Shane: Dragon’s Savior – Ménage Erotic Fantasy (Dragon's Savior Book 4) (4 page)

Chapter 2

Shane was putting the last piece into place on his wall when he saw Essie. She was coming across the field with a picnic basket when he saw the stranger walking toward Essie. It took him only a moment to jump down to the earth and make his way to Essie. Whoever this person was, she could not have ill intent in her heart or she’d not be on the land, but he didn’t know her. When she reached Essie before he did, Shane felt fear. Moving quicker now, he was joined by Asher and Kiaran, and they too looked afraid. The woman turned to them just as they were nearly to her.

“She’s in labor.” The stranger’s voice was strong and clear. Shane looked around, thinking that Lindsey was there as well. “Her, you dolt. She’s having this baby now. Why the hell are you making her tote your lunch out here when she needs to be resting?”

As soon as Asher picked Essie up in his arms, she screamed. When he stopped, even breathing, Shane thought, Asher looked at him. There wasn’t just fear there, but he thought his brother looked ill as well. He could not imagine the total fear that was reflected on Asher’s face. The woman snapping her fingers in front of their faces had them looking at her.

“Lay her down here.” Nodding, Asher did as the woman said. “Send the dragon to the house. We’ll need blankets and some string. Do you have a good knife?”

No one moved. When she stood up and slapped Asher across the face, he put his hand to his cheek and stared at her. Shane took a step back, knowing that Asher was going to kill her for doing something so unprovoked.

“Are you here? You’ve not gone off again, have you?” Asher nodded then shook his head, his hand still on his face. “Good, you’re at least thinking how to nod. This is going to be fine. Have the dragon go to the house and get blankets, string, and a sharp knife. Stay with me and I’ll not have to harm you again, do you understand me?”

“Yes. But Essie, she’s my wife.” The woman said nothing but turned back to Essie, who was laying on the dirt, her body tight in pain. “I want to stay with her. She’s our wife.”

“Well good for you. But if you want this baby brought into his world before she’s college ready, then I suggest we work together. And try not to zone out on me again.” Asher looked at Keion, who had just joined them. After being told what was needed, he left them. Asher went to the ground on his knees when Kiaran did. “She’s in the final stages. Do you know what that means?”

“Yes. She’s ready to give birth. But I thought there would be time. A slow movement through labor and then delivery. Shouldn’t we wait to see if that happens?” The woman asked Essie, politely, to put her knees up. Shane moved back when it was apparent the baby was coming now, just as the stranger said. Asher and Kiaran moved to either side of her, each of them taking her hands. “What can we do?”

“I’m pretty sure that you’ve done about all you can about bringing this babe into the world by planting it there. What I want you to do now is keep her calm. She gets any tenser and we’ll never get this baby out.” Asher said he could do that. When the woman turned to Shane, all he could think about was her beauty. When she hit him in the belly, he focused on what she was telling him. “Are you stupid? Christ, I’m working with a yard full of idiots. I said go get some bottled water. The ones that might be warmed by being in the sun. Hurry.”

He was away and getting as many as he could carry when he realized that she was bossing them around like she was in charge. Shane figured that in this, she could be. Actually, he was glad someone was taking over for them, as none of them seemed to have a clue as to what they were doing. He did wonder where Grandda was. He’d been the one that said he’d deliver the child for Kiaran and Asher.

In only a few moments, Essie was screaming. It didn’t seem to be from pain, though he was sure she was, but more like she was grabbing up energy by doing it. Christ, he was sure that nary an animal would return to the forest for months, if not years, after hearing her letting herself go like that. But when Keion returned with a large bag in his claws, Shane started emptying out whatever was in it and handing it to the woman.

“Knife, or scissors, if you can find any.” He handed her a pair of scissors that had been buried at the bottom. When she took them, Shane didn’t look how she was utilizing them as he separated out the other items so that they’d be able to grab them should she need them. For some reason, he didn’t want to make her any pissier than she seemed to be right now.

