Dragon's Mercy
22.

"Are you sure you're ready for that?" Ryker stares at Agnes with shock.

"I'm 50-years-old, child. I know my heart."

"But you and Crispin have only just met."

"You and I didn't know each other long before we fell in love." Maria adds.

"We were true mates."

"I think it's cute that you're so protective over your mother. Crispin is a good guy."

Ryker sighs and runs an agitated head behind his neck. "I like Crispin, but they just met."

"Life is too short to even waste a minute. Tomorrow is not promised."

Maria reaches out to take Ryker's hands, knowing how true those words are. Finally, he sighs. "You have my support in this marriage, Mother."

Agnes smiles brightly as she leans over and kisses her son on the cheek. "Thank you. It means a lot, especially because I expect you to walk me down the aisle." The woman looks at Maria with raised brows.

"It would be an honor to officiate your wedding."

Agnes wraps her in a large hug, then pulls back. "Well, I need to make arrangements because we're going to be married this evening." She rushes out of the room.

Ryker stares after her, before letting out a chuckle. "I believe Crispin is the first man Agnes has loved since my father."

"Crispin hasn't been with anyone since his wife died years ago. He'll be good to Agnes. He seems to love her very much."

"I trust him, he's honorable."

~W~

That evening, the fated mates are getting ready for the wedding in their bedroom. As Maria stands in her closet deciding what to wear, Ryker comes up behind her and hugs her. "This wedding reminds me how glad I am that you're my wife."

"We haven't even talked about our honeymoon."

"I have something planned for us if you're interested."

She faces Ryker with a bright smile, thrilled he was so thoughtful. "I'd love to hear what you have planned."

"I have a cottage in the snowy mountains. It's very secluded. We can be alone for a few days without everyone's eyes on us."

"That sounds amazing."

"Good. We'll leave tonight after the ceremony." She looks at the three dresses she picked out earlier that day, trying to decide which one to wear, choosing a sexy teal dress. Ryker helps her step into it, then looks down at her with love in his eyes. "You look beautiful."

Just as she's about to lean up to kiss him, there's a light tap on their door. When she opens it, Agnes gives her a small smile. "Can I ask you a favor, Maria?"

"Sure. What do you need?"

"Will you help me get ready? I can't zip up this darn dress myself."

Ryker nods to her and gives her a light nudge toward the door. "Of course, I'll help you, Agnes." Maria nods.

"You've been so helpful to us in so many ways." Maria follows Agnes into the woman's bedroom. After she puts on the dress, she zips it up and adjusts the back to her comfort. Agnes looks every bit the beaming bride when she turns around. "Well, how do I look?"

"You've never looked more beautiful. Crispin is going to lose his breath when he sees you."

"Oh, he's so handsome himself. I'm going to catch my breath when I see him too." She takes Maria's hand and gives it a squeeze. "Thank you, Daughter."

"You're welcome..... Mother."

Tears fill her eyes before she quickly wipes them away. Agnes gives herself one last look in the mirror, then turns back to look at Maria one last time. "Let's go get me hitched."

Twenty minutes later, the entire flight is standing at the ceremonial grounds. The flights form two rows. Ryker walks Agnes down the center of them, while Maria stands by the large rock with Crispin.

"Crispin, I'm happy for you. Agnes truly loves you."

"She's a good woman. I really love her."

Agnes gets to her and Crispin, hugs Ryker, then takes her fiance's hand and they face each other.

"Agnes, do you take Crispin, dragon lord of the Black Sun flight as your husband? Do you promise to love, honor and cherish him for all eternity?"

"I do."

After Crispin makes the same pledge, she pronounces them husband and wife. "You may now kiss your dragon bride."

The flights cheer with excitement as Crispin kisses Agnes. Everyone enjoys the feast while Maria and Ryker slip out.

He walks her to the edge of their territory. "We'll need to shift into our dragons and fly to the cabin. It'll take us about two hours."

"Sounds great. I'm excited to see this special cabin of yours." She beams. They shift into their dragons and fly two hours to the cabin. "Wow. It's beautiful, Ryker. I didn't know we owned this."

"Yeah. I own a lot of property around the world, but this is my favorite one."

"I can see why. It's so peaceful."

"Where is the one place you would travel if you could?"

"Australia." She blurts out.

Ryker takes her inside and she smiles when she sees the interior. "Oh, this is so cozy. I love it."

He takes her in his arms and kisses her. "Now I have you all to myself." Her stomach gives a loud rumble and he laughs. "It looks like my plans to make love to you will have to wait because the baby is hungry."

"You know I'm pregnant?"

"I can smell the change in your hormones and when I hug you close, I can feel an extra heartbeat."

