The Dragon Warrior's Baby Read online

  Finally, she had seen him with Cara. He didn’t know Cara was his daughter and he was still so gentle with her. His first instinct wasn’t to tell her to shut up or make her be quiet. It was to hold her, cuddle her, soothe her.

  He was gorgeous, he was dedicated, he was gentle. Maybe he was a bad boy, but Misty never thought that she would have to demand a monogamous relationship. If Volcant was her boyfriend, then he could sleep with all the women he wanted, as long as he returned to her every night.

  “I didn’t think he’d be so old,” Sylvia muttered, glaring at Volcant. “He’s at least twice your age.”

  “Shut up.” Misty nudged her with her shoulder. “Just because you’re a steadfast virgin doesn’t mean that I can’t have the men I find attractive. Besides, it was a one-time thing. There isn’t anything between Volcant and me besides lust. Never was. Never will be.”

  “Then why are you almost in tears because you can’t help him?”

  Misty glared at Sylvia. The other girl had the decency to look ashamed and Misty turned her attention back to Cara, who was sleeping in her arms. Why did she want to help him so badly?

  Because he’s not himself. Because I want him to know Cara is his daughter and until he’s back to his old self, I can’t trust him. Her lip began to tremble, and her tears ran down her cheeks. Perhaps that was why. For once in her life, she wanted a man she could trust. And if Volcant, dedicated, gentle Volcant, wasn’t that man… she was never going to find him.

  Chapter Eight

  Volcant

  Volcant woke with his head feeling like it had been stomped on by a giant, but his thoughts were clear. The confusion that had been pounding through his brain for the past few days had cleared, allowing him to have a clear view of where he was and what he was doing.

  The assassination had happened centuries ago. He had come to the future searching for leads to find the assassins, but he had been unable to find the evidence because something had gone wrong.

  Misty was not an assassin.

  The baby could not be Wildref—she was a grown woman now, not an infant. She had been older when she was taken, anyway.

  Which meant that Cara was Misty’s child. And what she had said was true—he had been missing for a year. When Vilma tried to send him to the future, she must have been interrupted, messing up the timestream. Hendric? Would he have interfered after Volcant entered the portal, knowing the effects of it?

  Volcant pushed those thoughts aside as he opened his eyes. Right now, he had more pressing concerns. For starters, the two women he had kidnapped.

  He groaned as he pushed himself upright. The forest around them was dark, but there was a fire burning nearby. Sylvia eyed him warily, but Misty passed her Cara and rounded the fire to kneel next to him. Guilt crashed down on his heart. He’d threatened to kill her. His mind had been so far gone, he might have…

  “Are you hurt? Any of you?” He leaned around her to peer worriedly at the baby.

  “We’re fine.” Misty pressed a hand to his shoulder. “You should rest, though. But I hope that you realize we’re not assassins, because if we were—”

  “I know. I remember everything now. Guess I just needed rest.” His head still pounded, and he leaned back, grimacing. “Did I really shift in the middle of the city?”

  Misty nodded.

  “Indulf is going to kill me.”

  “Only if we get back. You look like death, you need to rest some more so you can fly us out of here. I’ll get you some food.”

  Misty hurried over to where the diaper bag hung on a tree branch and retrieved a shiny green package. It was more of that apple stuff that he’d had before. She also brought a long, skinny yellow fruit and some bread. She fed him the sauce first, which felt good on his parched throat, then broke off pieces of the sweet fruit and bread. Whenever he tried to sit, she pushed him back down.

  “Thank you,” Volcant whispered. His eyes started to drift shut again. “And I’m sorry.”

  “You weren’t yourself.”

  Volcant hummed and drifted back to sleep.

  ***

  When he woke again he was parched, but felt much stronger. The pain in his head was all but gone. He lay still for a moment, testing his memories. Everything seemed to be in proper order again. Whatever had happened to him in the timestream, it appeared he had finally healed from it. He remembered the feeling of nails ripping him apart and shuddered. Had there been someone else in the timestream with him?

