Chapter 11
Aleric
“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.
“I would like to cook with a proper pot for a change,” Konrad said as he walked back over to the bed we had shared for the past month.
“You do a wonderful job with the fire.”
“Yes, but something other than meat sounds appealing. I believe your son would like a potato or two. Or a parsnip? Maybe a carrot. I’m not picky, and I hope you don’t think I am.” Konrad turned, his eyes wide. “And I’m not ungrateful. You’ve been more than an amazing provider.”
I laughed at that. I could see that. There was nothing wrong with potatoes. They stored well and made a nice stew when combined with meat. And I knew he wasn’t complaining. But I agreed. There was only so much you could do with venison and fish when you only had those and an open flame.
“You are sure they will not be upset about you suddenly showing up with a pregnant mate?”
I snorted. “They will be delighted. In fact, I am sure Da will dote all over you the moment we cross over the threshold.” My fathers knew I’d been hoping to find my mate—well, Da had known. I had no doubt that he’d told Father.
I could tell my mate was open to being around another omega.
He missed his friends, especially Elias.
We had gotten to know each other well over the past month, but it was time to get my mate to the house.
My dragon had been pushing me to do so for a few days now, and my parents had always said to always listen to my dragon.
He’d led me to Konrad, and now he seemed to want my mate with my fathers, so it was time.
Konrad pulled his shirt over his head, then placed it on the bed.
When he pushed down his trousers, bending over to pull them off his feet, I was rewarded with the tantalizing view of his sac as it hung between his legs.
Tonight, I would explore every inch of his body while on the soft bed in my room.
“I can hear your thoughts, you know.”
“Mmm, I know. I have no issue with you knowing that I wish to bury my shaft deep inside you, knotting you one last time.” I pushed down the front of my own trousers and moved up behind my mate. Sadly, he derailed my plans by standing up, turning, and placing a hand on the middle of my chest.
“Do not think about it. We were leaving, remember?”
I pulled on my shaft. “Yes, but we could have a bit of pleasure before doing so.”
Konrad shook his head. “No, we are going to go meet your parents. Now, finish undressing so we can pack things up.” Konrad looked around the cave. “Do you think we will be back?”
I let go of my shaft and pushed my trousers down. “If you wish, yes. Although, with a baby…”
“That was why I asked. I would not assume your fathers would take care of our son while we stole off to a cave to find pleasure with one another.”
I folded my own clothing, placing it in the smaller satchel that I would carry. I had tried to figure out how I could carry my mate in my claws, but I would need to be able to fly in order to pick him up, and there was not enough room in the cave to do so.
“I’m as ready as I ever will be. If you are absolutely sure they will not be upset about you showing up with a pregnant mate, I would like to meet your fathers.”
“Most likely, they will be upset that I kept you hidden for so long. I cannot wait to show you how wonderful our life is going to be.” It was a simple life we lived here, but one full of love, and now that I had my own mate, it would be so much more complete.
“It already is, Alpha. I do not need a life of luxuries. I am a simple man. One who is used to growing and raising his own food.”
“We do that here. Come spring, I will build you a house of our own.”
I could tell Konrad liked that idea but was hesitant to say as much.
My mate was too shy to ask for anything, and that was something I would work hard to change.
I wanted to know his needs, his desires.
If he wanted something, I wished to give it to him.
I knew he’d gone without for a long time, had been denied many things because of his alpha father’s own worries about protecting his son.
After I made sure the cave was ready to be empty for the winter, I walked to the mouth of the cave and shifted. Once I was lying as close to the floor as I could, Konrad climbed onto my back and lay down, wrapping his arms around my neck.
“This is going to be so cold.”
“I am sorry, my mate. I did not think about that when I brought you here instead of going directly to the house. My only thought at the time was getting you somewhere safe and dry, where we could be alone.”
“It’s okay. It won’t hurt me, just be a bit uncomfortable. How about we get it over with, and then I can get dry and warm.”
I stood, grabbed the satchel with one clawed foot, then jumped through the mouth of the cave and into the water.
Konrad’s loud gasp distracted me, and I didn’t open my wings as quickly as I usually did.
When I did, we glided out and away from the mountain.
I flew upward to the top where we had settled.
Once I was in the clearing that was only a few minutes’ walk to the cottage, I landed, quickly shifting back out of my scales.
Konrad hadn’t even had a chance to climb off my back yet, and I found my mate clinging to me in my human form.
“It’s cold,” he said, his teeth chattering a little.
“Yes. We must get you dry and dressed.” I opened the satchel I’d had protected under my stomach, pulling out the smaller blanket we had been using to dry off.
I dried my mate, quickly handing him the clothing out of the larger trunk I had stored under a nearby tree.
I dried one foot, placed a boot on it, then did the same for the other.
“What about you?”
“I was not exactly naked when I dove through the water.”
I wasn’t exactly warm, but I was not shivering as my mate was.
After I had seen to my omega, I dried my back where he had been clinging, then pulled a blouse on.
My own trousers and boots were next, and then I pulled out a larger blanket and wrapped it around Konrad’s shoulders.
The smile he gave me spoke his thanks. I could not help but lean in and take a quick kiss from him.
His hand fisting the front of my shirt held me to him just a moment longer before he let go and stepped away.
I pushed the satchel into the trunk, and after wrapping an arm around my mate’s waist, I picked up the trunk with my other and started out toward the cottage.
“I smell smoke.”