Bureau Under Siege (20 page)

After another bout of breathing Starr grinned over at Ronnie. “Much better, thanks.”

“Hey, it’s gonna get worse but the more we can get you breathing right the better it’ll be. Now, just relax and keep breathing. I’ll stay here with you for now.”

“Thank you,” Starr counted as she took a breath in, holding it before releasing it slowly.

That’s how Ronan found them some time later, his eyes taking in the strange picture of Starr in her underwear and Ronnie fully clothed, in the Jacuzzi.

*****

When they turned off the highway Ronan’s heart rate settled down, a little. His need to get to his mate almost overwhelmed him completely. Opening his door and jumping out before Paul had pulled to a stop. Firstly running in the house and shouting Starr’s name until he stopped, sending his powers out and finding her at the rear of the house.

In the Jacuzzi no less, with Ronnie in there too, with all her clothes on. As soon as Starr saw him she stood up, her arms held out to him as pain lanced across her face. Rushing forwards Ronan picked her up and out of the water, holding her like a baby in his arms.

“I’m here, my love, I’m here.” Ronan tried to calm her, feeling the sheer terror that was running through her body.

“I’ve got to change but I didn’t want to before you got here. I just hope to fuck it’s not as painful once I’m Dragon!”

“Aww,
Mo shíorghrá
, I hope so too, I hate seeing you in pain. Now, let’s get you somewhere you can change and I promise I won’t leave you.”

Starr clung onto his shirt. “Promise? I’m still a bit scared, Fang.”

“Scared? I think you’re more than scared, Puff. I can feel your pure terror but I promise I won’t let anything happen to you or the baby.” Ronan carried her away from the house then sat down on the ground with her in his lap.

“Yeah, okay, I’m
really
scared but Ronnie’s been a big help. Remember, Ronan, when the egg hatches, I want you to be the first person to touch our child. It’ll help the baby to imprint on you.”

“I know, you’ve told me about a gazillion times.” Ronan laughed, placing a gentle kiss on her forehead.

“I’ve told you a million times before, don’t exaggerate!” Starr tried to smile but at that moment he felt the next contraction, her entire mid-section tightening up like a drum.

When it was over she gasped, “I really need to change now. Fang, please don’t freak when you see our child for the first time. Remember it’s gonna be Dragon until you hand it to me and I start to nurse it.”

“I know, baby, now come on, change before another pain hits.”

Ronan placed Starr onto the ground and walked backwards, his eyes staying locked on hers. He could hear Margaret talking to Finbar, saying she hoped Starr was going to be okay and the large Irish Vampire telling her not to worry. Women had babies all the time. Margaret’s retort that this was going to be a Dragon giving birth silenced her mate.

Starr’s form shimmered and there before them lay her Dragon. As soon as she changed her long neck stretched up to the sky and a loud roar rumbled from her throat escaping her huge jaws and shattering the silence. The bellow so piercingly shrill that his hands covered his ears quickly. Once the noise died down the Dragon all but collapsed onto the hard packed dirt.

Ronan ran over, sitting beside its great head, lifting it and placing it on his lap. Gently stroking her scaly face as he waited on the birth of their child.

Ten hours later Ronan was starting to panic. Hell, who was he kidding? He had started to panic hours ago but held it in check so as not to worry Starr. Josef was there with Peri and Gabe, Ronnie sitting on the corner of the wraparound porch, refusing to leave. Even Sam and Charmaine had arrived, expecting to find their baby in their arms, not Starr’s huge Dragon still fighting to give birth.

Peri had told him, twice now, that the birth was near but Ronan still felt his panic rising. Surely his mate couldn’t take much more than this.

His legs were cramped, his back ached, his mouth was parched, but he refused to move even an inch while he waited with Starr. Luckily they had their mind link so at least she could “speak” to him. Although the most she had said was,
“Don’t worry, it won’t be much longer now.”

That
had been two hours ago and he was sure he was going to explode soon with the fear running through him. Starr’s voice was filled with excitement and fear as she spoke to him,
“It’s now, it’s coming now! Be ready, Ronan, as soon as the egg is out, the shell will crack and you have to pick our baby up and hand it to me.”

“I will, baby!”
Ronan answered, standing up and grimacing at the pins and needles assaulting his legs.

The Dragon’s neck rose as another deafening bellow erupted from it and finally, there it was. A rather large, black egg, reaching to almost Ronan’s knees, lay on the dirt amid a wash of fluid. He stared for a moment before rushing forward, falling to his knees in the mud that now surrounded the egg.

