Page 31 of Destined Paranormals: Volume One

“Look up.”

When I did, I saw a small slit above us. Through it came the beam of light that was shining down on the trickle of water and the pool.

“We were here before.”

“I brought you here often to clean you.”

I buried my face in my alpha’s neck, coming nose to neck. I felt the roughness of my claiming bite below me and moved away to look at it. I’d claimed my alpha. I met his stare and smiled.

“That right there is why you should never feel embarrassed about anything with me. You are my mate. You will have heats often, and as your mate and alpha, I am more than willing to take care of you through them.”

“I thought I was dreaming. That I could possibly ask you to try some of the things I dreamed about.” My eyes widened. I could not believe I had just spoken quite so boldly toward my alpha.

Aleric threw his head back and laughed a deep laugh. I leaned back, holding my breath and letting the water cover me in hopes of hiding my embarrassment from my mate. It didn’t work. He simply pulled me from the water and held me tightly against him.

“We can most definitely try each and every thing you dreamed of, my mate. In fact, I look forward to every one of them now that you are no longer in heat.” Aleric rubbed his lips across my neck, causing me to shiver with need. “In fact, I think we should start now. We will want to be sure to be ready for the next heat. Whenever that should be.”

I moaned, then surrendered myself to my alpha.

Chapter 11

Aleric

November 1768

“They’re going to love you.”

Konrad glared at me, causing me to chuckle.

“Seriously. They will. I adore you, you are my entire world, and therefore, they will love you.”

“How do you know?”

“Because, my wonderful omega, I am their only child, and all they have ever wanted for me was what they themselves have.”

We had been in the cave for a month now, and it was time to introduce my mate to my parents. They knew I was in the area, and I was almost certain they had realized my scent had changed when I claimed my mate.

But I couldn’t bring myself to leave the sanctuary of our cave yet. Konrad and I had spent our days and nights making love, strengthening our bond. We talked for hours, which turned into more lovemaking and then long naps. We had lived on venison and fish, but I knew it was time to leave the cave. Konrad needed a warm bed, fresh, clean clothing, and the comforts of the house my parents had. He deserved more than a cave behind a waterfall.

Konrad sighed. I pulled him to me and started kissing across his forehead, then down his cheek. When I reached his lips, he was smiling.

“There’s my happy mate. I wish to introduce you to my parents.” I looked over at the cave. “This place is nice enough, but it is still a cave, Konrad. The snow is here to stay, I think, and the temperature in here is going to drop. It will become uncomfortable if the temperatures outside drop as low as they have in the past.”

Konrad rolled his eyes. “You don’t have to keep trying to convince me. I am just not quite sure it will be enjoyable to depart here.”

There was that. Although I would not change a thing about claiming my mate in my own little sanctuary, I did want to offer him all of the comforts of the house I shared with my parents. Except I had not thought things through completely. Konrad was pregnant. That had been confirmed by not only my dragon but the fact that Konrad’s dragon appeared to be hibernating. I could sense him, and he responded to my dragon. But he had decided to take a very long nap, it seemed.

My mate had said his dragon felt as if he had simply curled up and was taking a deep, long nap. It was different than when he was wearing the cuffs in the castle, which was a relief. But it confirmed our suspicions of Konrad being pregnant. Which meant in order for him to leave the cave, he would have to ride on my back. There was no other way. He could not shift, and therefore he wouldn’t be able to exit the cave. His human body would be injured if he were to jump out of the cave and land in the river below.

“I have clean, dry clothing for you just at the top of the cliff with my own clothing. We will fly there, and you can dry off and change while I get dressed.”

Konrad did not look convinced. I did not blame him. It had cooled considerably in the cave during the month that we’d been here. The water was icy cold, and to Konrad’s human skin, it was going to be unbearable.

“Please, mate. I never intended for you to live in a cave with me.” I held my arms out and turned in a slow circle. “There isn’t even a proper bed.”

“Since when has that stopped you from knotting me?” Konrad smirked. “I am only joking with you. We can go whenever it is that you wish.”

That was such a relief. I had thought I might have to somehow forcefully carry my mate out of the cave.