Amethyst Storms (Primordial Protectors #1)

16. Chapter Fifteen

Chapter Fifteen

Ionus

“This information changes everything.” Literally, figuratively and anything else I couldn’t conjure. “Do you remember being told your mother’s clan name or any hints as to where the ones who slumber are?” My head spun. I couldn’t imagine how Alexander’s felt. Learning your existence had been masked and you too were of dragon blood would overwhelm anyone.

My love, please don’t mention the stones to anyone.

Understood.

It wasn’t fair to ask him to keep such a secret from his grandfather and maybe the day would come when we could share. But for now, it was safest for all to keep that within our tight-knit group.

“Give me a minute, it’ll come to me.” Knox made a face far too familiar to me, the same one my handsome mate did while deep in thought. “I know I’m gonna butcher the pronunciation but it’s something like Gory and itch.”

Emerson paled and dropped the books he held. Caro caught him before he hit the floor. “Emerson, what’s wrong?” The frantic tone in Caro’s voice spoke volumes.

“That’s-that’s,” he swallowed hard. “Gorynych,” Emerson properly pronounced it. “That’s the clan I was born into and then ousted from upon my thirteenth birthday when I couldn’t shift. The elders determined I was of no use to them.”

Caro growled and cradled Emerson until he glanced up and saw our curious eyes upon them. Gently he set him on the desk chair and brought him a bottle of water.

Brother?

Now is not the time nor do I have an answer.

Caro was stressed enough, the four of us felt it and it was best to leave him be. He’d sort this out and let us know if our assistance was required. Though the question remained, was he caring for Emerson in a kind, fatherly way or was there more to it?

During all of that, I fired off texts to Raven and Larkin. This turn of events had the potential to unlock enough mayhem to put the world at war. A war no human would survive.

Were those who slumbered friends or foes? And what should we do about the Gorynych clan? No question there, they were foe and from the sounds of it in direct violation of the code we lived by with their blatant disregard for their omegas. Another question remained, though one I wouldn’t voice aloud now—had the Gorynych clan had something to do with Alexander’s parents’ deaths?

I moved to the lobby to await Raven and Larkin’s return. Knox had much to discuss with Alexander and Emerson, and I trusted Caro to share any pertinent information with myself and our brothers he may overhear. Mattias, Odem, Quint and I quickly caught Raven and Larkin up as soon as they arrived.

“I no longer question the intense precautions you insisted upon within our town,” Larkin stated. “In fact, I highly recommend we increase them.”

Raven slid her phone into her skirt pocket after furiously typing away. “I’ve alerted the council of mages. As soon as they’ve assembled I’ll meet them at the coven house. Ionus, I don’t know what to say.”

“Larkin is onto something.” Was this possible? “Can we extend the wards without issue?”

“Great question and one I’ll present to the council. It may require a meeting with mages far and wide. Though if the land isn’t currently protected it may’ve been overlooked.” Raven’s stern determination was one of many gifts I adored of hers.

“This was unavoidable.” There was no way this impending shitstorm hadn’t been brewing for centuries. How it went undetected by us I hadn’t a clue but the fact that it had didn’t sit well with myself or my brothers. “The downfall is what it’s done to my mate and Caro’s…” No clue what Emerson was to him, but Mattias’ cocked brow said the same. “We can’t assume, Mattias.”

“Their interactions left no question.”

“Leave them to figure it out,” Quint chimed in. “For now, we must focus on finding the others and determine their position within the sanctity of the world we’ve tirelessly worked to strengthen.”

And prepare for possible battle. Though those words were purposely not uttered for fear of setting things in motion. Not that they weren’t already…

For centuries we scoured the earth for more of our kind. How had we missed all of this?

“Don’t beat yourself up, Ionus.” Raven’s hand upon my arm startled me. “We’ll figure it out.”

The six of us stepped back inside the room. Alexander, Knox, and Emerson were in quite a deep conversation and as much as I hated to interrupt, I sought answers.

