Everyone erupted in cheers, and toasts were given to Lana and Nick, as well as to those who fought in the dragon battle.
Finally, after what seemed like an eternity to Lana, the festivities were over. Most of the people had gone to their rooms. She and Nick opted to take a walk outside in, what was left, of the gardens.
Suddenly bashful, Lana said, “I hope you didn’t mind that I said you were my mate.”
Nick stopped, put his hands on her shoulders and turned her to look at him. Smiling into her eyes, he said, “I’m glad that you said that. It makes it so much easier for me to tell you that I’ve fallen in love with you. You have every quality in a woman that I have ever dreamed of.”
He leaned down and kissed Lana with a passion that made her heart beat a million miles an hour. Butterflies fluttered around her stomach.
When he pulled away, she reached up and gently stroked his cheek. “I love you, too.”
That night, as they undressed for bed, Lana stared appreciatively at her man. “You are the sexiest man in the world. You look like you walked out of a painting by the old master.”
Nick grinned wickedly at her. “You aren’t so bad yourself.”
He sauntered over to her, his arousal for her very evident. Wrapping his arms around her, he drew her in for a kiss.
Lana wanted nothing more than to feel his lips on hers again and for him to make love to her, but she could stop the wince. Her side had not completely healed and her ribs had not yet thoroughly knitted themselves together.
“Baby, I’m sorry. I got so excited, I forgot that you took a hell of a beating during the fight. I wish I could bring them back to life again, just so that I could kill them a second time,” he said, fiercely.
“No worries. Dragon wounds take a little bit longer to heal than other types of injuries. I’ll be perfectly fine soon,” Lana replied.
“Let’s get you in bed. The more you rest, the faster you will heal, and the quicker I can pounce on you,” Nick said.
They slid between the cool sheets, and Nick snuggled up against her, careful not to touch her side.
In spite of his excitement of a few minutes earlier, he was almost instantly asleep. It had been hectic for the last few days, and Lana knew he hadn’t been getting rest even before she went through the portal.
As she lay there, a feeling settled over her, like a comforting, soft blanket. Although it was way too soon to know for sure, something deep inside of her told her that she was pregnant.
She thought about when she should tell Nick, and finally decided that she would wait until she knew for sure and that it was more than just an instinct. She knew in her heart that he would be the best father ever.
Finally, with happy thoughts about what the future would bring, Lana fell asleep dreaming of babies.
19
Nick
Lana was still sleeping when Nick woke up the next morning. As he watched her chest move up and down in steady breaths and reveled in the peaceful, happy look on her face, he thought, I can’t imagine spending one moment of my life without her.
He slid out of bed, trying not to disturb her. However, he was not as sneaky as he thought he was. When he turned around, he saw her emerald green eyes studying him. The slight grin on her face told him that she was likely awake the entire time he had been watching her.
“Good morning, my love,” Nick said.
“Well, good morning to you, too,” Lana said. “Were you trying to sneak from my bed like we had just had a one night stand? No notes, no names, just a ‘see ya’?”
He remembered her injuries just in time to resist the urge to tackle her.
“You’re a turkey, you know that?” Nick asked her.
“No, I’m a lion. You seem to have a hard time keeping your animals straight. First you call me a fox, then you call me a turkey,” she said, chuckling.
Nick just looked at her and grinned. “I see that I’m going to have my hands full with you today.”
“Literally, if I can hurry up and heal,” she said.
Nick grunted at her. “Come on, Lazy Bones. Let’s go downstairs and get some breakfast. I’m ravenous.”
Lana purposely looked Nick up and down and licked her lips. “I’m ravenous, too. However, I don’t think you will fit on my breakfast plate.”
“Wow, a couple nights in bed, and you turn into a she-devil,” Nick said.
“You are the one who ruined me. I was a sweet, innocent maiden who knew nothing about love and sex. Then, you came along and taught me about the carnal world. You have only yourself to blame,” Lana said, as she got out of bed and pulled one of her tunics on over her head.
Laughing, Nick kissed her on the forehead and said, “What am I going to do with you?”
“We’ll talk about that later. But for now, let’s go downstairs. I’m starving,” Lana said.
Much to Nick’s relief, the king and queen had eaten much earlier and already departed. Although they were wonderful people and terrific rulers, he felt the atmosphere was much more relaxed and less formal with them gone.
During breakfast, he caught Lana looking at him a little strangely. He thought that perhaps there was a secret she hadn’t shared with him yet.
I wonder what she is hiding from me?
Nick studied her, watching her. He loved how easily she laughed and joked with everyone, now that the weight of Dizag and her missing sister was off her shoulders. Clarence also possessed a sarcastic, dry sense of humor, so Nick knew that Lana came by her humor honestly.
Sara and Lucy were quieter. They participated in the
