The Arena novel Chapter 46

I watch as Cedric helps get Kenna out of her restraints. I knew she was terrified, which is why I screamed in my mind for Cedric to help her. I never dreamed that he’d actually hear me.

I watch him tease our daughter, getting her to relax. I know he doesn’t know who she is, but him calling her Little Red causes my heart to flutter. Damn him. Why does he have to be good with her?

I’m keeping an eye on the fight with the dragons, not that it’s much of a fight with three fully-grown dragons. The hunters have weapons, but most of them bounce off their scales. Avani has taken an arrow between his scales, but he’s still fighting.

I turn back just in time to see Cedric rip the last harpoon out of Kenna’s wing. Her cry makes my heart hurt. I would kill these hunters if I could, but I’ll settle for watching my brethren kill them for me. I watch as Cedric wraps his arms around her face as best he can, being careful not to touch the open wounds.

He waits until her cries stop. “Are you good, Little Red?”

She nods, and I can tell that she likes him.

He begins walking toward me. “Your turn, Tana.”

It’s as if the battle isn’t going on around us. He takes his hands and runs them over my face. “You are so beautiful, Red. I’m going to get these ropes off your face, and if you try to bite me,” he leans in, “I’m going to bite you back,” he whispers.

I snort at him. “Or maybe I’ll bite you for leaving me on that cliff alone,” he says quietly as he begins slicing the ropes off my snout.

When he gets them off, he gently runs his hands over my face where the ropes have left bloody gashes. He leans in, kissing them. “Okay, let’s get you out of this mess.”

He pulls out the stakes holding my head and neck down. I lift my head and stretch my neck. I turn, looking at Kenna.

“Are you okay, sweet girl?” I ask her.

She’s watching Cedric. “Yes.” She looks up at me. “He’s my father, isn’t he?”

This isn’t the way I wanted her to find out, but I’m not going to lie to her. “Yes, he’s your father.”

“He said I’m beautiful.”

“You are beautiful, sweet girl.”

Cedric turns to look at her. “Don’t worry, Little Red. I’ll have Tana out of here in no time.”

Cedric makes a point of running his hands over my scales as he moves around my body, pulling out the stakes. As much pain as I’m in, his touch is soothing and calming.

As he works, I see that the fight is almost over. “Kenna, I need you to stay in your dragon form. I don’t know if your father will recognize you in your human form, but I don’t want to take any chances. I don’t want to fight. Can you do that for me?”

She looks at him longingly. “Okay, Momma. But, while we’re here, can I spend a little more time with him?”

“Let’s see how it goes.”

Avani shifts and comes running over. “Kenna! Are you alright?”

“Can you heal her, Avani? Her wings are in bad shape,” Cedric says.

“Alright, beautiful, let’s see what we’ve got,” he says to Kenna. He lays his hands on her face and begins healing her.

Kenna is still watching Cedric. “He loves you, Momma.”

Avani turns his head to look at Cedric before looking at me.

“Maybe. But I’m not convinced.”

“Okay, Tana. Time for me to get on your back. I’ll be as gentle as I can.” I turn and look at him. He looks at me before walking up my tail, pulling off the net as he goes.

When Cedric drops back down by my face, he smiles at me, gently running his hands over my face. “My tough girl.”

He turns. “Avani, can you heal Tana?”

Zephyr and Kaylani are nearly done healing Kenna. Avani comes over and takes my large snout in his hands. “Hey, gorgeous. Let’s get you looking pretty again,” he says, and I know he’s doing this to intentionally irritate Cedric.

“She’s already beautiful,” he snarls at Avani.

“Eye of the beholder,” Avani says, winking at me as he starts to push his healing power into me.

When Kaylani and Zephyr are done with Kenna, they come over and stretch my wings as they did hers. I grit my teeth again, flames shooting out of my nose as I hold my scream of pain inside.

“Easy, Tana. I may be immune to your fire, but that doesn’t mean I don’t feel it,” Avani says.

Kenna croons at me, leaning over to touch her nose to mine.

“It’s okay, Little Red. Tana will be fine. She’s a strong, powerful dragon.”

Avani snorts. “We all are, Lycan.”

Cedric ignores him and walks over to Kenna. “Do you mind if I look you over? I’d like to make sure that you’re all healed. Not that I don’t trust your friends, but just to be sure. I wouldn’t want your growth to be impacted by a wound that didn’t heal properly.

Kenna lays her head on the ground, letting Cedric know she accepts him touching and climbing on top of her. He surprises me by leaning in and kissing her nose.

“Thanks, Little Red.”