Chapter Fourteen
Landon
Landon pulled on his favorite white shirt. Made from a lightweight, natural material, it had enough give that it didn't feel tight over his belly, but it also didn't swim on him like some of his earlier pregnancy clothes had. After the attack, they had been left with few supplies and only the items they'd been able to bring with them during the flood.
It had taken a few hours for help to begin pouring in from the other two dragon islands. King Damari sent them crates of food and fresh water as well as some of his emergency supplies, generators, filters and things of that nature. King Sebastian had sent a small team to help with rebuilding their homes topside while sending as much clothes and textiles as he could spare.
As kind as they were all being, none of them could give the emerald dragons what they needed to rebuild as they had once been, the emerald roses.
"Your Highness," one of the townspeople bowed to him as he walked out of his room to the new dining hall. Their castle topside wasn't quite as grand as it had been below. In fact, it was one story, a fraction of the size and looked a little like an island hut, but it kept them out of the elements and was sturdy enough to withstand a storm.
"Let me help you," another emerald dragon said, offering her arm to Landon as he made his way to the docks.
Landon almost couldn't remember when the emerald dragons had acted with hostility toward him. Ever since the battle, he was accepted by each and every one of them. "Thank you. My mother is coming today as well as Marrissa. Though, I suppose she is my mother in law now, isn't she?" While they hadn't had an official ceremony or celebration, Vale had given them their rings in a private ceremony that involved just the three of them. Four. His baby wiggled almost constantly now.
"Mate," Vale murmured, coming up behind him. He hooked his hands over Landon's belly and the baby stilled, calmed by his father.
"Thank you, he was doing somersaults in there."
"Excited to come out and see his fathers."
Blaze met them at the docks and sank to his knee to kiss Landon's belly.
That was how the boat from Diamond Island found them. First, Marrissa descended the ramp, pulling the three of them into a silent hug. "My boys," she said with tears. Vale's puckered wound looked much better than it had in the first few days. Without the elixir, he'd had to heal at a normal rate and the scar that was forming would not be small. Landon thought it made him look dashing.
"Where is my baby?" a high-pitched voice shrieked. Next, a small woman sprinted down the ramp, catching her foot at the bottom. She would have fallen on her face had Blaze not been there to catch and steady her.
"Lilly," he said by way of greeting.
"Don't be ridiculous, it is mom now. Speaking of." She caught sight of Landon and gasped. When she didn't speak, Landon feared she was mad about something, or possibly afraid. Then, she opened her mouth and let out an excited scream that made a group of fishermen jump. "You are pregnant!"
His mates laughed. She'd known he was pregnant. She'd sent back a letter larger than most books full of what he should and should not do during his pregnancy. Still, seeing was a whole different thing.
"It is good to see you, mother," Landon replied.
His mother tried to hug him the same way she'd hugged him for all the years of his life, but this time, his belly got in the way. "Oh my, hard to walk around with that. I don't think I got quite so big with you." She eyed the intimidating dragons at his sides. "Are you sure there is just the one in there?"
"We've only ever heard one heartbeat," he told her.
For a moment, she looked disappointed. Then she let out a low whistle. "For the best. You'll be burning the candle at both ends as it is. Up all night with the baby, up all night pleasing your mates—"
"Mom!"
She looked up at him, her face all innocence. "What? Goodness knows you didn't get in this state from long game nights. It's okay, baby, our family is known for our abilities in the bedroom."
Landon would have been very happy if the earth had opened beneath him at that moment and swallowed him whole. Instead, he remained on his feet while his mates tittered.
"Oh yeah, I can testify to that," Blaze muttered. His mother punched him in the shoulder.
"I change my mind," Landon said. "Vale is my true mate."
"I was about to agree with Blaze," Vale said.
"Traitors."
Vale draped a possessive arm over Landon's shoulders as the rest of the dragons made their way off the ship. Princess Shelandria was first. She bounced to Marrissa's side telling them all how excited she was to be on her second diplomatic mission. Then, a small division of diamond guards came down the ramp carrying boxes of supplies. Landon recognized them from his old division, the one he'd been placed in right after training.
