Tracking Trisha (29 page)

Trisha explained to Kelan about Cara’s claustrophobia. He was trying to help his brother. The first two days after their return, Kelan spent most of his time sitting with Trelon. He came back to their living quarters briefly for rest and, as he put it, a need to know his mate was safe. Sometimes they would make tender love when he came and other times it was rough and explosive. Afterward, she would hold him while he slept for a couple of hours before returning to his brother’s side. She saw a little of Abby but none of Ariel or Carmen at first. Once Cara was found, Kelan soberly explained she was in her dragon form and both were not well. It seemed Cara had buried herself so far inside her dragon none of them, including Trelon, could reach her. After Trisha pressured Kelan, he finally admitted if Cara did not return soon both his brother and the female she considered to be a sister would perish, for a dragon could not live long in a half life. Trisha insisted that she, Ariel, Carmen and Abby be allowed to visit with Cara daily in the hopes their familiarity would bring Cara’s ‘human’ self out. So, far nothing was working.

Trisha turned as Kelan’s mom walked over to stare out the window with her.
Morian stared down over the garden where her son laid next to his mate.
She wrapped an arm around Trisha’s waist, hugging her. While Trisha hadn’t said anything yet, Morian knew her new daughter would soon be blossoming with Kelan’s child.

“Is there anything we can do to help her?” Trisha asked quietly
staring at the heartbreaking sight
.
She fought back tears as she watched Trelon’s dragon tenderly scoot closer to Cara’s tiny one, wrapping one of his big wings around her to shield her from the sun.

Morian watched as the tiny dragon’s head turned to rest her cheek against the huge male’s chest. Tears formed in her eyes as she watched Trelon
care for his tiny mate.
If something wasn’t done soon, they could lose both of them.

“I think it is time to have a talk with my daughter.” Morian
responded with soft determination as she
turn
ed and walked out the door.

Trisha stood watching the pair and praying that some miracle would occur. Her heart leaped as she saw Kelan approaching Trelon’s dragon. He said something and she watched as Trelon transformed back into a man. They were having some type of heated discussion when Trisha noticed Morian in the garden with them. Whatever she said must have worked. Within moments, Kelan was pulling a very reluctant Trelon down the path towards the wing of the palace that held the offices.

Trisha studied Morian as she requested refreshments from a servant. She secretly wished her dad could meet Kelan’s mom. She thought back to the list her dad and she wrote that day long ago about all the qualities he was looking for in a woman. Trisha swore Morian met every single criteria. She was strong yet gentle, wise, elegant, determined, caring, beautiful, and Trisha loved her something she could honestly say she never felt towards any other woman her dad ever dated.

Trisha frowned as she tried to imagine what Morian could be saying to Cara. She knew it must be something because Trisha could see the difference in the body language of Cara’s dragon. It was like Morian was saying something that was tugging at the tiny dragon’s heart. Trisha continued to watch in fascination as Morian calmly took a sip of her drink before she set in down and stood up.

Trisha gasped and her hand flew to her mouth as she watched Cara’s dragon shimmer for a moment before disappearing. In her place was Cara’s tiny figure, crouched down on the ground. Trisha felt the tears course down her cheeks as she watched Morian gently cradle Cara’s small form in her arms, rocking her back and forth before helping her to stand. A smile tugged at the corners of Trisha’s lips as she followed the woman who created a ‘miracle’. Trisha leaned her head against the glass so she could follow the two delicate figures until they disappeared inside the palace. Yes, if she had to choose a woman for her dad, it would be Morian Reykill.

“Morian, what did you say to Cara to bring her back?” Trisha asked quietly a few hours later.

Kelan was in an emergency meeting with Zoran so Trisha asked if Abby and Morian would like to have late afternoon refreshments with her while she waited for him to finish. There were two important things she learned since living on Valdier. One, they liked to eat – a lot; and two, they enjoyed eating dinner late – very late. Trisha was going to have to work out constantly if she continued to eat the way she was.

No, you
eat
for three. I need food. You pick.
Her dragon snorted a reply as she rolled over and snuggling up to the tiny spark that seemed to be growing rather rapidly.

Trisha rolled her eyes. Her dragon was perfectly content to make love, eat, and cuddle the tiny spark. She didn’t have to worry about getting a big butt, she already had one!

I hear that. My mate like my butt…and my tail.
Her dragon purred in response.
You mate like you butt too.
She giggled.

Morian raised her eyebrow when she noticed Trisha turning a bright red suddenly. “Are you well, Trisha?”

Trisha fanned her face as she replied. “Damn dragon.”

Morian’s chuckled as she imagined what Trisha’s dragon was saying. “Yes, they can be a bit pesky at times.” She sobered as she took a sip of her tea. “To answer your question, I simply told her the truth. Trelon was dying and she was the cause of it. If she didn’t want him to die then she needed to come back to him. You see, without your other half there is no life.”

Trisha and Abby stared at Morian for a moment absorbing what she was saying. “Are you saying if one of us were to die then the other would die as well?” Trisha asked quietly.

