Chapter Ten
A few days later, Arabella lay awake on the bed next to Finn, keeping an ear out for her children. She'd just finished feeding and changing them. Normally, she'd go back to sleep, but every once in a while, Freya would roar and Arabella would rush to her daughter's side to calm her.
Her dragon yawned. She's fine for now. Besides, she roars loud enough to wake the dead. You won't sleep through it. There's another reason you're lying awake.
Her beast was correct, not that she wanted to admit it. I want to trust Dad, I do. But I still don't know him well enough, especially since he's spent most of his time with us sleeping.
Mel and Tristan are staying in the second nursery. Our brother won't allow anything bad to happen. Not that I think it will. Our father is just exhausted. Let him sleep.
Finn rolled over and tossed his arm across her chest. His groggy voice filled the room. "Why are you still awake? We have an hour before we have to get up. You should be sleeping."
Cuddling into Finn's side, she traced the shape of the tattoo on his bicep. "Until we can tame Freya's dragon, I'll always be worrying. Shouldn't Sid and Gregor have more information by now?"
"Until the Australian clan run their tests, there's nothing to compare it to. They're doing all they can, love. And you know that."
She remained silent a few beats, never ceasing her finger's movement on his arm. "At least the problem of your family is sorted, so that's something. Holly and Fraser have settled in, and Gina and Fergus are still in the frenzy. Even Faye has been behaving herself, probably because she's so tired as a result of taking care of Mac-squared."
"Aye, they're in line for the moment. We'll see if it lasts." He kissed her cheek, his faint stubble tickling her skin. "However, I would handle them a million times over if it meant Freya's dragon was forever stable and under control."
Her daughter's dragon had appeared more times than Arabella would've liked.
Turning her face to kiss Finn and reassure him as much as herself, a thunderous roar stopped her from doing so. "Freya."
They both jumped out of bed, and Arabella rushed to the room next to theirs. Switching on the light, her heart skipped a beat.
Instead of a human baby laying in Freya's crib, there was a baby gold dragon.
Her first thought was to sob—few children who shifted so young ever shifted back.
But her dragon growled. She is our daughter. She can overcome anything.
Finn murmured in a soothing voice, "That's my lass, a gold dragon like your dad."
Freya moved her head to meet her father's gaze, letting out a small roar.
Since Finn was better at calming their daughter than her, Arabella stayed where she was and watched both of them closely.
Finn took another step and put out a hand. "That was an impressive roar as well, for one so young. I'm sure you'll have all the lads fuming they can't do a roar like you, Freya."
The baby dragon didn't roar again, so Finn took another step. It took everything Arabella had not to rush over and scoop up her daughter.
Putting his hand in front of Freya's snout, Finn murmured, "Let me pet my fiery lass, aye?"
Arabella dug her nails into her palm so hard they probably drew blood. But she stood still, waiting to see what Freya would do.
After a few more beats, she bumped her snout against Finn's hand. He moved to scratch behind her tiny ears. "Aye, there's nothing like a good ear scratch, especially when you're wee. I remember how flaky my skin was as a lad."
Freya met her dad's eyes before hunching down and jumping into Finn's arms.
As their daughter cuddled against Finn's chest, he murmured, "Call Layla."
She was torn between staying and doing as he asked.
Her beast spoke up. Finn will take care of her. We need Layla's help.
Before she could change her mind, Arabella raced into the hall and into her and Finn's room. She picked up her mobile and dialed Layla.
The doctor picked up on the second ring. "Arabella? What's wrong?"
"Freya's shifted into her dragon form."
Thankfully Layla's voice remained strong, which helped keep Arabella from panicking. "I'll be there straight away. I'll call Sid on the way, too, just in case she's learned anything since last evening."
"Hurry, Layla."
"I will, Ara. Staying strong and collected is the best thing you can do for the bairn."
The line went dead and Arabella lowered her phone. Melanie's soft voice came from the doorway. "Is everything okay, Ara? We heard the running."
Arabella explained the situation and added, "I know it's a lot to ask, but can you keep the twins occupied? I don't want their own inner dragons to come out and think to try the same thing."
Melanie engulfed her in a hug. "Of course. They're still asleep in the second nursery, with Tristan watching over them. I just wish there was something else we could do."
Leaning back, she met her sister-in-law's eyes. "As much as you hate it, you can't fix everything, Mel."
"Just make sure you realize that, too, Ara. Have faith in the doctors and everything will work out. No one is better at finding a solution and cure than Dr. Sid."
Swallowing back the emotion choking her throat, she bobbed her head. "I know."
