Chapter Three
Blake caught Emily before she collapsed. He slipped an arm behind her knees and lifted her. Her aunt gasped.
She trembled in his arms, her head rolling back as she fainted.
“Should we call for an ambulance?” Margaret took hold of Emily’s hand. “Reese?”
He scanned the faces in the dining hall. He nodded and two of his men came towards him. “Those are a luxury here on the island, but no fear. My staff is trained to see to her care. I could not live with myself if anything were to happen to my fiu.”
“I did not realize your niece was the lady of the manor,” Mr. Haralamb said to Margaret.
Blake looked down at Emily, he held her closer in his arms, an overwhelming sense of protection swept through him, and for more than the egg she carried. To distract from Mr. Haralamb’s remark, Blake said, “It is an honor to have Mrs. Moldvan and her art displayed here tonight.”
“Yes. Very much so,” Mr. Haralamb said.
“Thank you,” Margaret muttered. She held onto Emily’s hand and when Blake turned to take her out of the dining hall she refused to let go.
Many of the guests watched them; the silence in the room deafening. “We have exhausted her, my poor dear. Please continue.”
His gaze bore first to Margaret’s hand clutching her niece’s hand then to her ashen face. “I suggest you let go,” he said quietly.
Margaret bit her lip.
She gave Emily’s hand a squeeze. “If you…”
“She’s in the best care, assured. You can see her later, after she’s rested.” Blake spotted Garth and Sigurd following him. “Now if you’ll excuse me.” He didn’t wait for a reply. He stalked out of the dining hall. His arms strained beneath his suit jacket as he carried her up the stairs. He felt Margaret’s cold glare freezing into his back with each step.
At the top of the stairs, Sigurd turned and held out his arms.
“No, I’ve got her. Get Naomi and meet me in my chambers.”
Sigurd rushed ahead turning the knob at the end of the corridor as he went. Blake kicked the door open and strolled inside his room. He laid Emily on his four-poster bed. Her flesh burned. She moaned as he pushed up her dress.
His hands drifted across the large opaque egg nestled between her heart and her womb. “Always rushing ahead. Never thinking.”
Her long brown hair spilled across the pillow. She opened her eyes, glazed with her misery. He reached down and unclasped the second clip between her legs, heard her sharp intake of breath, and he leaned in kissing the spot where he’d pinched her tender skin beneath the clip.
The dragon inside him roared at the familiarity of her heat. He rubbed his cheek against the inside of her thigh. So hot, he inhaled her scent, branding it in his memory.
As much as he yearned to taste the sweetness he inhaled, he had to ensure the safety of his fiu.
There would be time later, he promised himself, if she survived this mysterious fever burning inside her.
Gently, he turned her on her side. He sucked in a deep breath, all the heat in his body ignited in his groin. It didn’t help that he’d been without a mate since she left him. Only a thin layer of triangular lace protected her.
He shifted his focus on the buckles against her back. Careful not to touch her this time, he unclasped the harness.
He eased her flat on her back again and found her blinking to regain consciousness.
Outside his chamber, he heard footsteps running.
“Hurry.” Her eyes burned and her cheeks flushed red.
“If only you would have been saying that earlier.” He laughed at her murderous expression. If not for the welfare of his fiu, he may have left her lay like this longer.
“I’d rather die.”
“There are worst things, assured.” Blake grabbed the egg and slowly lifted it. Emily screamed. She grabbed the egg pulling it back against her.
“Stop!”
Blake’s head whipped around. Naomi rushed into the room. She pressed in beside him, laying her hands on the egg.
Emily sobbed.
Gods, she was beautiful.
“Back away.” Naomi leaned her shoulder into him.
Blake moved to the head of the bed beside Emily. Naomi ran her hands over the egg, her brow creased, deepening.
Emily continued to sob. She turned her head away from him.
“I know dear one. I know.” Naomi’s voice soothed.
Blake had a big ache inside him that both irritated him and surprised him. He had wanted no one like this since he had had Emily.
Her body trembled as Naomi tried to roll the egg off to one side of her.
“Hold her still,” Naomi said.
Blake reached over, crossing Emily’s arms over her breast and held them there. Emily moaned, her eyes rolling back into her head. Her body drenched with sweat.
Naomi hissed and Blake’s gaze flew to the dragoness.
Her violet eyes stared at the egg, their slits narrowed. “What have you done?”