Chapter 30

Chapter Thirty

A s the human female named Grace's vitals continued to crash, Dr. Trahern Lewis raced to his laboratory and went to the fridge containing his best potential serums. None of them were perfect, and he would rather run more tests. But Sid and Gregor were struggling to stabilize the human and her two babies, and his concoction might be their last chance to save her.

Normally, he'd ask his fellow researcher, Emily, for confirmation about whether he should even try the serum he was searching for or not. But the human female was currently helping Clan Lochguard—well, in fact, Clan Seaheaven—in Scotland and wouldn't be back for weeks.

His dragon wasn't the most talkative of beasts, but he said, It's fine. If we don't try to help, she'll die.

Trahern found the correct vial and dashed back to the patient's room. Ignoring Sid and Gregor, he went straight for the drawer containing the syringes and carefully filled one with the correct dosage.

Back he went to the bedside. The human was still unconscious, and the monitors were beeping rapidly. She didn't have much time before they'd have to decide whether to save the mother or the babies.

His dragon spoke up. We can save both. We have permission. Help her!

Trahern had mentioned the serum to the two older dragon doctors earlier, and they'd said it was fine to try it, if she still hadn't stabilized by the time he returned. So he pierced her upper arm and depressed the plunger. His eyes moved to her face and waited.

She was far too still, the kind of still that usually meant death was coming. Her dark skin was ashen, and her black, curly hair drenched with sweat.

His dragon said, She's pretty.

Trahern frowned. Why are you commenting on that? It's inappropriate.

Before his beast could say anything, Grace gasped and arched off the bed. But it lasted only a second before she relaxed and his eyes shot to the monitors. Little by little, her blood pressure and heart rate were returning to normal.

A few seconds later, Grace blinked open her eyes. Eyes filled with a mixture of pain, sadness, and…anger.

Why would she be angry at this moment? He avoided deliveries if at all possible, but maybe trying to push babies out of their vaginas made females upset.

Dr. Sid went to Grace's other side, gripped her hand, and stated firmly, "On this next contraction, I need you to push, Grace. If we can't deliver your babies soon, we'll have to try a C-section. But with dragon-shifter children, it's far more dangerous. So push with everything you've got."

For a second, the human looked sad, alone and scared. Trahern wasn't one to usually offer comfort. Emotions could be confusing for him, and affection even more so.

And yet, he reached for the human's free hand and squeezed. Her gaze shot to his, and it looked like she might cry.

His dragon said, Do something.

Trahern said, "You can do this, Grace. We're here to help you. Stonefire will help you."

Gregor shot him a confused look, but Trahern ignored the Scottish dragonman. And when Grace gave a weak smile, he forgot about everything but the human as she replied, "I'll hold you to that, even if I don't expect anyone to honor it."

Then the next contraction hit, and Grace crushed his hand as she pushed. With each contraction, he or Dr. Sid would offer support, and Gregor would give encouragement until finally both babies—twin boys—were safely delivered. As they were being checked over by the nurses, Trahern tried to go help them, but Grace wouldn't release his hand.

And for whatever reason, her exhausted face stopped him from asking her to let go.

His dragon hummed, but said nothing.

Trahern should say something. Congratulations, maybe? But then she'd been a prisoner recently. And had cursed out some unknown dragonman during the delivery.

Maybe he'd forced himself on the human. Or used and discarded her.

Or any of the other million things that made sex and relationships complicated.

Eventually Gregor asked, "Do you want to hold your sons, lass?"

Grace looked away from Trahern, and a tear ran down her cheek. She croaked, "Yes."

She finally released his hand as Gregor and Dr. Sid placed a child in each arm, staying to help her hold them.

After everything she'd been through, he hadn't expected her to kiss each baby's forehead and whisper, "My babies. You're here. I don't know what happens next, but I will love you forever."

He studied the female and her two sons. She still seemed incredibly sad, as if she were waiting for something bad to happen.

Before he could think better of it, he blurted, "You're safe here. Don't cry."

Both Dr. Sid and Gregor blinked at him, but Trahern never looked away from Grace.

The human replied, " He was paid half up front for getting me pregnant and helping them capture me. He'll try to find us, to steal my sons, and receive the rest. We won't be safe anywhere. Not unless I give up my children to the DDA so they can be fostered far away from me."

Without thinking for once, Trahern replied, "You can stay here. Stonefire will protect you. If you're my mate, they can't take you away."

Dr. Sid and Gregor gasped, but Trahern didn't care. He didn't really understand why he was offering this. He'd never thought to have a mate. Emotions were confusing, and he wasn't quite sure he believed love was possible for him. He'd come to terms with that, but Grace probably deserved better.

However, the female's sadness and loneliness had called out to him and his dragon. It was as if he'd needed to make the offer, even if she rejected him.

So he waited for her answer, to see if he'd just changed the entire course of his life or not.