Artemis growled deep within his chest. As much as he looked forward to spending time with his babygirl, he wasn't so sure how he felt about watching four women. All of them naughty, mischievous girls, at that.

They had been flying for over an hour at this point. Artemis had been watching them closely—and their dragons, as well. So far, except for a few random screeches, Azure, Satin's dragon, had done well, and there was no need to readjust or change riders.

"Can we go to Smorkin's first? I want to look at some ornaments for the tree," Thistle asked Satin but had given the side-eye toward Artemis, wanting his approval, too.

Good Girl.

"Oh, yes, I want to get some, also. How about you, Wish? Gossamer?" Satin turned to look at the rest of their new family.

"I'm all set for ornaments, dear. And, I'm pretty sure Zorander would have a fit if I bought more, but he's all bark. I'm sure if I found one that made me happy, he'd be more than agreeable."

The women giggled; they all knew it was true. Artemis spoiled his wife.

Wish said, "Oh, yeah. I want new ornaments, too."

"It's solved then, Artemis. We want to go to Smorkin's first if that's okay?"

"Whatever you girls desire."

The words had barely come out of his mouth, when there was a screech from Azure and he shot straight up, flames erupting from his nostrils, and with a downward spin, came hurtling straight for Artemis and Onyx.

With quick thinking on Artemis' part, he darted with his dragon to the right, widening the gap enough between himself and the others that Azure was left flying between them all.

Thankfully, the tether was still attached to Azure, and Artemis pulled a rope from his bag. With a throw, he lassoed the beast. Of course, with a gigantic dragon, it was impossible to drag them anywhere, so he hoped the dragon training would kick in, and with a sharp, high-pitched whistle, he called the animal to him.

Azure stopped instantly. His instincts kicked in and he flew straight toward Artemis.

Easily within reach, Artemis snatched Satin by the arm and pulled her to sit in front of him. "Sit still. Don't move or speak."

Obediently, she nodded her head, her eyes wide with fear.

"What the fuck is your damn dragon doing?" He pressed the comm set, shouting, "Zorander! Drayce! Azure has freaked out. Satin is safe. But I want transport to take him back to the estate."

"Blast that dragon. Does Satin have any idea what's going on with Azure?"

Artemis stared at Drayce's girl, his arm holding her by the upper arm. "Girl, this is your beast. He's connected to you, giving you a tail and making you a warlord. If you know why he's acting this way, now is the time to speak. Holding anything back and lying to us will not work to your benefit, as you know."

Satin's face turned red, and she dropped her gaze to her hands, becoming awkwardly quiet. Too quiet.

Drayce growled through the comm set. "Satin Marie Quinn, you had better tell me the truth. Now."

She jumped ever so slightly, her eyes filling with tears. "Uhm, I've missed my period for almost two months now. I-I think I'm pregnant."

"Pregnant? Pregnant! Oh, by the gods, Satin, I'm so happy!" A long pause followed his excitement. "How could you? You didn't tell me!" Drayce relayed to Zorander and Cloven that Satin was expecting. "Satin, you knew the risks of riding your dragon while with child. How could you take such a risk? You purposefully didn't tell me, am I correct?"

In that very moment, Wish's dragon, Orchid, and Thistle's dragon, Jade, turned on each other, gnashing their teeth and breathing fire.

"Holy fuck! Get transport here, fast! They're all fighting!" He pulled Onyx's leash tightly, shouting, "Onyx, break up! Satin, hang on."

"Artemis, what is going on? Is Satin okay? What about the others?" Drayce shouted through the comm set, but Artemis was clearly unable to respond.

The dark puffs of smoke surrounding them had the putrid smell of burning hair and flesh, and he gagged, choking against the scent.

Wish pulled out her dragon quirt and began lashing both Orchid and Jade. "Down! Down! Halt!" She continued to circle away from Tawny and Gossamer until both were somewhat calmer.

Artemis went behind the two dragons, lashing their backs. "Settle! Settle!" Onyx, the huge black dragon, growled, interspersed with squawks and burps of sound, which Artemis knew, from his experience as a warlord and trainer, meant Onyx was communicating with the other dragons. Artemis hoped Onyx would get the other dragons to settle—fast.

As quickly as it started, it stopped. But, by the heaving of the dragon's chests and flared nostrils, they were far from placid but a bit more subdued.

"Artemis? Artemis, are you there?" Drayce's panicked voice filled the finally still air.

"Yeah, I'm here. The only dragon that is fine is Tawny and Gossamer." Turning his attention to the women, Artemis shouted, "Are you all okay? Answer me!"

"Yes, Sir," everyone responded with wide eyes.

"They're all fine, Drayce."

