20. Chapter Nineteen
Chapter Nineteen
Ionus
Dear Goddess, I take back any previous complaints regarding my mate. He’s perfect, kind, thoughtful and everything I and our growing family could ever want or need.
I glanced at Alexander, safely tucked in my arms and wished with all my might I could keep him there forever, though I knew better. His baby bump was growing with each passing day. I pressed a paw to it, only partially shifted it still covered the expansive torso of the tiny man beside me.
Tiny but mighty , our dragon purred.
Yes, Dragon. Tiny but mighty.
Though the eggs didn’t move and the connection between them and me was slight, it was still there and would continue to strengthen.
Mine.
Ours.
If I wasn’t mistaken, I felt four light giggles and a hiccup.
Sleep well, my loves, for we shall soon meet.
More gurgles that drifted off but enough to warm me through to the core, our dragon content as though he were curled up with the four younglings. Would they love to swim and swing in our tail as Alexander did?
“Yes, they will.”
“I’m sorry, my love. I didn’t mean to wake you.” I stole a kiss and stared down into those gorgeous eyes I was truly, madly, soul deep in love with.
“You didn’t, I felt them, too. They enjoyed your meet cute.”
“Meet cute is it now?” Goddess, he was beautiful.
“Pre-meeting so to speak, but given their reaction I’d say we talk to them as often as possible.” Alexander rubbed his belly. “And feed them.”
“Yes, yes, of course.” I rose and helped him up. “I’ll put on a robe. We’ll need to keep one in here for you as well. Alexander, you must promise me at the slightest hint of danger, you and the children will retreat to this room. It’s the safest and I’ll keep it stocked with everything you’ll need until I’m able to return to you. Here, I will feel your presence and know you’ll be safe.”
“I promise, Dragon. Again.”
A kiss to seal the deal as I helped him dress and slid into the robe. “Your table awaits, sir. Well, more like a chair at the bar while you watch me cook.”
“A chair at the bar sounds perfect to me.”
I scooped Alexander up and carried him over the proverbial threshold and right into a house full of people.
“Did we miss something?”
Mattias glanced at the ring on Alexander’s hand and smirked. “I see you found the finger it belonged on.”
My dragon puffed up. “Aye. Now, why are you all here in our home?” Alexander’s stomach protested. “Explain while I feed my pregnant mate.”
They’d follow, that much I knew but tending to Alexander was first on the list. I sat him on a stool at the kitchen island and pressed my lips to his forehead, then extracted the items I’d need from the fridge and cupboard.
Raven stepped forward first. “We made contact with the coven presiding over the area where Knox’s home is. They were reluctant to work with us at first but have agreed to meet with us, though they have requested no dragons attend.”
“That will not be granted.” No way in hell would my brothers or I allow our beloved mage to attend without protection.
“Hear me out, Ionus, as I fully expected that response and received the same from Caro, Odem, Quint, and Mattias. I assured them you mean them no harm and are merely searching for others of your kind. My gut is telling me the Gorynych have already reached out and possibly threatened their coven and that’s why their guard is up.”
“Understandably so. Stopping the Gorynych clan is going to be problematic but of the utmost importance.”
Brother, we don’t even know where to begin.
Have faith, Odem.
Hopefully the mages will assist with that.
Exactly, Caro.
Then what? The next dragon war but with more human lives at stake?
Deep breath, Odem. Let’s find those who slumber on Knox’s land first. They will have more information and from there a game plan can be established.
I hoped…
The fear was real and knowing now that not all we assumed were humans truly were only exacerbated matters. How many had dragon blood running through their veins such as Alexander and Knox? And had Alexander’s parents been drawn to the areas they hiked in and lost their lives due to it being deemed off limits? Or had they been called there as Alexander had been here?
I plated up the pasta and slid one in front of Alexander and kept the other for myself. As we ate, the others around us chatted. Carver and Raven with Caro and Mattias. Quint and Odem pilfered what they could from the refrigerator and were stuffing their jowls. Odem’s unease was strong within our bond which was alarming. He was the smartass of the bunch. For him to be this on alert only solidified what I already felt—we were well and truly in for one hell of a fight. Gathering as many as we could to join in our pilgrimage for justice before all hell broke loose would be a major undertaking.
“Ionus,” Carver addressed me. “Their coven elders wish to meet at daybreak. As the Denarius elder, will you be able to join us?”
Alexander?
I see no choice in the matter. Will any brothers be left behind just in case?
Brothers, who will go and who will stay?
Mattias and Odem, will you stay?
Aye, we’ll keep a watchful eye.
Odem may be the jokester but he’d lay down his life for our family.
Aye, Mattias agreed.
“I’ll join along with Caro and Quint.”