Starr shuffled around, nudging Ronan with her massive head and he reached forward, the tips of his fingers barely touching the shell of the egg. He was shocked to find it malleable and not hard like it looked, but as soon as he touched it cracks started to appear. The shell began to crack, break, with small pieces falling to the ground as a tiny Dragon came into view.

Starr’s snout snuffled around it as it struggled around on its back. The sight the most perfect Ronan had ever witnessed. The small, flawless, purple Dragon lay with its eyes blinking open and closed, the smallest of noises coming from its open mouth. Ronan reached down, his hand gently cupping its tiny backside and picking it up to cradle it in his arms.

The cutest little violet eyes, just like its mother’s met his, as it snuggled closer to his body. The small mouth opening and trying to latch onto his shirt.

Laughing down at the little bundle he whispered, “Oh no, I’m your dad, this gorgeous creature here is your mom. Why don’t we get you to her so you can have something to eat, little one.”

Turning to Starr he placed their child in her outstretched forearms, making sure the baby was nowhere near her deadly talons. As she pulled it to her he noticed two nipples that hadn’t been there before, and it was to one of these that she held the baby. Their child latched on immediately as he sat mesmerized watching.

After a few moments there was a shimmer and Starr sat on the ground holding their precious baby to her breast. Tears streamed down her face as he picked her up and cuddled him to him. “Can I have a cover?” he asked quietly and Margaret rushed forward with a blanket.

Taking it from her he wrapped Starr and the baby up, as her eyes turned to his. “We’ve got a daughter, Ronan. Isn’t she beautiful?”

“She’s just like her momma,” Ronan mumbled, suddenly finding it hard to speak.

Only then did everyone else’s voices register with him. Most, if not all, of the women were sniffling and the men were muttering words of amazement at what they’d just witnessed. The birth of the first Dragon in more than a century. A little girl, which meant the chances of Dragons not becoming extinct just rose dramatically.

“I’ll go and run a bath.” Margaret scooted away into the house as Ronan stood up, still holding Starr and their daughter.

“Everyone, I’d like you to meet our daughter, Mirari, which means, ‘Gift from God,’—Mira for short.”

Loud sheers ran out as everyone clambered around to get their glimpse of this miracle child. Her blond hair and violet eyes a perfect mix of her parents, with skin pale like her father’s. Ronan felt a tear escape his own eye, Josef stepping forward to wipe it away gently.

“She’s beautiful, Ronan. Just like her mother.” Josef’s smiled, his eyes sparkling with joy.

“Yes, she is. Now, if you all wouldn’t mind, I’ll take my daughter and Starr to our room where she can get some rest.”

“Go, we’ll get the champagne opened to wet the baby’s head.” Sam laughed, holding up two large bottles.

Ronnie and Creed stood off to the side, a look of pure wonder on both of their faces. Ronnie held close to the large Guard by his protective arm around her.

Ronan walked slowly, not wanting to jostle his mate or child, who appeared to now be sound asleep in Starr’s arms. “I love you so much, Starr. My gorgeous Dragon, I can’t thank you enough for giving me this precious gift.”

“You’re welcome, Fang, although I doubt you’ll be saying that after a few weeks of being up at night feeding this one.” Starr’s smile was one of wonder as she watched their child sleeping.

“Really? I thought that was your job?”

Starr’s head shot up, fire in her eyes, and a retort on her lips until she saw the cheeky smile on his face. “You nearly got me there!”

“Let’s get you into a nice warm bath and this little one into her crib.”

“The crib! Shit, you’ve been with me all day, we’ll need to set it up.”

Ronan held her even tighter. “No, we don’t. The guys did it earlier and the girls sorted it out, together with clothes, nappies and everything. It’s all waiting on you both.”

As they entered their room he took her through to the bedroom. “Oh,” was all she managed as she took in the crib, made up with sheets and some teddies sitting at the end. A musical mobile hung over the crib and bundles of clothes, nappies, cream and a host of other paraphernalia sat atop the chest of drawers.

“See,” Ronan said as he sat her down on the edge of the bed, “told you, all set up for you and Mira.”

Taking the sleeping bundle from Starr’s arms he placed his daughter in the crib. She was still rather dirty and would need a bath but at this moment he wanted to get Starr cleaned up and into bed. She needed to rest after such a long and arduous labor.

