Page 96 of Charming the Dragon
Or any of the other million things that made sex and relationships complicated.
Eventually Gregor asked, “Do you want to hold your sons, lass?”
Grace looked away from Trahern, and a tear ran down her cheek. She croaked, “Yes.”
She finally released his hand as Gregor and Dr. Sid placed a child in each arm, staying to help her hold them.
After everything she’d been through, he hadn’t expected her to kiss each baby’s forehead and whisper, “My babies. You’rehere. I don’t know what happens next, but I will love you forever.”
He studied the female and her two sons. She still seemed incredibly sad, as if she were waiting for something bad to happen.
Before he could think better of it, he blurted, “You’re safe here. Don’t cry.”
Both Dr. Sid and Gregor blinked at him, but Trahern never looked away from Grace.
The human replied, “Hewas paid half up front for getting me pregnant and helping them capture me. He’ll try to find us, to steal my sons, and receive the rest. We won’t be safe anywhere. Not unless I give up my children to the DDA so they can be fostered far away from me.”
Without thinking for once, Trahern replied, “You can stay here. Stonefire will protect you. If you’re my mate, they can’t take you away.”
Dr. Sid and Gregor gasped, but Trahern didn’t care. He didn’t really understand why he was offering this. He’d never thought to have a mate. Emotions were confusing, and he wasn’t quite sure he believed love was possible for him. He’d come to terms with that, but Grace probably deserved better.
However, the female’s sadness and loneliness had called out to him and his dragon. It was as if he’d needed to make the offer, even if she rejected him.
So he waited for her answer, to see if he’d just changed the entire course of his life or not.
Chapter Thirty-One
The next afternoon, Nathan sat propped up on pillows with Hayley by his side, waiting for his parents, his brother, his cousin, and Bram to arrive. He’d told Hayley they could have just Bram and Kai at the ceremony since her family couldn’t be present. However, she’d told him not to be daft, and invited his family herself.
His dragon was mostly back to normal and said,Her sister will visit soon, and we’ll throw a big celebration.
I know. I still don’t like that her sister can’t be here.
Hayley’s voice prevented his beast from replying. “You look kind of grumpy for your mating ceremony.”
He took her hand, brought it to his lips, and kissed the back of it. “Sorry, love. I still feel bad about your sister.”
“You agreed to sing karaoke with me when she’s here, and that will more than make up for it.”
“I still can’t believe I agreed to that,” he muttered.
She laughed. “You did, and it’s a legally binding oral contract. So, in other words, no backsies.”
“Is that a legal term now?”
Hayley stuck her tongue out at him. “Maybe it should be.”
As they smiled at one another, Nathan forgot about everything but how lucky he was to have this female in his life. “I love you, Hayley.”
“I love you, too, Nathan.”
She leaned down to kiss him right as the door opened. His family crowded into the room, making a bunch of noise, and somehow his cousin ended up with Hayley on the far side of the room.
Nathan glared and almost missed his stepmother’s words as she said, “Oh, stop it. Luke is just saying hello to his new cousin.”
His dragon growled.I don’t like how he’s leaning in. She’s ours. He can get his own female.
Hayley laughed at something Luke said, and Nathan glared harder. “He knows better than to taunt me like this. Until the mating ceremony is complete, my dragon doesn’t like other males hanging around with her.”
