CHAPTER 25
~ Recovery and Reconnection ~
“Please tell me that you are here to set me free. I’ve been stuck in this bed for three days,” Callie says, sounding more than a bit pissed off as she glares up at her shifter mate. Nyle has been the more rigid and steadfast of her two mates, always treating Callie as though she is as fragile as spun glass and at risk of breaking at any moment. Despite the fact that she understands why he feels that way, she’s done with being treated like she might shatter under any pressure.
“After being unconscious for four days,” Nyle inserts doggedly. “You woke up three days ago after nearly dying in childbirth and then lying virtually comatose for four, full, days.” His dominant and protective wolf spirit has been snarling for control ever since the delivery of his mate’s child. Because of that, Nyle has been hovering at her side to protect her. Hoping to placate his feisty female, he squeezes her hand and murmurs platitudes about not rushing her recovery.
Callie knows he means well, but she’s having a very hard time listening to him because she has been picking up that Nyle still expects the baby to shift again and attack. She worries jealousy or something like that emotion might be affecting Nyle’s reactions. The mother in Callie totally dismisses the very idea that Clara poses a threat as ludicrous. Especially as she watches Kazar croon the babe to sleep in a nearby rocking chair.
Morna simply chuckles and sits down on the edge of the bed to take Callie’s hand into her own. “Look, I was simply indulging Nyle’s overprotective instincts when I suggested bedrest. I see no reason that you cannot return to your own home to finish your recovery and bond with your new child and mates.” She casts meaningful glances at the two males in the room. “Callie will not have her full powers until the three of you fully embrace your mating.” The trio knows the Spell Weaver is attempting to delicately tell them that they must consummate their mating to enjoy the full benefit of the bond.
Callie wonders if their connection is sufficient to allow them to take the final step to complete their mating bond. The drama of Clara’s birth has strained their newly forged relationship already, and three tense days of enforced bedrest have pushed Callie nearly to the end of her ability to endure gracefully. She tears her adoring gaze from the baby in Kazar’s arms to cast a wary glance at Nyle. Her anger and sense of… betrayal flare up as she recalls his reaction when she awoke after delivering the baby.
~*~*~*~*~
She stirs restlessly as she writhes free of the shackles of lethargy and bone deep weakness. Memories of the claiming bites and the subsequent transformations slowly trickle into Callie’s thoughts until it all comes back in a flood of images and emotions, leaving her feeling battered under the onslaught.
Despite the intense feebleness plaguing her body, she struggles to sit up. “My baby… Wh…” She licks her dry, chapped lips and swallows convulsively in an attempt to work up enough moisture in her mouth to speak. “Where’s my baby?” Callie hates how weak and timid her question comes out, but she’s desperate to learn if the baby is well.
“Shhhhh, aingeal míne.” The soothing touch of her mate does little to calm her as she manages to sit up with Nyle’s assistance. A quick glance at her surroundings reveal she is once again in Kazar and Nyle’s room at the MC, but there is no sign of Kazar or her child. “The baby? Kazar?” Her voice is as tremulous and as weak as her body.
“Easy, Callie. There were complications during the birth, but Kazar is with your spawn in another room…” The way Nyle says complications lets Callie know that whatever happened was bad… really bad.
Sounds of an infant crying in another room have Callie attempting to rise from the bed so that she can answer the cry. “Well, fuck me sideways! Woman, do be still! Will ya?” Nyle restrains her gently, but Callie feels overwhelmed by his underlying anger until she begins to respond in kind. “Callie, you are not strong enough to be chasing after your wailing spawn. She damn near kilt you!”
Before Callie can lash out angrily at Nyle, Morna enters the room with the crying baby in her arms. “Ah, thank heavens you are awake. This little girl has suddenly decided not to take her bottle even though she is very, very hungry.” The lovely Spell Weaver is smiling beatifically, but Callie only has eyes for her baby.
Without uttering a word, Callie opens her arms for her child and quickly settles the overwrought newborn against her naked bosom, where the baby quickly finds a nipple to latch on. The new mother is enthralled as she watches her child feed at her engorged breast. Callie lovingly traces the rounded contours of the baby’s face as mother and daughter gaze into each other’s eyes. She is a bit surprised to note that the baby seems older and more alert than she expected of a newborn, but those thoughts fade as a sense of euphoria and connection with the child in her arms settles into her senses and drives thoughts of anything but the miracle of the precious child from her mind.
