Dragon Heat by Charlene Hartnady

Chapter 29

The next day…

Azure washedher hands using the liquid soap dispenser. It took a couple of minutes and several washes to get all the blood off of them and out from under her fingernails.

Once she was done, she dried her hands. Then she grabbed her dress and pulled it over her head, smoothing her hand over the fabric.

“Azure!” Fog yelled. She turned to where he was standing. He’d just finished skinning the moose he’d bagged earlier. Her eyes widened when she saw who was standing with him. “Summer.” She frowned. What was the she-dragon doing here? She thought back to her run-in with Cirrus. Maybe it had to do with that.

Summer smiled as soon as their eyes locked. “Hi,” she said, looking sheepish.

It hadn’t been that long since she’d last seen this female, and yet everything had changed in that time. Azure felt like a different person. “Hi,” she replied when she realized she was gaping.

“Can you talk for a few minutes?” Summer asked as she walked over.

“Sure, I just finished up here, but I have somewhere I need to be, so I can’t be too long.” She was meeting Melina to help her unpack boxes in the salon. After that, she’d go to Ice’s place. She’d already packed an overnight bag since she was staying over. All night…until the sun came up. No sneaking around. Ice was meeting with Storm right then to let him know that the two of them were dating. It might mean hiccups where work was concerned. She would probably have to transfer to another team but, it would all work out in the end. She wanted to be with Ice. They wanted this. Both of them did. It all still felt surreal. It also felt good. She wasn’t just falling for Ice anymore. She was completely in love with him. Head over heels. It seemed like he felt the same way about her.

“All I need is a couple of minutes of your time,” Summer promised. “And I’ll be out of your hair. We can go for a walk.” She pointed at the field of long, green grass that made up the top of the lair. It had magnificent views of the mountains and valleys in the background.

Azure nodded. “Sure.”

“How are you doing?” Summer asked. There was a look of concern on her face.

“I’m doing well…great, actually.”

Summer looked at her strangely. Like she didn’t quite believe what Azure was saying. “I’m so sorry,” Summer blurted. She stopped walking and turned to Azure. Summer had this stricken look. “I should never have pushed you away. I was such a bitch. I didn’t know.” She shook her head. “I didn’t know what he had done.” She suddenly sobbed. Tears streamed down her face. “You came to tell me that day. You came for support. You needed a friend, and I was a bitch to you. I closed my door in your face.”

“I did need you, Summer. I understand your reaction, but—” Azure pushed out a breath. Not sure what to say to the crying female.

“I’m so desperate for a child. So desperate. I would’ve given anything…anything,” she pushed out, crying harder. “I was so angry. So hurt that you didn’t spend your heat with someone. I was so selfish in my thinking. You’re my friend. You were hurt, and I didn’t listen.”

“What’s done is done. Skarn tried… He didn’t succeed.”

Summer shook her head. “Cirrus told me what happened to you.” She shook her head harder. “I haven’t been able to think about anything else since I saw him last night.” Her voice was shrill. “He overheard your conversation when you had that meeting with Storm. Cirrus won’t say a thing, I swear,” she quickly added.

Azure suspected as much. Although she didn’t care anymore whether what had happened got out or not. She wasn’t sure why she felt ashamed about it. What happened was on Skarn, not on her.

“I wanted to see you,” Summer went on. “To let you know that I’m terribly sorry. I only hope you can forgive me. What I did was unthinkable, but I still hope you’ll find it deep within your heart to forgive me…please.”

“Of course I’ll forgive you,” Azure finally replied. Summer threw her arms around Azure’s neck and hugged her tightly. Azure touched her hand to Summer’s back, but didn’t return the hug. That was the thing; she’d forgive Summer, but they would never go back to being friends like they had been before. That just wasn’t possible. Friends…sure. Close friends? No! Too much had happened. Too much had changed.

It took a while for Summer to let her go. “Thank you,” she said. “I can’t tell you how much that means to me.”

