Page 71 of The Dragon's Mate

“It might already be too late,” Kaida said.

Sika looked out the window, her handrubbing her belly. “Maybe.”

“Cadmus would be open to the idea of changingour old ways,” Kaida said.

Sika laughed. “He may be, but the rest of thecouncil is not. Even if he demanded we change, the discord between him and thecouncil would tear our clan apart. The council of elders for Avena’s clan areall on board with the change.”

“If you leave…” Kaida swallowed the lump inher throat.

Sika smiled sadly at her. “I will miss youterribly, my friend. But perhaps you could consider joining Avena’s clan aswell. I know the old ways do not sit well with you either.”

“I can’t leave Gram and she will neverleave our clan.”

“I know. It was worth a shot.”

Kaida smiled at her. “You are right.Things need to change and perhaps someday Cadmus will convince the other councilmembers of it.”

“Perhaps,” Sika said. “But someday will probablybe too late. We need to start mating with other shifters and humans now if wewant to have any chance of survival.”

Kaida stared at her in shock. “Mating withhumans? Have you lost your mind, Sika?”

She shook her head. “No.”

“A human woman would not be able to bear adragon child.”

“You don’t know that,” Sika said. “No onewill know until it happens.”

“It would kill her.”

“Again, we don’t know that,” Sika said. “Humansare stronger than we think, Kaida.”

An image of Bren surfaced in Kaida’s mind.He hadn’t been nearly as easy to defeat in their mock fight the other day thanshe thought he would be. Sika could be right, but –

“Kaida?”

Sika’s voice had changed, and the scent ofher fear filled the car. Kaida glanced at her. “What’s wrong?”

“I – my water just broke.”

Kaida dropped her gaze to Sika’s lap. Thecrotch of her pants was wet and Kaida muttered a curse under her breath. “Allright, do not worry. We’ll be home soon and -”

Sika shrieked, her hand clamping down onher belly.

“Sika!”

Kaida pulled over to the side of the road andgrabbed Sika’s hand. The dragoness squeezed it so tightly, Kaida thought her bonesmight crack. “What is it?”

“The hatchling is coming,” Sika groaned.

“What? Right now?”

“Yes! Right now!” Smoke drifted from Sika’snose and she frantically rolled down the window before blowing a puff of flameout into the cool air.

“You have to hold it,” Kaida said. “We can’tgo to the hospital and it’s an hour to get home.”

“I can’t hold it!” Sika shouted. “It’snot like I have to pee, Kaida! The hatchling is coming! I need to push.”

“Fuck! Don’t push!” Kaida said as Sikamoaned in pain again. “Is that another contraction already?”

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