“Excuse me, gentlemen, but we must pick Knox’s brain.”

“I know what you’re going to ask but I don’t…” Knox paused, and his eyes widened. “When I drove into town, I felt your wards as I passed through them. They have boundaries?”

“Yes.” Raven’s gaze met Knox’s.

“Given I’d never ventured far nor moved from the home I once shared with my father, I’d say it’s safe to assume they might be nearby. Perhaps just outside the land you protect.”

It was like a lightbulb went off consecutively in every head in the room.

“That would explain why we hadn’t sensed them,” Raven said. “Our wards only cover Denarius lands, and they were created to alert us of any creatures that enter and reside within them.”

“We must find the others and wake them before the Gorynych do. There’s no way they don’t feel the shift in power as we do,” since Alexander and I mated, that was. Though I knew little of the Gorynych clan, my instincts, which had never failed me, warned me to proceed with caution. Who knew this would happen and to what level of intensity would it reach as my brothers found their mates?

You mean since the stones’ illumination.

I do, Mattias, but anything to do with the stones must be kept between us.

Understood.

“Emerson, can they track you?” Larkin asked.

“I suppose if they did a casting spell using a relative’s blood they might be able to. But it’s been centuries since they cast me out and I’ve been here since then.”

“How did you find your way here?”

Emerson shrugged. “This is going to sound weird, but the land called to me. The entire journey here I barely slept, afraid they’d chase after me. My parents weren’t the kindest of dragons. I didn’t feel safe until I crossed the wards. At first, I thought the name was a joke, Dragon City, until Sheriff Larkin met me just inside town limits. He and his family took me in and treated me like a family should.”

“You are family, son.” Larkin’s words brought tears to his eyes. “We quickly learned he had a penchant for our history.”

Driven by his need to find a way to shift, though I’d not embarrass Emerson by saying the words aloud. That was his story to share, or not.

Which brought another question to mind. “Larkin, did you know Emerson’s last name?”

“Aye, but it held no meaning or reason for concern.”

“Concern? Concern? Oh Goddess,” Emerson moved to drop into the desk chair and nearly fell on his ass when it spun out from under him. Had Caro not been there, he would have landed hard.

“Calm down, son. You’re not in any trouble.” Larkin side-eyed me.

“Absolutely not, Emerson. But do you remember anything that may assist us?”

“No. The only time I was around the elders was the day they called me in and humiliated me in all my naked glory.”

The Gorynych clan’s cruelty had no boundary. Younglings are meant to be nurtured, their young minds and bodies fed. Not paraded around for all to mock and forced to try and shift. Mental cruelty were the wounds that took the longest to heal.

“Do you remember where their clan lived?” Quint asked, staring at an antique map that hung on the wall.

“I do, but they won’t be there. The clan lived nomadically, moving every year or so. It always felt like they were searching for something and when they didn’t find it, we were off again. Given today’s surprises, I think we know what they’re looking for.”

“Shit,” Knox tugged his beard. “We need to find the others first.”

Raven left for a meeting with the mage council while my brothers and I mapped out the surrounding areas where the wards didn’t extend to. Denarius lands, at the time when we claimed them, were vast. As humans came along the urge to blend rather than stand out meant sharing lands. For the most part, it went well but now in hindsight, I wished we would’ve opted to purchase and have control over a larger parcel.

We outlined several routes and sent them to Raven, so she and her counterparts got to work on locator spells, paying careful attention to not cross over into other covens’ territories without first reaching out.

“Can we go home?” Alexander yawned. “I’m tired and hungry plus we need to get Gramps situated in the guest room.”

“Of course, my love. Where was my head at? Time to feed our growing family. By the way, the midwife will be over in the morning.” Though there was undoubtedly turmoil on the horizon, it was difficult to contain the joy running rampant through my dragon and me.

At the mention of the midwife our dragon dances?

Pfft, dragons don’t dance. We soar.

Cheeky dragon.

Alexander laughed at our exchange.

