Loved by the Dragon (Stonefire Dragons 4.50)

He stared at a motionless Evie. She was breathing, but her face was pale. “Just tell me straight up if I should be worried or not.”

Sid gripped his shoulder. “Between Holly and me, Evie has the best chance she would have anywhere in the UK.”

“That’s not an answer.”

“I don’t do platitudes, Bram. You know that. It’s more likely she’ll be fine than not, but I can’t say with certainty everything will be rosy. I’m going to keep her in an induced coma for the next twenty-four hours while I try to bring down her blood pressure and lower the dragon-shifter hormones in her system. The best thing you can do right now is spend time with your daughter.”

Bram debated staying at Evie’s side, but his dragon spoke up. She’s right. Our daughter is alone and a lot more helpless. Sid needs time to take care of our mate. Let’s take care of our child and then we can spend time with Evie. Our mate would expect us to look after our young.

Taking the five steps to Evie’s bed, he leaned down and kissed Evie’s lips. “I’m going to check on our daughter and be right back, love. I know how you wish your parents had been around more. I’ll make sure our wee one knows she’s loved from day one.”

Evie’s silence cut him to the bone. But then his daughter cried, and Bram forced himself to leave Evie’s side.

Holly was just wrapping the wee one in a green blanket as Bram stopped next to her. Looking down, his daughter’s eyes were closed while she cried. His dragon’s instinct kicked in to take care of the baby, but Bram ignored his dragon to ask, “Can I hold her?”

With a smile, Holly gently lifted the baby and placed her in Bram’s arms. Gently rocking back and forth, his daughter eventually stopped crying. He kissed her on the nose and whispered, “Welcome to the world, Eleanor Rose. I’m your daddy and I’m going to take care of you. Your mum needs to rest, or she’d be right here with me.” He kissed Eleanor’s little nose again. “We’re not the only ones who have been waiting, though. As soon as I can manage it, you need to say hello to your older brother.”

Holly’s gentle voice filled his ear. “I can fetch Murray and bring him here whenever you want. I don’t want the others to come in just yet with Evie until she’s stable, but with the extra nurse in the room, I can spare five minutes to get Murray. Having both of your children together might help.”

Bram managed to tear his eyes away from his daughter to look over at Evie. “The only thing that will help is having Evie back. But as a father, I need to be strong for my children. Bring Murray. He needs to meet his little sister.”

With a nod, Holly told Sid what she was doing and left. Bram hugged wee Eleanor tighter against his body and breathed in her baby scent. He only hoped Evie could also cuddle their daughter before much longer.

Chapter Five

Evie felt as if she were drifting in the middle of an empty, black space. She couldn’t move, but every once in a while she heard a low rumbling voice that sounded like Bram’s. She wanted to ask him where he was, but every time she tried, she couldn’t make her mouth form words.

It was so bloody frustrating for a woman used to demanding the truth.

After who the hell knew how long, a soft warmth touched her cheek and a scent of freshly laundered clothes and a comforting scent she couldn’t name, mixed with Bram’s, drifted into her nose.

Then a soft, wet something pressed against her cheek before Bram’s voice filled her ear. “Evie Marie, wake up. The medication should be wearing off and your daughter is anxious to meet you.” She tried to make her mouth work and failed. Bram’s spoke again. “I saw your brows move, Evie. Come on, love, wake up.”

She wanted to say she was trying, but couldn’t get it out. Bram’s warm, firm lips kissed hers and he murmured, “Don’t wake up. That’s an order and I expect you to follow it to the letter. Do you hear me?”

Oh, she heard him. And Evie wanted to kick him in the bollocks if he kept it up.

Bram’s chuckle rolled over her. “That’s my lass. Prove me wrong. Come on, now, I dare you.”

No matter how much she tried, Evie couldn’t open her eyes. It was frustrating being able to hear everything and do nothing.

She searched her mind for ideas, but soon, a baby’s cry pierced the air. It shot straight to her heart. Her baby needed her.

The warmth from her cheek disappeared and she ached to cry out, “No.” Instead, she mustered every bit of her stubbornness. Surely she could open her eyes a few millimeters. Eyelids weighed next to nothing.

Open, damn it. I want to see my baby.

Millimeter by millimeter, she moved her eyelids until the light hit them. She cried out and promptly closed her eyes again.

In the next instant, Bram’s hand was on her cheek. “Evie, love, are you in pain? Holly, come check on her. Please.

”

Bram’s touch vanished as another set of smaller, softer hands took her pulse. Then her right eye was open and the light hit again. However, this time, she could make out Holly’s dark-haired form above her. Evie whispered, “Too bright.”

Holly released her eyelid. “Right, then can you try to answer my questions? Either say ‘yes’ or if it’s too difficult, wiggle your fingers of your left hand.”

Concentrating, Evie tried to make her mouth work again. But after a few seconds of trying, she gave up and wiggled her fingers.