Soon, the child is drifting off to sleep, and that signals it is time for Callie to burp the baby and switch breasts. Looking up with tears of pure joy in her eyes, Callie is disappointed to find that only Morna remains in the room with her and the baby. Her mates did not stick around to share in the joy of the moment. A painfully empty chasm opens inside of Callie at this realization, and she swallows the disillusionment that threatens to ruin such a precious moment.
Something closely akin to pity is shining in Morna’s eyes when Callie meets her gaze. “It will be okay, Callie. The birth was very difficult. Traumatic for everyone. We nearly lost you, and I think Nyle and Kazar are running scared right now.”
Hurt and disappointment coil tightly in Callie’s belly but she simply nods and cuddles her baby. She couldn’t speak right now if she had to. “Easy, girl,” Morna says soothingly. “You probably do not recall everything that happened. The baby shifted during the birth and was using teeth and claws to try to free herself from your womb. It was, quite frankly, a horrific ordeal. Do not judge your males too harshly for needing a bit of distance from the baby right now. Once they realize the child poses no further threat to you, they will, hopefully, get their shit together.”
Callie can only shake her head in disbelief. “How can anyone see this perfect little baby as a threat?”
Morna chuckles because it is obvious that Callie has already fully bonded to her baby. But the Spell Weaver knows she must be honest with her new friend and patient. “Anyone who witnessed you nearly bleed to death because this little one was frantic to be born.” She sits on the bed beside the new mother and child. “She looks perfectly normal now, but you didn’t see her when she clawed her way from your body four days ago. You did not witness how close we came to losing you.”
“Four days?” Callie squeaks.
With a grim nod, Morna informs; “As I said, we nearly lost you. It was touch and go for a while.” The Spell Weaver shakes her head and Callie can see the toll the birth took on this compassionate healer. “If Lucian had not been here to put your body back together, you might not have survived long enough for your body to begin to heal itself. Even with all of his surgical skill, it took healing magick from two Spell Weavers and Blood to pull you both through.”
“Both?”
Morna reaches out to stroke the baby’s face. “This wee one was very frail once she shifted back to her human form.” The healer shrugs. “I suspect something was going wrong and she wasn’t going to survive the birth. I think that is why she shifted in the first place.”
“But she’s okay now?” Callie demands as she places the babe on her shoulder to burp.
“Seems to be. She’s a bit weak, but on the mend.” The Spell Weaver smiles gently. “Hybrid children are a hearty lot, Callie. Never fear. Your babe will be fine. Just focus on getting yourself well, and let your mates care for the baby until you are stronger.”
Before Morna can say any more, Nyle and Kazar enter their room as though summoned by the healer’s words. Callie can see that her recent near death experience exacted a hefty toll on them both. Both males appear a bit gaunt and exhausted, and Callie doesn’t doubt for a moment that worry over her wellbeing is the cause. Kazar quickly moves to sit beside her but Nyle hesitates by the door. The vampire kisses her tenderly and strokes the baby’s face hesitantly once Callie positions her at the other breast to finish feeding.
“I cannot tell you how grateful I am to all the powers that be to see you awake and feeding our child.”
Nyle snorts from the doorway. “That thing tried to kill her!”
“Thing?” Callie whispers brokenly.
He can see that his words have hurt his mate deeply and he instantly regrets that. Taking quick strides, he comes to kneel upon the bed at the other side of his mate to cup her face tenderly. “I’m sorry. I’m still furious and terrified after seeing you nearly die because… because…”
“Morna told me,” Callie whispers. “But you cannot blame an innocent child for acting on instinct when her life was in danger.”
“Aye, aingeal míne, my mind knows that, but my heart and the wolf are struggling.” Callie can see the genuine pain in her mate’s gaze. When she looks to Kazar, she realizes he is experiencing a similar, if lesser, struggle. “This babe shifted into a winged, clawed, and fanged beastie and damn near killed you. No one has dealt with a dragon bearing offspring in eons. This is new territory for us all. Can you give us a bit of time to accept that you are both going to be okay?”
Callie can only shrug. “I just don’t understand why you would blame an innocent baby…”
~*~*~*~*~
Callie watches Kazar tenderly care for baby Clara. There is no doubt in her mind, the male was born to be a father. He’s a natural. And yet, she feels as though he is holding back in bonding with the newborn. Perhaps, he is simply making an effort to not be overly demonstrative of his affections for the child in front of Nyle? She looks over to see Nyle leaning against the doorframe, watching the scene unfold. His body is obviously tense and ready to spring into action.
Can my mates really believe my tiny baby Clara is a threat to me?