"I'm sorry I didn't tell you sooner. I'm not sure why I wanted to wait." She hugs him close, then her stomach grumbles again. "Okay, I definitely need to eat."

"I wasn't expecting the baby to interfere in our love-making so soon."

"Neither was I. But I'm sure that after a good meal, I'll be ready for something else."

"I'll take care of dinner. You rest."

"I'm pregnant, Ryker, not ill." She swats him on the arm.

"I know, but let me do this for you." Ryker disappears into the kitchen. Thirty minutes later, he returns with two large steaks and mashed potatoes.

"Oh, my favorite dish." Ryker cuts a bite of steak and feeds it to her. She moans with pleasure at the taste. "That's perfect." She devours the rest of the dish.

When she's done, Ryker sets their plates aside and pulls her to straddle him on the couch. He palms her breasts with a chuckle. "Wow, they're already swollen from the baby. I can't wait to see how you look in a month when you're really pregnant."

Common knowledge is that dragons give birth within 30 days of conception.

"Me too. Given the baby's appetite, I'm assuming I'll be quite large."

"I'll love seeing you with fuller hips." He moves his hands to her hips, grabbing onto them like handlebars, then leans in and licks her neck. "Your pregnancy hormones are driving me crazy. I want you even more now."

"I always want you, Ryker." He kisses her passionately as he grinds his hips into hers. She can already feel the beginning of his erection. "But I think I'm a little too tired and a little too full." She yawns.

"That's okay. We can save it for another day."

~W~

The following morning, Maria wakes up a baby bump. She looks over at Ryker, who's still fast asleep. She nudges him awake and he opens his eyes, stretching. "Morning, beautiful."

"Wake up, Ryker. The baby has grown!"

Ryker looks at her stomach with a smile. "Wow, you have grown. I've never seen a dragon grow as fast as you. It could be because of our dragon mate power. How are you feeling? Does anything hurt?"

"I feel great."

"I'm going to ask you to do something, but I don't want you to be mad."

"I'm never mad."

Ryker hesitates before he speaks. "I want you to lay low until the baby is born. I don't want you to do any housework or any training."

"Ryker, I refuse to be bedridden. Doctors recommend walking and movement for pregnant women."

"Maria, I don't want anything to jeopardize you, or our baby's health."

She puts her arms around his neck and stares into his gorgeous eyes. "I'm going to be just fine. I am strong, your child is strong. I know you feel helpless in this situation, but I'll let you know if something is wrong." Then she feels a kick. "Woah. I just...... the baby kicked!"

Ryker reaches out, extending a hand toward her stomach. "Do you mind? I'd love to know what it feels like."

"Of course. It's your child too." She takes his hand and guides it under her shirt toward her swelled stomach. His pulse leaps as soon as it touches her skin.

Then she feels a third pulse join the two of them. "I feel its pulse. Rhythm beating with ours."

"They can feel their father is near."

The baby gives two powerful kicks. "I felt a kick. Seems like the kid's already a fighter."

"They want to make sure you know they're there." Her breath catches when Ryker kneels down before her and rests his head against her stomach.

The baby kicks rapidly as if feeling his energy. Then he turns his head and lays a gentle kiss on her stomach. "You're amazing, Maria." There's reverence in his tone when he kisses both her and the future she carries. The warmth on her stomach lingers long after he's stood back up. Ryker pulls her back into bed and holds her close.

"I wish we could stay in this bed forever."

"You don't miss the dragon flight?"

"I miss it, but I like having this privacy. Sometimes the flight house can get really loud."

"Well, we'll have to make sure to come here and get some quiet time for you." He kisses her and nuzzles her neck. Soon, he's making love to her again.

~W~

One month later, they lay in bed with their newborn daughter. Ryker's next to her with an arm around them both. "She's so beautiful, Maria."

"I love her smell. There's something about it I can't get enough of."

Ryker leans in and smells her. "I know what you mean. She's perfect. And you're perfect too." He leans in and kisses her. She sighs with contentment.

Their daughter smiles up and Maria's heart melts. "We need to name her."

"I have a name in mind, if you'll let me name her?" Ryker looks at them both with such love she'd probably give him anything he asked for.

"Of course, you can name her. I didn't have anything good in mind."

"I'd love to name her Kaliyah."

"Oh, that's the perfect name for her." Kaliyah smiles as if agreeing. "Hi, Kaliyah. We love you so much." She passes her daughter to Ryker, who gently takes her. Her heart warms seeing the fierce dragon lord rocking his infant daughter.

She leans against his chest as he whispers sweet words to them. "You've given me a family, Maria. There's nothing more I want."

She looks up at him with a smirk. "How about a few sons?"

"I'd love lots of sons. I'm going to love you for all eternity, Maria."

"I love you too, Ryker."

The End.