Mira’s little arms struggled before resting on top of the sheet, her little breaths sounding like music to his ears.

The bath was full of warm, bubbly, water and as Ronan lowered Starr into it she let out a long satisfied groan. “That feels
so
good.”

He cleaned her from the tip of her toes to the top of her head, washing and rinsing her hair as she lay still, her eyes watching his every move.

“We’ll be okay, won’t we?” she finally whispered, worry on her face.

“We will.” Ronan ran a finger down the side of her face. “Please don’t worry, Starr. We’ll do this together and we’ll do a damn good job too. We’ll keep her safe and loved, so much love. Mira will be the happiest, healthiest, and most loved child in the world.”

“We’ll keep her safe?”

Ronan grinned. “Hell yeah! With a kickass Dragon for a mother and an ancient Vampire for a father, with hundreds of other strong beings at his disposal? You’re darn right, we’ll keep her safe.”

“That’s all I needed to know, Ronan. That she’ll be safe.”

“Starr, look at me,
Mo shíorghrá
.” Ronan lifted her chin with a finger. “She’ll be safe and she won’t ever go through what you did. I’ll make sure of it. I love you so fucking much it hurts sometimes but when I saw her in your arms I felt even more. I didn’t think that was possible but it is and I’ll do whatever it takes to keep you both safe. Don’t ever worry about that, my love.”

Starr nodded. “I believe you, Fang, I believe you. I can’t wait to see what the future holds for us now. This has proved that anything is possible.
Anything!
”

“Yes, it is, but for now all that’s in your future is a good long rest.”

Ronan picked her up from the bath, wrapping her in a fluffy towel, before carrying her to their bed. Both of their eyes went immediately to the crib, seeing Mira still sound asleep. Placing Starr into bed he pulled the covers up. “Sleep, I’ll watch her for now.”

“Okay,” Starr yawned, exhaustion taking over and pulling her under.

Ronan lay beside her, plumped up on pillows so he could watch their daughter. She was beautiful, the most perfect thing on this green earth and he would protect her with every fiber of his being. Placing a small kiss on Starr’s head he whispered, “Thank you,
M’fhíorghrá
.”

As sounds of joy and merriment reached him from downstairs he chuckled.
“Sounds as if the party’s started.”
He thought as he heard his friends celebrate the birth of his child.

“Perfect, just perfect,”
he thought as his own eyes slowly slid closed.

Epilogue

Ronan sat on the back porch of Josef’s Ranch, the sounds of the party all around, with people inside and out it was hard to find a quiet spot. Starr was running around, as usual, and he moved off to the side as he thought on the past ten years.

“Ten years! Where the hell has the time gone since Mira’s birth?”
he pondered as he went over all the changes that impacted on him, Starr and their friends.

Smirking, he thought on one thing that had definitely come as a shock. Not just to him but everyone back at Headquarters: Celeste and Matthew mating and not only bonding but having a child.

That
was something that definitely shocked a lot of folks. However, the change in the young Witch was nothing short of miraculous when she and Matthew got together. Whatever it was that happened between them, she grew more focused, almost
normal
and Matthew’s confidence grew in leaps and bounds.

Ronan chuckled as he remembered one incident when Matthew growled and snarled at Creed for making a remark about Celeste being an airhead, or some such. The shocked look on Creed’s face having more than a few folks laughing out loud.

The young couple had grown strong when together and it was a surprise to everyone, except Esther. Who told Ronan she knew that Celeste and Matthew were “made” for each other.

His lips twitched up as he thought on Serge and how Kyra had pulled him through the dark days after Drake’s death. Ronan was sure the one thing that really made a difference was Kyra announcing she was pregnant not too long afterward. The sight of the proud father-to-be still fresh in his mind.

He would never have guessed they would go on to have five kids, or as Serge called them “his cubs”—five? Jeez, he and Starr found it hard enough looking after two, never mind five and all within ten years. Boy, that was some handful!

A loud girlish squeal caused Ronan to look up, seeing Sam race after his daughter. Yes, that was another surprise to all of them when Charmaine and Sam had decided to adopt a child. Although they had to wait for two years, they finally got a young girl whose Wolf parents had died in a car crash and had no close relatives. Under normal circumstances, the Pack would’ve taken her in but Charmaine had pleaded with Jason, the Alpha, to allow her to adopt the child.