“I should get going.” Azure pointed at the rear entrance to the lair.

“Do you think it will happen again?”

Azure frowned. “What?”

“Do you think you’ll come into heat again?” Summer asked.

It wasn’t something she’d thought about. Azure had been having too much fun with Ice, and then there was the whole business with Skarn. It hadn’t really crossed her mind. “I don’t know. Probably not.” She needed to be honest with herself.

“You never know.”

“I guess.” Azure shrugged.

“I still wake up every morning and pray,” Summer said. “Maybe Cirrus would…want more from me if it happened.”

To think that this used to be what they talked about all the time. “And maybe it’s time to end things with that male.”

Summer’s eyes widened. “Why would you say that?”

“Because he only spends time with you between stag runs and females like Crystal. You’re worth more than that.”

Summer shook her head. Azure could see that the female wasn’t buying it. “It’s because I’m infertile that—”

“You are worth more than your womb,” she told Summer. Words that Melina had told her not too long ago.

Summer put a hand to her stomach. Again, the female looked like she didn’t buy it.

“You’re a beautiful, intelligent female. You have so much to give, and until you start realizing that for yourself, no one else will. You can’t let males like Cirrus treat you like dirt.”

Summer narrowed her eyes at her. “What happened to you? You seem…different. But in a good way.”

“So much has happened.” Azure grinned. “My very good friend, Melina, is opening a beauty salon soon. It will be up and running in a week or two. I will send you the details. You would be surprised at what a haircut can do for your self-esteem. She’s bringing in a whole range of clothing, too.”

“I saw you wearing human clothes last night. You looked fantastic.”

“Oh…when was that?” Azure frowned. “I didn’t see you.”

“Cirrus and I were going to have dinner at Wings and Things, but we decided to eat in at the last minute, and so we left. Cirrus told me what happened. You know the rest.” Summer pulled in a deep breath. “I thought you looked amazing. You look…different somehow.”

“You should come to the salon when it opens.”

“I will go to this human salon. I want some of what you have got because it’s working for you.”

“I’ll let you know more when she opens. Talking about the salon, I must get going. I promised Melina I would help her set it up. That’s where I’m headed right now. Humans are so weak.” She smiled. Not so long ago, she would have said that as a slight. Now, she was stating a fact rather than putting Melina down. Without looking back, Azure started jogging for the rear lair entrance when she noticed an elderly lady talking to Fog.

“Snow,” Azure said, coming to an abrupt halt.

“Oh, hi, Azure.” The woman held up a basket. “I brought goodies,” Snow said. “Fog just told me that my son isn’t here.” She looked downtrodden, and even sighed.

“No.” Azure shook her head. “He has a meeting with Storm.”

Ice’s mother sighed. “That boy. He normally visits at least once a week, but I haven’t seen him for over two weeks now, and it’s making me worry.”

“I think he said that he had planned on popping in to see you after he’s done with Storm.” She recalled how he had mentioned neglecting his mother last night. Azure felt guilty. The reason for Ice’s absence probably had something to do with her. He had been busy over the last couple of weeks. Or, more accurately, they’d been busy…with each other. “I’ll send him a message letting him know that you’re waiting for him at his place.” She knew that Ice wouldn’t mind. “There,” she said, putting her phone back in the pocket of her dress. “Message sent. I can walk with you a little way since I’m headed in that direction.”

Snow beamed. “Thank you. I know exactly why he’s avoiding me.” Snow shook her head and tsked.

“I’m sure he’s not avoiding you.” It was more a case of being preoccupied than outright avoiding his own mother.

“My son knows exactly what I’m going to ask him when I see him,” Snow said, moving the basket to the other arm.

“Can I help you carry that?”

“No, I’m stronger than I look.” She narrowed her eyes at Azure and smiled. They were exactly the same glacial blue as Ice’s. Quite striking.

“I’m sure you are.” Azure smiled back.

