He frowned down at her.

“My water broke while I was in the bathroom. I think the baby’s annoyed, because she gave me a hell of a contraction, and I have a nasty, suspicious feeling that another one is—”

Her face screwed up in pain as she gasped and doubled over.

Drake roared and scooped her up, carrying her up the stairs as he called over his shoulder, “Get the midwife!”

Chapter Eighteen

“That’s probably the midwife,” I said, leaping down the last couple of stairs to run to the front door. “I’ll get it, István. You go back and keep Drake from murdering Gabriel, will you? Savian tried, but got knocked out cold for his efforts.”

István rolled his eyes but, at the sound of Drake yelling, bolted up the stairs.

“Ouch,” Jim said from where it sat on a settee, calmly reading the paper. A crash reverberated through the house. “Did that sound to you like the noise a wyvern’s head makes when he’s slammed up against the wall? ’Cause that’s what it sounded like to me.”

“I told Gabriel to stay out of the way and let his mom deal with Aisling, but he insisted that he’s had more experience with dragons than she has. I just hope Drake calms down and realizes he’s trying to help.” I glanced at one of the security systems that scanned visitors at the front door, saw the green light that indicated the person was not armed, and punched in the code to unlock the door, flinging it open with a relieved, “Thank heavens you’re here. Aisling isn’t fully dilated, but Drake is going berserk—oh.”

The person standing on the steps wasn’t the midwife, wasn’t even a dragon for that matter.

“My interest is not with Aisling Grey today, fully dilated or not,” Dr. Kostich said, brushing past me into the house, followed by a man and a woman. “I told you that I would return just as soon as my apprentices could be summoned. This is Jack and Tully. We are here to make plans regarding the dragon you refer to as Baltic.”

“I’m sorry, but things are a little hectic right now. Perhaps you could come back later? Aisling has gone into labor, and everyone is running around making sure she’s comfortable.”

“I just told you my business was not with her,” Dr. Kostich answered, stripping off leather gloves and removing his heavy overcoat. “We will meet with the green and silver wyverns to discuss matters. I have exactly two hours I can give this subject.”

“Yes, but—”

He pinned me back with a look that had me wanting to shadow. “This is not a courtesy visit, Mei Ling, nor is your participation optional.”

I was aware of a subtle pressure to do as he bade, a pressure that would probably have sent a mortal running to do as he wanted without thinking twice about it. But I was not a mortal, nor was I about to let him run roughshod over everyone.

“Ooh, a demon. Can I pet it?” the man named Jack asked as he examined Jim.

“If you give me five bucks, I’ll let you rub my belly,” Jim said, rolling over onto its back.

Jack laughed and obliged.

I turned back to Dr. Kostich. “I’m sorry, but things are too disturbed right now to have this meeting. Aisling is in labor.”

“And, according to you, will probably be so for hours,” snapped Kostich, shouldering me aside and heading for the sitting room. “We could have this business done before she has need of her wyvern.”

I hesitated a second, wondering if we could deal with Kostich and get rid of him before Aisling gave birth. From what I knew of birthings, they weren’t fast or immediate.

He took my hesitation as acknowledgment, gesturing toward me as he went into the sitting room. “Let us be done with this business quickly.”

As he disappeared, I stared after him, wanting to give him the rough side of my tongue, but knowing it wouldn’t be a wise course.

“Arrogant, pushy mage,” I said under my breath.

The man named Jack evidently heard me.

“Archimage, actually. That’s the difference, you know,” he said, looking up from where he was squatting next to a gently moaning Jim, scratching the demon’s belly. “We lowly mages don’t get to push anyone around, but the second you become an archimage? Blammo! You’re da man.”

“Sorry. I didn’t mean to be rude,” I muttered.

He stopped scratching Jim (over the demon’s protests) and strolled over to me, a friendly smile on his face. “No offense taken. I’ve never seen a real doppelganger before. You’re not what I expected.”

He was slightly taller than me, with short, bright red hair, and a heavy splattering of freckles.

“I have to admit that I’m having a bit of trouble with you, as well,” I said with a smile. “You are a mage, yes?”

“Would my apprentices be anything but mages?” Dr. Kostich asked from the doorway. He looked annoyed. “Is this a delay tactic?”

“No. I’ll get the others, although I make no guarantee that Drake will be willing to leave Aisling. Or Gabriel, for that matter.”

He grunted and returned to the room.

Jack’s smile changed to an outright grin. “He may seem a bit brusque, but he’s actually really concerned about this dragon mage.”

“I have no doubt he is.” I took his coat, and the one handed to me by the silent woman.

“Jack!” Kostich yelled from the room. “Bring me the satchel!”

Jack grabbed a leather case and waggled his eyebrows at me as he hurried off to do his master’s bidding.

“Hiya. I’m Jim,” the demon said, strolling over to sniff the woman. It looked puzzled for a moment. “You’re not a mage.”

“Yes, I am. Well, I’m an apprentice,” she said, giving Jim’s head a quick pat before turning to me. “Dr. Kostich said you were a dragon’s mate?”

“That’s right. I’m May. Gabriel, the silver wyvern, is my mate.”

She examined me curiously for a few seconds before excusing herself with a slight smile. “I’m sorry. I’m being intolerably rude, aren’t I? It’s just that I’ve never seen a wyvern’s mate. I expected you to be . . . bigger.”

“Unlike Jack, you look just how I expect a mage to look,” I said with a little smile of my own.