17 Chapter 17: Bastian

It was an hour later than I expected. This was an especially difficult pickup and I needed to discuss what was happening with Acasia. She was key to the situation and she wouldn't be happy about her role.

I walked into the suite and found her passed out on the couch, an empty bottle of wine laying on her chest. This wasn't what I'd expected to find, but how could I not smile? Removing the bottle, I picked her up and carried her to bed. She mumbled, but I couldn't understand what she said. I removed her clothes, regretting that I couldn't take my bride this night. I lay beside her on the bed and willed my stiff cock to calm.

Hours later, she scrambled up and ran for the bathroom. My bride did not handle her alcohol well. I followed and leaned down beside her, gathering her hair to keep it out of her way.

"Go away." Her hand limply tried slapping me aside, but I ignored her.

"If you remember correctly, you've upchucked on my feet before."

"Those were claws or talons or something, not your human feet."

"One and the same. Are you finished?"

"I will be after I die. You should have been here and stopped me from drinking so much."

"Yes, it is my fault, silly female. Here, let me help you back to bed."

"You could argue about it or something."

I was trying not to laugh, but it was impossible. "Come on." I put her back to bed, found a glass for water, and practically forced it down her throat. She sputtered groggily a few times, and thanked me before falling asleep. I crawled back in next to her hoping she'd rest until daylight.

A loud groan from Acasia, who was burrowed beneath me, had me opening my eyes to bright light pouring into the room.

"Oh, this is not good. Can the sun go away?"

"You are hung over, female." I moved over a little so she could breathe better.

"Please do not remind me. I was fine while the other women were here."

It took me a moment to answer because I had to bite my lip. "I think you continued after the others left. Their beastkind metabolism also helps them handle alcohol better than a human."

Another loud groan. "I'm never drinking again."

"From what I've seen, it's probably wise."

"Can I stay in bed all day?" she whispered.

I gave her a gentle squeeze. "No. We must return home and we need to pick up a package first."

"If I wasn't so sick, I would beg to know if it's a surprise for me."

"We should talk about it first, but no it's not for you." I had no way of knowing how she would react, but I was betting it wouldn't be good.

"I need to get in the bath so I can die first please."

A chuckle escaped me. "I'll have food waiting."

She slapped my chest. "No, no food. If I make it out of the bath alive, I know food will most definitely kill me."

She wobbled to the bathroom, her naked body giving me ideas that I could do nothing about. I ordered enough food for two dragons. She would eat. The food arrived and she walked out wrapped in a fluffy bathing robe, her wet hair combed and pushed behind her ears. I squirmed in my chair, thankful the table covered my hard cock.

"Sit down and drink this. You'll feel better." Our realm didn't have coffee, so I doctored her cup with sugar.

She willingly sat and took a small sip. A series of emotions played across her face; finally she asked, "What is it?"

"Coffee. I have tea here for you too, but coffee seems to help with a hangover for some strange reason."

"I think I like it."

I put a few pills in front of her along with a glass of water. "Take these with the water and they'll help too."

"Is this realm made for hangovers?"

She always made me laugh. "It does have its advantages."

"Do you ever drink too much?"

The question startled me and sadness broke into my thoughts. "Not often." I'd spent years drunk after the death of my last bride.

Acasia took the pills then opened the dome over her plate. She took another drink of coffee and a few bites of food. I needed to broach the subject of why we were in this realm.

"The package we need to pick up is an infant child." It probably wasn't best to just spit it out, but I wasn't known for my tact.

She swallowed, looking at me with her large eyes. "As in crying, wet diapers, drinks milk infant?"

"Yes."

"Why?"

"It's unhealthy and will live in my realm."

It only took a few seconds before she exploded. "As a slave!"

I tried to take her hand, but she moved hers away and placed them in her lap. "If we do nothing, the child will die."

"So the parents want their child to live even at the cost of its freedom?" Her breathing had increased. She turned away.