In the three days since waking up, Callie has gladly capitalized on every opportunity to hold and care for her baby. Her joy at finally becoming a mother is indescribable. Sadly, that happiness has been dampened a bit by her males and their decidedly lukewarm connection to the child. She frequently feels like she is being left out of some silent communication between Nyle and Kazar whenever the new family occupies the same room, leaving her to wonder if they will ever be a true triad. She doesn’t doubt Nyle and Kazar care for her, and she knows that their hesitancy to fully accept the baby is because of their protective natures, but she wonders if they can really overcome this hurdle.
Despite her need to care for her infant, Nyle and Kazar have both insisted on doing much of the baby’s care to prevent Callie from overexerting herself. In those moments, both males have come a long way from their initial distrust of the child. Callie can tell that the wonder of new life and the innate innocence of the baby girl are working on the hearts of her males, and yet, she still does not feel as though their triad is as it should be.
When these dismal thoughts become too much for Callie, she tosses the covers from her body and declares; “Well, I’m getting out of this room one way or another,” Callie asserts casually, as though it is perfectly normal to be eager to get out of this room. And to Callie’s way of thinking it is normal, in fact, past due. She looks between her two males and huffs her irritation. Before Callie can do much more than scoot to the edge of the bed, there’s a quick knock on the door before it opens to reveal Susie.
“Hey, hey! There’s the new Mommy!” the vivacious blond casts an accusing glare at Callie’s mates and sentinel consorts when Nyle growls quietly at her “invasion” of their space. “Get over it, Wolfie!” Susie snips with a flip of her long blond hair over her shoulder. “I know you are tense and worried after the birth and the whole coma thing, but Callie needs to get out of that bed! Heavens knows she’s been cooped up in this room with the pair of you growly, overprotective males long enough.”
“Oh, hell no,” Nyle barks. “No way is Callie getting out of my sight!” The wolf shifter lunges forward as though to stand between the babe in Kazar’s arms and Callie, who is now perched on the edge of their bed. “What if the child shifts again? Who will protect our mate from that thing?”
“Thing?” Callie snarls in a low and deadly tone. Her eyes instantly flash crimson in her fury. The spirit of the Dragon Queen rising to the fore at this slight against her offspring. “You dare refer to my child as a thing once again?” The entire room thrums with the power radiating from Callie’s human form. Nyle and Kazar recognize it as the same aura Callie radiated when in her battle form, but Susie simply appears to be captivated by the change in Callie’s demeanor.
Kazar is wise enough to know that Nyle’s fear for Callie is about to drive an irreparable wedge between two of his mates if he does not intervene. “Of course, Nyle did not mean to call our daughter a thing, amica mea.” He moves to stand before Callie and places baby Clara in her arms. “But darling, you did not see the baby in her beast form, as we did. You did not see the damage this wee one inflicted upon your body as she struggled to be born. Nor did you bedside vigil for four days while your mate languished in a coma.”
Kazar’s sensible words penetrate Callie’s hyperactive motherly instincts which demand the child be protected from all threats. After a moment, she relents a bit and nods. “I understand. Or at least, I think that I do. But I also know you both heard Morna say that Clara was in distress, and shifting into her beast form was purely instinctual… a desperate act of survival, not an act of aggression or malice. My child does not possess a desire to hurt me or anyone.”
Nyle extends his hands to Callie as though in entreaty, begging her to understand. “Aye, Lách Máthar…” Callie almost smiles at Nyle calling her lovely mother, but she can’t let sweet words sway her. She must fight for her child and ultimately, their mating. “I do na doubt the babe acted on instinct alone, but my wolf is fraught about your safety… Man and beast alike need to protect you from any threat,” Nyle implores beseechingly. “Surely, you can see that is true?”
Reluctantly, Callie nods but she isn’t ready to accept her beautiful baby girl could pose a threat to anyone, much less her own mother. “Maybe. But Nyle, you have to realize how much it hurts me to see you so on guard against our daughter?” She swallows hard and looks uncertain for a moment. “Before Clara was born, you said you wanted to be a father to her.” She smiles at the thought, but sobers instantly to demand; “Were those just sweet words meant to seduce me, or did you mean them?”
