24. Hannah

Chapter 24

Hannah

W e followed the king, Katar, and Bailey to the hospital and waited while they checked her in. They didn’t necessarily need us here, but Katar looked kind of pale.

“I’m worried he’ll pass out,” Reylor said. “You don’t mind, do you?” He stroked my cheek. “This is messing with our dinner.”

“I’m excited for them. We can get something later, right?”

His grin rose. “Right.”

“My great-nephew or great-niece is about to arrive,” King Truceer declared to the waiting room in general. “Allow me to say that it’s an honor to be here for this momentous occasion.”

A few monsters and people in the waiting area stared at him with wide eyes. It was hard not to since he wore a small crown—my “day” crown, my dear, he’d told me—plus a maroon velvet robe trimmed with what looked like real gold and jewels. Black pants with black shoes also adorned with gold covered his legs and feet. And his thick necklace and rings could probably feed a small country for a year.

He literally glowed under the fluorescent lights.

If that didn’t draw attention, his five guards sporting swords and various other weapons would do it.

The hospital security team arrived within moments of us, and they clustered near the entrance doors. I could tell they weren’t sure if they should storm over and disarm the king’s entourage or ask for an autograph. I suspected the orc security guard who’d whispered feverishly to the rest of his team and held one of them back might be the only reason the king’s guards still carried their weapons, because I doubted they were allowed in a hospital waiting area.

“We’re going to take her up to the maternity ward,” the yeti nurse said, bringing Bailey over in a wheelchair to where we waited. Katar followed them, his eyes wide and his mouth slightly ajar. “She’ll be saying goodbye now. Well, except for her husband, her delightful birth coach.” She dimpled a smile Katar’s way. “You must be very excited.”

“I am.”

“Sweetie,” Bailey said, holding her hand out to him and then drawing him closer. “Stay close. I—” Her words were cut off by her guttural groan. “Here comes another one!”

“Another contraction,” Katar said, his voice frantic. “She needs a bed. We need help here!”

“I’m here to help,” the nurse said calmly. “Breathe, Bailey. Breathe through it. It’ll be over with soon.”

Bailey puffed.

The king sagged into a chair. Two of his guards picked up magazines and started fanning his face while the others placed their hands on the hilts of their weapons and glared at the room in general, as if they suspected someone would take advantage of their sovereign ruler while he was feeling overcome with emotion.

“Good luck,” Reylor told Katar, slapping his shoulder. “I’ll handle things in the office from now on. You enjoy this moment with your wife and soon-to-be-born youngling.”

“Enjoy,” Katar repeated, his eyes even wider than they were when Bailey had a contraction. “Yes, so . . . enjoyable.”

Bailey whimpered through another contraction.

Katar got even paler.

“Goodbye,” Bailey said once it was over. “I’ll let you all know how it goes.”

I gave her a quick hug. “Thinking of you,” I whispered. “Take care. I’ll come see you both soon.” And I’d bring her some meals for the freezer. They were going to be busy once they brought their little one home.

“Uncle,” Katar called out. “I’m kind of busy. Can you get to your hotel alone?”

“Go on with you.” King Truceer flapped his hand Katar’s way. “Do let me know when it’s over.” He rose to his feet, and I was glad to see he no longer appeared shaky. “My guards will see me to my destination.”

“Indeed,” one said, bowing the king’s way.

They swept out through the entrance, to the relief of hospital security.

I gave Katar a hug, and we watched as the yeti nurse wheeled Bailey toward the elevator with Katar holding her hand, walking beside her.

“Well,” I said, grinning Reylor’s way, “so exciting.”

“Such a wonderful time for them both.” He held up his phone. “Let me order something from Kraken’s Keep, and we can pick it up when it’s ready and eat it at your place.”

“Sounds good.”

We stepped out of the hospital and sat on a bench while we decided what we wanted to eat. After he placed the order, we went around the building to the back lot where Reylor could shift. I turned away while he stripped and placed his clothing in the bag that he dropped to the ground.

A flash, and he stood nearby in his gorgeous dragon form.

I was no longer frightened. In fact, I found him rather sexy in this form. Not that we’d do anything sexy about it, but he was so big and protective. Confident and strong. And who wouldn’t be excited by the thought that a potential boyfriend could shoot fire?

After I settled on his back and secured his bag to the spike between his shoulders, he took flight, soaring over the town while I exclaimed about how amazing it looked from overhead. The lights. The people and monsters strolling along the sidewalk who didn’t seem to be aware we flew overhead. And the endless sea sparkling in the moonlight.

Since our order wouldn’t be ready for twenty minutes or so, we’d opted to fly to my B&B. Reylor would drive to Kraken’s Keep to get our order when it was ready.

He landed lightly, and I turned away while he dressed, though he only donned his jeans and left his feet and chest bare.

Hand-in-hand, we strolled on the path weaving through the dunes between my building and the beach.

When we reached the lightly wooded area where my lawn gave way to sand, Reylor stopped, peering toward the backyard.

Someone stood on my small back deck. They held a saw and were methodically hacking up the railing. The rest of the railing spanning the platform lay on the patio in pieces.

With shadows blanketing the deck and patio, I couldn’t tell who it might be.

A growl erupted from Reylor’s throat, and he raced toward them.