The Arena novel Chapter 59

I didn’t think. But I should have known. Avani warned me, he said we’re more fertile with our mates, and after only four days, I’m pregnant again. And I have no idea how Cedric will react. We’ve only just come together, and we’re still trying to find our way. I needn’t have worried.

“You’re pregnant? Are you sure?”

“Well, no. But last time, it only took that one time together, and a couple of days later, I couldn’t call on my dragon. It wasn’t until Ishir caught up to me and smelled Kenna that I realized why. But that was the only time in my life when I couldn’t call to my dragon form.”

His smile is dazzling. He pulls away and looks down at my stomach before looking back up at me. “Really?”

“You’re not upset?”

He grabs me, spinning me around in a circle. “I’m thrilled. Do you think it’s a boy or a girl?”

I shrug. “I don’t know. Ishir could smell Kenna’s cinnamon scent, but you know how good his nose is.”

He drops to his knees in front of me, sniffing my stomach. “I can only smell me on you.” He looks up at me. “Now we really need to get back. Maybe Ishir can smell if it’s a boy or another girl.”

He scoops me up, bridal style, spinning around again. “We’re going to have a baby! And this time,” he sets me on my feet and cups my face in his hands, “I’ll be there beside you every step of the way.”

Now it’s my turn to smile.

“I love you, Tana. You, Kenna, and Baby Thierry.”

“Thierry?”

He frowns at me. “Well, now that you’ve accepted that I’m your mate, I thought you and Kenna would take my name. At least when we need one.”

I lean up on my tiptoes and kiss my mate. My mate. I sigh into the kiss. This is sounding better and better every day.

“So, how are we going to get back? I can’t shift,” I tell him.

He gives me a mischievous smile. “I guess this time, I get to carry you. You’ll be a Lycan rider.”

I snort. “There’s no such thing,” I say as he turns, bending down so I can hop on his back.

When my legs are wrapped around his waist, and my arms are wrapped around his neck, he turns his face to peck my cheek. “There is now. Point me in the right direction, my love.”

It takes us longer than it would have if we’d have flown, an extra day and a half. Once we’re on the outskirts of town, we stop. I don’t have any clothes and Cedric only has a pair of shorts. We can’t exactly walk into a human city like this.

When the sun sets, I call out to Kenna. She can fly us back to the penthouse. It’s only a few minutes before I hear her wings pushing against the air. When she lands, she immediately shifts, rushing over to me.

“Momma! I was so worried something had happened to you.” She grabs me in a tight hug and then pulls back. “You smell like Papa.”

She looks at Cedric, seeing my dragon on his chest. She turns back to me. “He claimed you, Momma?”

“He did, sweet girl. We have a lot to discuss. Can you give us a ride back home?”

“You can’t fly?” She looks like she’s beginning to panic, as if she’s fearful that my being claimed took away my ability to be a dragon.

“No, and that’s something we need to discuss. But I’d rather do it once. So, can you give us a ride?”

She turns to Cedric. “You’re coming, too?”

“I am.”

Her smile is brilliant as she steps back and shifts. I watch as Cedric walks up to her, hugging and kissing her snout before picking me up and carrying me onto her back.

“I can get on our daughter’s back, Cedric.”

“I’m not taking any chances, Tana,” he says and holds me tightly as Kenna lifts off the ground and flies us to the penthouse.

Cedric has no problem carrying me off her wing and we wait for her to shift before we head inside. As soon as we do, I see that Avani is here. Kenna must have called him.

Avani only looks at me a moment before seeing my dragon on Cedric’s chest.

“You’re a dragon rider?” he cries at the same moment that Ishir looks at me. “You’re pregnant?”

They look at each other and then look back at us. “WHAT?” They exclaim in unison.

I look at Cedric, my own smile causing my mouth to hurt. “I guess so.”

“If you’ll let me, Cedric, I can tell you where to sniff. But I’m guessing you’ll be able to smell him in another day or so. His scent is strong, like yours.”

“I could smell my scent on Tana. I just assumed it was because …” he pauses, looking at Kenna.

“Because you got Momma pregnant?” Kenna asks him, smirking.

“Yep,” he says smugly.

I just shake my head.

“Well, I want to smell my little brother,” Kenna says. “Papa, can Ishir show me where he is in Momma’s tummy?”

Everyone looks at Cedric. He grits his teeth. I know it’s hard for him to let another strong male get that close to me and his child. Surprisingly, he agrees, saying that if I’m okay with it, then he is too.

I hold Cedric’s hand and stand. “Show us where our baby boy is, Ishir.”

Ishir grabs a chair, pulls it over, and sits Kenna on his lap. I stand still, running my thumb over Cedric’s hand, calming him while Ishir puts his face near my stomach, sniffing deeply. He only sniffs for a moment.

“Smell right there, Kenna,” he says, pointing to the right side of my stomach.

She leans in, sniffing around, and then turns to smile at Ishir. “I can smell him,” she says before turning to me. “It’s not easy because you have Papa’s smell all over you, but there’s a spot where my baby brother’s scent is stronger.”

Cedric moves to stand behind me, wrapping his arms around me and nuzzling my hair as he watches Kenna’s excitement.

“Well, this has been lots of fun, but it’s time for me to leave.” Avani stands to go. “Tana, if you ever need anything …”

“She has a mate now. If Tana needs anything, I’ll provide it for her,” Cedric says to Avani firmly.

Avani glances at Cedric before looking back at me. “You know how to get ahold of me,” he says before walking outside. It’s only a moment before we hear the whoosh of wings.

I turn back to the room. “Now, let’s talk about where we’re all going to live.”