They stacked their boxes neatly at the end of the dock and then lined up to bow to the Emerald King and his mates. Landon didn't miss Vale's tense nod as the one who had often called Landon "Pebble" bowed.
"Please express our gratitude to your King," Vale said to Shea. She nodded importantly.
"Now I need to see a room. These legs aren't used to the sea and I think a few moments of rest will do me well," Marrissa said ushering them forward.
"Perhaps the guards should wait here?" Vale suggested, eying the one in particular. That guard kept his eyes to the ground. Blaze's confused expression said that he wasn't sure what Vale was up to, but he trusted their mate enough to keep his mouth shut.
Landon cleared his throat. "The trip was long for them all, perhaps we could let them join us for lunch?"
Landon caught the appreciative looks from his old division. He couldn't say that the desire to be petty and make them wait while the rest of them ate didn't cross his mind. But, if he had learned anything over the last couple of months, it was that sooner or later, everyone needed help.
After lunch, they showed Marrissa and Lilly the nursery. Technically it was just a quarter of their room, but Vale's crib sat in the corner, his eyes filling with pride whenever he looked at it. There was a changing table stocked with various diapers, creams and wipes as well as miscellaneous items they would find handy. The kitchen had a cupboard dedicated to formula and, for when the baby grew, rows and rows of jarred food.
Lilly jumped right in, rearranging the layout, much to Landon's mates' dissatisfaction. He gave them pleading looks, promising they could change it all back when she left. Though, as she announced again and again how much more advanced their kingdom was than what she'd been expecting, he wondered if that day would be coming at all. Ashamed at his attitude, Landon hurried to catch up with his mother, linking his arm in hers as they walked, much like how they used to walk the marketplace on Diamond Island.
"You've got a good thing here, Land," she told him, kissing his cheek. "I've never seen you look so happy."
Landon would have smiled, except, he already was. "I am happy. Even with everything that has happened. With everything we're going through. I'm happy."
Lilly just squeezed her arm, bumping shoulders as they walked.
***
Landon's due date loomed. Everyone prepared. Marrissa and Lilly stayed on the island to help Landon especially since Vale and Blaze led daily excursions below as they retrieved what they could from the underwater wreckage.
His due date came and went, with no baby.
While Landon couldn't say his pregnancy was extremely uncomfortable, he was eager to meet his child. He read over all the books about dragon pregnancy and asked everyone he could find who had given birth. They all said the same. The baby would come when it was ready.
Finally, Marrissa and Lilly had to return to Diamond Island. They'd already stayed longer than they'd expected to and the word was that the diamond kitchens were in disarray without Marrissa there to lead them. It was an unusually foggy morning when they finally left, Landon was with Vale on the docks waving them goodbye while Blaze led another team below.
They retrieved all the items that they could as well as the remains of their people. The onyx dragons and their shadow beasts, they left below. More fodder for the graveyard. No one thought that Avia had perished. But, with a weakened ally and no other place to turn to, they knew they had a while before they had to worry about her again. Especially since three of the four tribes had banded together.
Vale had plans after the pregnancy and when things settled, to meet with the other Kings. There were things happening in the states that could have an effect on them all and they needed to discuss how best to handle the onyx dragons.
Suddenly, as Landon waved until he couldn't see the ship any longer, he felt a sharp pressure. He looked around his person, searching for the fire that would indicate he'd gone into labor. There was nothing but a smothering heat that made him break out into a sweat and lean on his mate that much harder.
"What is it?" Vale asked, holding him tightly.
"I don't know. I don't feel right."
Vale led him back to the castle and tucked him in bed. He called the doctor, newly trained and while they waited for Blaze to return from his dive, Vale's hand went to his pocket so often Landon finally asked him about it.
Vale reached in and revealed a single vial. The shimmering liquid inside was familiar, the sight of it making Landon gasp. "You have elixir? Why not use it on yourself? Your face?"
"I thought you said it made me look distinguished?" Vale teased.