"What the fuck is going on with these dragons?" Drayce's angry voice rumbled through the comm set, and Artemis swore Satin jumped in the saddle in front of him.

"I have my suspicions, Drayce." Artemis turned in his saddle, narrowing his gaze as he pointed at each woman individually. "I want the truth out of every single one of you. Are you all pregnant?"

Wish looked over at Thistle, her eyes filling with tears.

Artemis barked. "No! Look at me. Only look at me. Are you?"

Both Thistle and Wish nodded slowly. "Yes, Sir."

"Oh, by the Goddess Gem, I'm going to be a grandma!"

"Is that my wife screaming in the background I hear?" Zorander shouted over Drayce's shoulder into the comm set.

"Yes, Dad. You're going to be a grandfather—three times—it seems."

"Oh my…they kept this from us?"

Drayce growled within his chest again, the rumble deep and frightening, even to Artemis' ears.

"Artemis, I can see by the global positioning, you're about a half hour from Diviljak, do you think you can make it? I'd rather not leave you sitting in space."

"Yes, Drayce, we can make it. It's not that far, and I think we have the dragons subdued enough at this point. I'm so damn pissed, brother, I can't see straight. They put themselves—and me—at risk. I just don't understand it—at all." Drayce raked his hand through his hair.

Satin was crying, her eyes wet with her tears and seeking his face for mercy. "It was selfish, Artemis. We didn't want things to change. I mean, I wanted to continue being a warlord and ride Azure. But, now that this has happened and I see, firsthand, the effects of my actions, I cannot apologize enough. I'm sorry." Her wispy white hair was billowing in the air, her sapphire blue eyes shimmering behind her tears, and it almost broke his heart to hear her remorse.

Almost.

However, the rest of him wanted to upend her, baring her bottom, and blister the living hell out of her ass for risking her life.

"I'm not sure I'm ready to accept your apology, Satin. I'll need some time."

"Oh. Okay."

Her voice was small and sad, and although he almost relented immediately, he knew it would be better to give himself time to cool and her time to reflect.

"Drayce, we're on our way to Diviljak; please tell me transport is on their way."

"They are, Artemis. They'll be there in about forty-five minutes." Drayce exhaled loudly. "Satin, we'll be talking when you get home."

"Y-yes, S-sir."

Zorander shouted through the comm set, "Gossamer? Congratulations, baby."

"Daddy, I'm so excited," Gossamer screamed like a small girl, clapping her hands, her excitement abounding.

"I know, baby. See you soon."

"See you all soon."

The comm set went silent, and Artemis pulled up on the leather reins. "Forward, Onyx."

With a screech and blaze of fire, the lead dragon lurched forward, the others following him.

It was his babygirl, Thistle, who broke the silence. "So, does this mean we're not shopping?"

Did she really just ask me this? I may…no, I need to stay calm. Calm, Artemis.

She dared to continue. "We've been waiting a long time to do this and, well, it seems stupid to come this far and not shop." She scowled at Artemis, turning toward the other women. "Am I right?"

"No!" Artemis shouted the response sterner than he had planned.

Thistle jumped, her eyes wide, looking terrorized by the harshness of his voice. She wasn't used to him shouting; he rarely did it.

"No, we're not shopping. And, do you know what is stupid? Riding a dragon while you're pregnant? We've warned every single one of you! Haven't we?"

"Yes, Sir," all three murmured with their heads down.

Azure screeched, sending fire in the direction of Artemis.

I need to calm the fuck down before he incinerates me.

"We'll discuss this later. Just know that we are not staying for shopping or food. You'll all get into the transport, and I'll drive your sorry—and soon to be sore—asses home."

He exhaled the breath he'd been holding; his heart was racing with his anger. If he hadn't come with them on this shopping trip, it could have been deadly. Very deadly. He understood that they were unaware of just how protective dragons were to their warlords, let alone a pregnant warlord. But, this? This was just negligent. They should have trusted their directives and known the men were telling the truth and not embellishing it.

"Artemis, sweetheart?" Gossamer's soft voice spoke to his right. "You haven't even taken the time to be happy about your baby. Your wife has given you a child. Take the time to acknowledge it and enjoy the love that brought an infant to life."

Damn! I'm such a fucking asshole!

He pulled Onyx back, letting Thistle catch up. Tears were streaming down her cheeks, her white hair framing her slender face. Her pouty lips were turned up into a moue, and it gutted him to know his callousness and anger had hurt his babygirl.

"Oh, baby. I'm so sorry." He pulled her out of her saddle, curling her into his lap, her head tucked under his chin. "My poor girl. I'm so sorry."

She quietly sobbed, clenching his shirt within her hands, her tears wetting the material.

"Sweetheart." He tilted her chin up. "We're having a baby! Our baby. I'm so proud of you!"

