Legend of the Touched Read online

  "No offense is taken my lord. I have a hard time as well, but my faith is keeping me strong."

  "I hope to be able to do the same."

  Matt continued to smile, his face starting to hurt from having forced it there. Even he didn't know what to think of the possibility of having a daughter. Everyone knew dragons were always born male. That was why they needed the human females to mate with. Having a girl dragon would throw off the entire system. Would she be the only one? Or would this become a new thing? Their entire way of life was going to change if that were true. They wouldn't know until after the egg hatched. Initial scans suggested the baby his wife Kat carried was indeed a girl, but nothing was for certain until they could finally see her. First the egg had to be delivered and then it would need to incubate for another three months before it hatched. A month and a half remained until delivery.

  "I figure it would be good for you to meet now before she is born, so you can get acquainted with one another," Lynx said.

  "Excuse me, what?" Matt raised an eyebrow.

  "As part of the agreement made with the last Terran lord, the son of Taylor's son will wed your daughter."

  Assuming I have one you mean. Why hadn't he been consulted about this decision? He stared at his father to silently express his displeasure in this.

  "Lord Kinsley desired a large price to make up for the cost his people would be paying in the war against the Oceina. A pure blood dragon marriage is a good offer, don't you agree? The offspring of two Touched ones. Imagine what that union would do for our two nations. We will be stronger together."

  "Yes." Matt could see the logic. It would certainly make raising her a bit easier if she was in a prearranged relationship. He only wished he could have been asked, even if his answer would have been yes.

  Chapter Four

  The Oceina

  Feeling like a zombie was nothing new for Tai these days. Being pregnant sapped a lot of her energy, and that mixed with Darien keeping her up all night with his late night thinking didn't help. At least he had helped her study which resulted in the longest conversation the two had with one another in a long time. Everything was a lot more difficult than she thought it would be. Being pregnant was at the top of the list, and she wasn't even that far along. For a while, she'd been petrified of the idea, especially afraid of getting large and wondering just what the other students would think about her. It'd be easy for her to disappear, but then the whole purpose of going to school would be gone. She rubbed at her eyes, trying to get rid of the sleep lingering about them.

  "Need some coffee?" Alexjavier, one of her classmates, practically shoved a cup under her nose.

  You have no idea. She wanted it, badly.

  Huh? Darien popped in. She needed to get better about blocking out all of her small insignificant thoughts from him. He was always too curious for his own good. There was a comment for everything it seemed, and it was more or less annoying.

  Nothing, can't I think to myself? she asked.

  Yeah, geez.

  She returned her attention to Alex. "Thanks, but I probably shouldn't have too much caffeine. It gives me migraines." And it's bad for a baby. Or so she'd been told which was more than enough to keep her from having even the minimum amount that had been cleared by the doctor.

  "It's a half-caf vanilla latte. I got it for my mom 'cause she works in the office today, but she said it would mess with her diet. Figured I'd give it to you or my sister. I like you more though." He smirked. Alex had a pretty smile. Perfect white teeth, but mostly she liked the dimples that formed on his face and the softness in his blue eyes. Usually he was so hard and rough, so it made for a nice contrast.

  Don't blush, she instructed herself. This time making sure Darien didn't hear it because he would no doubt have a meltdown. From day one Alex had made it clear he was attracted to her, and while he was nice to look at, she didn't reciprocate the feelings at all. She was married to Darien for one, and for two...well there was no second reason. She was married and that was all there was to it. While nobody at school knew this, the couple still made it known they were together.

  "If it's half-caf, I guess I can take it, might be safe. But you should be nicer to your sister." She grabbed the latte. It smelled divine. In fact, just the scent of the coffee was enough to give her a boost of energy. Drinking it might not be necessary. The vanilla came through strong. Her sense of smell became heightened when she had undergone the transition between human and dragon, but now it was even more so because of the excessive hormones pumping through her. Pregnancy was much harder than she thought it would be.

  "I am." Alex laughed.

  "Well, thank you," she said and took a sip. The two stood there quietly, and that was when Darien decided to show up.

  His arm wrapped around her waist, hand settling on her stomach as it was prone to do these days. She didn't like it when he did it in public. It felt too obvious, and while he was a proud father, she wasn't quite as happy. They were too young and had a lot to work on in their relationship. Plus she didn't think she'd be a good mother. He'd be great at the parenting role, but her – not so much. Then again, he'd been waiting for this moment his entire life. She never thought she'd ever meet someone worth marrying.

  Actually, if Darien hadn't forced her into their relationship, she probably wouldn't have given him a chance. The circumstances in how they met left her with a bitter taste at first. As she got to know him, however, those feelings faded and turned into nothing but love and admiration. He put up with a lot when it came to her, and was so patient in waiting for her to come around. And she did once the realization came that she needed it to happen. Tai had been taken from home against her will, but without the push, none of the things she had dreamed of would have ever come true. Love used to be out of the question, something she'd never wanted because the drama didn't seem worth the work.

  "Hey babe." Darien leaned in and kissed her forehead, holding it for a long time. Why did he have to flaunt their relationship so much in front of Alex? With everyone else he was so much more laid back. Being shown off like she was a prize didn't make her feel good, and she didn't like how uncomfortable it made everything.

