Total pages in book: 93
Estimated words: 86059 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 430(@200wpm)___ 344(@250wpm)___ 287(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 86059 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 430(@200wpm)___ 344(@250wpm)___ 287(@300wpm)
Suddenly, the Rift is in front of me. An enormous bug crawls out, then another. The stench of evil is all around us.
It pulses, reaching out to grab—
A white, gentle light sheets through the dream and I jerk awake. My stomach flutters and I put a hand there. Thank you, I tell it. Thank you, little one, for keeping me safe.
The door to our room opens, and Jurik rushes inside, setting down the bag in his hands. He moves to my side and kneels next to me, a worried expression on his sharp golden features, his eyes tinged with black. I felt that, he tells me. A nightmare?
Yeah. I must have fallen asleep for just a moment. I rub my eyes and then smile at him. Don’t worry. Our little one is looking out for me.
His big hand goes to my belly and he touches me with wonder. So he is.
Might be a she.
Might be, he agrees, and his eyes bleed to gold again. You look beautiful, my mate.
I rub my mouth, wiping away drool tracks. “Uh huh,” I tease. “What’d you bring back?”
Jurik’s eyes gleam. I was not able to find the sweets you wanted, but I traded with Kael and his mate for something close. He gets the bag from its spot by the door and holds it out to me.
I pull a blue box out of the bag and can’t hide my squeal. “Oh my god. Claudia gave up some of her Pop Tarts?”
Just one box. Is that enough? Shall I fight them for more?
“No! They’re our friends. One box is plenty.” I clutch it to my chest, thrilled. “You’re so amazing, Jurik. Thank you, love.”
My dragon-man could not be more proud if I awarded him a medal of honor. I want to please my mate and our child. I am glad I could succeed. His hand caresses my stomach. I missed you today.
“I missed you, too.” My eyes fill with tears. I really am not much of a cry-baby but with the pregnancy, I’m weeping over everything. Right now? I just can’t get over how much I love my mate. My Jurik.
I keep waiting for a bad moment to arrive. For me to get angry at him and realize that I’m not truly in love with him. It never does, though. With every day that passes, I love him more and more. I love the stubborn tilt of his chin, the way he fusses over me, the things he does to make me comfortable. I love his determination. His perseverance. I love his playful side and his serious side.
I love how ever since we bonded, I haven’t felt alone. At all. He’s there with me, day and night, in my mind as well as in my bed. It’s the most wonderful thing I could ever imagine, and I don’t know why I dragged my feet for so long.
“I love you,” I tell him happily.
I love you, too, my fires. He takes the package from me. Do you want me to heat those for you? Smoke curls out of his nostrils. Kael said his mate claims people used to eat them hot.
“No need to heat them up,” I reassure him. “I’ll love them cold as well as hot.”
Do you want one now?
I shake my head. Now that I have a box—an entire box!—I want to savor them. Hoard them like a dragon with a treasure.
Jurik snorts at that mental image. You mean you are going to save them and split them with your friends. I am in your mind, remember? He gets to his feet and presses a kiss to my brow. Just promise you will save most of it for yourself.
Busted. “I promise.”
Any more bad dreams? he asks.
“Just the one.” I caress the box. “How’s the Rift look today?”
Quiet. Silent. Just as usual. Jurik is unconcerned.
I nod. Ever since our terrible flight, we keep waiting for something bad to happen, for the thing lurking on the other side to come through. But it never does, and with every day that passes, it fades a little more. We try to remind ourselves of what we saw, but Azar—much as we dislike him—is the best warning system there is.
Him, and the babies.
There will be more soon, Jurik tells me. Not just mine and Gwen’s, but other females that have bonded with drakoni males. There is even a drakoni female with a human male for a mate. Soon, more bright white stars will join Luminoura and Sallavatri in the darkness.
Maybe eventually they’ll cast enough light to free all the drakoni from their madness. And wouldn’t that be amazing.
Our world will be completely different then, Jurik agrees. But we will get there.
“Do you truly think so?” I get to my feet, and he immediately puts his arms around my waist, holding me close.