Melanie smoothed back Arabella's hair. "Then go to your daughter. Tristan and I will protect the rest of your family for as long as you need."
After one more quick hug, Arabella raced back to where Finn and Freya should be. However, as soon as she entered the room, she stopped and tried not to panic.
Finn and Freya were nowhere to be found.
~~~
In most any other situation, Finn would be laughing at himself being stuck in a hedge just below the nursery window.
However, the present was no laughing matter.
Freya had jumped from his arms to the window, glanced at him, and launched into the air.
At that moment, his heart had leapt from his chest.
But then he'd seen her flap her small wings a few times before crashing into a hedge. The second he'd seen her emerge and acting as if everything were normal, there'd been no other alternative but for Finn to do the same and jump out the window.
As he struggled to free himself from the blasted thing, Freya was already on the ground going in circles, chasing her tail.
Finally dislodging himself from the hedge, he walked slowly to Freya, debating what to do. Because if her dragon were in charge, she might think it was a game and he could be chasing her forever.
His beast spoke up. I still say we should shift. Even a wee dragon without any sense will listen to a much bigger one. And I am one of the biggest ones on Lochguard.
He ignored his dragon's ego to focus on what was more important. It could also scare her. Ara and I haven't had time to shift into our dragon forms and introduce you to the bairns yet.
And who's fault is that?
Finn mentally sighed. I promise to listen to you more once this is sorted. For now, work with me, aye?
His dragon grunted. Then shift.
Arabella's voice drifted from the window above. "Finn? What's going on?"
Freya looked up at her mother before dashing toward the back of the garden.
Finn answered, "Trust me," before shucking his clothes and imagining his nose elongating into a snout, his fingers turning into talons, and wings growing from his back. Within seconds, he stood in his golden dragon form.
His dragon spoke up. Let me take charge and try first.
Moving to the back of their mind, Finn did as asked.
His beast walked slowly toward Freya, who was now trying to catch a bug in her jaw. If there weren't any danger to his only daughter, Finn would think the scene adorable.
His dragon grunted and Freya paused with her mouth open. After another grunt, the little dragon met his eyes.
He roared gently and motioned toward the house.
Freya dashed into the waist-high grass at the very back of the garden.
His dragon spoke inside their mind. I think she wants to play. Let's try it.
Trusting his beast, Finn said nothing.
Freya popped her head up and then ducked down with a squeal. She may not be able to do the same in her human form for quite a while, but baby dragons could walk from birth. It was yet another reason why it was best that they usually didn't shift until they were older. Otherwise, parents would go mad a lot sooner.
His dragon silently stood still. Finn wanted to shout for his dragon to get on with it, but resisted. His other half had never let him down before.
After what seemed like hours, his dragon darted down their head and gently took hold of the back of Freya's neck. As he lifted the wee one, she remained frozen. Finn asked, How did you know to do that?
Instinct. Dragons aren't the only ones to use this method to fetch their young.
Cats did it, too, for one. But Finn wasn't about to compare his dragon to a wee, scruffy beastie.
His dragon carefully swung them around and plodded toward the cottage. Because of their height, they easily deposited Freya into Arabella's outstretched arms, who still stood at the nursery window.
His mate instantly cuddled Freya close and murmured, "Don't do that again, love. Jumping out of windows isn't okay."
Freya grunted, and Finn would've laughed if he'd been in human form. He had a feeling Arabella would want bars on the windows within the week.
Not that he had time to dwell on that for long. Layla raced into the garden and poked Finn's side. "Take me up there."
His beast spoke up. I'm not a ladder or crane.
Just do it, dragon. For Freya's sake.
Fine, although I think Freya just wanted to play.
His dragon scooped up Layla with one forelimb and carefully deposited her on the window sill.
As soon as the doctor was inside, Finn imagined his wings shrinking, his snout returning to his nose and face, and his tail disappearing into his body. The second he was human again, he snatched his clothes, headed for the door, and raced up the stairs.
~~~
Arabella held Freya's little dragon form against her body and willed her heart to slow down.
She had her baby girl again, but the situation was far from stable.
Although as Layla crawled into the room, Arabella had to sit in the chair. Her little girl wasn't so little in her dragon form and probably weighed at least fifty pounds.
Layla crouched down to be eye level with Freya and said with a smile, "You may be the only female, but you've taken after your dad, haven't you? I can imagine him doing the same as a lad. We're almost the same age, after all. So I have lots of stories to tell you when you're older."
Arabella knew Layla was trying to charm Freya, but she could help but blurt, "Have you found out anything new?"