  Alex's jaw tightened for a moment before he put on a more forced smile. "Alright, I'll see you in third, okay Tai? And you in ten minutes, Darien?"

  "Ten minutes." Darien also smiled but her husband's was much more genuine.

  She waved as Alex left.

  Darien raised an eyebrow as he watched Alex go. "He brought you coffee. How sweet."

  "He brought his mom coffee. She didn't want it, so he gave it to me." Tai rolled her eyes. Was he really doing this now?

  "Mmhmm." He walked her to her class and made sure to stay close the entire time. She was trying to understand, but it was frustrating. I don't like him hitting on you every chance he can get you alone...or that you lead him on.

  I'm not leading him on. What am I supposed to say? She gasped, frustrated.

  How about, "no"? He gave her a sideways glance as if to emphasis his point.

  She scowled, not liking talking telepathically with him in the middle of school when they could do it verbally just fine. Though this wasn't a conversation she wanted to have where others could eavesdrop. Gossip had a tendency to get around fast. The last thing they needed was for someone to say she had a crush on Alex and was going to leave Darien for him because there was trouble in paradise. People were actually starting to like her husband. Before she came along he was picked on and pushed around. He had friends now, which was good for them both.

  With a sigh, she gave his hand a squeeze. I made sure to seem disinterested. I'm not leading him on. You know better.

  He's a guy. He's not going to pick up on it unless you're blunt. Just like he never has.

  He knows we're together.

  I don't think he cares, especially since he reeks of lust.

  That couldn't be denied. She picked up on the scent herself, a crisp, spicy, cinnamon that was sometime
s overwhelming for her. Most of the time she got over it. Darien should too. Please don't make a big thing of this. You two are finally getting along.

  Keep your friends close and your enemies closer. Darien winked at her and gave her a small kiss on the forehead, before going to his own class. I'll see you in fourth.

  Chapter Five

  The Inero

  The small village of Shanrea was nothing like Inero City, and Jason loved it. The island, which shared a name with the village, was about five miles in diameter. Some day he hoped to walk around the entire island so he could take in all of its sights. Every day he explored a new area and learned something different about the people there. It was fascinating. Everyone was friendly, open, and helpful. What was even more amazing, and foreign to him, was there were very few dragons there. Even more amazing was none of these dragons knew he was the son of the Great Dragon Lord of the Inero.

  "How is your wife today?" asked an elderly woman. Her name was Bernice, and he saw her just about every morning. Every day he woke up shortly after sunrise, walked into town to get fresh pastries from the bakery for breakfast along with coffee, a newspaper, and mingled with the people some. She was always in the bakery.

  "Sleeping," Jason replied with a smirk. That was his usual response. Gwen didn't get up early. She was far from being a morning person which was quite the opposite of him. Most days he got up with the sun full of energy.

  Bernice dipped a chocolate donut into her coffee. "One of these days you need to wake her up to see the sun rise. It's beautiful don't you think? I'd like to see you in town together. We won't believe you're married until we see you kiss."

  He rolled his eyes. The teasing never ended from the townspeople. They believed him when he said he was married, but they apparently needed to see the couple in action too. Then again, in such a small town, there wasn't much else to talk about until the next new inhabitants came along or a juicy scandal started. He doubted many people came there to live. It seemed like more of a vacation spot than for settling. Which made things easier for him in the end since he didn't want to be around a lot of people anymore.

  When they first arrived, they had only come to honeymoon. The more he fell in love with the place, the harder it was to want to leave. Once he got all of his finances figured out, he would look into buying the beach home the two were currently renting. Maybe they wouldn't have to flee the country after all. The upcoming war was nowhere near this place. No one had a clue. Back in Inero City the rumors were just starting to circulate. The people in the neighboring towns and countryside were suffering. His father was pulling all of the people's resources for the army, leaving little for the citizens to survive off of. Anyone who did not comply had their home destroyed. Gwen, being from the country originally, witnessed some of these horrors firsthand. Thankfully, her town had escaped much of the brutality. Whether that was still the case, he didn't know. He could only hope.

  In Shanrea, there were no resources for the Royal Guard to steal. Most of the money was made off of tourists from Terran, fishing, or pearl harvesting. There were no cares.

  He gathered up his treats for the day, his coffee, a few tea bags for Gwen to choose from later, and his paper. "I'll try to get her up with me one of these days. I keep telling her she needs to try the croissants fresh from the oven for a change," he told Bernice.

  "You tell her that if she doesn't come into town and show everyone she has territory over you, that one of these days my granddaughter Elisa is going to kiss you. Your wife will come running in." Bernice winked.

  Jason couldn't help but laugh. "Sure thing. Consider the message passed."

  "It's so nice to have you here, kiddo. Don't keep being such strangers."

  "I'll do my best." He left the shop and went to the beach. Once there he carved a holder into the sand as he set his coffee down carefully, then took a large bite from his donut. He began to read the headlines for the day. Most of them pertained to local news. One in particular caught his attention though.