  Sylvia’s voice hissed in his direction. “He’s crazy.”

  Volcant tilted his head slightly to better pick up the conversation.

  “He’s not crazy. He was sick.” Misty sounded utterly done with the conversation. “I told you, he wasn’t himself.”

  “How can you trust him after he kidnapped us?”

  That was a good question. Volcant frowned. How was he going to convince the women that his mind was back to where it was supposed to be? Well, taking them back to the city would be a start. He also needed to report to Indulf. After being missing for a year, there were certainly going to be changes he wasn’t aware of.

  “Well, I don’t buy it. He was looking at you like he was going to eat you—”

  “He already did that.”

  Sylvia hissed even as Volcant burst out into laughter. He would have liked to see how this argument resolved, but it was too late for that. He pushed himself to a sitting position, pleased when none of his muscles protested. Dawn filtered through the trees, the fire was getting low and both women looked utterly exhausted. Misty nursed Cara and she gave him a glare, as though she hadn’t just been defending him.

  Volcant nodded at her and focused on Sylvia. The blonde eyed him warily, although without her glasses, he was certain she couldn’t see much more than a blur. “I understand that this has been very… distressing.”

  “You can say that again,” Misty grumbled.

  “I’m feeling back to myself,” Volcant continued. “So, I will take you back to your home before trying to explain. I’m sure you’ll feel more comfortable in your own home. And I’m sorry. There was something wrong in my head. It’s better now.”

  “It better be.” Misty still glared at him. “And after all the crap you’ve put me through these past few days, you owe me a gigantic dinner at the fanciest restaurant in the city, understood? Kidnapping me, threatening me, trying to take my daughter away from me because you thought she was a princess. It’s too much to deal with, Volcant. You owe me two gigantic dinners. And a new car.”

  If she was really unforgivably angry with him, she wouldn’t be demanding he take her out to dinner, would she? He smiled at her. Worries that he hadn’t even allowed himself to feel until now faded away. It might take some time, but she would forgive him for this. At least, he hoped she would. For some reason, it was very important to him that she did.

  “I’ll buy you both cars,” he promised.

  Sylvia eyed him. “Do you even know how expensive cars are?”

  Volcant couldn’t help but grin at her. “I have a vault of gold back in Byrelmore; it sells highly here, and I have access to far more wealth, as well. According to your human terms, I’m a billionaire.”

  He enjoyed the way her jaw dropped. He could see the gears churning in her head, but after a moment she snorted and turned away, folding her arms. He couldn’t help but laugh at her disdain, especially after he had seen the gold-lust in her eyes. She was probably one of those women who wanted to be rich, but didn’t want to admit it, thinking it a personal failing.

  “Let’s get back to the city now.” Misty put Cara to her shoulder and glared more deeply at him. “That is, if you can fly us back without murdering us.”

  Volcant sighed. “If it will help, I can see where we are and then you can ride on my back as I walk to the city.”

  Misty wrinkled her nose, but nodded. “That’s probably a good idea. The ride out here was rough.”

  “I’m—”

  “Don’t say you’r
e sorry.” Misty held up a hand. “Just get us home.”

  The walk through the forest was difficult in his dragon’s form. The trees presented a thick barrier, even when he crashed through them. It also left him more tired than he cared to admit. Perhaps he wasn’t back to full strength. It was dark before they got to the outskirts of town and once there, he shifted back to human form. Misty stole him some clothes and they took the bus back to the women’s house.

  The scent of dragon was strong in the house and when they walked in, Hendric sprang from the kitchen table and rushed over. Volcant tensed, not expecting him.

  “Thank the gods!” Hendric embraced him. “When his Majesty told me you were back, I didn’t believe it. But it is you, isn’t it?”

  Volcant pulled away, glaring at him. “No thanks to you. You stopped Vilma from completing the portal and look what happened.”

