Read Online Ashes And Spirit (Book 3) by A.D. Trosper - Free Book Online Page A

up. The little blue reached her wedge-shaped head out and touched Liora’s wet cheek with her nose.
    “You are so beautiful, Pachua,” Liora said, her voice ragged with emotion. The blue snorted slightly and tried to fold her wings over her back. It took four tries for her wings do as the draclet wished, and even then, the tips still dragged the floor.
    Liora glanced around the room as if just remembering she and the draclet weren’t alone. Maleena wiped at the tears on her face and smiled at the new rider. “Mckale will take you two out to the caldera where you can meet the other dragons and riders. I will be with you in a moment.”
     

     
     

 

     
     
    A s Mckale led Liora and her draclet down the long, sloping hall that led to the caldera, Maleena walked down into the depression where the rest of the eggs lay. Only seven were left. Two of the eggs had died before hatching and three of those that had hatched had died at Trilene. Still, nine living dragons from Nydara’s first clutch weren’t bad. And seven more possibilities remained, although odds were a few would be lost before they hatched. At least Paki would lay her clutch soon, adding to the future.
    With a sigh, she knelt to pick up the pieces of shell. Now she knew why Emallya had always chosen to stay behind and do this. It gave her a moment to collect herself after the overflow of hatching emotions.
    Though large, the pieces of shell weren’t heavy. Maleena carefully stacked their irregular shapes together then stood. She froze when warmth trickled down the insides of her legs accompanied by a heavy ache that began in her back and built as it spread across her front. She dropped the pieces of shell and put both hands to her swollen belly, feeling it harden under her palms.
    It wasn’t supposed to happen like this. Everyone said that with the first baby, it took a long time to get going and most women had contractions for several hours before anything like this started.
    Taking slow, deep breaths, she sank to her knees, trying to calm the sudden rush of joy and terror that gripped her as she waited for the contraction to pass.
    “Maleena?” came Nydara’s anxious sending. “Mckale and Serena come. Marda has already marshaled the kitchen. What do you need boiled water for? Marda does know that suddenly making everyone cook won’t make your baby come faster, doesn’t she?”
    Maleena chuckled in spite of everything. Nydara’s sudden, random chatter had distracted her from the worst discomfort from the contraction. As it passed, she took a deep breath and climbed to her feet. She wasn’t just going to sit there in a puddle of birthing waters and wait for Mckale. Her wet shift and dress clung to her legs as she passed through the doors into the hall.
    Even if things were progressing a bit faster than she had thought they would, she should still have several minutes between contractions. Plenty of time to get most of the way to her sleeping quarters off Nydara’s and Tellnox’s lair.
    “Maleena!” Mckale’s voice echoed through the Hatching Chamber behind her. As she turned to call out, another contraction gripped her. Gasping, she leaned against the wall for support, her arms going around her stomach as she bent over and took deep breaths. A light sheen of sweat broke out on her brow.
    “Maleena?” Mckale strode into the hall. “Why didn’t you wait in the chamber for me?” His voice was gentle as he put his arms around her.
    “Thought…I would have time…to get back to our chambers,” she said between breaths, leaning into his solid warmth.
    Maleena straightened as the pain eased. “Where is Serena? Nydara said she was coming too.”
    “I told her I would get you; she’s heading to our chambers.” Mckale kept an arm around her as they started down the hall again.
    Thankful for his presence and support, Maleena leaned on him as she walked, every fear and worry she’d had about this moment tumbling through her mind. Needing