Page 94 of Charming the Dragon
She whirled and waggled her finger at him. “No, it’s not okay. I thought you were dead earlier, Nathan. That I’d never see you again, talk with you, feel your arms around me.” Her voice caught before she added, “I won’t risk you losing your dragon. I’ll be right back.”
His female stormed off and less than two minutes later, returned with a dazed Trahern.
Dr. Trahern Lewis preferred research to patients, but could do the job when needed. Hayley motioned toward Nathan. “Help him, Dr. Lewis. Whatever the hunters did to him, it made his dragon silent.”
The doctor’s Welsh accent filled the room. “I have a few things to try. Let me fetch them. And whilst I do that, untie him for me.”
With that, the doctor exited the room.
Hayley slowly untied him, pausing every time he grunted in pain, to the point he did his best not to. When he was finally free, she kissed his lips. “Don’t even think of trying to sit up, Nathan Woodhouse.”
At her firm tone, his lips twitched. “I wouldn’t dare try to go against your word, Hayley Beckett.”
As they smiled at each other, relief coursed through his body. “I’ve missed you, love.”
Before his female could reply, Trahern waltzed into the room and promptly stuck a needle into Nathan’s arm. After the injection, Trahern pushed up his glasses. “If it’s one of the known dragon hunter formulas, the injection should start working in the next five minutes. I’ll be back to check on you. I need to help Sid and Gregor.”
Hayley blurted, “Is Grace okay?”
“I don’t like to speculate. You’ll receive an update soon.”
As the door closed behind the Welsh doctor, Hayley frowned. “He doesn’t have any bedside manner, does he?”
A faint voice in his head said,No. He should’ve been more concerned about me.
Are you back, dragon? Already?
Yes. Everything hurts, and I’m not at my best, but I’m back.
Hayley’s voice prevented him from replying to his beast. “Your pupils are flashing! Is your dragon all right?”
“Yes, mostly. Too tired to take control, but I’m sure he’ll be back to his normal self soon.”
His female laid her cheek against his, and he felt wetness. “Are you crying, love?”
She sniffed. “Yes. I can’t help it. I was so worried, Nathan. About you, the baby, Grace, everything.”
As she recounted her time inside Fairfield’s, he managed to raise the arm on his good side and rub her back. When she finished, her tears had stopped, and he said, “Everything should be fine, Hayley. I love you, and I won’t ever let them take you again.”
She pulled back. Smiling, she rolled her eyes. “You can’t promise that.”
“I’m going to do everything within my power to keep you and our child safe, Hayley. Even if it means learning new skills, being put through hell by Kai or the other Protectors, I will be ready to protect you both, no matter if it’s from behind or away from the keyboard.”
“I know you will, Nathan. But don’t forget I’ll try to protect you too. But to do that, I need to become your mate first.”
“We could do it now.”
“Now?”
“Yes. All we need is Bram and a few witnesses. I know it’s not ideal, and your sister wasn’t allowed to stay on Stonefire with you gone. But it’s not only my burning desire to claim you as mine that makes me think we need to do it. The law will be on our side, too.”
“Look at you, using my passion for the law against me.”
“Hey, I’ll do whatever it takes to call you mine, love. Mine forever.”
She kissed him. “Then we’ll be mated as soon as possible.” There was more screaming from the room next door before it fell eerily silent. Hayley gripped his hand and squeezed.
She whispered, “I hope Grace and her babies are okay.”
