The Alpha Dragon's Secret (Dragon Shifters of Kahului Book 1) Page 7

  Sara finished the rest of her coffee, washed her mug, and promptly went back to her bedroom to sleep for another little while. She swore to herself she wouldn't cry.

  She did her best to keep that promise, but her resolve didn't last for long. Tears leaked against the side of her face even as she raged inwardly about her weakness.

  Had she imagined the entire thing? Had she puffed up her own importance in an effort to impress him and justify her actions to herself? Every scenario she played out in her head seemed even more outrageous than the last.

  She would drive herself crazy if she kept going that way. She needed to find something else to fixate on. Something healthy. Like surfing.

  She drifted off, and though her first thoughts were of surfing, they quickly turned to the silvery blue dragon with the golden mane.

  Sara was alone, floating in a sea of azure blue water. The salt content was higher than normal for she floated with ease. She shut her eyes and let the sun warm her skin.

  "Sara," a deep and ancient voice said.

  She didn't want to speak to anyone. This was a sanctuary. She needed it to be a safe place for her to expose her feelings. Or float away. Whatever she wanted to do at the time, she wanted to feel like she could do it without anyone judging her.

  "Sara," the voice said again.

  She let out a growl of frustration. "Go away," she snapped.

  "So touchy for a trespassing woman," the voice said.

  Her eyes came open as she looked around for the person speaking. "I wasn't trespassing," she insisted. "This is a private beach."

  An amused chuckle came from the disembodied voice. "Oh? How do you know it's private?"

  "There's no one here."

  "I can make people appear. Is that what you want?"

  Sara looked around for the voice and could see only blue water and gorgeous sky. "No, I don't want any people. I just want to relax. Alone." She frowned. "And not carry on a conversation with someone I can't see."

  "Would you like to see me?" asked the voice.

  From the corner of her eye, something streaked through the water. She turned her head but only saw ripples.

  "I'm not sure," she said. Sara treaded water. She wasn't nervous. Not exactly. This was a dream. Wasn't it? It felt like it, but on some level, it felt too real.

  "Answer yes or no," the dragon demanded, though it didn't sound angry.

  "No," Sara said.

  The voice let out a soft huff of amusement. "Very well. I shall leave you then."

  Sara waited a moment to respond. "Maybe next time," she said. "I'm not having the best day."

  By the time the voice came again, Sara had assumed it was gone. "I am sorry to hear that, lady. Perhaps another time then." Did the voice sound regretful?

  Sara frowned. "Maybe," she said.

  The voice did not come again that night. Sara spun around a few times to ensure she was alone. Even though she couldn't see anyone, she had a nagging feeling someone was there. It wasn't frightening, just a little nerve-racking, even as the presence felt comforting.

  Doing her best to ignore it, Sara began to swim with wild abandon. She dove and floated to her heart's content in the beautiful seawater. She swam until her thighs ached. It was only then she swam to shore and fell asleep at the water's edge.

  Sara never saw the golden-haired man sitting on the mountainous ledge above her, watching her sleep.

  8

  Sara

  * * *

  The next morning, Sara awoke more refreshed than she had any right to be. She'd fallen asleep crying and ended up having the most wondrous dreams. Sara dreamed of the ocean often, but it usually had to do with surfing or the beach in some way. This was a water dream unlike any she'd ever had. She'd been in a mountainous region with water unlike any she'd ever been in before. Hawaii was famous for its gorgeous beaches and water, but this water felt different. She'd felt almost magical swimming in its depths. She also couldn't discount the presence she'd felt near her the entire time. It felt like it had been keeping her safe. That sounded ridiculous, she knew. There was something about it that had a familiarity to it. Like she knew the person behind it. Her thoughts went to Daegal, but he was gone. He probably wouldn't be coming back now that he'd gotten what he wanted. It couldn't have been him.

  Sara slipped out of bed and walked into her closet. She needed the water again. She needed sunshine, the waves, and the roar of the ocean as she confronted something much bigger than herself.

