Fire Dragon's Baby (Dragon Shifter Scifi Alien Romance) (Elemental Dragons Book 1) (7 page)

She also knew that Shiloh’s tiny human form was in some ways a lie. Her child was a Draconian, through and through, just like his father. He was not a half-human. While Draconian DNA favored male offspring, it also dominated the genetics of any other race the Draconians mated with. All their offspring were one hundred percent Draconian. The only thing that remained was the X chromosome provided by the female. That X chromosome revitalized the genetic code of the Draconians and lasted through the generations for five thousand years.

The fact that her son was a full-blooded dragon did not make her love him any less. It did mean that as he grew, he would need his father more and more.

She grabbed the bottle when it was ready and took it back with her to settle down again with her baby. Shiloh drank down his second helping just as eagerly and soon wanted to play.

Celeste took Shiloh to a play area in the nursery and let him lie on his back under a multitude of hanging objects prepared specifically for her dragon child. He batted at the mirrors and toys hanging above him, grabbing onto a squeaking birdie and giggling.

Celeste watched her baby, adoration and pride bubbling in her heart. Her holocom flashed and it took her a moment to drag her eyes away from her son to tap it.

“Who is it?” she asked the integrated holocom system of the fortress. The AI allowed the visitor’s reply to come through the speakers in her room.

“Princess Celeste, it is your nanny. I have come to care for the little Prince while you prepare yourself for the day.”

“Please, come in,” she said. “We are in the nursery.”

The seven-foot-tall Draconian walked into the nursery and sat beside Shiloh on his play bed. Celeste watched the nanny watching her son for several moments, uncertain whether she felt comfortable leaving them alone together or not, but he seemed to know what he was doing.

“I'll leave you, then,” she said.

She walked out of the nursery and into her bedchamber to her private bathroom. The deep Draconian bath was already filled with hot water. She pulled out of her red flannel pajamas and dropped them on the floor. As she stood in front of the mirror to brush her hair, images of Salvatt appeared on the screen.

“Welcome, Princess Celeste,” the AI said.

Celeste rolled her eyes. She was so tired of talking to AI in the bathroom.

“Hi,” she replied.

“Please bathe yourself in preparation for Prince Salvatt,” the AI said. “When you are done bathing, please apply the mating cream.”

Celeste let out a deep sigh and turned to climb into the deep Draconian tub. The water felt wonderful against her skin. She’d been in a state of agitation since she’d arrived on Galaton the day before. A nice long soak in the tub was exactly what she needed. After washing her body and hair she lingered in the warm water until the AI reminded her to apply the mating cream.

She grumbled to herself as she climbed out of the tub and stood under the air drier.

When she was dry, she rubbed the mating cream all over her skin and then threw on a bathrobe. She walked through her room and peered into the nursery briefly to check on little Shiloh.

She stepped back into her bedroom and walked into her closet. All of her things had been arranged in her closet as they had been on the ship. But there were new offerings included in the wardrobe now. The new garments were of a style she had never seen before.

The cut of the gowns suggested something from the deep past on earth, similar to the way Salvatt’s armor reminded her of a medieval knight. This dress reminded her of the medieval lady in a similar way. If the knight and lady lived in a space age future and everything was made of high-tech material. She looked at the gown, considering whether or not she should wear it. Wearing a Galatonian gown may be a good way to connect with her mate.

She slid into the pale pink dress and tied the corset at the front. The long skirt flowed around her to the ground. It was less fluid and flowy than the gown from Draconia, and was far more constrained.

The corseted part cinched her waist and accentuated the curves of her breasts. She regarded herself in the mirror and turned from side to side, inspecting her appearance. When she was satisfied that she looked all right in the gown, she finished her hair and makeup at the vanity in her bedroom.

With all of the automated gadgets for hair and makeup, she was done with her preparation only a few moments later. She stood and walked back to the nursery to inform the nanny that she would be going down for breakfast.

She had agreed to meet Salvatt the next morning to discuss preparation for the mating ritual. She only hoped that when it came time, she could allow him to do what needed to be done.

S
ALVATT ANSWERED
the hail from Admiral Ikoro, flicking his finger across his wrist to bring up his holocom.

“What is it Admiral?” he said, unable to think of anything but his bride.

“There is a matter that needs your attention, sir,” Ikoro stated.

“I am to meet my bride in mere moments. Can’t this wait?”

“I’m afraid not, sir. There is great unrest with the lords of the south. They are calling for blood. We must put down this threat.”

“I’ll meet you on the landing pad,” Salvatt said.

The last thing he wanted was to fight another bloody battle against his own men. The call of the dragon inside his head was already driving him mad. He’d waited all these long months to be with his bride, and now, she’d finally arrived.

The will it had taken to keep her out of his thoughts had been enough to drive him past his limits. After all this time, she was still so far away from him. He could see the fear in her eyes, and it killed him.

He’d hoped that taking a civilized morning meal with the Earthling would help matters. But now he was being called away for more brutal battle. How could this sensitive flower love a man with blood on his hands?

He knew he shouldn’t care. He was prince of the south. A dragon lord. Ruler of the land of fire. Why should he care what a puny human thought of him? But he did. There was no denying that.

He’d longed for her all this time. From the first moment he’d laid eyes on her beautiful face and curvy, petite body, he’d known he’d do anything for her. He’d die for her. What’s more, he’d do whatever it took to show her his heart.

He strode down the hall to the elevator, gritting his teeth against the onslaught of his dragon’s vicious anger. The inner beast knew he was walking away from his bride, and the dragon couldn’t be more enraged.

