A Mate for Kai (The Program Book 6) (11 page)

“It would be dangerous for me. Possibly very dangerous.” Ruby looked pale. Her amethyst eyes looked huge.

“In what way?” The feelings of panic returned.

“I’m a dragon, we breathe fire.”

Fucking hell! They were oil and water. Ying and fucking yang. Their species didn’t belong together. What had possessed this female to leave her kind, to seek out a male for the purpose of becoming pregnant? She had to have known what she was doing. In retaliation? As a
fuck you
to her obviously controlling brother? What was her reasoning? A dozen of such questions swirled around inside of him but none of them were important right now.

“How is fire breathing significant? Wait a minute…do babies of your species breathe fire as well?” He recalled how smoke had wafted from the shifter male’s nostrils.

“Even our unborn young, when developed sufficiently within the egg, breathe fire. More and more as they ready themselves for the hatching. There are others of our species who later lose the ability…it is what makes the Fire dragons so strong, but that’s not relevant. This child will start to breathe fire soon.”

His jaw dropped. “They breathe fire before they’re even born?”

She nodded. “Yes. I would regenerate if…” She rubbed her hand over her belly. “It would be excruciatingly painful but I’m sure I’d be okay. I think.” She didn’t look sure.

He couldn’t imagine how being burned from the inside would feel. Kai swallowed thickly. He grabbed the back of his neck. Then rubbed a hand over his mouth. “You might just be carrying a bit longer because of my vampire blood. You could still have an egg inside you.”

“There is no way of telling. I guess I didn’t think this through. I thought you were a human. I’m so sorry…I was desperate…I…”

“Ruby.” He whispered her name and she stopped talking and chewed on her lower lip instead. Gone was the fierce female. The vulnerable one was back and in full force. “There are more important things right now. I can’t believe this is happening. Shit…” Kai grit his teeth and moved to his haunches in front of her. “Thing is, it is happening whether we like it or not. We are going to have a serious talk about…why you did what you did. I’m angry.”
Understatement of the century.
“I don’t like you very much right now.”
Fucking understatement of the millennium
. “I doubt anything you say could change that.”

Fuck! Her eyes filled with tears. She blinked them away and pulled herself more upright. Her eyes hardened up. She was working hard not to cry.

Kai looked down for a moment or two, feeling himself calm. At least she wasn’t using tears to get to him. She seemed so genuine, so…nice.
Why? Why? Why
? Once again he pushed away the questions. “Regardless of how this happened though or how I feel right now, you are carrying my child.” He couldn’t help it any longer. His hand moved to stroke her belly.

Ruby tensed up. She released a small huff of air as soon as his hand made contact.

“Is this okay?” Emotion made his words thick. He couldn’t help himself. Feelings of…he wasn’t sure how to label them…just pure, intense emotion…rose up in him. It was like nothing he had ever experienced before.

“It’s fine.” Her voice shook. “I don’t mind.”

He brought both of his hands to her stomach and closed them around the very egg-like mound. “I want to be there for him. My feelings for you won’t change that. Whatever happens between us will never change that. I’m with you every step of the way. I promise…” He lifted his gaze.

Ruby was crying. Big tears rolled down her cheeks. “I’m sorry.” She blurted, wiping them away. She looked embarrassed. “It’s just…I thought I was alone in this. I didn’t think my child would ever know his father.” She fanned her face, looking up at the ceiling. “I’m sorry. I hate crying. I’m so hormonal. I cry for anything right now. Just ignore it…ignore me.”

Kai let go of her belly. He wanted to touch it some more. To nuzzle his face against it. Now he understood Lazarus’ need to carry his mate around. Especially now that she was so swollen with child. Twins. He couldn’t even begin to imagine. York was just as bad. He grunted at anyone who came anywhere near Cassidy. He talked to the baby and hugged and kissed her tummy constantly. Kai had thought it so strange to watch grown-ass males reduced to…that. Now, he could summon up a good dose of understanding.

Kai watched her wipe her eyes. “It’s logical for you to feel this way.” He said, as he stood upright. Hell, he had almost broken down and drizzed like a pussy since finding out about the baby and he wasn’t even pregnant. He had to work hard at remaining civil towards her, which was challenging at the moment.

