Page 39 of The Dragon’s Accidental Manny

Noon? That was over two hours ago. I wanted to yell why hadn’t he called earlier, but me losing it would be asshat behavior.

“I didn’t want to drag you back for nothing.” Cam took a breath and let it out slowly. I’d been with Allan when he’d done that on three separate occasions. “Oh, that one wasn’t little.”

“I’m on my way. Where are the kids?”

“Ledger’s on his way to get them. I told them I was tired. Don’t think Bea believed me, but she kissed my cheek and just marched the other two out the door.”

He took another breath. “How soon can you get here?”

“Fifteen minutes.”

“Huh? It’s an hour in the car.”

“Fifteen.”

I was almost out the door when the client said something about lighting. This guy was human, so I used the word husband and said he was in labor. He hurried me out as I said over my shoulder the team could take over the installation.

“It’s almost done.”

My car was in the gallery lot with the keys still in it, but I crossed the road to a small park. It was the middle of a hot day and there was no one around, but I ran toward a bunch of trees as I tossed off my shirt.

My beast and I wanted the same thing, to get home as quickly as we could, and wings were faster than wheels. He tore through my clothes, spread those wings, and lifted off. I didn’t give a damn if anyone saw us. The dragon community could use the usual excuses of weather balloon, military plane, maybe even a UFO if there was a problem.

I’d flown for many reasons, including pleasure and to forget a lousy day, but this was a first. My beast’s wings were hammering the air and below us, the coast was a blur of green and gray. The wind screamed past my beast as all I could think of was getting home to my mate who was bringing our child into the world.

I thought about Allan giving birth to his beautiful babies, never imagining those little ones would become mine.

Faster, I begged my dragon as he drew closer to home. Cam needs me.

With the estate on the horizon, I expected my beast to slow and circle as he usually did, but he was still flying fast and he skidded over the ground, leaving marks on the lawn. Our dragon shifter neighbor was on his roof, and he shaded his eyes as we made the dramatic landing.

Ledger’s car wasn’t in the drive as I took my skin and raced inside the house, grabbing a pair of PJ pants from the laundry as I went.

I didn’t need to look for Cam. His whimpering reached me as I burst through the back door. That I didn’t like. My mate was in pain, and I couldn’t share it.

He was in the courtyard pushing himself forward and back on an exercise ball. I tore in and got on my knees.

“I’m home.”

CAM

“I’m home.”

Price put a hand on my back and matched my breathing.

“It hurts.” The cramping stopped, and I leaned on him.

“Pain before gain.”

“Huh?” I opened one eye. “You made that up. Isn’t it pain with a purpose?”

“Maybe.”

I kinda liked it because it was unique and it was ours.

I asked him to help me up, and he held me as I trundled around the courtyard. The space wasn’t the best place to give birth, but as my labor progressed, I’d been concentrating on the babbling water in the fountain. It soothed me and I didn’t feel so alone. Being able to look up at the sky reassured me that omegas had been giving birth for thousands of years. And when Price had arrived, I was able to see his dragon flying over the courtyard.

“Is this where you want to be?” my mate asked.