The wolf shifter moves to kneel before his mate and reaches up to cup her beloved face between his hands. “Callie, I’d never lie to you. I meant it when I said I will be father to the babe.” He sighs as though feeling an immense weight upon his chest. “Aingeal míne, I’d sooner cut off one of my own limbs than ever to hurt you, but I can’t help but to fear leaving you alone with the wee babaí.” He glances over at the child in Kazar’s arms. “My mind knows Clara is just a babe but my wolf’s protective instincts are going crazy after you nearly died.” He traces the contours of her bottom lip with his thumb before dropping his hands to rest upon her bent knees. “You did not see her shifted form. You did not see the damage she did to your body…”
Pure terror and nearly unfathomable agony radiates from the wolf’s gaze as he implores his mate to understand his concerns for her wellbeing. Callie allows his emotions to wash over her and she tries to see the situation from his point of view. After a moment, she cannot help but soften her heart to this male who only wants to love her and protect her for all of her days. With a gentle smile upon her lips, she reaches up to cup his face tenderly between her hands. “No, Nyle, I did not see Clara’s dragon form, and I did not see the injuries she inflicted while trying to survive. But I am entirely confident Clara poses no risk to me or anyone else.”
She turns her head to gaze lovingly upon her baby in her other mate’s arms. “Can you not see it? The truth is right before your very eyes… she’s just a baby. My baby. And I am connected to her,” Callie smacks her chest, “…right here, and here.” She reaches up to tap her temple. I can sense her heart, her needs, and her feelings. Heck, Nyle, I can practically read the child’s mind, that’s how tightly we are bonded. Clara. Is. Not. Dangerous.”
She smiles genuinely at her younger mate. “Nyle, if this triad is going to work, you are going to have to learn to trust me. To trust in my ability to discern the truth. As I told you both before the claiming and transformation in our battle forms, there will be many times when it will be your duty to simply remain at my side and trust in my judgement.”
Kazar moves to sit beside Callie on the bed and offers the peacefully sleeping Clara to Callie to hold for her own comfort. But Callie shakes her head and pats the bed on her other side while grinning at Nyle. “Sit here, my wolf, and hold our child. Make your beast open his instincts and his heart to the child. Spend some time with her and bond.” Her smile falters a bit. “If this triad is going to work, I must know that my mates and consort sentinels will always protect me and my children.”
Nyle willingly takes the child into his arms, and holds her a bit stiffly at first. But the longer he watches her angelic sleeping face, the more the wolf and man alike relent. Surely, a mighty dragon such as the one his mate will be transformed into can protect herself against such a wee lil monster? Instantly, he feels shame for thinking of the innocent babaí as a monster. Perhaps, that is where he must begin? His own inner dialogue. He realizes he must always refer to the child positively, even in his thoughts, if he is ever to come to accept her fully.
After several moments, his tense body relaxes and he tenderly tucks the baby’s tiny body against his own, as though to protect her from any threats. Soon, he is humming a tune that shifter mothers in his ancient clan have long sang to their wee babies since the days they first developed language and song. He closes his eyes, and relaxes into the moment. When disjointed images and primitive feelings begin to flit through his consciousness, he instantly realizes they are coming from the child in his arms. Each time Callie’s lovely face flits through his mind, he is overwhelmed with feelings of adoration, love, comfort, and a deep sense of safety. It doesn’t take a genius to realize that is exactly how Clara sees her mother. To the wee babe in his arms, Callie is the source of all comfort and joy. When images of Kazar’s handsome face and his own flash through his mind, he realizes the baby sees them in a similar light. This wee one recognizes that Callie’s mates are meant to be her fathers, her providers and protectors. His snarly wolf spirit rises to the fore, intent upon protecting the wee child in his arms.
In that moment, Clara’s brilliant green eyes pop open and she takes in Nyle’s face above her. A tiny smile curls her lips and the word, Daidí, flashes through his mind. “Aye, iníon milis, I am your Daidí. Now and forever.”
“Did you just call her your sweet daughter?” Callie asks with tears trailing down her face.
“Aye, I did indeed,” Nyle says in a tone gruff with emotion. “The wolf and I have allowed our fear for you to cloud our judgement, and we promise to try to do better.” He then relates the connection he just experienced and what he saw in Clara’s mind. He tears his gaze away from the enthralling visage of the infant in his arms to look at his female mate, and then into the approving gaze of his male mate. “I will do better. I make this vow to my mates, I will strive to keep my heart open at all times, so that I will never again bring pain to one of my mates in my stubbornness.”
Nyle chuckles and looks back to the baby. “Clara Milis Boyd, daughter of Callie Boyd - Ruathar Bànrigh, the high dragon queen, is now and forever my child, my beloved daughter. I vow to protect her with every bit of strength in my body from this day forward.” He leans down to plant a sweet kiss upon the brow of the baby before claiming first Callie’s and then Kazar’s lips for a brief, but impassioned kiss. When the baby giggles sweetly in his arms, all eyes in the room turn to the baby.