  "Land Borders Now Closed Between Oceina and Inero" The article was short, stating economical problems as the need for the forced lock down between the two nations. It also said that all Oceina residents who were doing business in the area, or visiting, were to return home immediately.

  Jason let out a quiet whistle between his teeth, and set the paper down, staring at the ocean.

  "It's going to happen," he whispered. For the first time in a long time, he closed his eyes and prayed. He didn't leave his spot until several hours later.

  Chapter Six

  The Oceina

  Another long day of classes was under his belt. Darien thought about dropping out several times. It's not like he was there for the education, but seeing Alex talking to Tai today rubbed him the wrong way. Leaving them alone together seemed like a bad idea.

  Darien and Tai came home; she took a nap while he did what little homework he had. Oddly, what used to be a chore and frustrating was now a welcome distraction. When he did his assignments for school, he didn't have to sit and think about the war, about running the nation, about losing his wife, about if his brothers and family respected him, about anything. Only math, science, and literature. Once that was completed, he curled up around Tai and held her, wanting badly to fall asleep as well. It wouldn't come for him, as usual.

  "I'm worried about you," Tai whispered.

  "Go back to sleep, I'm fine," he whispered back, stroking her hair.

  "You're not sleeping, and you barely eat. That's not fine."

  "I don't feel like it. What do you want me to do?" He sighed. He'd been trying so hard to not worry her. As his stress level increased, it was getting harder to hide, and he had no real outlet to get rid of it.

  She rolled onto her side so she could face him, and touched his nose with her index finger. "Take one night off for me?"

  Darien laughed. "I'm not doing any work tonight."

  "In your head."

  He gazed into her wide blue eyes and saw her silent pleading. Leaning forward, he kissed her forehead. "Will you help me?"

  "Yes, of course."

  "Want to give it a try now?"

  "Sure." Tai sat up in bed, clearly a little startled by how easily he was giving in to her. He didn't know why she was expecting a fight, probably because he could be just as stubborn as her. There was no reason for him to argue anymore. He'd only be wasting his breath.

  She pressed her lips together for a moment, and he knew she was thinking. What, he didn't know because she'd picked up on the tricks for blocking him from her head fast. A blessing and a burden. He had to trust her. If normal human couples couldn't read minds and were capable of trust, then so was he.

  "Maybe if you tried telling me more about how you feel, it would help," she suggested. "I'm not made of glass. I can handle hearing your problems. We'll be okay."

  He shook his head and then laid it closer to her face. "I know. There isn't much to tell you that you haven't already heard. It's this waiting thing. I hate doing it. Most of the problems I'm having with the Inero, with my family, I've started to accept. My ability to be patient is getting stronger every day. The things that bug me right now, that keep me awake and distracted, have to do with you."

  Tai pressed her face into his chest. "I'm okay. Outside of being tired, I feel fine. Your magic isn't hurting me. The doctor says everything is perfectly normal."

  "I know."

  "So why are you bothered because of me? Am I doing something wrong?"

  "I wonder more if I am," he said quietly.

  "Darien, you're nothing but wonderful to me, and I know you'll keep me safe. I'm confused." Then she groaned. "You're still thinking about Alex."

  "Do you blame me?"

  "You're paranoid."

  "With good reason, you're a great catch! And he's a pretty big stud." He snorted, trying to put on more of a playful tone than an aggressive one. The goal was to avoid a fight with her. She scoffed at him and shook her head, though it felt mor
e like a nuzzle against his chest.

  He continued. "I won't bring it up again unless I see something more. But you know how you said you're not made of glass? I'm not either, so if I am doing something wrong, please tell me? Even with everything going on, you and Ethan are my number one priority. Always."

  She exhaled slowly. "I'll keep that in mind. Even if it's petty?"

  "Anything." He smiled, feeling better already. He kissed her hair. "You always have the best ideas."

  Chapter Seven

  The Inero

  Gwen rolled the cookie dough into small balls, placing them onto the cookie sheet perfectly spaced. She sang softly as she did this because she was in a fantastic mood. Baking always had a way of doing so. Not that she needed the boost, because she was so happy she might as well have been flying. Life couldn't get any better. Yes, she missed her parents and the farm, but she always knew leaving home was part of her future. Plus Jason said she could write them a few times to make sure everything was okay, so that made being apart easier. Only one thing could make her even happier, and that was him. She was ready. Tonight would be the night they first made love.

  Everything was set. A perfect, sweet, candle-lit dinner. She had found a cute and subtly provocative maroon dress to wear, and high heels to match. Not like she needed to be taller, but she did like what they did for her legs. The goal was to hint, but not be blunt just in case he wasn't quite there. Some nights when he kissed her good night, she could feel the passion and longing he had for her. She felt those things too, but mating with a dragon was complicated business. The physical act was certainly the same as if he was human, but the consequences were much steeper. She needed to be positive before taking this leap. And now she was.

  The oven timer went off and she pulled the cookies out. Pleased with how they smelled, she placed them onto a cooling rack. She took one to eat, and that's when Jason walked back in to their temporary beach home. They could stay there forever, she loved it there so much. The house was growing on him too, she could tell.