Reawakening the Dragon: Part Four (8 page)

“Look at me, Jane Hartley.” She obeyed. Kai’s gaze was fierce as he continued, “It’s true that a frenzy can overcome a weaker dragon-shifter and they lose the ability to control their lives. But I am not weak-willed. You may have noticed my stubbornness.” Jane smiled at that and Kai traced her cheek. “I don’t want Maggie Jones. Hell, I don’t think my dragon even wants her anymore.” He traced her brow. “All we want is you, Jane. You’re clever, stubborn, and more beautiful than any female I’ve ever seen. I’m stronger with you at my side and while I won’t admit it to anyone else, I’m a better male because of you. You brought laughter back into my life when I thought I’d never have it.” He laid his forehead against hers. “I love you, Jane Hartley. Will you stay with me forever?”

Jane’s eyes teared up. “You say all of that with such conviction. I’m not sure I can say no.”

Kai growled. “That’s still not an answer, Janey.”

Jane raised a hand to Kai’s cheek and whispered, “I bloody love you, too, so I guess that means I don’t have a choice.”

Kai growled and flipped her onto her back. “Tell me you want to stay.”

“Kai Sutherland, I want to stay. You and Stonefire are my future.”

“Good answer,” he murmured before he kissed her and showed just how much he loved her.

Chapter Five

A few hours later, Kai squeezed Jane’s hand in his as they approached Bram’s cottage. “I still say we should’ve just talked with Bram over the phone.”

Jane squeezed back. “You of all people should appreciate a face-to-face conversation. There’s so much we can learn from Bram’s facial expressions.”

Kai grunted and looked down at Jane. “Remind me why I love you again.”

She grinned and his heart skipped a beat. “Because you can’t scare me and I don’t put up with your crap.”

Kai’s dragon grunted.
Why did you let her convince us to do this? If you had allowed me to be in charge, I would’ve found other ways to persuade her to stay home.

It’s hard to say no to her. You know that.

We’re going to work on that soon. I can keep her in line.

Kai snorted inside his head.
I’d like to see that.

Jane’s voice interrupted his conversation with his dragon. “What is your dragon going on about now?”

Kai paused and tugged Jane’s hand until she crashed against his body. “It doesn’t matter. Just give me a kiss to shut him up.”

“You’re going to try to order me around until I’m ninety years old, aren’t you?”

The corner of his mouth ticked up. “Probably. But I have other ways of getting what I want.”

Jane opened her mouth, but Kai cut her off with a slow, lingering kiss. He was about to wrap an arm around Jane’s waist and hold her tightly when Bram’s voice boomed out. “I believe your hour was up quite some time ago, Kai.”

Kai broke the kiss and murmured, “As if an hour is enough time to spend with my female.”

Bram spoke as if Kai had shouted it across the way. “You and Jane are the ones who wanted to see me, so hurry up. Evie’s feet are killing her and I’d like to massage them before much longer.”

Kai shook his head, gave Jane one last kiss, and turned to face his clan leader. “You’ve changed, Bram.”

Bram smiled. “Aye, and for the best. Much like yourself.”

Jane tugged Kai’s hand. “In the amount of time you’ve been teasing him, we could’ve received answers already. Let’s go.”

Kai followed Jane’s lead, but soon he was in front and tugging her along. They reached the front door and Bram stepped to the side as he motioned toward the living room. “We’ll talk in there.”

Kai guided Jane into the living room. Nodding to Evie, who sat in the armchair, Kai plopped onto the couch and tugged Jane into his lap. She landed with a squeak. “What are you doing?”

He hugged her tightly. “I want to hold the female I love in my lap. It’s not a crime.”

Jane tried to frown but ended up smiling. “There’s that hidden romantic side again.”

Kai merely grunted and Jane laughed. However, before he could say anything in response, Evie’s voice caught his attention. “I knew it. See, Bram? Kai and Jane are in love. Kai even mentioned it. There’s no way you can’t say I didn’t win the bet. I now have full naming rights to our unborn child.”

Bram sighed. “Aye, you do. Just don’t name our baby Gladys or Jethro.”

Mischief danced in Evie’s eyes. “Oh, I’m sure I can do worse.”

Bram shook his head before sitting on the arm of the chair and taking a possessive hold of Evie’s shoulders. “We can argue about it later. Kai and Jane requested a meeting, so let’s hear what they have to say.”