Layla switched her gaze to Arabella and continued to smile. "Maybe. Sid and Gregor think that the sedatives affected certain hormones in your body, which then created imbalances in your bairns. If they're right, then dispensing medication once a month or so until they're mature should keep the young dragons in their hiding spots inside the mind. At least, until they're mature enough to come out around the same time as everyone else, when they're five or six years old. We'll have to see how it goes after that, as maybe the imbalances will sort themselves out as they mature."
Arabella moved her gaze to her daughter and scratched behind one of her ears. Freya leaned into the touch and Arabella hesitated. Freya was so happy in her dragon form. What would happen if she took it away? She might resent her forever.
And yet, if she allowed Freya's dragon to come out as she pleased, it could end up turning her daughter rogue.
Her beast spoke up. Freya is clever. Maybe we can teach her dragon to shift back. If it fails, then use the medication to tame the dragon half.
It could be disastrous, and yet…
You want to talk with Finn and maybe try it, her dragon finished.
She looked back at Layla. "Once Sid has more information, let us know. I need to talk to Finn first."
Bobbing her head, Layla stood. "Of course, but I'm still going to check on the triplets daily for now. If it becomes dangerous, we might have to subdue their dragons, Ara. I know she seems happy, but if she turns rogue, then you could lose her forever."
Or, worse, the Department of Dragon Affairs could take her away and throw her in jail.
Some might cry or lash out at Layla's honesty, but Arabella took comfort in it. "You're becoming a fantastic doctor, Layla. I can't wait to see what you accomplish in the future."
Layla's pale cheeks flushed pink. "I'm just doing my job."
"You are, but remember to take time for you as well. Working yourself to death won't help anyone."
Layla somehow worked more than Finn ever had before the triplets had been born, and Arabella worried about her. Especially since she knew that Chase McFarland—the younger brother of Grant—found every opportunity to drop in on Layla at the surgery and invite her out. Arabella thought a bit of fun would do the doctor good. Too bad Layla seemed not to notice the male's attention.
However, before she could suggest anything, Layla moved to the doorway. "Make sure she shifts back before too much longer. Watching her dad do it might help. I just don't want to risk her liking her form too much and then never changing back."
Freya yawned and curled into a ball on Arabella's lap.
Well, she attempted to curl into a ball. Arabella's lap wasn't quite big enough, and it was more like she leaned against her chest and spilled onto her lap.
Finn appeared right behind Layla. "Aye, I'll give it a try once she wakes up. She deserves a wee nap after her recent adventure."
With a nod, Layla left them alone.
Her mate came to stand at her side and gently scratched Freya's ears. "She hasn't been acting rogue yet, Ara. Everything might work out."
Glancing up at her mate, she asked, "How much did you hear?"
"All of it." Putting an arm around Arabella's shoulder, she leaned against him. He continued, "And I agree that we should give Freya a chance. She's intelligent for her age and just wants to play. Considering she can't even roll over yet in her human form, I can't blame her."
They both watched their little girl sleep, her chest rising and falling with each breath. She was safe for the moment, and that was all that mattered.
Deciding to lighten the mood and lower her blood pressure, Arabella murmured, "Figures she'd be a gold dragon and not purple."
"Aye, well, gold dragons have a sparkle about them after all. The lads might take after their old dad as well."
"I'd like to think that they'll be purple like me," Arabella replied. "I know it's rare for male dragons to be purple, but that would make them that much more special."
Finn chuckled. "Our sons, the next generation of dragon models."
She snorted. "Let's hope not. Male egos are big enough. If everyone fawns over them from a young age? They'll become unbearable."
Finn hugged her against him. "Between you, Faye, and Aunt Lorna, I don't think we'll have to worry about that. Besides, Holly and Fraser's twin females could do with a set of rivals. I'm starting to warm up to the idea of Dec and Gray being purple."
"The clan will most likely think you and your cousins are trying to take over the world, especially with two sets of rarities in one generation. I'm sure tales will be sung about it one day."
"Aye, I rather like the sound of that." She rolled her eyes and Finn laughed. "It's all hypothetical, love. Our sons could be polka dot for all I care, as long as we're together."
Maybe when her children were older, she could play a prank on Finn. Putting washable paint on their dragon hides and watching Finn wonder if they had some new disease might be fun.
Her dragon chuckled. You're becoming a bit devious.
I like to think of it as keeping Finn on his toes.
Her beast laughed as she curled up at the back of her mind.
Arabella enjoyed a moment of peace, leaning against her mate and cuddling her daughter. They might have some tough decisions to make soon enough, but they could wait a little while longer.