He covered her plump lips with his own and kissed her softly, delving his tongue into her, tasting her sweetness. His cock hardened beneath her firm bottom pressed into his lap. His throbbing erection twitched insistently. Growling within his throat, he pulled away. "We have to stop. This is neither the time nor the place for such entanglements."

She giggled. "No, I suppose not. Your mother is watching."

Turning his head, his mother grinned at him, her cheeks pink with her blush, and she then quickly averted her gaze, talking to Wish, instead.

"Yes, she is. The blasted woman has been aching for grandchildren, and now she's going to receive three of them—at once."

"We're going to have a baby, Daddy."

"Yes, I know." He braced her face with both hands before gently capturing her mouth with his own. Pulling away, he made a show of furrowing his eyebrows and glaring at her through his narrowed gaze. "You've been a very naughty girl, though, haven't you?"

"Yes, Daddy."

"What do you think I should do about it?"

Her backside wiggled over his hard-as-steel cock, and he shifted her to sit on Onyx's back.

"Uhm, maybe put me to bed early every night." She nibbled on her lip, hoping and praying he'd accept that punishment and leave any others to the wayside. No way!

With a slow nod, he tilted his head at her. "Yes. Yes, indeed, that's a punishment we may keep for a week—or more. Obviously, your punishment will be much more detailed and all encompassing than just that. What else?"

Thistle's cheeks turned pink, and he let her stew for a minute, dreading what she needed to say, but knowing it was justified. He quietly let her struggle internally.

Meanwhile, voices were raising between Wish and Satin.

"Hey! Hey! No arguing. As a matter of fact, I don't want to hear you talking over there. Both of you need to reflect on what you're going to say to your husbands and think about your upcoming comeuppance."

Their necks worked to swallow, their eyes widening just a bit with their anxiety. These independent women the Quinn men married would have to learn at some point, it would seem. But, it was taking much longer than any of the men anticipated. Their wives needed to retain their ability to control, doing things their way, and yet each wanted to submit, wanted and yearned for a dominant husband. But, watching them, one would never know.

"Do you have an answer for me, girl?"

"I'm not sure."

"Yes, you do. Answer me, or I'll add to whatever punishment I already planned on giving you."

With a small sob, her eyes filled with tears, her lip quivering. "I guess I deserve a spanking."

"Yes, you do. It'll be one you'll receive as soon as we have some privacy."

"B-but what about the baby?" Her lip quivered adorably.

"Our child will be fine. Husbands have been spanking wives during their pregnancy for many years. Your backside is made for this, and our baby is cocooned comfortably within your womb and won't even know the spanking is occurring."

He tilted her chin up, kissing her lips softly.

"I think it's time for you to sit on Jade again, reflecting on your apology. You need to decide what you'll say and convince yourself you'll be cooperative during your punishment. As I just told the other women, I don't want any talking. I want the rest of the ride to be quiet."

"Yes, Daddy."

He guided her back to her saddle on Jade, grasping the lead and tethering her to Onyx.

Sighing loudly, he took a deep breath. It was going to be a long evening.

Here, I thought I was going Christmas shopping—something fun and playful, spending time with all the girls,

At least the rest of the ride would be peaceful. The women were unusually silent—all of them.

The realization hit him. He was going to be a father. Finally, he would be having a child of his own. He'd be different than his parents, and it was at times like this, he wished they were still around. But, having Zorander and Gossamer as parents was more than he could have ever wished for. They had taken him in as their own. He only hoped he could be half the father Zorander had been for him all these years.

Maybe they would have a son. A boy to hunt and fish with on warm days. Then he chuckled to himself; a boy who would be more than likely just as stubborn as he was, but the idea of passing his name on to a son made his heart swell with pride.

Or a little girl. A little girl with wispy, white hair who would be like her mother with the same piercing blue eyes and a fiery temper. Her quiet demeanor would be in stark contrast, and he would be wrapped around her little pinkie finger.

He and his brothers would have a celebratory drink, tonight. They had much to be thankful for, but until then, they also had the unpleasant task of instilling self-preservation into their girls.

The thought of what could have happened if he hadn't been present today made a shiver run through his body. All of the women could've been hurt by the dragons. The beasts sensed pregnancy and were very sensitive to the hormones and changing of the warlord's body. The animals do their best to keep everyone away from them, thereby protecting them. The dragons turn on anyone and anything, gnashing them with their teeth, causing fiery brawls, even with their women astride them.

Yes, there would be some stern measures taken this evening. They wouldn't risk the women endangering themselves. They still had many months of pregnancy and would need to be cautious and wary.

Diviljak could be seen against the dark of outer space. It wouldn't be long now. They'd be landing in the town square, and he would wait for his family and the transport vehicles.