be safe.”

“But Merrick…”

“Merrick wouldn’t dare,” Brea said narrowing her violet eyes. “It would not only be political suicide for him but it would be plain stupid. And, detrimental to his safety. Come on, you can’t live in this house 24/7.”

“OK,” Leigh resigned, realizing that resistance would be futile.

“Yay!!” Jade bounced up and down on her little feet. “I’m gonna go get Aunt Jessie too!” and with that she was off and running.

“Guess Jessica is going with us as well,” Brea said. Leigh had only met Jessica once. She knew she was Sebastian’s wife. She was a psychic and had known Sebastian in her past life. And she had heard stories about how that courtship went. Poor Sebastian…

TWENTY TWO

The park was beautiful. It was summer and the lake was shimmering under the sun, reflecting the rays right back at the women. The trees provided a little shade, but did little to quell the sweltering heat. The only one who didn’t seem to notice that they were all slowly melting was Jade. Leigh watched as the little tyke raced back and forth to the water’s edge with her treats for the ducks and geese. She would approach them carefully, hold out her bread, and the animals would take them from her hand. Then, she would squeal with delight and run full on to the table where the adults were sitting for more. Every now and then a goose would follow Jade back to the table. Never once did any of them get aggressive towards her and never once did they shy away from her.

Leigh thought even though she didn’t know much about kids that it was probably unusual for the animals to be so comfortable with her. But then again, the child was half vampire; who knew what special talents she might have.

“So,” Jessica said interrupting Leigh’s thoughts, “how do you like being mated? And are we gonna plan a wedding any time soon?”

Leigh just about choked. A wedding? No. “Uh, no I don’t think so,” she answered.

“And just why the hell not?” Jessica demanded, setting her water bottle down hard on the picnic table. “I mean, you’re already mated. Isn’t that the next logical step?”

“Jess,” Brea said, “Give the woman some time to adjust.”

“Poo. I think we should get started right away. No reason to delay the inevitable.” She waved her hand in the air as she spoke as if to punctuate how silly she thought it was to wait.

“Inevitable as it may be, she may not be ready for it just yet,” Brea said. “Besides, there is still a lot of shit to clear out before we go making any other plans.”

“I know, I know,” Jessica said tossing her blonde mane over her shoulder. “But it never hurts to be prepared. I know a great seamstress that would make a dress that would make a princess swoon. OH!” she put her hand over her heart, “I know! I’m thinking a princess ball gown! White and lace around the bodice, tiny roses along the hem…”

“And we could have a royalty theme!” Brea added, her excitement growing and forgetting her reasonability. “We could use the ball room for what it was meant for! An old fashioned royal ball! Oh it will be so beautiful! Flowers around the pillars…”

Leigh whipped her head back and forth between the two women who had just taken off with her life without permission. A few months ago, the old Leigh would have snapped. The new Leigh, the one who was mated with a vampire and was on a little park outing with what was her mate’s family, found it slightly amusing.

She let the women toss ideas back and forth for a bit longer before she cleared her throat.

“Oh, I guess we should ask you what you think,” Jessica said. “So, do think white roses or red? And should we have it catered by Rhinos or Le Bon Vie?”

“Actually,” Leigh said, “None of the above. Dragons don’t do weddings.”

“WHAT?” both women shouted in unison.

“Why the hell not?” Jessica asked.

“We just don’t.” Leigh shook her head. “Never have. The mating has always served as the wedding. It’s a very private and permanent bonding.”

“But, you aren’t mated to a dragon,” Brea pointed out. “You are mated to our Rebel. Who used to be human.
Humans
get married.”

Leigh felt a little hand on her leg. She looked down and saw Jade looking up at her.
Don’t worry, one day they will understand
. The words were spoken directly into Leigh’s mind. She knew it was Jade, it was her voice. But her lips never moved. Leigh even felt a sense of calm take over her body. So what if they wanted to waste their time planning a wedding that would never happen?

“Jade,” Brea warned, “what have we talked about?”

“What?” Jade asked, all innocence.

“No getting into people’s heads without permission. You know it freaks some people out.”

“No really,” Leigh interjected, “It’s ok. I just didn’t know she could do that.”

“Yeah among other things…” Brea shook her head. “She can do a few things. Like telepathy. Speed, and an appetite that rivals her father’s.”

“She drinks blood?” Leigh asked.

“Yeah but only from the bottle. No biting allowed. And she eats food.”

Leigh had seen the little one eat. She had also seen the lashing Rebel got for eating her cookies.

Brea’s phone rang and when she was done talking to the person on the other end, she looked at both women. “Time to go home,” she said, “Jacque wants his test subjects immediately.”

“Ya know, that’s exactly what I feel like lately,” Leigh said with a sigh, “A freaking lab rat. I swear, ever since I met that man my life has been turned upside down. Sometimes I wish I could just grab his ass up and fly us away where no one could find us.”

Leigh knew she had offended the women almost instantly. They both wore identical expressions of shock. It was Jade, though, who spoke.

“Why would you want something silly like that?” she said in her little sing-song, no-nonsense voice. “Rebel would miss his family, and we would miss you. Family sticks together, Aunt Leigh.” Leigh knew she didn’t really expect an answer to her question because the child grabbed her stuff and strutted back towards the car.

“Wow,” Leigh said.

“Yup,” Jessica agreed. “Nothing like being chastised by five year old, huh?”

“She can be so mature sometimes,” Brea added, “Makes me proud.”

Just then, the young lady in question marched right back to the adults. She faced Leigh squarely, pointed her little finger at her, and said, “You are a dragon. You are strong and beautiful and you should be proud. If I was a dragon, I would never hide.” She accented her litany by putting her fists on her hips. The look she gave Leigh was one that said she knew it all and Leigh had better listen.

