Shifter’s Baby (Alpha Fantasy Paranormal Billionaire Shifter BBW Romance) (9 page)

Their heated moment now over, Arabella shifted uncomfortably on the bed. There was a growing pain that ebbed and flowed above her groin. It was a minor dull pain that would go away and then after a while would come back. No amount of readjusting would make it go away.

Rayzier was trying his best to rest, he knew the oncoming battle between he and his uncle would require all of the strength he had left. If he was to achieve victory, he needed these last hours to gather himself not only physically but mentally as well.

Arabella’s constant squirming would not allow him any moments of peace though.

“Are you alright? Would you like to switch sides with me possibly?” he asked not bothering to open his eyes.

Arabella huffed and then Rayzier felt her weight lift from the bed. He looked over at her. Her long dark hair trailing down her back as she faced away from him. She was staring down at something, and then suddenly he heard the unmistakable sound of something wet spilling to the floor.

“Arabella?”

“I think… I think it’s time,” Arabella mumbled, her voice quavering.

Rayzier got up and ran around the side of the bed to her. At her feet was a clear puddle on the floor. Confused, he looked at her face which was pale and nearly colorless.

“I’ll fetch the wise women. Lay down.”

It was as if she didn’t hear anything that Rayzier had said. She stayed in place, gripping at her belly, her wet skirts pressed against her legs. He didn’t have time to demand she do anything, instead Rayzier ran for the door, wrenching it open, and down the stone steps. A hint of golden sunlight pierced the night sky.

The sound of excited voices were echoing all around and as Rayzier made it to the bottom of the stairs a plump faced woman carrying a basket full of golden sunflowers was rounding the corner at the same time.

“Sound the horn!” he shouted at her.

She jumped in surprise but didn’t dawdle once she saw the look on his face. She hurried toward the vast door of the fortress. Rayzier raced around the stone building, where the group of voices became louder and louder.

A large hole pierced the ground and people were milling about the outskirts of it setting up canvas tents and wicker chairs. Rows of tables held food and drink. The celebration that followed this birth would be magnificent.

Rayzier spotted a robed figure in the crowd.

“Mobian!”

The robed figure’s head turned in his direction and then promptly walked over.

“It’s started. It’s time!”

Mobian nodded, “I’ll fetch Vyandun. Come down once you’re sure the infant is viable.”

Rayzier rushed away at these words, panic and excitement spreading through him. Up ahead of him, he saw the unmistakable wise women walking in a straight line up the stairs to Arabella. They were taller than any men or women he had ever seen, and underneath their hoods their skin was unlike any others.

The wise women were unable to transform into full large dragons, and instead had scaly reptilian skin over what was normal human features. They were never able to leave Istian, and therefore were committed to the cause of healing and studying. Although well respected among the dragonkin, they often secluded themselves from everyone and only came out in times of need.

They entered the building and were already set to work calming Arabella who had a look of fright set into her nearly colorless face. Rayzier arrived just in time to hear the wise women hissing soothing instructions and gathering supplies from a nearby cabinet.

The wise women worked fast and soon had her undressed and laying on clean sheets. Every other minute Arabella would groan and readjust on the bed, rocking to relieve the pain that rippled through her.

“It won’t be long now, she is nearly ready to push,” one of the women announced.

Shortly after, the women began instructing her on the process of giving birth. Arabella began to moan and then her moans turned to screams. Rayzier tried not to watch, the sound of her pain worried him. He didn’t know if it was normal for a human woman to make such a noise when they weren’t dying. There was always the possibility that she wouldn’t make it.

Just as Rayzier clamped his eyes shut and grit his teeth while Arabella continued to make the sounds of a tortured person, her screams mingled with a new sound, the soft piteous wail of infant.

He turned quickly and stumbled forward, the wise woman that sat propped in a chair at the base of the bed was holding his child, slick and dirty from being born the baby looked healthy and cried again while squirming in the woman’s hands.

“It’s a male,” the woman announced and the others in the room gushed.

Arabella leaned forward, and was handed a swaddled babe. She looked tired but her eyes were alight with amazement as she looked into the eyes of the child that only blinked up at her. Rayzier bent down to look at the babe and felt his heart swell with pride and love.

“Rayzier,” a wise woman behind him broke in, “it is time.”

The happy couple, so immersed in staring at their newborn grimaced at the words. Arabella looked to Rayzier who carefully settled his hand on the head on the head of the newborn. He had small tears in the corners of his eyes.

“I’ll return,” he told her in nearly a whisper.

Arabella, filled with emotion, pulled his face close to hers and kissed him.

“We’ll be waiting.”

Vyandun was waiting at the edge of the dark pit where bouts of steam and heat hissed upward. The other dragonkin avoided getting to close to him, because each time one of them neared to say that they would miss him he lashed out and attacked.

He had lived a long life, was set in his ways and the others mostly feared him. Despite that he would be gone soon, the others were mostly pleased that another would be taking his place as leader. Mobian had yet to take his eyes from Vyandun, fearing that the cut throat dragon would try to flee rather than fight.

Behind him, Rayzier had strode forward, naked from the waist up with determination etched into his face.

“A male. My child is a boy and healthy,” he told Mobian who didn’t even blink at the news.

“I will ready the bystanders,” Mobian answered with a nod to Rayzier.

From under his cloak, Mobian pulled a gleaming horn and sounded it. Instantly the crowd hushed and stopped what they were doing.

“Rayzier has just announced that his child has been born. A boy. Now, as you all know, in order for the child to truly be a dragonkin, then a sacrifice must be made. Another shall have to give their flame stone. As people that are battle minded, a sacrifice would not be complete without a fight. If you did not know, Rayzier has chosen Vyandun to spar with. One shall fall.”