“I dropped a glass the other day and cried like a baby when it shattered. I’m normally not so fragile, I swear.” She shook her head, looking really tired.

“I already called medical. We’re meeting with a human doctor and one of our best healers.”

Ruby looked away. He couldn’t help but catch her look of despair. When she looked back at him, determination shone in her eyes. “I am hoping they can shed some light onto this. I didn’t realize our species were so different. I suppose I should have guessed. You need to know that intervention is rarely successful for either mother or child. I am willing to try anything though.”

“Good. Let’s go, they are waiting.”

They turned down yet another corridor. The space felt cramped. That’s because it was cramped.
Don’t think about it
. They were under the castle. Her pulse raced and her breathing became more elevated. Her fear only grew worse with each step.
Don’t think about it
.

“Are you okay?” Kai frowned as he glanced at her.

Ruby shook her head. “No. Dragon shifters don’t like confined spaces. We need to be in areas large enough to accommodate a shift or we…”
Oh god…oh god
. “Lose it. I…” Her eyes darted around the hallway. The narrow, stifling, far too narrow hallway. There were no windows. They were underground. Oh god.

“Shit! You’re claustrophobic?” Kai stepped towards her.

“Yeah. We all are but some of us suffer from it worse than others.” She could barely breathe or think. It felt like her throat was closing.

“Why didn’t you say something sooner?” He put his hands on her hips. “Look at me. You’re eyes are glowing.” Kai squeezed her flesh. “Damnit.” He looked worried. A deep frown marred his forehead. His eyes were so dark, his mouth a thin a white line.

“I thought I could handle it. I didn’t know it would be this far underground.” She shuddered. “I can’t lose it or I’ll shift.” Oh good lord. Oh no. She could feel the tingling in her bones. The rubbing of her scales beneath her skin. She whimpered.

“Ruby.” Rough and demanding, yet with a coaxing edge. She loved the way her name sounded on his lips. What a time to think a thing like that. “You’ve got this.” His voice turned soft and soothing. Not soothing enough.

The rubbing grew worse. “You should move away from me. I might hurt you if I shift.”

“You’re not going to shift.” He ran his hands up and down her arms and she closed her eyes, concentrating on the warmth of his fingers. The softness of his touch. The tingling subsided…at least a little.

“I’m going to pick you up. Don’t panic. Just breathe deeply and try to stay calm.” He obviously had some kind of death wish or something.

“No. Just move away from me, I’ll try and make it back out on my own.” There was still a panicked edge to her voice. She really didn’t want to hurt him

“Not a fuck.” His voice was soft, given the nature of his words. Human curse words. From all the novels she had read, she knew them well.

Kai didn’t wait for her to argue further, he picked her up and pulled her against his chest. He made a small noise in the back of his throat that she recognized as strain.

The fear instantly evaporated as she nuzzled into his chest, breathing in his masculine, coppery scent. There were hints of soap and the minty scent of toothpaste on his breath. She could feel it took some effort for him to put one foot in front of the other. Ruby kept her eyes closed. “Are you okay?”

“I’m not sure what it is you had for breakfast but man oh man, you’re heavy.” He grunted with the effort.

Ruby giggled. She was nervous. Being so close to this male. Feeling his heart beat beneath his skin. Feeling his warmth. “I’m a dragon shifter. You carry me, you carry my dragon.”

“I’m carrying your dragon? That huge beast?” He choked out a laugh. “In that case…I’m one mean motherfucker.”

“My dragon is not a huge beast. She’s lean, sleek and elegant.”

“Yeah, whatever.” He snorted.

Ruby could hear that he was smiling. She couldn’t help but smile too. He made another tiny noise that indicated he was taking strain. She could feel his arms shake with the effort of holding her. Despite the outward signs of fatigue she could feel he had picked up the pace.

“You can put me down. I think I’ll manage now.”

His arms tightened around her. “No.” His voice was low and deep. “Sit tight.”

“Why do vampires use human cuss words so much?” Maybe if she took his mind off of his efforts.

