Jess sleepily picked up her phone to see what monster had sent her a text before dawn. It was Kurt Drake.
I need to talk to Ezzu.
Jess dragged herself out of a perfectly warm and comfortable bed feeling tender and sore. She’d had quite a workout. Wearing only Wrath’s t-shirt, she knocked on the bathroom door.
“Come in,” Wrath called.
Steamy warmth enveloped Jess as she entered the bathroom. Wrath was already facing her through the glass shower door in all his sexy glory.
“Want to join me?” he asked.
“I would, but Kurt wants to talk to you.”
Wrath rinsed his hair and then shut off the water. Jess handed him a towel and her phone. He pressed the screen a couple of times and then held the phone to his ear.
“It’s Ezzu,” Wrath said, with a strong accent on the name Ezzu. It reminded Jess had lived a very long life during which he’d spoken many other languages.
He paused for a second and then said, “No.”
Several seconds later he sighed. “On my honor I swear that if you come in peace I won’t harm you, your mate, or your daughter and you may all leave in peace. I hope you know making me swear that is offensive. One false move from you and all bets are off.”
A pause
“I said...never mind. We’ll talk later.”
“Later. Goodbye.”
“What was that?” Jess asked as Wrath handed over her phone and continued drying off.
“He’s coming with his family. The baby was crying her lungs out. They’ll be here in half an hour or so, depending on traffic.”
While Wrath went to get dressed, Jess got in the shower. By the time she was out and getting dressed, he was already gone.
She could have slept through it all. Sure, her boss she’d never met was visiting, but he wasn’t there to see her. Still, she checked the weather and then slipped on a sundress and sandals. After putting her hair up in a loose bun, she made herself take the time to put on a little makeup even though the scent of coffee was trying to lure her toward the kitchen instead.
Finally presentable, she went to the beckoning coffee pot.
She poured herself a cup and lingered in the kitchen, sipping it, until Wrath came downstairs.
He smiled when he saw her. “You look lovely,” he said.
“Mm,” she grunted.
“Not a morning person?”
Jess rolled her eyes.
“They’re almost here. Want to go meet your boss?”
“Sure.”
They walked out onto the front porch. Jess saw headlights through the trees.
“Do you feel the magic?” Wrath asked.
Jess closed her eyes. The air felt heavy, but it always did around Wrath. It did seem to be getting heavier by the moment. Not like with Etel, but still noticeable.
“I sense two dragons coming,” Wrath said. “One weak, the other stronger. I also sense…” His eyes opened wide. “Shit.”
Wrath whistled loudly and then shouted, “Call Alex and get the fucking nursery ready!”
He grabbed Jess’s hand and they ran toward the approaching headlights. Wrath held up his hand and the SUV stopped. Wrath went to the front passenger door.
“Get in the back,” he said to Jess.
He barely had the door open before he started yelling at the driver.
“Are you out of your motherfucking mind? You took her on a fucking plane? Are you fucking simple?”
Jess climbed into the back where a small woman in an oversized t-shirt was climbing into the far back to make room. She left behind a car seat with a whaling baby. The baby was tiny, but her lungs sure seemed strong.
“Start driving,” Wrath continued. “You should have fucking called. I would have told you what to do. I would have sent our fucking doctor. Jesus fucking Christ, man.”
“You know what’s wrong with her?” Kurt asked.
“Yes. They’re prone to motion sickness like you wouldn’t believe. They’re also incredibly fearful of heights, even as infants. That and her venom glands are coming in. They need to be in a warm dark place, preferably underground. On a pallet on the floor. Even feed them on the floor. You don’t move a newborn basilisk. It’s torture for them. In fact, during the last stage of pregnancy your mate should have been on bedrest.”
“We didn’t know,” Kurt said.
“I’m going to take you underground. There’s a nursery and a spare room. You’re stuck here for six months. She can be moved around before then, but not across the fucking country. Bloody hell.”
Jess looked back at the young woman to see how she was responding to all the yelling. She gave Jess a weary smile.
“Six months?” Drake asked.
“You’re really going to bitch about the time? You’ll have to talk to Alex. She’s our doctor,” Wrath answered. “Jess, don’t touch the baby. She’s upset and likely toxic to humans.”
“Don’t worry about them,” the woman said to Jess. “Dragons insult each other. It’s a sign of affection.”
“But my daughter will be okay?” Kurt was asking.
“I’m not a doctor, but my eldest, Seth, went through worse when he was born,” Wrath said.
Kurt nodded.
“Park by the path there. There’s a door on the hillside,” Wrath said.
After Kurt parked, he got out and got the crying baby from the car seat. It was still dark out, so Jess had no idea where they were going. The little woman in the far back climbed out and stuck to Kurt’s side like a magnet. Wrath took the lead down a narrow path through a copse of trees to a small hill. There in the side of the hill was a door that looked like it belonged on a fallout shelter.
Wrath opened it and held it open. Inside, there was a wide, dimly lit hallway with a finished stone floor. The ceiling was high, about 12 feet.
“Down the hall, take a right, first door on your left,” Wrath said.
Just as the door closed a man came around the corner in pajamas, “What’s going on?” he asked.
“My niece is sick, Artie. Is Alex here?” Wrath said from behind Jess.
“Yeah, she’s in