Then there was the
“Terrible Trio”
made up of Starr, Charmaine and Ronnie. The three women very close friends and causing their men some heart stopping moments with their escapades. The closeness of Ronnie with Starr forced Creed into their circle as “friend.” Something he wasn’t comfortable with for a long time. Creed’s Wolf, Ronnie, soon whipped him into shape on that front though and he could clearly hear Creed’s laughter as he ran around after the kids.

The Ranch was now a sprawling building, with Josef rebuilding it to accommodate everyone. After all, Josef, Peri and Gabe now had two kids of their own. There was a new, large, main suite with three bedrooms for Josef and his family, together with another ten suites of rooms for everyone else to stay on these twice yearly get-togethers.

This one was even more special, his heart soaring as the time drew near for what was going to be the most magnificent event in his entire life. His eyes searched and found his family. Starr being chased by Mira and Talon, their son. Born not even ten months after their daughter. Talon completed them and brought untold joy to all of them.

As their children were born so close together, it meant they grew up far closer than normal siblings and getting into all kinds of trouble. With every one of their community waiting to see what powers their Dragon/Vampire hybrid children would have. Luckily, neither had the need for blood but they were faster and stronger than a Dragon child should be. Ronan remembered clearly when they knew for certain they only required their mother’s milk as food and the sense of relief he and Starr felt.

Esther had kept a close eye on both the children, a knowing smile usually on her face as if she knew things they didn’t.
“She probably does,”
Ronan thought on more than one occasion. They had invited her to the Ranch but she had declined, saying she had something important to do. What was more important than this he had no clue but it was definitely her loss.

Tonight was a very important night for them all: the first time they would fly together as a family. As they were born so close together and male Dragons reached their ability to transform faster than females, it meant that both of their children were having their very first transformation and flight. A truly special occasion and one that he knew he would never forget.

His family of Dragons.

As darkness fell Starr came and sat beside him. “Ready? The kids are getting excited.”

Ronan pulled her into his side. “I know, Talon’s doing that high pitched squeal he does when he’s over excited. Are you sure they’ll follow you okay and not take off on their own?”

“I’ve warned them that if either of them don’t stay right beside us then we won’t let them fly together again.” Starr grinned. “You should’ve seen their faces when I said that!”

“Good, I don’t want them getting lost or anything.” Ronan kissed Starr. “Mmm, you taste so good, Puff. I can’t wait ‘til the kids are in bed later.”

“Me too.” Starr nuzzled his neck. “We don’t get nearly enough alone time and I’m looking forward to you making me scream your name!”

“Not too loud, Starr!” Ronan laughed. “Too many Vamp and Wolf ears around for that!”

“Hell, they’ll most probably be doing the same!”

Ronan stood up, pulling her up after him. “Yes, they will. Now you’ve put the thought in my head we need to get this inaugural flight over and done so we can get those two monsters into bed, so I can ravish their mother!”

Starr looked around. “Talon, Mira! Come on you two, it’s time.”

Everyone quieted, as their son and daughter ran to them. “Dad! Is it now? We can do it now?” Talon shrieked, a lock of jet black hair falling over his forehead as his brown eyes sparkled.

“Quiet down, son, and remember, both of you, stay close to your mother. Or else!”

Mira’s small hand took hold of his, her blonde curls bobbing around her head. “We know, Daddy. Don’t worry, we’ll be good.”

Starr took Talon’s hand and they walked away from the building, Talon and Mira moving away from their mother as Ronan stepped away too.

“Right kids, you know just to relax and let the magic happen. Don’t be scared and fly near me so I can see if you’re okay.”

“We know mom!” Mira exclaimed, hands on her hips and a scowl on her face. “We’re not going to do anything silly.”

Ronan looked behind him, at their friends who were so much more. Family. Yes, that’s what they were, family. All of them staring wide eyed as they waited to see the kids transforming and flying for the first time. Here where both of his children had been born, the perfect place for this special moment.

Turning around Ronan watched as the three most important people in his world shimmered and transformed to their Dragon forms. Mira’s purple scales glittering in the moonlight as Talon’s red scales seemed to shine bright as his wings unfurled for the first time.

Gasps and cheers erupted behind him as he beamed like a madman, running and leaping onto the back of his love. Settling in his spot on her shoulders, placing his hands in the hollows made for him to hold on, he whooped with joy as his family of Dragons took flight, soaring into the Vegas moonlit sky.