Kai laid his chin on Jane’s shoulder and met his clan leader in the eye. “Jane wants to stay.”

Jane wiggled in his lap. No doubt she was tempting him with her full bum against his cock. “Let me translate Kai-speak for you. Kai has asked me to be his mate and I’ve said yes. The question is twofold. One, will you allow it? And two, will the DDA allow it?”

As Bram’s eyes darted between Kai and Jane, Kai’s heart rate kicked up. There were very few situations that made Kai nervous or anxious. Only because he held Jane’s body close and was surrounded by her scent did Kai not jump up, tug Bram up by his shirt, and demand an answer.

Taking a deep inhalation of Jane’s scent, Kai waited for Bram to decide his future.

~~~

Jane clutched Kai’s arms around her waist. Being surrounded by his hard chest and delicious heat helped keep her nerves calm. She knew Bram was only half-responsible for her ability to live on Stonefire with Kai, but it was the important half. No doubt, Evie could work her magic with the DDA.
 

But if Bram said no or told Jane to leave, she wouldn’t have a choice.

Kai had offered to follow her wherever she went earlier, but she couldn’t allow him to leave Stonefire. He was the clan’s best chance at a secure future.

Bram grinned and Jane’s stomach stopped churning. “Of course my answer is yes. Jane can stay. I just like to make Kai sweat it a little since I rarely have the chance.”

Kai growled. “That’s not bloody funny, Bram.”

“I thought it was hilarious. But it was a test of sorts.”

Jane frowned. “What sort of test?”

Bram motioned toward them. “Watching the two of you hold onto to each other for support tells me volumes about your feelings for each other. Saying you love someone is grand, but actions speak the truth of a strong bond. The two of you belong together.”
 

Jane relaxed against Kai’s chest and her dragonman nuzzled her cheek as he asked, “What about the DDA?”

Evie waved a hand in dismissal. “I asked them about it last week. The special license is waiting in Bram’s study.”

Jane jumped in. “You knew before we even did?”

Evie smiled. “Of course. I have the best track record when it comes to guessing future mates.”

Bram grunted. “Only when you see them together. You’ve been dead wrong about Sid so far.”

Evie met her mate’s eyes. “She’s hard to read, but I’ll crack her yet.”

Jane cleared her throat. “As much as I’d love for Sid to find happiness, maybe one of you could collect the special license and give it to us?” Kai squeezed his arms around her waist and she rubbed his forearms as she added, “I just want to make sure you don’t change your mind.”

Bram stood. “Impatient, are you?”

“Yes,” Kai and Jane said in unison.

Bram chuckled and exited the room. Evie looked to them and tilted her head. “I somehow can’t see Kai wanting a grand mating ceremony in front of the clan, but if you two want one, maybe you can delay it a bit.”

Kai growled. “I want everyone to know Jane is mine.”

Jane patted his arm. “Calm down, boy. Let Evie finish.”

Kai growled again but remained silent. Evie placed her hand over her pregnant belly. “Once you two sign the license, you’ll be legally mated. However, if I know Jane at all, she’d like to use her mating ceremony as an opportunity to help the dragon-shifters’ cause.”

Jane raised her brows. “If I remember right, you did the same.”

“Yes, but it was only for a handful of reporters.”

“Not me,” Jane added.

Evie grinned. “No, but you won the best scoop in the end.”

Kai muttered, “Do I get a say in this?”

Jane turned her head to meet his eye. “Don’t you want your mum and sister to be there, too? It will take some time to garner permission from Snowridge. It’s just a ceremony. You’re already mine, dragonman.”

Bram entered and handed Jane a piece of paper. Written on it were the words, “Special Mating License.” In black ink were hers and Kai’s names.

Her hand shook a little and her eyes grew wet. Kai moved one hand to cover hers and he whispered, “No second thoughts allowed, Janey. There’s no bloody way I’m letting you leave.”

“As if you could prevent me from doing anything.”

Kai’s eyes turned concerned. “Then what’s wrong?”

Jane gave a weak smile. “I’m not having second thoughts. I’m just happy and trying not to cry.”

Kai kissed her cheek. “You’re strong, Janey. Go ahead and cry if you like. I’ll always be there to hold you close.”

Jane’s throat closed up. “Kai.”

Her dragonman plucked the license from her hand and tossed it to the side. Then he half-turned her body toward him and he cupped her cheek. “I once thought I’d never love again. But you brought both man and beast back to life with your sassy attitude and heated looks. You could grow two heads and I’d still love you. Never hold back with me, Jane Hartley. Never.”