The crowd cheered. As Mobian’s words ended, Vyandun had stopped gritted his teeth and raised one hand to the air.

“Dragonkin, I have one thing to say before this commences, and heed my words. I have faithfully lead you in these times of peace. I have been a good leader and if I walk away from this will continue to be. Remember that as you cheer for a contender.”

Most of the dragonkin looked around nervously. Mobian, who had watched in silence, lifted his horn once more and blew.

Instantly both men had changed and then swept upwards to the sky above the pit. Rayzier into a steely silver dragon that graced the air above him with ease and Vyandun who was a large black beast of death followed shortly after. There was an obvious size difference, but Rayzier moved much easily as his wings beat at his sides.

Their gleaming eyes met and then they clashed. Claws dug into the thick dragon hides and small bouts of flame trickled forth from their nostrils. Deafening roars escaped each of the dragons as they pulled apart and big droplets of blood rained down on the crowd.

The dragonkin cheered at the sight of first blood. Vyandun had a gash along his shoulder but Rayzier’s back leg seemed to be hanging limply. Without notice, Vyandun’s dark form launched forward, all four legs pointed out and dark claws protruding forward.

Rayzier darted to the side, but one of Vyandun’s claws caught his wing and a long rip formed. Instantly Rayzier fell hard and fast toward the pit below. At the last second he rolled, crashing into a group of chairs where no one had sat just yet.

The crowd roared with mingled excitement and fear. Mobian stood near the back of the crowd with a worried look on his face. Arabella, dressed in a long flowing gown appeared behind, walking with ease while she cradled the newborn.

“Is it over?” she asked.

Mobian turned to her, “Just about, but I’m afraid the outcome may not be as we wished.”

She noticed the black dragon swooping down, landing on Rayzier who had just righted himself.

“No!” she shouted!

“There is nothing we can do. Dragonkin cannot interfere with the outcome of the sacrifice. I worry that Vyandun will immediately take matters into his outcomes concerning you and the child rather than wait until no one is watching.”

Arabella felt helpless. Although she had been expertly healed by the wise woman and felt better rested than she had in all her life, the mounting fear that Rayzier wouldn’t win against Vyandun had never occurred to her.

“May I hold the child?” Mobian asked

The crowd roared again as Vyandun got another swipe at the retreating Rayzier who was pathetically trying to rise again in the air, his tattered wing holding him back.

Arabella paused. Rayzier had warned her not to trust anyone with the newborn, but he had also said that Mobian would be the one to assist her if anything did happen. After a moment she carefully laid the babe in his outstretched arms, showing him how to support the head.

An uncharacteristic smile broke out on the half blind man’s face as he cuddled the baby.

“Arabella, I did say that only dragonkin are not allowed to interfere. I said nothing of humans.”

She knew what he was insinuating and immediately began to scan around for a weapon. A long sharp stake that held up a canvas tent was laying on the ground nearby, pushed over when Rayzier had fallen.

The baby was contently sleeping in the crook of Mobian’s arm. She leaned forward briefly and kissed the sleeping child, knowing that if she failed to do what was needed, the newborn would be an orphan. An endangered one at that as it’s great Uncle would surely find a way to rid himself of a powerless contender for leadership.

She rushed forward and grabbed the long stake, the crowd of dragonkin not paying her any attention. Rayzier was bleeding profusely now, slashes across his back, his tattered wing now nothing but a stump on his side as he continued to fight of Vyandun’s advances.

Arabella was unsure of what to do. She was nothing but one small human woman and Vyandun was a very large and very angry dragon. Just then, Rayzier fell to his side, breathing heavily his nostrils emitting short flames. Vyandun crept forward, a forked tongue slithering from his snout.

He reared back, standing on his powerful back legs. Arabella took the opportunity to rush forward, she was nothing but a small speck compared to the dragons. As Vyandun crashed down, intending to stomp Rayzier’s head to bits, Arabella lifted the wooden stake and braced it hard against the ground.

Vyandun’s weight pushed it’s tip deep into his belly. He roared in pain as it sank deeper. Behind Arabella, Rayzier stirred and saw what happened. Their eyes met briefly before he slithered forward and used his claws to rip open Vyandun, a shower of blood fell as Vyandun slumped over.

The dragonkin roared their approval as Rayzier turned back into a man and swept forward to embrace the blood soaked Arabella. Vyandun breathing his last breath, withered into human form.

Mobian sounded the horn with his free hand and the crowd slowly engulfed the couple.

“Rayzier! You’ve done it!” one man shouted.

“The human helped!” Another face yelled.

Rayzier stepped forward and pushed his hand into the steaming belly of Vyandun and removed a heavy stone. It was a deep red and radiated heat. Mobian appeared beside Arabella and placed the child back in her arms.

A piece of the stone was chipped off and instantly the rest turned to ash. Carefully, the small sleeping infant was given the speck of rock. The baby boy squirmed slightly but otherwise nothing averse happened.

Rayzier threw up his hands, “And now dragonkin, with the end of Vyandun I am happy to announce that Arabella will be joining us for the rest of her life.”

She smiled, still watching her child but looked up at the words. She was happy to stay but now that it was official a rush of excitement and finality caused a tear to come to her eyes.

“Dragonkin, my new family,” Arabella spoke up, “let me present you with our child, Henrick.”

Rayzier nodded knowingly. The crowd cheered with delight just as the sun parted over the horizon and lit up the grounds for all to see them.

The End

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Saved By The Dragon

Dragon Shifter

By: Lisa Cartwright