Free The Dragon’s Treasure by Caitlin Ricci

she had prepared herself for that possibility.
    But just like the first time, he didn’t touch her any more than necessary and didn’t make eye contact. He was gentle and careful with her, something she knew many men wouldn’t have been.
    He took a few deep breaths and then rolled onto his side of the large bed. Isabelle lay as she was, her heart still pounding as she watched him try to control his breathing. In moments, he was on his stomach again, looking away from her. She wondered if that was how he preferred to sleep.
    “Did I hurt you?” he said after a few long moments. She could still hear the breathlessness in his voice. He sounded vulnerable and almost frightened of her answer. She considered telling him that everything was fine, but chose honesty instead.
    She shrugged and tried to act casually. “It stung at first, but I’m fine now.”
    He was quiet. “I’m sorry that it was uncomfortable though.”
    Isabelle nodded and turned away. She rested her head on her arms and breathed deeply. “I was thinking…”
    “Yes?”
    “This child…I’ll be carrying a half Draconian child, right?” she asked quietly.
    “Yes,” he instantly sounded tense.
    He was such a strange man. Not at all sure of himself. It was far different than the few princes that had tried to court her in the past. Faolan, with his strong muscles and quiet demeanor, could probably beat them at any hand-to-hand fight within minutes, the pompous feather-wearing idiots that they had been. The thought made a quick smile flash across her lips.
    “But I’m sure they are longer than human infants, since you seem taller than most men that I’ve seen. How is this possible?”
    “Lucky for you I already asked Kylin this question,” he replied quickly as he rolled out his neck and shoulder muscles, stretching them.
    “And what did he say?”
    “That because you are human, you will give birth to a physically human baby. It is only later that its other half will show itself.”
    “Well that’s a relief. When both sides are obvious, what will the child look like?” Isabelle tried to sound light, tried to sound like she didn’t care. But it was still a child from her, still something part of her. She didn’t want to think about what it would look like, who it would take after physically. It was already too painful, despite what she might have thought when she agreed to Thadius’s demands.
    “I have no idea,” he replied casually.
    “Will you show me your natural form someday?”
    “Possibly, but definitely not right now. There is no way that I could gather the strength and energy needed to change right now,” he replied with a yawn.
    Isabelle giggled softly. “Okay then,” she said, her voice growing quiet. “Thank you for not hurting me, Faolan.” She could feel his dark eyes on her, scrutinizing her.
    “You don’t have to thank me for that,” he replied seriously, his voice hard.
    “I’m a little tired, too. May I rest here next to you?” she asked, quickly changing the subject. To her surprise, she heard him chuckle.
    “I would like that very much.”
    Isabelle slowly turned to face him, brushing large chunks of hair off her face. She yawned softly and watched him as his eyes began to slowly close. Within minutes, he was sound asleep. She pulled the covers up around his shoulders and quickly joined him.
    Isabelle awoke hours later to a loud rapping at the door. She had been having the most wonderful dream, holding her brother in her arms as they walked through the sunlight. Her mother had even been there to greet them for a picnic. The knocking continued though despite her silent protests. Beside her, the bed shifted as a still naked and quite annoyed Faolan sat up.
    “Damnit,” he growled, running a hand through his long messy hair.
    Isabelle was blushing heavily at the realization that she had woken up next to a man for the first time. And that he was naked, the same as her.
    The knocking persisted.
    “Go away!”