Page 64 of Accidentally a Dragon Daddy

“It has?”

“Yes, in the past. I’m not the first,” I said, hearing my own relief.

“Are you sure you’re doing okay?”

I laughed. “I’m honestly not sure what I am. But I can’t stay here. I can’t raise this child among humans. It won’t be one of them. They’ll need to be among their own kind. Where they can learn to control the animal inside them.”

“I’m sure we could get help somehow,” Petra suggested.

“Maybe,” I said. “Maybe the governments could come together, and an … advisor or something could come once they’re old enough. But I don’t think I could do that. This child may be born of my body, but they’ll be a dragon shifter among humans. What if … what if they turn out bad? If they take it out on those around them, I couldn’t stop them. Nobody could.”

Petra sighed. “That’s a good point. I hadn’t considered that.”

“That’s because your baby is all human,” I said with a smile, reaching out to touch her belly. “I’m so happy for you. I know this is something you really wanted.”

“Me?” she said. “You’re the one who wanted kids all your life. Who always talked about it. Then life played a cruel trick on you. The one who deserved it after how you helped raise the rest of us. I’m so happy you’re going to experience this, even if it is with the dragons.”

“It’s still early,” I cautioned her. “Given I shouldn’t have been able to, let’s temper expectations.”

“Are you mad Damon told me?”

“No,” I said, not having to think about it. “I’m glad he had the sense to tell you and not Mom or Dad. There’s no way they could have kept their mouths shut.”

“So true,” Petra said, grinning from ear to ear. “You promise you’re okay? Dragons, sis.”

I took my time thinking about it.

“You know, I think I am. It’s weird, but perhaps it’s because I’m getting to spend time around them now. I’m not seeing them as conquerors. They didn’t really want to invade, you know. But we kidnapped one of their own, their ruling heir, in fact, and started experimenting on him. Without ever trying to establish diplomatic relations. I would be absolutely pissed, too, if I were them. But they’re just people, too.”

Telling Petra or my parents about the psychos like Jaklin didn’t seem necessary. I was sure, despite the brave face everyone was putting on, they were extremely scared for me. The least I could do was try to put them at ease.

“I guess,” Petra said slowly.

“Time to go.”

We twisted to see Damon had snuck up on us.

“Pardon?”

“We have fifteen minutes left,” he said. “Before the soldier boys start getting antsy.”

“Okay,” I said, taking a deep breath. “I suppose I should start saying my goodbyes then, shouldn’t I?”

“Yes,” he said solemnly, his eyes dark and troubled.

I didn’t have to ask why.

We both knew I might never get something like that again. That my goodbye might be permanent.

Chapter Thirty

Elanya

“I thought we were going home?” I asked from astride Damon’s back, the magic sleep of the Dragon Isles having worn off a few minutes ago.

I would probably never be comfortable with the sensation of missing time, but as Damon had said, it was a permanent fixture, designed to confuse humans and drive them away if they stumbled upon it by accident and put them to sleep if they continued on. It was what had allowed the dragons to ensure no ships or planes ever stumbled through the area and found the Isles over the years.

Although many had gone missing.

---