Jane nodded as a tear trailed down her cheek. Kai gently brushed it away and she sat up a little taller. “Then kiss me, Kai Sutherland, and make me so happy tears roll down my cheeks.”

Kai frowned. “I don’t want you to cry if you’re happy.”

Jane laughed and lightly tapped Kai’s cheek. “Then how about we go home and you make me happy in other ways. I think you like screaming, if I remember right.”

Jane ignored Bram’s chuckle, but Kai glared at Stonefire’s leader before looking back to Jane. “Let’s go home. And I’m impatient, so I’m carrying you.”

“Don’t you—”

Kai stood up with Jane in his arms. “This way is faster.”

Jane clutched her arms around Kai’s neck not a second too soon. Her dragonman was running out of Bram’s house and toward their own within seconds.

Laying her head over his heart, she listened to the steady rhythm and couldn’t help but smile. Kai was hers as much as she was his. And there was no bloody way she was giving him up. Even if Maggie Jones showed up, Jane believed Kai would choose Jane over the Welsh dragonwoman. Bram’s words about actions speaking volumes were true. Kai would always hold her close and never let her go.

Not even a dragon’s bloody instinct was going to change that.

Epilogue

Three weeks later

Jane eyed the seven-foot wide and four-foot tall basket with large metal ring handles and then back to Kai standing beside her. “Have any of those rings given out before? They’re only attached to the basket with a few scraps of fabric.”

The corner of Kai’s mouth ticked up. “That’s excuse number fifteen as to why you don’t want to go up for a flight. You’re running out of excuses.”

She straightened her shoulders. “I’m not making up excuses. I’m trying to ensure quality control.”

Kai crossed his arms over his chest. “I don’t bloody care what you call it. If you want to meet my sister, mum, and stepfather, then you need to get into that damn basket.”

“I still don’t understand why we can’t drive.”

“They live in the mountains near Snowdonia National Park in Wales. It’s extremely difficult to drive there. Flying is easier.”

“Ah, but driving isn’t impossible.”

Kai sighed. “You’re the one who wants to go. I’m content to have them come here.”

Jane eyed the basket again. The trip was much more than Kai getting to see his family, and she knew it. Bram and Evie were pinning their hopes on the visit going well. If it did, it opened up further talks of alliances and cooperation.

Jane refusing to crawl into the basket would be extremely selfish.

Looking up at Kai, she reached out and placed a hand on his chest. “You promise to catch me if the basket falls?”

He placed his hand over hers and grunted. “It won’t bloody happen. But if it does, I will always catch you, Jane. Even if it means breaking every bone in my body.”

She smiled. “You’re turning into quite the romantic. Are you still the strong, fierce Protector I first met in Newcastle?”

“Of course.” He tugged her close. “Even a soldier can have a soft spot for his mate.”

“I’m not your mate, yet.”

Kai’s pupils flashed to slits and back. “Only because you haven’t decided on a date yet.”

She placed a gentle kiss on his lips and murmured, “Be patient, Kai. The best things are worth waiting for.”

His look turned heated and Jane knew if she didn’t run to the basket in the next ten seconds, their trip would be postponed yet again.

She pushed against Kai’s chest and he reluctantly let her go. Walking toward the basket, she said over her shoulder, “Aren’t you coming? We don’t want to keep your mum and sister waiting.”

Kai merely shook his head as he shucked his clothes and tossed them into the basket. “If we’re late, it’s your fault, not mine.”

Jane paused and then leaned against the woven basket. “I thought that a dragon in love bent over backwards for his or her mate.”

 
“You’re not officially my mate, yet.” Kai smiled. “Regardless of what that scrap of paper says, you need to wear my name on your arm and claim me in front of the clan to truly make it official.”

Jane stuck out her tongue and then replied, “You might’ve won this round, but I’m still ahead.”

Kai walked a little further away to give him room to shift. “Only because you cheat.”

“Hey, it’s not my fault you lost five points for punching my brother in the face.”

Kai grunted. “He started it.”

She placed a hand on her hip. “Still, you promised not to hit him. You could’ve pinned him with one of your special moves instead.”

“He scolded you for ‘shacking up with a dragonman’ and then yelled at me for defiling his sister. He was the idiot who punched me. He learned his lesson in the end.”