“Human cuss words?” He sounded confused. “Oh…” He was smiling again. “You mean words like fuck.”

There was a tightening inside her although she couldn’t say why. “Yes…words like…fuck.”

Kai groaned and staggered a step. He was really struggling with her weight. Kai picked up the pace again within a stride or two. “Um…well…” He paused. Then he chuckled. “The humans stole a lot of choice words from us. They were the ones that decided they were vulgar and bad…not us. It’s normal for vampires to talk that way. Humans are timid about a lot of things, take sex…” He swallowed hard. “Never mind.”

“What were you going to say?”

“We’re here,” he growled, sounding angry.

She could hear a door opening and then she was being placed on her feet. He kept a hand on her hip until she found her balance.

Ruby opened her eyes. The ceilings were low but the room was otherwise spacious. It would be cramped if she shifted. Her wings might end up mashed against the ceiling but she wouldn’t come to any serious harm. She could breathe.

“Are you okay?” Kai gripped her elbow. “You have that deer in the headlights look again.”

“No. I’m fine. I wish there were windows. I’ll be okay.” Her eyes moved about the room, coming to rest on two females standing in the far corner, next to a bed.

“Hi.” The tiny female lifted her hand in greeting. From her scent and stature, she was the human of which Kai had spoken.

“Good morning.” The taller female scented of vampire. There were small lines around her mouth and eyes, as well as a few strands of grey that streaked her hair. An elder. The first she had seen since arriving here.

“My name is Becky and this is Eleanor.” The human motioned her hand to the vampire elder. “I am a doctor, a human healer. I have birthed a couple of mix…for lack of a better word…babies. Eleanor is the most experienced vampire midwife we have. You are in good hands.”

“Before we get into this, you need to know that dragon shifters birth eggs?” Kai blurted.

The human healer opened her mouth before closing it again. The vampire female just stood there, her eyes wide.

Finally the human, Becky, made a squeaking noise. “Interesting… Okay… It’s normal there would be differences. I just hadn’t been expecting something quite so…majorly different.” She pursed her lips for a moment. “Shew. I think that maybe we should sit down and put the kettle on for tea.”

“As in, the hot beverage that humans like to drink?” Ruby asked. She’d read about tea and coffee but had tried neither.

“The very one.” Becky pointed a finger at Ruby. “Can I make you a cup? Herbal, that is? Then again, caffeine would probably be okay for a nonhuman. No, we’d better make it herbal just in case.” She looked flustered.

Kai shifted from one foot to the other.

“Eleanor...can I make you a cuppa?” The human asked.

The elderly female frowned. “Why not.”

“What about you?” Becky turned to face Kai.

His jaw tightened, as did his entire body. He was wearing a T-shirt and blue jeans. She noticed that some of the males were wearing jeans at the bar she had frequented when trying to find a father for her baby. Up until then, she’d only read about the attire in books. Well, he looked really good. Mouth wateringly so. In some of the naughty romance novels she’d read, they spoke of how the fabric lovingly hugged the males thighs and ass. There was a whole of hugging going on below that male’s waist and boy was it loving. His shirt pulled tight across his chest and arms. The dark ink on his bicep was really quite exquisite.

He flexed his muscles for a beat. “I don’t think this is the right time to be drinking tea. You need to examine Ruby. She should’ve dropped…her egg by now.”

“Released.” She said, almost under her breath.

“Yes… Released.” He gave her a nod and a tight smile.

“It’s exactly the right time to drink tea.” Becky raised her brows and spoke in a no nonsense way that reminded her of the school mistresses back at home. The female narrowed her eyes at Kai. “Eleanor and I need as much detail as possible before we commence with the examination.” She walked over to a small table in the corner and flicked the switch. Then she opened the cupboard below and took out four mugs.

Kai huffed out a breath and put his hand behind his neck where he squeezed. She noticed it was something he did when he was anxious.

“Becky is right.” Funnily enough, Eleanor also sounded like a school teacher. “Let’s all go and sit down.” She pointed to a sitting area. “I’m sure you must be tired after the long walk.”

“Exhausted,” Kai muttered.