  She pulled out her wetsuit, changed, and grabbed her surfboard without so much as a good morning to her roommates. The water was the only place she'd be able to clear her head. Plus, she needed the physical activity. If she didn't exercise or surf every day, she regretted it later. Sara wasn't often sore, but she welcomed the chance to beat herself into exhaustion today.

  She padded barefoot across the sand and straight down onto Kanaha beach. Sara hadn't even brought a towel or applied sunscreen. She didn't care.

  She stood at the edge of the water, letting the edges of the salty waves kiss her toes. The water was still somewhat cool this morning, so it would be cold going in. She shivered in anticipation and stepped into the water, her board at her side.

  When she hit water deep enough, she hopped onto her board and paddled further out. The surf was almost gentle today so the surfing might not be as intense as she was used to. Just being out in the water was helping, though. The morning sun warmed her shoulders. She tilted her face up, a soft smile playing on her mouth. Whatever happened, she knew the ocean was constant and her closest friend. As long as she had the water, she could get through anything.

  She was still paddling when she heard someone shout her name. She turned, only to see Jillian, Carrie, and Ella paddling out after her.

  She grinned and waved. Her friends caught up to her quickly and all four of them lay on their stomachs on top of their boards, facing the endless sea.

  Ella reached over and gripped Sara's fingers. She squeezed them once and let go. It was a silent way of telling her they all had her back.

  A massive wave was coming up.

  A ferocious grin lit Sara's face. "Ready?" she called.

  Her friends answered with whoops and hollers. They split up and paddled furiously toward the upcoming wave.

  This was what friendship meant. Silent camaraderie and shared experiences.

  Who needed men when you had that?

  Sara's lips pressed together. It would have been nice to share her life with someone, but this would do.

  She stood up on her board as the water rose.

  Sara had been praying to the porcelain god for two straight weeks. She hadn't gone to the doctor yet because the nausea and vomiting weren't constant. If it didn't stop in the next two days, she was going to have to suck up her pride and make an appointment. She hadn't told anyone about what was happening to her yet, but this morning, Ella had overheard her in the bathroom.

  After a soft knock on the door, Sara croaked at the person to come in.

  Her friend stood there taking in the scene and finally let out a soft breath.

  "Oh, Sara," she whispered. Ella went to the cabinet and took out a soft washcloth. She rinsed it with cold water, wrung it out, and placed it on the back of Sara's neck. She felt Sara's forehead with the back of her hand and sank down to the cold floor beside her.

  "How long has this been going on?" Ella asked.

  Sara's breath was heavy. Her skin felt clammy and cold. "Two weeks, I think," she managed.

  "It isn't food poisoning," Ella said. It was not a question.

  "I think not," Sara said. A hysterical laugh escaped her.

  "Heavy," Ella remarked.

  "Yeah."

  "What are you going to do?"

  Sara wiped the back of her mouth. "Go to the doctor before I start panicking. It could be something gastro."

  A humorless smile graced her friend's face. "Since when have you ever had stomach trouble?"

  It was true.
Growing up in an orphanage and becoming a chef had given her an iron stomach. Sara was almost never sick.

  "I can't be," she whispered. "I'm on birth control."

  "Mmm," Ella commiserated. "Perhaps dragons can circumvent that system?"

  Sara snorted, but it wasn't with amusement. "It would be just my luck." A thought occurred to her. "Can I even go to the doctor with the potential of a dragon growing inside of me?" She groaned. "What if wings show up on the ultrasound?"

  She and Ella fell silent for a few seconds.

  "They'll pass it off as a shadow of the light or a machine fluke. Humans don't want to believe what isn't right in front of their faces. No one would believe wings on an ultrasound. I wouldn't worry about it. Proper prenatal care is more important."

  "What am I going to do, Ella?" Sara's voice was low and tortured.

  Ella gathered her in her arms and stroked her hair. "I suspect you'll do the same as you always do." She leaned over and kissed Sara on top of the forehead. "You'll pick yourself up and carry on like the badass Valkyrie you've always been."