“Wow! Should a week old infant be able to laugh like that?” Susie whispers her question from the chair beside the bed. Callie smiles because she is certain that her males also forgot the club girl was still in their room.
Kazar lazily loops an arm over Callie’s shoulder and smiles over at Susie. “Why not? Our Clara may have shifted into a tiny dragonling when she was born, but she was conceived as a human and vampire hybrid. Those children always mature at an incredibly accelerated rate. Most reach biological adulthood by their seventh or eighth year, and always by their tenth year.”
“Oh. My. Gosh. Talk about growing pains,” Susie says sympathetically. “Adolescence is tough enough after having thirteen or so years to grow into your own skin, I can only imagine what a struggle it must be to experience the last push into adulthood at an accelerated rate.”
“Aye,” Nyle agrees as he tickles the baby’s chin and makes silly faces for her. “But I’ve seen how the support of strong, loving parents, and a solid community behind the family can help these hybrid children flourish and become admirable adults.” He looks up at the club girl and asks; “Lass, have ya not met Jackson Summers or any of his cousins? I know that some of them frequent parties held by the MC.”
Susie blushes because she has indeed met Jackson Summers, the oldest son of Breena and Damian Summers, the leaders of the Unified Vampiric Coalition. In fact, Jackson is very popular among the club girls and hang arounds for his generous, flirty nature, and sexual prowess. Nyle chuckles and says; “I’ve only met the lad a few times over the years when I would travel to Airendell, but I have heard talk among our MC Brethren about his visits to the strip club downstairs.”
“Uh yeah, I know Jackson,” Susie admits, almost shyly. “Are you trying to tell me that Jackson is one of these hybrids? Did he mature… uh rapidly?”
“Indeed, girlie. Chronologically, Jackson is just a young sprout, a punk kid.” The Celtic shifter laughs when the vivacious club girl blanches. “But physically, emotionally, and mentally, he is a man full grown,” he hurries to assure the girl and wonders if she were, indeed one of the club girls who had partied with the Summers kid in the past. Learning that a former lover could technically be a child would be unsettling, to say the least.
“It is the norm for human/vampire hybrids,” Kazar meets the eyes of first Susie and then Callie. “I’ve always thought it was nature’s way of making sure these beings matured fast enough to protect themselves. As you are both somewhat aware, the world of paranormals can be a very dangerous place in which to live.” He blanches when he realizes what he just foolishly said to his precious mate. Callie, of all people, has firsthand knowledge of how dangerous the supernatural world can be.
Callie pats Kazar’s knee comfortingly to assure him that his remark doesn’t trouble her. “Well, let’s all go down to the common room. Shall we? I think the members of the MC deserve to meet Clara and see for themselves that I am fine.” She giggles and teases her mates. “I’ve no doubt that the two of you have been as cross as hibernating bears while I have recovered.”
“Man, that’s an understatement,” Susie quips with a mischievous gleam in her eyes. In that moment, Callie feels a bond forge between herself and the outgoing young woman. The connection seems somehow… vital, and Callie resolves to make an effort to forge a strong friendship with this young human woman.
And just when did I start thinking of humans as different from myself? Callie wonders, and nearly jumps out of her skin when that oddly familiar voice speaks from the depths of her being. “Since the moment you began to join with me, little one. You are no longer a mere human. You are the first of the reawakened Dragon Queens. And soon, if you complete your mating bond to these foolish males and wholly embrace your new role, you will be able to call upon me in times of danger.” The massive behemoth from her vision of Dysnomia’s attack flits through Callie’s mind and she realizes it is the soul of the ancient Dragon speaking to her. Before she can get lost in her amazement over harboring such an ancient soul within her own soul, the Dragon speaks again. “Watch over Susie Williams. She is your kindred spirit, and she will need your love and guidance.” And with that weighty pronouncement, the presence of the Dragon simply disappears and Callie is left with a myriad of questions she would like to ask the Dragon. But she knows she must practice patience and trust in her Dragon to be there for her when she might need her.
Callie longs for a time when her Dragon never leaves her, but she’s not sure if that is how the business of being a Dragon Queen will work or not. Perhaps the Dragon will only come forth in times of danger? But that idea just doesn’t seem right. No, she suspects that once her mating bond to Kazar and Nyle is secure and fully formed, the Dragon will become a fully integrated part of her… perhaps of all three of them? With that possibility in mind, Callie tells her mates; “And after we show the MC Brethren that Clara and I are fine, I want to go to our home. I want to spend time as a family and build our bond.” She shudders when she thinks of Dysnomia and the threat the dark goddess underling poses. “We need that connection if we are going to be ready for whatever lies ahead.”