Morian nodded. “That is precisely what I am saying.” Morian looked at Abby first. “When Zoran claimed you on your planet he knew he could never leave you behind. It would have killed him and you, if he had. You were not the only one changed during the exchange. While Zoran, Trelon, and Kelan were able to give you the dragon’s fire, the chemical which allows your body to be transformed into a dragon, in exchange he must also give to you his essence, what he is made of. This is how you are accepted by not only him, but his dragon and his symbiosis.”

Abby looked at Morian with huge blue eyes. “He told me we were one.”

Morian nodded again. “Yes. You are both halves of a whole, incomplete without the other.” Morian turned to look at Trisha. “My son should have explained this to you. When you ran away, he had no other choice but to follow you. He would never stop…never.” Morian said firmly. “This is why he cannot return you to your planet. Your body is different now but even more is your need to be near each other. Over a period of time, when one true mate dies the other mourns the loss until the will to live is no longer there.”

“But, I don’t understand. What about Zoran, Trelon, and Kelan’s father?” Abby asked.

Morian smiled softly as she remembered her mate. “I loved him dearly but he was not my true mate. Ours was a match to form one strong clan. We both came from royalty, descended from the Gods and Goddesses themselves. Over time, we came to love and respect each other. At first, I thought to join him in death but I still had much to live for. I have five wonderful sons and hoped, with good cause, that one day I would have five wonderful daughters and a house full of children once again. It was not my time. Not yet, anyway.” Morian said softly.

“Did you ever think you would find your true mate?” Trisha asked thinking once again of her dad.

Morian was about to respond when a knock came at the door. A messenger quietly handed Morian a note before bowing and quickly leaving. Morian stood up with a calm smile and held out a hand to Abby.

“I think now might be a good time to go see how Cara is doing.” She said with a small, secret smile.

Trisha and Abby looked at each other before shrugging their shoulders. Sometimes Trisha got the feeling Morian was a little clairvoyant or something. She seemed to know stuff before it happened. It would have freaked Trisha out except then she would have to be freaked out about loving an alien, dragon shifting, hunk who was BFF with a gold symbiotic creature.

And h
e likes your
butt too.
Her dragon whispered mischievously.

Trisha tripped as her dragon added that last little tidbit.
Oh, shut up!
Trisha growled silently as her face heated up again. She needed to find out from Kelan if there was any way to block her dragon from their love making sessions. From the laughter of amusement her dragon was giving she had a bad feeling the answer was a big, fat NO.

Trisha and Abby watched as Cara moved back and forth. They snuggled up on the couch not long after they
came
in with Zoran and Kelan. Abby explained that Ariel and Carmen
were
on an adventure with Mandra and Creon.
Trisha giggled when Abby mentioned she hoped the brothers remembered to bring the two sisters back.

Trisha watched as Cara paced back and forth, biting a fingernail and casting quick glances at the bedroom where Trelon was unconscious. They encountered Zoran and Kelan rushing to Cara and Trelon’s living quarters just as they rounded the corner. Zoran quickly explained something happened to Trelon but he didn’t know what as the message he received was sketchy at best. Trisha glanced at Morian when she chuckled under her breath. Trisha relaxed when she noticed amusement rather than concern in Trelon’s mom’s eyes. She knew something everyone else didn’t.

Trisha listened as Cara explained what happened again right before Trelon passed out on her. When she heard the part of Cara expecting twins, she couldn’t help but think the males on Valdier must be pretty potent. It didn’t take long for Trelon, or Kelan for that matter, to knock up Cara and her. She was curious if it was natural. So much for wondering if they were a compatible species, Trisha thought with amusement.

Not knock up!
Her dragon growled in disagreement.
Give us their seed. Males choose when female get seed.

Well, excuse me. They seem to have no problem giving out their seeds.
Trisha responded dryly. She wondered if Zoran had ‘given his seed’ to Abby. The palace would never be the same with three hormonal women in it all at once.

“So, I think he took that really well.” Abby
was
sa
ying
calmly. “Zoran knew before I did that I was pregnant. He seems to think we are having a boy.”

Well, that answered that question.
“Better you two than me.” Trisha
blurted out
before she
could stop herself. She
blushed looking toward
s
the other room. “I mean…well…it’s not like I…oh, hell.” She said before she looked down at her drink
in confusion.

She wasn’t ready to admit she was pregnant too…not yet anyway. She wanted to let her dad know first. Trisha sniffed back the sudden tears that threatened at the thought of him. Damn hormones, she thought in dismay. It was tearing her up inside knowing her dad was going through hell not knowing that she was alive and well. She needed to talk to Kelan again. She needed to go get her dad soon. It was already almost three months since she and the others disappeared. She shuddered as she thought of what he must be going through. Trisha jerked back to the present when she heard Cara squeal.

“You too? This is going to be so much fun. We can teach the kids all kinds of things and it will be like they are cousins because of course they are but you know what I mean.” Cara babbled excitedly.

Trisha looked at Cara bouncing up and down and finally shook her head.
She was really beginning to feel sorry for Trelon and totally understood why he passed out.
“Cara, girl, you have to either sit down or stay in one spot for a moment. My head is swimming trying to keep up with you.”