  A broken sob escaped her. She couldn't be pregnant. Would Daegal be so callously cold-hearted as to leave her alone with even the hint of the possibility of it? It defied logic. She'd always been so careful, so measured, so apt to do the right thing. One night of loosened inhibitions and her career might be over. It was definitely over for the year. She didn't want to think about it any further. As angry as she should be, she also knew a child was the greatest blessing. She could do for this baby what her own mother couldn't. Her hand cradled her still flat, muscular stomach.

  "I suppose you're right," she told Ella. "I have a pirate ship's worth of gold in my closet, so that could help."

  Ella's snort of laughter made her laugh, too. It was a nice change of pace from all the tears that had been shed lately.

  When Sara finally felt well enough to leave the bathroom floor, Ella marched her right into the kitchen. Carrie and Jillian were standing around the window sipping coffee. They were too smart not to notice what was happening. Neither of them said anything. Their faces said it all.

  Sara gave them a wobbly smile and settled herself into one of the stools around the counter. Jillian set her mug down and reached into the cabinet to get tea.

  "Earl Grey or Chai?" she asked, no-nonsense. Sara could have kissed her for it. "With a baby on board, you'll have to watch your caffeine intake." She paused, her hands on the tea boxes.

  "Chai, please," Sara said.

  Jillian took it down and started a small kettle of water. When she passed by Sara, she dropped a kiss on the top of her head. "I hope it's a little boy, and I want to name it Keanu."

  "Absolutely not," Carrie said. "We have to name it Slater."

  "Me likey," Ella said as she poured herself a cup of coffee.

  Sara liked both, but Keanu was cuter. In more ways than one. "It could be a girl."

  "Layne," Jillian said.

  "Nice," Sara concurred. Layne Beachley was an incredible example of female surf power. "I like it." Her hand rested over her stomach. "It could still be gas," she said wistfully.

  Ella barked out a laugh. "Sure. 'Cause gas causes scheduled morning vomiting."

  Sara sighed. "I'll go to the doctor tomorrow."

  "All of us are coming," Jillian said. "You won't be able to keep us away anymore. We're all aunties, and we're all going to spoil baby dragon until he's rotten."

  Nods were exchanged all around. "Did you know Draco is Latin for dragon?" Ella asked.

  Carrie rolled her eyes. "Like Harry Potter, Draco?"

  "Harry Potter is the bomb," Jillian said, her eyes sparkling. "If it's a girl, we can call her Hermione."

  "No," Sara said. "Absolutely not."

  "Luna," Ella said, her eyes dreamy.

  "Stop being weird," Sara said. The tea kettle whistled its shrill noise. "And make me a cup of tea." Sara grinned at Jillian.

  "Definitely Hermione," Jillian shot back as she turned the stove off.

  "I reserve sole baby naming rights," Sara said. She watched as Jillian poured boiling water over the tea bag. She liked tea. Not nearly as much as coffee, but it would have to do until she confirmed her pregnancy and asked the doctor about restrictions.

  "Can you still surf?" Carrie asked. She leaned against the counter, all blonde and leggy. Carrie was the least like them all. She looked more like a model than a surfer. She was on the thin side, more skinny than muscular, but she could handle a wave as well as any of them. Her hair was the lightest blonde, platinum almost. Her eyes were a strange, amber brown and her teeth were perfect and white. The only thing that made her look even remotely like a normal person was the light spray of freckles across her nose and upper cheeks. If those were gone, she would look more like a Milan runway model than a top-ranked surfer. She was the most difficult to get to know, too. Carrie wore her secrets like a shroud. No one had been able to see underneath them. But, she was sweet and fun, and they all loved her. Plus, she'd been the one to introduce Sara to Peahi Beach.

  "Of course, I can," Sara responded.

  "Ah," Ella started.

  "I. Can. Surf," Sara repeated, glaring at her friend. She wouldn't give it up right away. She couldn't. It was one of the main things keeping her sane.