Never in her life had things been put in perspective for her, especially not by a child. But she was right. Leigh had spent her whole life hiding it seemed. Why hide now? The whole world knew she existed. There was no secret to keep anymore. She was one of the largest, most powerful creatures to ever walk the earth. She felt herself swelling with pride. Pride for herself, but especially for the little girl who saw it in her.

“Well,” Leigh said, “I suppose you are right little one. I am proud. And I would be proud to give you a lift home, if it’s ok with your mom.”

Jade squealed. “Oh can I mommy? Please? Please? Pleeeeeeease?” She bounced up and down on her toes with her hands clasped together.

“I promise to take care of her,” Leigh offered, “And if there is even the slightest sign of trouble, I will flash us back home.”

Brea pretended to think about it, then, with a sigh, (as if it was a tough decision) she said, “I suppose it would be alright.”

“Yay!” Jade jumped up and down. “Ok Leigh, dragon up!”

The women laughed and Leigh walked into an open area before she pulled on her magic. She felt herself pulling and growing as the magic swirled all around her. In an instant, she had a new point of view of the park. At twenty feet tall, she could see everything, including the many eyes that were now trained on her in awe. She didn’t feel like a freak show, though. She had always thought she would if ever exposed to humans this way. No, she felt beautiful. Powerful. All the things Jade said she was. She was the object of awe to everyone who could see her, and it felt damn good.

But it was only one set of eyes that kept her attention. Jade was standing in front of her with adoration in her eyes. “You are beautiful,” she sighed as she ran her little hand over the scales of Leigh’s hind legs. “They’re soft,” she whispered to no one in particular, “I thought it would be like a snake or lizard, but it’s like skin.”

Well get on
, Leigh told her.

Jade didn’t react like normal people would when Leigh spoke in her mind, but of course she could do it too. Instead she just grabbed hold of Leigh’s massive hind leg and shimmied up until her little legs were resting on either side of the dragon’s neck. She held on and lightly kicked with her heel. “Giddy up!”

“Hold on tight baby!” Brea yelled as Leigh spread her wings and shot into the sky.

TWENTY THREE

Four months later…

Leigh watched as the sun dropped down below the horizon, leaving a gold shimmer on the surface of the water. There was nothing more calming than sunset on the Pacific. The waves danced and lapped at her feet making her yearn for the freedom of flight.

What a shame that was prohibited.

She unconsciously wrapped her hands around her belly. As much as she loved flying, shifting was not worth the risk to her young. Jacque couldn’t tell her exactly what kind of genes her baby would have without running extensive and invasive tests. Ones she didn’t want to risk. Since there was no way of knowing if the child would have her magic or not, she couldn’t risk changing into the dragon.

She hated that her condition had to be kept secret. No one knew, except for Jacque and Rebel of course. It was safer that way. If Merrick found out, who knew what kind of lawsuit he would throw at them. Or worse, what he might try to do to the baby. It had been four months since the judge denied Merrick his claim on her. And since then there had been a restraining order against Merrick because he refused to not stalk her. But this was a game changer. They planned to tell Rebel’s family soon enough though. It was damned hard to keep a secret in house full of vampires.

The wind whipped at her hair, beckoning her to come, to join it across the calm water. A shiver went down her spine as she forcibly shoved the instinct down. She had denied herself flight for years, but recently she was having a harder time doing it. She no longer had any reason to hide her magic from the public. The urge to fly gnawed at her insides but her baby was worth the sacrifice. She looked up at the clear sky and saw the brightest of the stars that would be out that night. Soon it would be completely dark and the sky would look like it had been sprinkled with diamonds. Leigh took a long breath to calm her soul.

A warm pair of arms enveloped her and she knew without looking that it was Rebel. She hadn’t heard him approach but his scent was distinct, even upwind. “What are you thinking about?” he whispered in her ear.

“What will they do, the humans, when they find out that I am pregnant?”

“I don’t know,” he answered, “but I, WE, will protect our child. No matter what.”

“I love you,” Leigh told him, knowing full well that he knew it.

“I,” Rebel stopped. Leigh felt his body stiffen behind her and she turned to look at his face. He was looking up into the sky with a perplexed expression.

Leigh looked in the same direction. “What is it babe?” At first, she saw nothing but sky. An uneasy feeling curled up in her belly, the hairs on her arms stood up, and she went on full alert.

She saw it the same moment Rebel did. “Get back to the house!” he shouted as a fierce scream rent the quiet night.

Leigh ducked down and ran hell-bent for the house. She knew that screech as well as she knew her own. Merrick was coming for her. She could feel his presence in the night sky even though she didn’t dare look back. She knew that Merrick felt that if he could not have her, no one would. He would kill her.

Normally, that would not upset Leigh, but with the life of her child to consider, she was in no position to defend herself. It was the first time in her life that she had ever run from a fight. Her ego was soothed to know that Rebel was hot on her heels. He would undoubtedly secure her first and then come back to kick Merrick’s sorry ass.

They burst into the house as one and yelled for all it was worth. Angel was already arming himself as was his brothers. “Get her to the basement with the women!” he snapped at Rebel. Without argument he ushered Leigh to the safety of the basement.

Rebel pushed her to the farthest corner of the basement, shoving her against the wall. “Stay here,” he commanded as he looked down into her eyes. He held her by the elbows and just stared at her for a long second. “We can only protect you if you let us. Promise me you won’t go out there, no matter what.”

Leigh looked back into her mates eyes and saw something she had never seen before. Fear. With a quick jerk of her head she nodded her agreement. “Come back to me.”