Chapter Five – Kim

The drive back to Fiona and Harlan’s house was short. Yet to Kim it felt like an eternity as she went over and over what she was going to say to Jay. How exactly did she plan to tell him he had a child?

Pulling her phone from her pocket, she texted Fiona. It was only fair to warn her that they were nearly back at the house. Kim rubbed her forehead as she waited for a reply. What if Fiona asked them to leave?

The Remington family had been happy to take in Archie, and then Kim. How would they feel about a third person invading their house, especially since Sapphi was due back any day now? Fiona and Harlan’s adopted daughter had gone to visit Alex, her newfound mate’s parents somewhere in the Himalayas. With Sapphi and Alex’s return, and there was a rumor his parents may fly over for a visit, too, the house would be bursting at the seams.

“Are you okay?” Jay asked.

Kim looked up with a guilty start. “Yes. I was just thinking.”

“About me?” Jay tried to raise a cute smile, but his pale skin and dark shadows under his eyes took all humor from it. He looked worn out.

“About where we’re going to live. I’ve been staying at Fiona’s house since I arrived here.” Kim snuggled up to Jay.

“As long as we’re together, I don’t care if we live in a cave,” he said gently.

I don’t think our baby will appreciate that, she wanted to say, but kept her mouth shut. Soon all would be revealed and when Jay saw baby Archie, he wouldn’t be able to stop himself from falling in love with his son.

“Harlan has a couple of houses in Bear Creek,” Kit said. “Sorry, it was difficult not to overhear.”

“Harlan?” Jay asked, glancing at Kim with a look he’d never worn before. Jealousy. Was it possible Jay didn’t trust her?

“He’s Fiona’s mate. Another dragon,” Kim informed Jay.

“How many dragons are there?” Jay asked, his jealousy swept aside by something else. Concern. She glimpsed the man she’d fallen in love with, the man Jay had been before he’d left.

“Altogether?” Kim asked, and mentally counted them. It was a strange question, but the answer was hardly a secret. “Seven. Or six, since Harlan and Fiona have a young child who can’t yet shift.”

A young child. Just like us. Kim turned her face away and looked out of the window. They had dropped down from the mountain close to Bear Bluff, then taken the road that hugged the lower slopes, driving toward Bear Creek. Instead of going to town, Avery took a left turn and now they were climbing the steep road that led to the house where their son was. No doubt, Archie was playing with his best friend, Harlan Jr., or enjoying his favorite snack of mashed up bananas and yogurt.

“I never believed in dragons.” Jay’s voice sounded distant.

“Most shifters don’t. Fiona thought she was the last. Harlan thought he was the last… They all lived with a common misconception. Although I think it all came about because they became so secretive. We all know the story of St. George and the dragon. Myth or make-believe, there would come a time when fire-breathing beasts ruling the skies was not going to sit well with the human race.”

“No, it wouldn’t.” Jay peered through the window of the truck as they approached the house. Avery swung the truck around in a large circle and stopped. “This is where you’ve been living?”

“Yes.” Kim opened the truck door and got out, Jay followed, while the others stayed inside. “Aren’t you coming in?”

“No, Jay needs rest. Say hello to everyone for us,” Jacob said. “We’ll come by tomorrow.”

“Thanks.” Jay sounded genuine, his earlier hostility gone. “For everything.”

“Don’t mention it, you’re one of us now, Jay,” Avery said from inside the truck. “Kim already knows that.”

“We need to catch up, Avery. When we’re settled,” Jay said, lifting his good arm to wave at them as the truck inched forward.

“We do. But take some time to rest first.” Avery called to Kim, “I’m beyond happy to see you reunited.”

“Me, too,” Kim agreed. So why did she feel so nervous? Because soon her secret would be out in the open and she would know Jay’s reaction. For better or worse.

“I’ll visit tomorrow to check your wound,” Kit called from inside the truck. “But if you need me before that, Fiona has my number.”

“I’m sure I’ll be fine.” Jay nodded, and Avery gave one last wave before she drove away, leaving Kim and Jay alone.

“Are you sure you’re fine?” Kim asked.

“Nothing a long nap wouldn’t cure.” Jay slung his good arm around her shoulder and pulled her close. “Alone at last.” He breathed in her scent. “You have no idea how much I have missed you. Or how sorry I am.”

“Maybe I’m sorry, too.” Kim frowned. “Not about being with you.” She sighed. “Jay, there’s something you need to know.”

His arm rested on her shoulders and his eyes searched hers. “Whatever it is, you can tell me. There’s nothing I can’t forgive. Nothing.” His voice, hoarse as he spoke, broke with his unspoken emotion. “You must have thought I was dead, or worse.”

“No.” She looked down at the ground, examining each grain of dirt as she fought back tears. “I never thought that. I always knew you would come back to us.” Kim winced at her words.

