Chapter 25

Chapter Twenty-Five

T wo weeks later, Hayley still had trouble getting out of bed in the morning. Not because she was exhausted or had developed early morning sickness—which apparently was common among humans who conceived dragon-shifter babies—but because she loved waking up in Nathan's arms and listening to his slow, even breathing.

Everything still felt like a dream to her. Nathan had already become her best friend, the best lover of her life, and kept asking what he could do to help her with both the database project and moving her practice to Stonefire.

He didn't dismiss her suggestions or pretend to listen to her plans before lecturing her about how they were wrong. All things she'd experienced in the past.

She should simply be grateful. And yet, she kept thinking something had to go wrong, eventually.

Nathan's sleep-tinged voice snapped her out of her thoughts. "Hayley? Why are you frowning, love?"

She met his gaze. "It's nothing."

"As in really nothing? Or is this the case when you say nothing, but it's really something?"

"Nothing really important. I just sometimes think this is all a dream and I'll wake up to find myself stuck back in the bunker."

Luckily, her nightmares hadn't come back since returning to the surface.

Nathan traced her cheek with his finger. "I could take you to my secret spot nearby and we could have an outdoor picnic. One where we eat the cake you made before I eat you."

He waggled his eyebrows, and she laughed. "I'm surprised you didn't suggest icing me and licking me clean."

His pupils flashed rapidly. "That could be arranged."

She kissed him. "I have to go into town to sign some DDA documents for my new practice. Whilst there, I also plan on doing some last-minute shopping for our mating ceremony in two days. I won't have a chance tomorrow since my sister will finally arrive."

Carla and her family had been given leave to stay on Stonefire for an entire week. Not for the first time, Hayley was glad she'd gone through the frenzy first because now after her mating ceremony, she could spend time with her sister.

Nathan frowned. "I wish I could go with you."

"I know, but the DDA switched my appointment last minute, and you didn't have time to get permission to visit Manchester."

"Can't you send the other humans into town for you? Once we're mated, you can go as often as you want. But I don't want someone to woo you away from me."

She rolled her eyes. "I'll be fine. Plus, the sooner I sign the documents, the sooner I can get to work for both Stonefire and the other dragon clans. It's not something I can do virtually, and who knows the next time they'll have an open appointment."

Apparently, many things related to dragon clans were still done in hard copy. Something else Hayley intended to change sooner rather than later.

When Nathan's frown deepened, she added, "Besides, Dawn and Sarah roped in Rafe Hartley to accompany us. He said he has some other contacts who will also watch over us in town. If anything, it's like I have a security team for the day."

He caressed her cheek. "Just come back to me safe, Hayley. You know what I found online about your former stalker."

The man had been released and was free again. But he spent most of his time ranting about how dragon-shifters received special treatment and that humans had it so much harder now.

If nothing else, his obsession had moved away from her.

She nodded. "I'll be careful. Plus, I'm addicted to your dragon-shifter magic by now, so just let someone try to keep me away. Because once you go dragon, you never go back."

He snorted. "You sound like the other human females on Stonefire."

"Enough about other humans. I think it's time you gave me more of your dragon-shifter magic, to remind me of just how good it is."

Nathan's pupils flashed rapidly, and he didn't hesitate to give it to her.

Hours later, Hayley walked out of a DDA conference room in Manchester Town Hall—one of many the DDA used for Stonefire-related activities—and stretched her arms over her head. The meeting had taken nearly two hours, but in the end, she'd been granted permission to establish a practice on Stonefire and to handle both human and dragon business.

It was a small win since Hayley was the first human who could represent both on a permanent basis. However, as much as she wanted to do a little dance and celebrate, all she could think about was finding a snack and heading home.

Home. Yes, Stonefire already felt like home to her.

She walked down the narrow corridor and into the reception area. As soon as she exited into the main hallway, she looked around for Rafe, Dawn, and Sarah, but didn't see them anywhere.

After checking her phone for texts and finding none, she frowned. Where were they?

Maybe they were waiting outside. It was a rare sunny day and the view of Manchester Town Hall could be quite pretty, given how it somewhat resembled the Houses of Parliament in London, albeit on a much smaller scale.

Her stomach rumbled again. The one irritating thing about carrying a dragon-shifter's child was the fact she was always hungry. Something about dragon-shifters needing immense amounts of calories to grow.

Since there wasn't anywhere to eat in this building, she headed down the stairs and for the main entrance. Just as she was about to push open the door, a woman's voice said, "Ms. Beckett, one more thing, please! You forgot to sign this last form."

Resisting a sigh, she turned around. It was the lady from the reception desk. "Sorry, I thought I'd signed them all. Can we do it down here, or do I need to go back upstairs?"

"There's a room down here we can use. I just need it to be witnessed by another staff member. If that's all right?"

The woman was young, maybe twenty, and looked terrified that Hayley would say no. "That's fine. But let's make it quick. I'm pregnant and hungry, and the last thing I want to do is take it out on you."

"Pregnant? But you haven't mated the dragon-shifter yet."

Since she'd discussed Nathan in detail during her interview and in the paperwork, Hayley wasn't surprised the woman brought it up.

Although she had mentioned her pregnancy as well, so why was the woman surprised?

She's the receptionist. She probably doesn't know everything.

Still, Hayley's gut said to be cautious. "I just need to let my friends know I'll be a while longer and then I can sign as many forms as you like."

"But my boss is leaving in ten minutes. If you want this filed today and don't want to postpone your mating ceremony tomorrow, I need you to sign it now."

Hayley glanced out the door, but still didn't see her friends. She quickly typed out a text and sent it before replying to the woman, "Fine. Let's make it quick, if possible, please."

"Right away, ma'am. This way."

Hayley followed the woman down the hall and turned a corner. Four doors down, she knocked and turned the handle. "In here."

She peered inside to find a conference room, but no one else was inside. "Where's the staff member?"

"I need to fetch him. It won't be a moment."

Since the room was empty, Hayley hesitated. Then a wave of dizziness came over her, and she stumbled.

The woman helped her inside and into a chair. "Are you all right?"

"Just hungry. Even tea with sugar would help, if you have any."

"Right away. I'll get that and then fetch my coworker."

Hayley propped her arms on the table and held her head. The dizziness had never been this bad before. Yes, she had to eat loads to keep her energy up, but she'd had two pastries right before the meeting.

Then the dizziness grew worse, and black dots filled her vision before the world went dark.