The sound of a baby crying had him looking at Essie. She was holding this little bundle in her hands and sobbing. Asher, too, was crying, and Kiaran looked as if he’d been hit, hard and repeatedly. When Essie pulled the blanket down, he got his first look at the little girl. Christ, she was more beautiful than her mother, which he’d not thought at all possible.

Handing the woman whatever she needed without thinking about it, he helped her with Essie. It was messier than he’d thought it would be, this birthing thing. But he wouldn’t have missed this for the world. His first niece, the first baby that had been born to their family in centuries, was here, and mother and daughter seemed to be just fine. Thanks, he knew, to this stranger.

When the woman stood up, he did as well. She watched Asher and Kiaran as they fussed with Essie and their daughter. “Can someone take her home? There is no reason that she needs to be out here anymore, but keep her warm and lying down for a few more days. She will need plenty of that, and food. Also juice. I’m sure with witches around, you have plenty of that.”

“We do and I will. You’ll come along too, yes?” She shook her head at Asher and told him she’d only been coming to see someone. “Perhaps I can help you find them. It’s the very least we can do for what you’ve done for me this day. My name is Asher. This is my wife, Essie, and our partner, Kiaran. You would be?”

“Kiaran?” When Kiaran nodded she took a step back from them all. “You’re a dragon? You’re the man that my sister sent her life force to? I didn’t.... The magic here is very strong; I’m assuming that is why I didn’t feel you when I felt the babe call to me. I just assumed that you’d be human.”

“Yes, we like to keep others from figuring out who and what we are. You must be Lelani. I know your name because we’ve been looking into your life. My parents, Anthony and Eve, I believe you might have had some dealings with them. Or your mother would have. They protected you and your family.” She shook her head and Shane moved up behind her. The need to protect her, to help her, made him feel the need to tell Kiaran to leave her alone. “You don’t believe me?”

“Oh, I’m sure you were told all sorts of things they might have done for my sister and mother. They were safe, well cared for, and even taken care of after news was brought to us that the king and queen had been murdered. Even after my own mother was brutally murdered, they continued on as if nothing changed. I suppose that for Erin, it didn’t. But I was never a part of that good fortune. My sister was the firstborn, and thusly I was not as important nor a part of the magic that came to them, according to my mother. But that has nothing to do with why I’m here. I only want to see the memories you got from my sister so that I can figure something out.” Kiaran looked at Shane, then at Lelani again as she continued. “But I have a feeling that it’s not going to be simple, is it? Well fuck. I guess I’ve made a mistake coming here. I’m glad that your child is well and so is your wife, but I’m going to leave now, and I’d rather not have to hurt you so that you don’t follow.”

“No, please don’t go. I’d very much like to talk to you about what you’ve been led to believe. I have no idea how to give you a look into her memories, but as you have helped bring my daughter into this world safely, I’ll let you have what you wish. But I would also like a chance to ask you why you think you were not a part of the protection my parents put out there for you.” Lelani said nothing. “Will you stay? At least until we can get Essie settled?”

“For a little while, but I have a friend. If he isn’t welcome, then no, I can’t stay.” Asher said he was welcome as well as he moved toward their home. Shane moved with them, his hands itching to touch Lelani. When he felt the touch of his other half, he smiled at his humor when he asked if he thought she was always so friendly. But Lelani asked Asher after her friend again. “He’s magical and only answers to me. Is that a problem?”

“No. I don’t believe it will be. So long as he doesn’t hurt anyone here or create any issues, then things will be fine between us. But I don’t think he will do either, will he?” Lelani shook her head but said nothing to Asher. “Well, then you both are welcome to stay for as long as you wish.”

You think that she is our mate?
That stopped Shane. He looked around for Keion and told him that wasn’t funny.
No, it’s not, but you have been wanting to touch her for many moments. It’s either that or she’s naked. Naked women give you the same desires. Have you stripped her down without my knowledge, Shane?

