Page 34 of Her Dragon Daddy Disaster
Besides, kids were smarter than we gave them credit for. Jakub would likely figure it out on his own before long anyway.
“Now that I’m aware of him, I’ll be there,” I said to her, swearing an oath to myself as well that I would do my best by him.
To my son. A son I hadn’t been there for. Almost five years of his life, without a father. Withoutme.
Five years of Sarah being a single mother. Unsupported and alone.
It was so antithetical of dragon society, going against everything I knew. I reeled some more. I had missed so much. His birth. First laugh. First words. First steps. All of that and more, I’d missed.
“I need some air,” I said abruptly, heading for the stairs. Not just air, but time. I needed time to sit and think and trulyprocessit all.
I’d told Sarah I would be there, that I would help, and I meant it. But a new question, a new worry, began to eat away at my insides. One I couldn’t stop from growing with each passing second.
What if I’m no good as a father? What if I fuck it up?
Half-sitting, half-falling onto the edge of the roof, I lay back, staring at the sky while my feet dangled freely over the ledge. My chest rose and fell. The panic slowed, but it did not fade at all, even as the minutes passed.
Whoosh.
I sat up abruptly as two dragons landed lightly on the roof.
“Levi,” Malakai called. “Is everything okay?”
“Of course,” I said, springing to my feet. “Just relaxing.”
“Good, good. Are you ready?” he asked, his dragon snout twisting oddly as he spoke, the lack of true lips also adding a softhissto every syllable.
Was I ready?
The festival! The speech!
I nodded, furiously recalling the words I’d written. It was perfect timing. A distraction of my mind while I came to grips with my new reality as a dad.
“Yes, I’m ready,” I said.
Malakai’s head snaked forward, eyeing me. “Are you sure?”
“Don’t question me,” I growled. “Have I ever lied to you before?”
The purple dragon head recoiled. “No, I suppose not.”
“You do seem a bit pale, though,” Lydia said, bringing her snout down to my level, mere inches away. “Is everything okay?”
“Fine,” I said, letting a confident smile play across my face.
It was not the time to tell Malakai I’d sired a child with a human. I wasn’t sure how he would react to that news.
“Then let us go,” Malakai said, lifting into the air.
I glanced back at the door. Sarah would understand. It was only for a short bit. She could use the time to reconnect withJake. Prepare him—and herself—for the news that I was his father.
Then we could work on being a family.
Shifting into my dragon form, I leaped into the air after Malakai and Lydia, a big grin on my face.
Everything was looking up now. A son. A mate. And soon, a new leader installed, one whohadto listen to the people.
Freedom for all. It would be beautiful.