"It does, but, Vale, you can't tell me you've been saving that for me. There are so many others who have so much more need."
Vale bent over to kiss him on the forehead. "And that is why you are the only one who will ever drink this."
The minutes turned into hours and Landon's condition worsened. His sheets were soaked in sweat and he panted, and yet, no glow, no light of a dragon coming into the world. Vale remained by his side, his hand never leaving Landon's chest as if he was afraid to move it and no longer hear his heartbeat. When Blaze burst into the room, his hair still dripping from his trip, he fell to his knees, setting his hand on top of Vale's. The very next moment the room exploded with light as a warm glow enveloped Landon's entire body.
Landon sighed and smiled, the pressure instantly relieved. "He waited for you," he whispered. Landon wasn't afraid to push and needed no one to tell him when. He listened to his body, allowing his child to come into the world gently. In moments, there was a cry and the doctor came into Landon's line of sight with a wriggling, screaming baby boy.
His mates burst into manly tears as panic filled Landon. He knew he was pregnant, knew he was having a baby, but now the baby was here. Inside of him, he was safe. Now, he was vulnerable. How could Landon keep him from harm? How could any of them?
"A boy," Blaze said.
"A prince," Vale murmured.
They looked to Landon. "What shall we name him?"
Landon accepted wriggling mass, holding him to his chest. "Claire!"
Vale tilted his head to the side while Blaze blinked at him. "Claire? Sure…uh, we could name him…"
"No, Vale. You gave Claire a rose before her family went to New York. She didn't ask you to melt it into an elixir yet, right?"
Vale stood quickly. "No. She didn't."
"Which means…"
"We could use a cutting from her rose to regrow more roses with the elixir from the bloom."
Landon smiled as his newborn stopped crying, looking up at the three of them like he knew everything was going to be okay. "What are you still doing here?" Landon asked. "Ambrose and I will be just fine."
***
Landon lifted Ambrose to his shoulder, patting him on the back hoping he would get just a burp this time and not a burp and a wet back like the last time. He looked down off the balcony, they'd built a second level to their castle, at the gardeners as they tended to the budding rose bushes. Vale had found Claire and, after promising to return with more roses than she could ever need, returned to The Second Garden with the plant.
The gardeners, who had grown quite listless since the battle, perked up like plants finally given water after so long.
They were a quirky group. Each of them was exactly as tall as the other and Landon would have considered them beautiful had they not been so perfect. There wasn't a physical flaw among them, Vale explained that was from extended close proximity to the diluted elixir, though, personality wise, they scared the other emerald dragons away. Even now, they worked silently until, without any sign, they all burst out laughing as if one of them had told a funny joke. Except, none of them had spoken. One of them, likely feeling Landon's gaze, looked up at him and gestured at the group as if in an attempt to bring Landon into the joke. He smiled but stepped from the balcony when Blaze came in. Soon, they would have more elixir than any of them could ever need. Each family was to be given not a rationed number a year, but their own portion of a field with which to do what they wanted. They had begun regrowth below, laying the foundation for a second dome, except this time, they wouldn't all hide beneath. The details were to be decided, but they would inhabit both sides, an outward face as well as an inner sanctuary. All in all, their lives were perfect. Landon cursed himself for even thinking the P word.
Juniper entered behind Blaze and her expression said that they wouldn't like what she had to say. They had yet to do the morning's briefing and it was likely to be a doozy.
"My King," she said to Vale who gestured for Landon to sit beside him at the table. "You've received a message." She dropped the dirty envelope on the table and Landon gulped. He knew the insignia. They'd all been waiting for it. Vale opened the letter, his eyes flitting over the first few words before he cleared his throat.
"King Vale, I had hoped that our tribes were entering a new era. I had hoped the next generation would know only peace, and if not peace, they would know silence. You and the other tribes have repeatedly met behind my back. You have killed my brother and annihilated a large portion of my people. If you were unsure as to whether you have an enemy in the Onyx King, know this, we will be repaid for what you have taken. War isn't coming. War is here."
The End
Or read on to see where it all started with The Golden Dragon's Unexpected Mate!