Chapter 84 Prepare.
Creed’s pov.
“I’m sorry, you’re right. I’m just so unbelievably stressed out. This war…” I started to say, pausing to gather my words, “it’s inevitable. It’s coming for us, and there’s nothing we can do to stop it.”
Lily sighs softly, rubbing her hand up my arm in a soft, soothing motion, “I know, but everything will be okay, I know it.”
I smile up at my mate, feeling my tears dry to my face.
“You’re so incredibly amazing, you know that right?” I say to her with a lopsided grin, grabbing her hand in mine.
She blushes slightly, making my grin grow wider at the fact I still have that effect on her.
I pull her down gently, placing a tender kiss on her lips.
She makes a muffled moaning sound, instantly making me grow hard for her.
“We can’t,” she whispers while pulling away from me, “we have stuff we need to do… especially if the war is coming.”
“I know,” I sigh, just wanting to be with my mate, “I need to speak to Ryan and Jason. Could you go hangout with Alex and Raya for a while? Until I figure some stuff out?”
She gives me a sharp glare, making me wince.
“I know you want to be a part of things… but I can’t risk anything happening to you. Please, just go,” I say softly, knowing this is hard for her. It’s hard for me too.
She sighs, giving me a sad look, “okay…”
She gives me one last look over her shoulder before she closes my office door behind her.
Leaning back in my chair I run a frustrated hand through my hair.
‘Ryan,’ I say down our link, ‘you and Jason, meet me in my office.’
‘Okay, we’ll be there right away. I just have to find him first,’ Ryan replies before cutting our link off.
It didn’t take long before the two of them knocked on my office door.
“Come in,” I boomed out, hiding any emotion I may have been feeling earlier.
They open the door and come in, Ryan giving me a knowing look.
“What’s up?” Jason says first, “Midnight and I were about to go back to the underworld… she needs to speak to the demons and souls.”
He shudders, giving me and Ryan a scared look.
I laugh at him, not feeling sorry for him one bit.
“She’s your mate. This is your destiny, don’t be scared of it,” I say, my laughter dying off, “I actually need you here, at least for a little while. Lily is due any day… I need you guys to train the warriors so I have more time with her. I cannot miss the broth of my fledglings. I’m relying on you guys.”
“I’m sure I can make it work,” Jason mumbles, probably thinking of how he’ll bring it up to Midnight.
“I will do as much as I can but you know that Raya is due soon also… I’ve been training the warriors everyday, doing everything I can. They have been showing great improvement, most of them can almost take me down now,” Ryan says, giving me a small smile.
“Of course, I don’t expect much from you. Raya needs you just as much as Lily needs me. We’re in this together, brother,” I reply.
I told my hands in my lap, looking between my two friends.
“Thank you,” I whisper quietly, “without you guys… let’s just say I’d be lost.”
“Don’t mention it, Creed. You’d do the same for us,” Jason chuckles, punching my shoulder playfully.
“You guys can go, be with your mates. The war is coming… Tomorrow we have lots to do.”
They both gave me nods of acknowledgment, leaving my office, letting me sit in silence.
‘Are you ready?’ Hunter whispers in my mind.
‘No,’ I reply, ‘but we don’t have the choice.’
Hunter doesn’t say anything else. He quickly peered out of my eyes and went into the back of my mind.
I let a grunt of frustration out, squeezing my hands into fists as I feel the urge to slam them down onto my desk.
“Fuck,” I mutter under my breath, totally exhausted.
What the hell am I going to do?
Yes, I’m the most powerful dragon shifter out there… but with the constant thought of my pregnant mate in the back of my mind?
It’s not going to help…
Somehow… Some way… I need to keep her safe. No matter what that means.
I know she wants to be a part of this war. But she can’t, not while she’s carrying our legacy, our future.
I love her more than words could ever explain… I fear she won’t listen and she’ll place herself in the middle of danger… to protect the tribe… to protect me.
‘She’s stronger than us… than anyone,’ Hunter adds in, making me angrier.
‘It doesn’t matter,’ I hiss, ‘as long as she’s pregnant… she won’t be fighting.’
‘You don’t get to make that decision…’ he says calmly, ‘the only person who gets to make that decision is Lily.’
“It doesn’t mean I won’t do everything in my power to keep her away from it! Don’t you see? I want her to survive! I want our children to survive!" I shout out loud, letting my emotions get the best of me.
Hunter shrinks back into his usual place in my mind, shutting down completely.
I sigh, for what feels like the hundredth time, feeling somewhat bad for my dragon.
‘I’m sorry, buddy. This is hard for me, could you imagine if something happened to her and it could’ve been prevented if she stayed back?’ I say, making him whimper.
‘We don’t know what will happen, Creed. We just need to allow her the choice, the freedom…’
‘If she dies… I’d never forgive myself.’