“Every time he comes back from the stag run, I ask him the same thing. Whether or not he met someone nice.”

Azure’s smile widened. “He doesn’t like that, I’m assuming?”

“Not at all, since he always tells me the same darned thing. He tells me no, that he hasn’t. Then we end up arguing. I tell him that I’m not getting any younger. His father barely even leaves the house anymore. We’re old.”

“You’re not that old.” Sure, Snow had gray littered throughout her dark hair and crow’s feet around her eyes, but she was still in great shape.

“We are. Ice’s father is completely gray. I still think he’s a hunk.” Snow laughed lightly. “I was so lucky to have had Ice.” Her eyes brightened. “I was already an older she-dragon when Ice’s father and I mated. I’d had a couple of heats, but none resulted in a pregnancy. I’d given up hope. Then, lo and behold…I had one last heat, and I was with child.” She beamed. “We had the most perfect baby. He turned into the most adorable little boy. I’m proud of the male he has become.”

“Oh, I can imagine,” Azure said. There was a lot to be proud of. Ice was a good male. He was destined for bigger things. She knew it. Azure couldn’t hold back a smile.

“He was a lonely little boy, though. He always begged us to have a brother or sister for him to play with. It’s difficult to explain such a thing to a child.” She shook her head. “And now that we’re getting older…we desperately want to be grandparents.” She clutched a hand to her chest and got this look in her eyes, which glinted.

Azure felt a tightening in her gut. She felt bad for the other female. The infertility that plagued their people was terrible.

“I know that Ice wants plenty of children; he’s always said so. I’m not worried on that note.” The clenching feeling grew worse. “I only wish he would hurry up and choose a mate already. His father and I aren’t getting any younger. I might not be alive to see my grandbabies born.” She giggled. “He always said he wants at least six.”

“He’s mentioned it once or twice,” Azure murmured. Had she somehow forgotten about this? Ice had always maintained that he wanted children. That he looked forward to being a father one day. To having a family. Her heart seemed to slow. It became louder, though, thudding in her ears.

“Oh, good.” Snow clutched her chest again. “So, he wasn’t just saying it to make me feel better.”

“No. I don’t think so.” Azure had this terrible sinking feeling. It got worse and worse. “He wasn’t just saying it. This is where I need to say goodbye.” She couldn’t bear hearing anymore.

“So, you see,” Snow went on as soon as they stopped walking, “that’s why he’s avoiding me. He clearly hasn’t met anyone, and he doesn’t want to disappoint me.”

“He’s probably just been busy,” Azure mumbled. “It was good to see you, Snow. I’m sure Ice won’t be long.” She looked at her phone, but Ice hadn’t read her message yet.

“Good to see you, dear.” Snow smiled. “Have a lovely evening.”

“You, too,” Azure said, her heart beating wildly inside her chest. She started towards the salon.

Ice had been avoiding his mother because he didn’t want to disappoint her. It wasn’t because he hadn’t met someone. It was because he had, and the person he had met was the wrong someone. Namely her. Infertile her. He’d always wanted kids. Lots of kids. Ice wouldn’t get his wish if he stayed with her. She’d always ignored her attraction to Ice. Azure had assumed she did it because he was her superior, her friend, but that wasn’t it at all. She had ignored her feelings for him because he wanted children. Children plural. If they continued down this path, he might live to regret it. It felt like her heart was breaking. Azure wasn’t the right female for him. She wasn’t. He just hadn’t realized it yet.

Azure stopped walking. She sent Melina a text canceling their plans. She told her friend that she was going to Ice’s place early. Then she sent Ice a text telling him that she was needed at the salon, that she would try to make it to his place if they didn’t run too late. She was a yellow-bellied coward because she was going to hole up instead of breaking things off immediately. Azure needed to plan what she would say and how she would play this. She couldn’t tell him the truth. That wouldn’t work. Her heart felt like it had splintered inside her. The shards were digging deep.