Despite the situation they found themselves in, Ruby had to laugh. “I’m sorry.” She mumbled when both healers looked at her like she was crazy.

His whole demeanor remained stiff and tense. For just a moment there, she’d forgotten he was still angry with her and rightly so. Just because she carried his baby or maybe because of it. Just because he had been kind to her, didn’t mean anything. He helped her because of their unborn child. There was no other reason. They didn’t even know each other. Not really.

She chose a two-seater couch but Kai made his way to the single chair in the corner and sat down, legs splayed. He rested his forearms on his thighs and clasped his hands together.

A lot of the questions the healers asked had already been covered in their earlier conversation. At one point there was a loud clicking noise accompanied by the sound of boiling water. Becky got up to make the tea. She handed one of the cups to Ruby. It was steaming and hot to the touch.

“I didn’t give you any milk because it’s herbal.” Becky said.

“Dragons don’t drink milk. It gives us really bad indigestion.”

“You’re lactose intolerant? That’s interesting.” She put her own cup down on the coffee table in front of her. “I suppose it does make sense considering you are part reptile.”

Ruby nodded and took a sip.

“Oh my word... Isn’t that too hot. You’ll burn your mouth.”

Ruby smiled. “Nah… We’re used to much higher temperatures. This is nothing.” She held up the mug.

The human female smiled at her. “Okay, so we’ve established you’re overdue, at least you would be if you were carrying a dragon shifter child. We don’t know whether you are carrying an egg or live young. I think we need to try and establish which it is.” She spoke slowly and carefully. “I have a machine that would allow us to have a look inside your belly. At least, this would be true if you were human. Vampires and humans carrying vampire young have some sort of a protective membrane that does not allow us to see inside of them. I’m pretty sure it’s going to be the same with you, but we need to give it a try. What do you think, Eleanor?” Becky looked across at the vampire female who had yet to touch her beverage.

“I don’t know anything about your fancy equipment. None of it works but there’s no harm in trying.” She looked thoughtful for a second. “I would take a look at the womb opening to establish how soon the birthing…releasing might take place.”

Becky nodded. “Definitely. You need to understand…” The female looked from Ruby to Kai and back again. “These tests might give us some sort of an indication but they are not conclusive. Mother nature has a way of taking things into her own hands.”

Ruby nodded. She licked her lips. “Interventions are rarely successful. The only metal strong enough to breach our skin is silver. It’s poisonous to us. Eggs are rendered barren and females have even died after coming into contact with the metal. There is normally nothing that can be done.”

“It’s the same with vampire females.” Eleanor looked grave. “In this, our species are not so different. We will do what we can for you, my child.” The older female took her hand and squeezed. The vampires in general may have stared and spoke about her behind their hands, but the ones she had met, had made her feel welcome and for that she was grateful.

“I’m going to give you a gown and ask that you lie down. Um…” The human frowned. “It’s a bit of a strange situation. I believe that the two of you had a one-night stand?”

Ruby felt herself frown. “Sorry, a one…” Then it dawned on her what the healer had meant. “Yeah, that would be right,” she said.

Kai was frowning.

Becky nodded. “I need to ask, would it be okay if Kai were to remain in the room for your examination?”

They both said yes. Kai growled the word. His jaw worked. The air in the room around them felt loaded with tension. Ruby was sure that if you listened hard enough you would hear it crackle.

He rubbed his hand over his mouth. “Is that okay?” He turned those fathomless, dark eyes on her.

Ruby nodded.

“Are you sure?” Becky asked. “I would need to do an internal exam. You won’t be wearing any underwear. You have every right to say no.”

The male bristled. His large frame seemed to grow larger. If he was a dragon, smoke would’ve been coming out of his nose. Possibly even a flicker of fire.

“He is the father of this child. He can stay. Whatever tests we need to do, I don’t mind him staying through any of them. I am not modest when it comes to my body.” Ruby had no qualms with being naked. Even if she did, she had no right to make him leave. She hadn’t planned on ever telling him but things had changed. Something in her eased. He may not like her, he may even hate her for what she had done but he was here for her. He was here for their little one.