Priscilla threw a spell at Cooper, thinking Alice was distracted. She wasn’t.
“Not my husband!”
Priscilla had taken enough from her. Cooper guessed because the next thing out of his wife’s mouth was a spell that blew Priscilla away.
Cooper wanted to let go of Michael to help Alice, but he had to admit she wasn’t just holding her own. She was kicking Priscilla’s ass. Attacking Dawson Manor was really a bad idea. Alice had Priscilla pinned against a tree, her magic ready to cast another spell, when there was a strange sound, and a large black hole appeared out of nowhere.
“Hi, kids!” Lou shouted, waving at them from the very top of the portal. “I thought you might need Bertha. Send that witch in here, will you? I’m sure I can find the right place for her. And that dragon? You need me to take him off your hands?”
Cooper shook his head. “I appreciate the offer, but we need to deal with this in our own way.”
Lou inclined his head. “I totally respect that.” He turned toward Alice. “I’m sorry that punishing Priscilla won’t bring your mother back, but I’m sure she would be very proud of you, Alice. You’re a very good witch.”
Michael gave a big roar of annoyance, but Lou just laughed. “I’m out of here.” He grabbed hold of Priscilla, jumped back into the portal, and vanished.
“What do you think will happen to her?” Alice asked with a shiver.
“It doesn’t matter. She’s in Hell now. She can’t get to us anymore, and this one? He will face a trial of dragons who will decide his fate. Trying to kill a pregnant alpha mate. I pity you for what’s coming your way, Michael. I really do. Even after all this.”
John’s dragon, a vibrant orange, landed beside him and bowed his head to his Alpha. He was soon joined by a green dragon, Stanley, and a few others.
“Stanley, you coordinate the prisoner’s guards. John, I want you to get a jury of dragons together for the trial.”
The dragons exploded into action, and while the thunder was taken care of, Cooper scooped Alice into his arms, holding her close.
“You’re crushing me.” She laughed. “I’m fine, Cooper. Really. She got a few shots in, but nothing that would hurt the baby. I’m more powerful than her, remember?”
“Still. In the morning, we are getting you to a doctor,” he insisted.
“And say what,” she laughed again. “Make sure my half-witch, half-dragon baby is healthy?”
He nodded, and she conceded. “Fine, but we’re getting a witch midwife.”
“A compromise. I love it.” He kissed her softly. “If you’re sure you’re all right, then this is over. Michael will be punished, and Priscilla is gone. It’s over. We’re safe. Our family is safe, and no one will harm us. They can try …”
“But we’re stronger,” she finished for him.
“That’s right, love. We’re stronger because I love you so damn much.”
“I love you, too, Cooper. Now, do you think you can walk me to the kitchen? All this magic has made me hungry.”
Cooper laughed and complied. He even put on an apron and made her chicken noodle soup…an old Dawson family recipe.
In the morning, when Michael was found guilty and imprisoned for life, Cooper knew real peace. And because of his wife, he knew real love.
NINETEEN
ALICE
The manor house was completely quiet, and no one was left from the dinner party that Cooper hosted a week after the attack. He invited his inner circle…all of the dragons that he trusted…to dinner to celebrate their victory over the threat, and because who didn’t like a good night spent with some good friends?
“Was tonight too much for you?” Cooper kissed the back of her neck as they settled on the enormous couch that took up a large portion of the TV room. “I thought it went well, but I’m not the pregnant one. They all adore you. You’re such a good alpha mate already.”
She snickered. “I don’t know about that. You dragons seem to be some pretty rowdy guys. I still can’t believe how loud and silly John can get. I never would’ve thought of him like that. He’s so organized and meticulous.”
Cooper laughed. “Yeah, he’s a real character, that one, but he’s a good beta. He’s a better friend.”
“He’s family,” Alice amended. “I get it. Or at least, I think I get it now.”