He felt Keion’s humor and wanted to hunt him down and strangle him.
No. She’s not naked. What a thing to suggest.
But it was planted there now, the thought of her naked.
Keion, you should come here. Now, if you please, as a man. I’d like to see what she might be to us.

I was kidding.
There was a slight panicked sound to his voice now, and Shane didn’t blame him.
I have no desire to see a woman now that might or might not be our mate. I’m busy.

But the thought of her as their mate did have merit. To have someone in their life, like his brothers did, would be amazing. And to know that she’d be there with them forever made his step a little lighter. All these thoughts, and he’d only just met her.

And you think that being busy will make a difference? It won’t, in the event you were hoping so. Come to the house. I’d like to test this theory of yours.
Keion said he’d come when he was finished with the stones he was moving to the castle grounds. There were so few left to move.
I think it can wait for one more day. Come here please. The sooner we get this sorted out for us, the sooner we can go back to our lives. Perhaps with her in it.

Shane wasn’t sure they’d ever have normal again. Not with all this other stuff going around. And now a mate to put in the mixture? Well, he wouldn’t know for sure until he was able to touch her. While he was pretty sure she was, he wasn’t going to jump the gun just yet. But Christ, she was beautiful.

When Essie was settled in her bed, Simeon went to find their grandda. No one had been able to contact him nor their dad since they’d found out about Essie, and they were worried. But almost as soon as he left the big bedroom that Essie had been put in, he returned with not just Grandda, but their father as well. He was told about the newest addition to the family.

“Well, it’s a grand day for us all. Grand day. Lindsey went into labor just today as well, and had her own little bundle not an hour ago. That was where we were, bringing my granddaughter into the world. Little Eve Marie is as pretty as her momma. And I’m thinking that little Sally Anne here is just as.... Thank you for naming her for my dear love. She’d be so wonderfully happy.” Grandda huffed at him and Dad smiled. “Are you saying I didn’t help you? I was helpful; I did just what you told me to do when you told me to do it.”

“You were no such thing. More in the way than the boys were underfoot when they were but babes themselves.” Grandda handed Essie some broth and crackers. “You keep this down, love, and I will fix you a nice steak for dinner with all the trimmings. To think, two new babes in the household again.”

As they fussed around with both the new babies, going back and forth between the two bedrooms, and his dad finally got to hold Sally Anne, Shane watched Lelani. She wanted to bolt, and she wasn’t making any bones about it. Every time someone asked her if she needed anything, food or just a glass of juice, she told them that she’d not be there long and wouldn’t want to waste anyone’s time. Finally, when a cat, a lynx he thought it was, showed up, she settled, but not by much. The cat, Shane saw, was very protective of her. It was then that it occurred to him that he was the holder of some of her magic.

Familiar, he knew the term. Even Caroline had one…a bird that hung around her and did things. He was pretty sure that Gobi had taken one of the little faeries for her own as well. After Mystic, the girl who had worked for her, left, she said that she needed someone to talk to. Shane watched the cat and wondered again if this woman was his mate. He also knew that he’d have to get by the big guy in order to figure it out.

~~~

Lelani tried not to feel overwhelmed by all of them, but nothing she did was dissipating the panic that she was feeling. And the longer she stayed in the room with them, the higher her stress level got. There were more people in this one house than she’d seen in a month of Sundays in her own home. Trying her best to stay out of their way and not demand that she get to the memories, she leaned back in the chair and tried to relax.

You are going to be fine.
She told Roger that she was not. They were breathing on her.
I don’t believe they are doing any such thing. You’re exaggerating again. No one is even near enough to you to touch. Breathing requires them to be at least nose distance. Why must you say things like that when you know them to not be true?

Have I told you lately that I dislike you very much?
He laughed at her and she reached to touch his head.
I shouldn’t have come here. I knew it when we left. This is not a place that is going to welcome me any more than the mall does. He is fine, I knew that even then, and this family can protect itself better than I can.