“You. I came back to you. Nothing else matters in this world,” Jay’s savage voice ignited her need for him. She recalled the times he’d sworn his undying love to her as he worshiped her body with his. But that was then and this was now. And now was where they lived.

“There might be one more thing that matters.” Kim lifted her head and looked into his eyes. “You have to believe I thought I was doing what was best for you. For us. I know how much clearing your father’s name meant to you. If I hadn’t let you go, it would have eaten you up inside.”

“Finding the people responsible for my parents’ death was about them and you.” He let out a short, sharp breath and then winced and raised his hand to his shoulder.

“I know you did it to protect me.” Kim teetered on the edge of admitting they had a child, a child she’d concealed from Jay.

“I had to keep you safe.” He rested his forehead against hers. “I love you. We might have been apart for months, but I never stopped thinking of you. I never stopped loving you, and I swear there has been no one else in my bed.” He took a deep, shuddering breath. “But if you found someone else, I would understand.”

Kim cupped his face in her hands and lifted his head so he had to face her, he had to look into her eyes. “No. It’s nothing like that.”

“I shouldn’t expect you to just wait for me, with no word…”

“Jay. Shh.” She placed a finger to his lips. “I would have waited for you until the last breath left my body. But there’s something else. Something I didn’t tell you.” Would the love in his eyes die when he found out the truth? “When you said you were leaving…I was pregnant.”

His head snapped back, his body followed and he took a step back from her. “Pregnant.”

Kim fought to keep her voice steady as she nodded. “Yes. I’d only just found out for sure when you told me you had a lead and needed to pursue it. You said that…I’m sorry.”

“Did…” Jay’s face crumpled, but he found the strength to ask her, “Did you keep it?”

“Of course I did.” She gave him a crooked smile. “He was made with love, part you and part me.”

“He.” Jay swallowed and let out a sharp breath. “I had no idea.” He closed the space between them, pulling her back into his arms, all her fears evaporating as he kissed her lips with passion. The heat in his body scorching her skin. “We have a child.”

“We do.” She smiled, tears streaming down her face. “Do you want to meet him?”

“He’s here?” Jay turned to look at the house, his hand wrapped around hers as if he never intended to let her go again.

“Yes. Fiona offered to look after him this afternoon so I could have some time to myself.” Kim took a step toward the house, where their son was waiting, oblivious to the momentous occasion about to unfold. “He will love you. And I hope you will love him.”

“I already do.” Jay followed her to the house, but before he mounted the steps to the porch, he stopped. “What’s his name?”

“Archibald Jayden Goren,” Kim said apologetically. “I gave him my surname because I didn’t know if it was safe.”

Jay shook his head as if it didn’t matter. “You named him after my father.”

“I thought it was what you would have wanted. If you were there. I spent so many nights lying in bed, imagining those conversations.” Kim looked toward the door. “He looks like you.”

“Kim, before we go inside, there’s something I want to ask you.” With a grunt, he bent his knee and lowered himself awkwardly to the ground. “I should have asked you before I left. It was selfish of me. This whole thing has been unfair on you and…my son.”

“Don’t ever say that. You did what you had to do, and I’m proud of you.” Kim’s words tumbled out of her mouth. Was he going to propose? Why else would he be down on one knee? “So don’t think you have to do this out of guilt.”

“Guilt? No. Never.” He kissed the back of her hand, and then looked up into her face, which was turning pink, the heat creeping from her neck across her cheeks. “Kim, will you do me the greatest honor and be my wife?”

“Yes.” She fell to her knees and flung her arms around his neck. “Sorry, so sorry.” She pulled back as the breath hissed through his teeth.

“Pain means nothing when you are in my arms.” He buried his face in her hair and inhaled. “I’ve missed you so very much, Kim.”

They knelt together, holding each other for a few minutes. Reluctantly, Kim broke away from Jay and stood up. “Your son wants to meet you.” Kim hooked her hands under Jay’s good arm and hauled him to his feet, concerned at the paleness of his skin. “Then you need to rest.”

“After I’ve met my son.” Jay took a moment to compose himself, the tension in his face directly linked to the pain in his shoulder, although he would never admit it. Kim understood he had to stay strong, he had to be the protector.

“I’ll ask Fiona if we can stay here for the night. Tomorrow, we may have to move into the local hotel.” Kim hoped Fiona would go along with that plan. She didn’t have the strength to pack up all of their stuff and find a place to stay tonight.

Nervously, they entered the house. Fiona came to meet them in the hallway with Archie in her arms. Jay stopped and stared, before a smile broke out across his face.

Kim grinned at Fiona, her relief incredible. All these months of agonizing over her decision dropped away as father and son looked at each other for the first time.