  Hendric’s brow furrowed. “I didn’t—”

  “Whatever. Where is Indulf?”

  “The king was called back to Byrelmore. He sent me to track you down and bring you back.”

  Why would he send Hendric, of all people? He was only a minor guard in the palace. As Volcant frowned at him, he noticed a brooch sitting on Hendric’s left breast. The seal of the king’s palace guard, but with the red roses crossed through it to indicate that he was the head guard. So Hendric had taken his spot as head of the king’s security?

  “What this?” Volcant pointed at the brooch. “You managed to get yourself promoted in one year?”

  Hendric glanced at the brooch. He wasn’t much younger than Volcant himself and had remained at his level for centuries without showing the desire to climb the ladder. How had he shot to the top so quickly? And when Volcant had disappeared, as well…

  His fires flared. First Hendric was there when the timestream messed up and spat him out a year late with all his memories in a jumble and now Hendric was here, head of the king’s security? There was no way that he could be promoted that quickly.

  This was a trap. He didn’t know what Hendric was playing at, but it had to be a trap.

  “I want to talk to the king right away,” Volcant snarled.

  “The next portal opening won’t be for another two days. You’ve given us all bad frights, Volcant. Why don’t the three of you sit down and tell me what happened?”

  Sylvia moved passed them, grumbling as she went to the fridge. Volcant resisted the urge to grab her and drag her back. She had the right idea, though. He moved to the sink and drank his fill of water; the soothing water cool and sweet on his tongue. When he turned back, he wiped his mouth off and glared at Hendric.

  “Why isn’t the king still here?”

  “He had to go back to the kingdom to figure out his next move. Your shift is all over the human media.” Hendric reached toward him. “Volcant, I know this is a confusing time for you, but you need to tell me everything.”

  Everything. So he could kill all three of them and then pretend like they just disappeared off the face of the earth? Alarms rang in Volcant’s brain. Hendric couldn’t be head of security. Which meant he was here to see if his mission had been successful or if Volcant had in fact found out something about the assassins.

  “Volcant—”

  He swung hard. His fist connected with Hendric’s chin. The force threw him backward into the wall. The other dragon crumpled as Misty and Sylvia both cried out. Volcant seized them both around the waist and ran toward the door, pausing only to grab a set of keys hanging on the wall.

  “Shit!” Sylvia screamed as he pressed the button to show what vehicle he needed to go to. “He’s kidnapping us again!”

  Chapter Nine

  Misty

  “He’s working for the assassins.”

  Misty sighed as she hurriedly buckled up Cara’s car seat while Volcant shouted at Sylvia to drive. The blonde protested, gesturing vaguely to her eyes. So Misty climbed up between the front seats of the minivan and gestured for her to get into the back. Sylvia huffed and sat next to Cara as the door to the house opened again.

  “Volcant!” Hendric shouted.

  “Get us out of here!” Volcant’s voice was pitched higher than normal. He really believed what he was saying.

  Misty put the van into gear and drove off, watching as Hendric ran after them. Whatever he was shouting was lost to the wind, though. Volcant remained stiff, smoke curling from his nostrils, as they slowly left Hendric behind. Her hands tightened on the wheel. Apparently, he wasn’t as recovered as they thought. His mind was still on assassins.

  “I’m not kidnapping you.” Volcant twisted in his seat and glared at Sylvia. “Listen. He was a low-level guard when I left, and he was there when the portal I came through messed up. I was coming through to find evidence of the assassins, to find them and bring them to justice. He must have known I’d catch him… and now, when he realized that I was coming back…”

  He pinched the bridge of his nose. Misty considered him for a moment before she nodded. Hendric hadn’t been around the house before. This might be his paranoia rearing its head again, but why take the risk? She took a left and headed for the opposite side of town. Something had happened to him. Whether an accident or something malicious, it didn’t really matter.

  “You are kidnapping us,” Sylvia started, but Misty interrupted.