  Jillian started to speak.

  "I will only give up surfing when I'm too fat to stand on the board! Understand?" Sara's voice was louder than intended. Tears shimmered in her eyes.

  All of her friends nodded, wide-eyed with surprise at her outburst.

  "Okay, honey," Jillian said. "We get it. All the surfing, all the time." She turned away. "Until your ass is too big to fit on your board." She laughed and got out of striking distance.

  Sara glared at her friend. "I can't wait until this happens to you."

  Jillian rolled her eyes. "If you can't see it, I'm as single as the night is long. I'm also entirely uninterested."

  Ella snorted. "You and Sebastian seemed quite cozy."

  "Sebastian is a man whore," Jillian said shortly, though her expression didn't match her words. A tinge of sadness rolled over her eyes.

  She missed him. God help them all from the dragon boys.

  Ella's lips thinned. She and Gregor had a connection, it was obvious, but Ella seemed like she'd rather run out of the room screaming than acknowledge it. If anyone was relieved they were gone, it was her.

  Sara had done her best not to think about Daegal over the last few weeks. With the distinct possibility of a baby, he was now all she could think about.

  Not necessarily in a good way, either. Right now, as she sipped her tea like a lady, all she could think about was strangling him.

  She'd never planned for children. Wasn't that how it always happened? Few people were ever truly prepared for them. Even if they'd planned it. Sara had not planned this, and even though it was in the very early stages, she already felt like she was drowning.

  There were so many things she had to buy. She'd have to clean out the guest room to make a nursery. Her thoughts spun with all the things that needed to happen, and it must have shown on her face.

  Carrie reached over and patted her on the hand. "Relax. You have three of the greatest people on the planet here to support you. It will be alright." There was an odd expression on Carrie's face, almost like she knew what Sara was going through.

  Sara gave her a wan smile. "Thank you," she said. "It means a lot." She was going to need all the help she could get.

  Probably a larger wetsuit, too.

  Seven long months passed and the possibility of Daegal returning had been swept away on a hopeful wind. There were no calls, no letters, no hint he was even still alive. But those strange dreams Sara had in the early days continued on, almost every night. A few months into her pregnancy, the voice revealed itself as a dragon. A massive, gorgeous blue dragon.

  Sara thought she must be going crazy and her dreams were some kind of subliminal message for what she'd lost. They talked and chatted for hours e
ach night, but there was one thing Sara kept secret: her child. It didn't feel right to disclose something like that and since it was a dream, she hadn't felt like she was hiding anything.

  Her perfect figure showed up in the dream. The muscled lithe one. Not the one she sported right now. Her stomach was so enormous she could perch a plate perfectly on top of it. Her feet ached and her back felt like it was on fire most of the time. Her hair had morphed from curly into a wild, Medusa mess and had grown at least four inches since the start of her pregnancy. She didn't have a clue if half of what she was experiencing with this pregnancy was normal. The baby moved. A lot. Sometimes she felt a soft flutter, and she imagined it might be wings. Sara laughed at herself during those times, even though wings were a distinct possibility. Whether she was the first human to carry a dragon hybrid was unknown. If Daegal were here, he would know.

  The birth was also a terrifying thing to think about. Was it safe for her to deliver? Would the baby come out breathing fire? Would the doctor get his brows singed or injured unwittingly delivering a dragon baby?

  Sara was on edge every single day thinking about all the what-ifs. Above all, surfing was the most difficult thing she'd had to give up. The wine and beer wasn't a big deal since she wasn't that big of a drinker. Even skipping out on social things with her friends wasn't an issue. But not being able to get into the water, balance on a board, and let her cares wash away as she took on Mother Nature weighed on her. This was the one thing that made her resent Daegal more than everything else. Yes, he'd left her, supposedly to save the world. If it were true, she couldn't be angry at him without feeling selfish. But he'd taken away the one thing she truly loved. It was temporary, she knew, but getting back into competition mode after delivering a child would be a monster of a challenge to overcome.