"You have no understanding of the humans who live in my realm. They gladly serve me. They raise these children and are happy to have them. This baby's new parents will love and cherish him."

"And he will never know his true parents... oh wait. He will see them once every ten years. As a child and then an adult, but he won't ever really know them. Just a few visits until they die. You are heartless."

I ignored her last jibe. "If he stays in this realm for very long, his illness will return. It is the way of the magic from my realm. His parents grant him life at a great sacrifice. They love him enough to give him away."

She faced me, her eyes piercing. "You take advantage and sit on your throne commanding people to take care of your every whim. People who cannot even speak due to their sacrifice. You have no idea of the mental anguish these parents must feel. You've never had a child."

Her words hurt and I knew it was what she aimed for. I placed my napkin on the table. "We will leave in one hour. Be ready." I stood and walked from the suite. I didn't make the rules. I couldn't imagine giving up my child the way humans did, but it hurt more because I would never have one. I needed a true dragon mate to produce a child. Acasia would die as my other brides had. I would drink myself into oblivion and wander the skies like Laryn until it was time to choose my next bride. I would pick up children, break their parents' hearts, and rule from my throne. The fact I didn't have a throne made no difference. I ruled my territory and protected what was mine. The humans served me and enjoyed doing it.

***

Acasia

The nerve. I tossed clothes and other items into my bag. I loved the damn dragon, but he made me so angry. How dare he bring me here to help him abduct a child? It didn't matter that the child's parents freely gave him away. They didn't have a choice. My anger pulsed to the tune in my throbbing head, the leftover remnants of drinking too much.

I heard the door to the suite open. I picked up the bag and walked from the room without a backwards glance. I didn't ever plan to return to earth's realm.

Bastian took the bag from me. "The car waits. We need to go."

I followed, but with each step, my trepidation grew. The drive seemed to take no time at all. We stopped in front of a small home. Bastian took my hand and helped me from the vehicle then dropped it as soon as I stood straight.

"You can make this easier or harder for them." His eyes pierced me.

I glared back. He turned without another word and walked up to the front door. A woman answered, her face tearstained. She held the door for us. A large crib with a clear film covering it, along with beeping machines, took up a large part of the front room. A man stood by the crib, his hand under the film resting on the baby within.

I looked back to the woman.

Her lips trembled and her hands shook. "We brought him home from the hospital to die. No one stopped us."

"He will live a long, healthy life with no pain. His childhood will be full of love," Bastian said softly.

"Thank you." The woman looked at me. "Will you care for him?"

I didn't know what to say. I took a quick breath because I couldn't lie. "I will care for him until his new guardians take over."

The woman walked across the room and picked up a small brown teddy bear. "This belonged to me as a child and it comforts him. I know he's young, but he stops crying if I sing and cuddle him with it."

What could I say? No one will ever sing to your child because earth humans in the dragon's realm have no voice? Now I was going to cry, and Bastian was right, I could help or make this harder.

"I will be sure he has it."

The man walked closer and placed an arm around his wife's shoulders. "Say goodbye."

The woman turned in his arms and cried, holding on tightly. She finally released him and walked over to her child. "What do you need to keep him comfortable?" She looked at Bastian with such strength.

"A small tank of oxygen and a small bag with diapers and wipes will suffice," he replied gently.

After adjusting a clear tube around the infant's head, she lifted him from the crib. He was incredibly small and barely moved. He was dying, and I wondered if I could do as this woman under the same circumstances. I didn't think I was this strong. She reverently kissed his head and gave him a very slight squeeze before handing him to me.

"His name is Jonathan." It was all she could say. She threw herself back into her husband's arms and sobbed.

Bastian lay his hand on my shoulder, adding pressure to get me walking. He picked up a small metal cylinder that attached to the clear hose connected to the baby's head. "We must hurry, there is not much time."

I walked out, tears streaming down my face. I wanted my mother, her arms around me singing a lullaby, holding me tightly. The baby's body shuddered and I looked at Bastian.

"We must hurry."

I believed him.