Page 37 of The Dragon’s Accidental Manny

Price grinned and walked away from me, and my belly rumbled with nerves as scales appeared and swallowed his skin, reminding me of the heated glass my mate worked with.

But it was when the wings emerged that my mouth fell open. He wasn’t just majestic. That word was inadequate. Instead of describing him, I felt the power of his wings sprouting, the pink and gray scales Isla had captured in her mural, those same scales rippling over his legs and tail and the spikes shooting upwards and stabbing the sky.

“That’s… that’s your d-ad.” I patted my belly, and the baby kicked.

The dragon’s dark eyes blinked, but he planted his four feet on the grass and didn’t move.

“You’ve got me, right, baby?” There was another comforting kick. Our little one may have wanted to be out here. I’d exchange places in a heartbeat, but as Price’s mate, I had to meet his other half.

“We’ve got you.”

“What?” I twisted around and almost toppled thanks to my altered sense of gravity. But my three kids formed a protective ring around me. “You should be in bed.”

“That’s Daddy’s dragon, Camcam.” Jack waved at the beast.

“It’s okay, Dad. We’re here.”

Bea slipped her hand in mine. “Nothing bad’s going to happen, C.”

That name was what she called me now, and I loved it. It gave me an espionage-vibe, and I lifted my chin.

Jack took off running toward the dragon, waving and shouting. Isla grabbed my free hand, and with her and Bea at my side, we walked toward my mate’s beast. My heart was pounding so hard and so fast, I expected to see my shirt billowing. And it was, but it was the baby kicking. And like their siblings, they were looking after me as I went to meet their dad’s beast.

Jack hugged the dragon’s tail as it wagged, and our son told us to hurry.

I paused a foot away, and my gaze locked with the beast. He didn’t blink, allowing me to study him. But instead of fire and fury, there was warmth and… and affection and the same eyes as Price’s human ones.

“They’re the same.” They were the ones that looked at me over breakfast, read stories to our children, and fixed my car when it broke down. “His eyes are the ones I know.”

“That’s because he’s Dad.” Bea rubbed her shoulder against mine.

I closed my eyes, and my mate’s scent, the one that greeted me every morning, washed over me. Even if I hadn’t known, I would have recognized him by his scent. It was Price with an earthy twist.

Isla let go of my hand and joined Jack. The pair leaned against the dragon and asked if he was going to fly or just stand there.

“Ready? Do you want me to hold you?” Bea’s encouraging smile made me determined to do this.

“Just stay close. All of you, please.”

I outstretched my hand and placed it on the dragon’s leg. I’d expected the scales to be cold, but they were warm, like my mate’s skin. The baby kicked again, and I moved closer so my bump brushed over the beast.

“Here we are.”

“We’re all together.” Isla pulled me in for a hug.

Bea slung an arm around me, and Jack whispered he’d like a ride.

“No rides.” Was that a thing?

“He’s not allowed. We don’t do that.” Bea gave her brother a stern look.

I glanced up at the tiny tendrils of smoke escaping the beast’s nostrils and beckoned him closer. He lowered his head until it was level with my bump, and he pressed his snout against it.

No one moved. And then the baby started playing football or maybe basketball. They kicked and shoved their fist up. Jack squealed, saying the baby had a drumstick. But our little one was engaging with his alpha father.

Price had felt the baby kick many times, but this experience, in dragon form, was ancient and impossible. My thoughts raced back thousands of years to an omega standing in a forest with a protruding belly and a dragon nuzzling his bump.

“This is us, our family.” I stroked his snout and more smoke erupted.