I love you both.

And we love you, mate.

And our babies.

Yes, Dragon, and our babies.

“Gramps, you ready to go?” Alexander asked.

“Yes. I’m crashing at your place?”

“I wouldn’t have it any other way, Knox.” Nor would Alexander.

Caro, are you returning with us?

No, I’ll fly home later.

Larkin left at the same time as we did. Alexander rode back with Knox while the rest of us loaded up in the van and they followed behind us.

“What do you make of all of this, Ionus?”

What did I think? I was unable to nail a single thought for more than thirty seconds. “Great question, Odem. It’s almost like the Fates held them at bay waiting for us to find our mates before unleashing their evil. Honestly, there’s no way this won’t go down without a fight.”

“I feel the same,” Mattias readily agreed. “We’ve waited all these centuries for our mates only to be thrust into battle with little time to enjoy them.”

“Ionus, know we will protect your younglings with our lives.” Quint said what I already knew.

“Family comes first, whether by blood or bond. An oath we swore long ago. We protect our own.” Odem, our normally smart-ass brother, was anything but right now.

“Aye, I do, brothers, and I will when yours come along. For now, we’ll approach cautiously and do our best not to evoke their ire.” Hope for the best but expect the worst and never be unprepared.

“Ionus, we know it’s your nature to take charge, but you have a family to focus on.” Quint’s words weren’t meant to anger me, but my dragon bristled at the implication.

“I am the eldest Denarius. It is my job and my birthright.”

“Ya, ya, ya,” Odem rolled his eyes. “We’ve heard that a million times, all of which came before your pregnant mate.”

“I must be involved in everything.” Possibly not in person as I did have much to tend to with setting up the nursery and nest.

“As always, you will be. Finding the balance will be key. Nothing is taking place now and nothing will until we locate their coven.” Mattias was right. My brothers could debrief me as I trusted them to do.

“Balance.”

We pulled into our underground parking garage, Alexander and Knox right behind us.

“That is a lot of American muscle,” Knox whistled. “How much of it was bought first off the line?”

“All of it,” Odem replied. “We each have our favorites.”

Odem, Mattias, and Quint said their goodbyes and disappeared behind the doors that led up to each of their homes as did we, emerging just inside the entry hallway.

“Wow,” Knox whistled again. “Do you all live in this one mansion?”

“No. We each have our own homes. Raven and her family live on property as well.”

“I’ll show Gramps to his room. Follow me.”

“Sir, yes, sir,” Knox mock-saluted Alexander.

“I’ll get dinner ready.” I was fairly certain there was something to throw together for the three of us. Not much was said while we ate. Our minds were on overload and Alexander was exhausted.

“How are you feeling about everything, my love?” Our poor mate had so much thrust at him today.

He shrugged and slipped into bed beside me. “I don’t even know. I mean, I have dragon blood, too? There are more of us. Gramps is super old.”

“Watch it.” I tickled him. “My bite is worse than my bark.”

“Isn’t that your bark is worse than your bite?”

“Only when it comes to you, my love.”

“Not gonna lie, it was a lot to take in and honestly I’m not sure I’ve absorbed it. Let’s recap. I’m pregnant and not only that, but with multiple eggs. My grandfather is a dragon. I have dragon blood in me. Other dragons may want to kill us. There are more in a suspended state of slumber. Seriously, how much more can one brain take?” He ticked each item off his fingers. “Oh, and my parents may have been murdered.”

“I’m so sorry. If I’d have known any of this I would have shared it with you. It’s all new to me, too, and as an alpha protector, lack of knowledge doesn’t sit well.” I wrapped my arms around him and pulled him tightly against me. “How about after the midwife leaves tomorrow we do a bit of online shopping for the nursery?” Hopefully that would be fun and relieve some stress, if only for a short while.

“I’d like that. A break from an overwhelming reality.”

“Amen, my love. Amen.”

Fingers, toes, and talons crossed that the shit storm didn’t hit tomorrow.