  “No, he’s not. He’s going to take us to one of those fancy hotels that have two bedrooms and a sitting room area and we’re going to live in luxury for a couple days on his dime.” She glanced at Volcant to make sure this was acceptable, and he nodded. “And then we’ll get back to the house to see if the portal really does open up.”

  Sylvia was quiet for a moment. Then she spoke, her voice wavering. “If that man was there to hurt us… what about Penny and Katrina? What about Anna? Do you think he’d hurt them?”

  Volcant answered. “Indulf will have taken Anna back to Byrelmore.”

  “Penny was leaving yesterday to visit her sister,” Misty added. “She probably went, right?”

  “I suppose...” Sylvia didn’t sound convinced. “And Katrina?”

  “They don’t want to hurt her. Otherwise, she’d be dead already.”

  Misty gave him a startled look, but he didn’t explain further. They remained quiet as she drove them to a hotel across town. Once there, Misty asked Sylvia to watch Cara while she talked to Volcant privately. Then she seized his hand and dragged him into one of the bedrooms and shut the door. When she turned back to him, she was struck by how handsome he was. It seemed like every time she looked at him, she was blown away by his muscular figure and those deep, soulful eyes. He needed a shave and his expression was distressed.

  “A lot coming at you all at once, huh?” she asked slowly.

  Volcant snorted and nodded. There was a look in his eyes that was almost haunted as he ran his hands over his hair. “I don’t know if I can even trust myself. This is all… all too much. My brain can’t handle it.”

  Misty came to his side and sat on the bed next to him. She chewed her lip as she considered. It was a rather convoluted situation. Time travel, someone who might be an ally or an enemy, friends who may or may not be in danger. Tears suddenly started to burn her eyes, even as she fought them. All this and she still hadn’t told him that Cara was his daughter.

  Did she dare tell him now? He needed to know, there was no doubt about that, but was this the right time? Or was it just going to get even more complex if she did? Maybe it would just be better to wait, to get the current situation calmed down before she added even more complications to it. Volcant had been missing for a year. According to his memories, it had only been a few days since they slept together. To spring a three-month-old daughter on him now, on top of everything else, would just be cruel.

  “I just wish I could turn off my brain for a bit,” Misty sighed. “Maybe wake up to find it all a dream?”

  Volcant nodded distractedly. “I know what you mean. I never should have shifted in public. This is going to change ev
erything. It’s put Byrelmore in a bad spot. Gods! If my head had been working. But I kidnapped you, threatened you and...” He turned to her. “And it was only because you were there, the only face in my mind. I should have known you weren’t an assassin, but everything got muddled up and—”

  “Stop.”

  “I—”

  He wasn’t going to shut up. Misty could think of only one thing to make him stop his circle of self-doubt. She cupped his face in her hands and kissed him. That silenced him, alright. His eyes widened briefly, then fluttered shut as he leaned into the kiss. His hands caught Misty around the waist and he pulled her closer. Heat flared up under her skin, dancing with the force of a raging forest fire. Volcant pulled her into his lap and she straddled him, grinding herself softly against him.

  Volcant broke the kiss to move to her neck. She shivered, clutching him tighter. There was no need for words as she started to tug his shirt up, her fingers tracing over the strong muscles of his back. His skin left a scorching tingle in her fingertips and his lips made the skin on her neck tighten. Something pulled deep inside of her, her core tightening with desire.

  A moan left her throat as Volcant pushed a hand between her legs. He palmed her through her jeans, the pressure enough to set her on edge, but not enough to do much else. Her head fell back, his mouth moving down her throat now. His free hand tugged at her shirt and so, still grinding against both his lap and his hand, she pulled back to yank it over her head.

  Her nipples were so overly sensitive that they ached behind the fabric of her bra. Volcant buried his face between her breasts, his tongue sliding over the cup of first one and then the other. It made her shiver as she continued to grind. Desperate need filled her, her core aching with emptiness. Misty pushed him back, pressing her hands to his shoulders as she urged him to lie down.