Amber's Fire, Book 3 Of Blood In The Dragon

having baby Amber 13

Chapter 13

The hospital hallway was a blur of bright lights and hurried footsteps. Nurses rushed to my side, their hands gentle but insistent, guiding me onto the gurney. Drago stayed close, his hand gripping mine like it was a lifeline. Every contraction hit me like a tidal wave, stealing my breath and leaving me gasping for air I couldn’t catch.

“You’re doing amazing, Levonna,” Drago whispered, his voice low, urgent, and steady all at once. “Just keep breathing. Focus on me.”

I wanted to, I really did. But the pain was relentless, and my mind kept flashing between panic and disbelief. A day past due… and now this. I couldn’t believe I was here, finally, ready to meet this tiny dragon baby who had been growing inside me for so long. The nurses guided me onto the bed, straps, monitors, and everything that felt foreign and clinical. Drago never left my side, his hand never leaving mine. He rubbed my arm, whispered my name, and even managed a little joke between contractions to keep me from completely losing my mind.

“You’re going to be the most terrifyingly beautiful mother ever,” he said through gritted teeth, trying to make me laugh. I managed a weak chuckle, though the pain didn’t let me forget what was coming.

And then… It was time. The room changed. The air shifted. My body tensed and screamed in ways I didn’t know it could. I could feel every moment, every inch, and suddenly, all my fear, all my exhaustion, all my doubt vanished into a single, powerful focus.

“Push, Levonna! One more big push!” the nurse urged.

I did. And then I did it again. And then..finally..a cry pierced the air. My baby. Tiny, perfect, fragile… and alive. Drago’s eyes were wide, shimmering with tears I’d never seen from him before. He leaned over me, and together we looked down at the small, squirming miracle in my arms.

“It’s… it’s perfect,” I whispered, unable to stop the tears from falling.

Drago kissed my forehead, his lips lingering, grounding me in the moment. “We made something incredible,” he said. “Look at her, Levonna… She's ours

I couldn’t stop staring, couldn’t stop feeling the overwhelming mix of relief, awe, and love crashing over me. A day late, every moment of pain, every restless night, it had all been worth this. Worth her.

And in that moment, I realized something else: no matter what the world threw at us, no matter how chaotic the rogues or life could be, we had this. We had her. Our tiny, perfect miracle.

I was so exhausted, but one thing kept running through my mind, where were his sister Joy and her mate Randy? With all of this going on, I thought Drago would mindlink Joy so she could be here, to see her. But first… we needed to name this little one.

“Drago, we need to name her,” I said, my voice soft from fatigue.

He paused for a moment, thinking, then said, “How about Amber? It means strong, fearless.”

I looked down at our daughter, studying her tiny features. “Little one, do you like the name Amber? Is that your name, my little baby girl?”

It was like she understood, her tiny hand reached up to touch mine. I glanced at Drago and said, “Well, I guess that is her name. She likes it. Okay… I have a question, where are Joy and Randy? I thought they’d want to be here to see her.”

His smile stretched from ear to ear as he drew close to hold little Amber. “Well, honey… they didn’t respond because, not more than an hour ago, while we were rushing here, they had their baby—a baby boy. They’re in the room next door. And before you think about it, let’s have you healed before we walk over there.” I pretended to pout. My dragon and wolf were working to heal me, but it wasn’t fast enough. I just wanted to go see them. I pressed my forehead gently against Amber’s soft little head, letting out a quiet sigh. My body ached from exhaustion, but my heart practically leapt at the thought of seeing them, Joy, Randy, and their newborn son. I wanted to hurry, to rush to that next room, to meet their little boy, to introduce Amber to her cousin… but I had to be patient, just a little longer.

Finally, the healing was complete, and I could feel my strength returning. I was still sore and a little tired, so Drago held Amber close, and together we quietly slipped into the next room. Joy was there, her hair a little messy from the delivery but her eyes sparkling with the same tired joy I felt. Randy sat beside her, holding their newborn son carefully in his arms. The little boy yawned and stretched, tiny fingers curling around Randy’s thumb.

“Look at him,” Drago whispered, as if speaking too loudly would break the fragile magic of the moment. Joy smiled, her gaze landing on Amber. “Oh my goodness… Amber!” she exclaimed softly. The baby in her arms stirred, as if sensing the new little presence in the room. I knelt down carefully, holding out my hand. Amber’s tiny eyes widened, and before I could even react, she reached out toward her cousin. Their little fingers brushed, a perfect, delicate touch.

“It’s like they already know each other,” I murmured, marveling at how instantly connected the two babies seemed.

Randy grinned, watching the two little ones. “Looks like our boys and girls are going to be fast friends, or rivals,” he joked, and we all laughed softly, careful not to startle the newborns. Joy leaned over, brushing a stray lock of hair from Amber’s face.

“She’s beautiful,” she said. “And strong… just like her name.”

I felt a warmth spread through me, seeing our family together like this. Two babies, two sets of parents, all bundled in love and tiny, perfect new life. I reached out to gently squeeze Drago’s hand.

“This… this is everything,” I whispered.

Drago kissed my temple, holding Amber a little closer. “Everything, love. And it’s only just beginning.”