Salvatt rubbed his eyes as the elevator doors swished opened. He walked quickly down to the landing pad where Admiral Ikoro waited beside Salvatt’s speeder.

“What lords are uprising this time?” Salvatt said, his voice wearier than he’d planned to let on.

“The Salimo clan near the volcano is moving into the lands of the Harish clan. It’s a blood bath that must be stopped.”

“You were right to alert me to this issue, Ikoro.”

“I apologize for taking you from your bride, sir, but you are the only dragon strong enough to stop them.”

“I can hold on for a few more hours,” Salvatt said, although, he wasn’t sure it was completely true.

He couldn’t get the scent of his mate out of his head. He needed her, longed for her. Every moment he spent away from her side, drove him a little closer to the edge of sanity. He feared that when he finally did go to her, he would lose what little control he had left.

The last thing he wanted to do was hurt or scare her more than the situation already had. For all the bloody battles he’d fought and won in his long life, Salvatt Dorr longed only for the gentle embrace of his sweet, little human mate, and the happiness of family love.

6

 J
ust as Celeste was leaving her chamber, she received a ping on her wrist holocom. She tapped her bracelet and listened to the message.

“Princess Celeste, I regret to inform you that I cannot attend our morning meal. I have been called away on urgent business that requires my immediate attention. I anticipate meeting with you later today.”

Celeste flicked on her wrist holocom and crossed her arms. She was tired of waiting around for him. Celeste just wanted to get this whole mating ritual thing over and done with so she could get on with the rest of her life. Salvatt was her mate and there was no going back to Earth now.

If she could just find a way to connect with him, she knew that they could grow to love each other. Celeste had to hold on to that hope for her own sanity. But if he didn't spend time with her, then how could they even begin the mating ritual? Traditionally, it took days of constant contact between mates for the ritual to be complete and for the smaller female’s body to be ready to accept her male. Celeste had already been waiting for a year to do this thing, and didn't know how much longer she could wait.

She walked into the nursery and saw the nanny playing a kind of peekaboo with Shiloh who was sitting up in a semi-reclining chair.

“Salvatt was called away. I would like to explore the gardens below,” she said to the nanny. “Could you bring the baby and show me how to get out there?”

“Absolutely, Princess,” the nanny said.

“Let's go now. I’m tired of waiting.”

The nanny put Shiloh in his hover carriage and pushed it out through the front door of her apartment and down the hall to the elevator. They rode together all the way to the bottom level of the fortress and continued down another hallway until they came to a clear glass sliding door.

The door quickly slid open and they stepped through, walking out into a tropical paradise.

Her lungs filled with the smell of the dense green landscape. She could feel the humidity on her skin and hear the call of the birds in the distance.

They stood on a raised patio above a lush green lawn that expanded out towards the edge of the gardens. A path led through the grass and into the cultivated jungle. The trees reminded her of the palms that grew back home. But they were larger and more prehistoric looking than the modern varieties on modern day Earth. The fronds were also streaked with rich neon colors not found in nature on her planet.

She strolled along the path, her long formal gown stretching out behind her. The nanny pushed Shiloh in his carriage, and they all entered the garden together. Palms grew up around them, some bearing rich red fruits that hung in massive clusters.

They came to the bank of the shimmering silver pond that stretched out between the path and the native jungle on the other side. A bench sat beside the pool, looking out at the still water. She and the nanny sat and she gazed out at the view.

“How do you find Galaton?” he asked.

“I find it fascinating,” Celeste said. “Although, I wish I was here with the prince instead of my nanny.”

“Perfectly understandable, Princess,” he said. “I'm sure the prince will join you soon.”

“I will join you now,” a deep, rough voice spoke from behind her.

Celeste gasped and stood, turning around to find Prince Salvatt striding down the path toward her. His eyes were ablaze behind the coal black irises. He gazed intently at her as he approached. Celeste felt an electric shock spike through her blood when he came to stand in front of her.

“Take the baby and return to the fortress,” Salvatt said to the nanny.

The nanny shot from his seat and jumped to attention. He gripped the handle of the hover carriage and quickly hurried down the trail and back to the castle.

“What is it?” Celeste asked.

“We have no time for niceties,” Prince Salvatt said. “We must begin the ritual now.”

“But we’re in the middle of the jungle,” she said, beginning to shake.

“Take off your clothes,” he said gruffly. “We have no more time to waste.”

Celeste's eyes grew wide, and she bit her lip. She looked down at the corset at her waist and began to pull the bindings loose. Salvatt grew impatient and crossed the distance between them abruptly, grabbing for the ties.

He yanked the ties open, and Celeste couldn't meet his eyes. He pulled her dress roughly down her shoulders, revealing her breasts. He then pushed the dress down over her hips and it pooled at her feet, leaving her completely naked.

“Lie down,” he said, pointing at the damp grass.

Celeste finally looked up at him, fear and desire mingling in her core. She gingerly knelt onto the soft green grass. Slowly, she descended onto her back and lay on the ground before her prince.

He looked down at her, still wearing his armor. He flicked a spot at his neck, making all that hard metallic armor contract in on itself. He was in a tight jumpsuit that hugged his body, showing her exactly why they needed to start the mating ritual.

A sharp thrill went through her as he lowered himself over her naked form. He leaned in to her, barely touching her side with his hand. Their lips met, igniting a passion that blazed like an exploding star between them.

Celeste moaned and reached up to thread her fingers through his hair. She'd longed to bond with her mate for so long. She’d built her whole world around what it would be like for them to be together. When she’d arrived, she’d felt her hopes dashed. But as soon as they kissed, the passion ignited deep in her soul.