Carver nodded. “It’s a two-hour drive and I don’t recommend flying and setting off their wards in that manner.”
“Agreed. We shall leave two hours before daybreak.” That would give us time to nose around a bit beforehand.”
“Two hours my ass,” Knox smirked. “I made it in just over an hour. Shouldn’t I join since it’s on my land?”
“Absolutely. If they grant us access it may be for a limited amount of time. If we can get the wards down on your land and put ours in place it would be best for all.”
I, for one, was thankful Raven was on our side. “Agreed.”
Once the others had left, Knox following them outside, I thought it an ideal time to start shopping for the nursery.
“Come, I want to show you something.”
But my mate curtailed that.
I followed him down the hall and into my office where he proceeded to lift the tapestry I’d long since forgotten about.
“What do you think about putting the nursery in here and adding a door that connects it to the library as well?”
I glanced around the stone area, having only used it to access the tunnels, though as of late I’d primarily used the entrance off the entry hallway. “I think it’s brilliant, my love. Then you can relax in the library while I work and we both have easy access to the nest.” Alexander preened at my agreement. “I was just going to suggest we start shopping for the nursery. We can convert the largest room next to ours upstairs into the nursery then move them to their own rooms as they age.” There were plenty of rooms upstairs to handle four growing younglings.
“Is it possible to be excited and nervous at the same time?”
I chuckled. “Absolutely, my love. I feel the same way. Let’s sit and fill our shopping carts.”
It was difficult to leave my sleeping mate. Darkness loomed outside as he softly snored. “Goodbye, my love. I’ll keep you abreast of what we uncover and will see you tonight.”
“Love you.” He rubbed his eyes and rolled over onto his side. Soon that would become a challenge of epic proportions.
Knox met me downstairs, having already made a pot of coffee and breakfast for which I was thankful. “You’re a good man, Knox. Thank you for this.” We dined with the utmost of haste and met the others in the garage, including Odem and Mattias.
Not to worry, brother, we are only here for the briefing then we’ll be upstairs keeping a watchful eye over your Alex.
At Mattias’ words, I breathed a sigh of relief. I didn’t believe they’d changed their minds but still it was great to hear just the same. Would I have pulled rank and forced them to stay behind? For my family’s protection, yes, but I didn’t want to. I wanted them to want to stay and protect of their own will.
“The plan is to meet the coven on site at Knox’s home. Dragons, please wait off to the side while we negotiate.” While I hated that, Carver was right, and we didn’t want to jeopardize the mission. With our increased hearing we’d likely hear all they said unless the mages created a cone of silence around them.
“Do you think they’ll work with us?” Quint asked what everyone was thinking.
“Well, if they’ve already had run ins with less than desirable dragons, that will work against us. But given both Raven and I have been with the Denarius clan for as long as we have with no issues we are hoping that works to our favor.”
“Shall we?”
As we drove off property my mind wandered to potential scenarios. Building relationships with as many covens and dragon clans as we could was crucial. Rogue entities with unharnessed powers made for dangerous adversaries.
As we drove I gazed out at our lands. Soon, the mountains surrounding our land would be covered in snow. Winter was my favorite time of year, and this year would be the best yet. Decorating for the holidays I’d never done before, though I knew Alexander and I would trim a tree and deck all the halls while singing silly holiday tunes to our nesting eggs.
Someone’s dragon is dancing, Quint teased.
For the first time in my long life, I’m dreaming of the holidays.
It will be fun to share them with younglings.
The giant goofball Quint could be would surely make him a favorite uncle.
“Knox, I must ask, have you felt their presence at all? Those in slumber, I mean.”
“There’s always been a constant buzzing and as I climbed the mountainside it strengthened. I just chalked it up to losing my hearing. Too many years of loud rock ‘n roll.” Knox smiled and shook his head. “All this time I just ignored it. Hope I didn’t let my pops down.”
“I’m sure you haven’t but do you know who was to wake him?”
“I’m sorry, I don’t. He kept that to his clan brothers. He didn’t treat me like Emerson’s family treated him when I came of age and didn’t shift, but I was left out of dragon things.”
I felt for him. I couldn’t imagine leaving one of our children out of anything. If one knew, then all four would, and they would be trained just the same as my brothers and I were. Who knew what gifts they’d bring but I for one was beyond excited to find out.
Before long we drove up to the property, along the rough driveway to a log cabin with a gorgeous backdrop of the surrounding mountainside. Unsure what I expected, but I was elated to see Alexander had been raised in a home and on land that suited his dragon side. Now, to find a way to coax his dragon from hiding.
We parked alongside another vehicle and as we emerged, four others emerged from the car as we did the same.
“That’s them,” Carver pointed out.
My brothers and I remained beside our vehicle while Raven and Carver met the others and Knox stepped inside his home to check on things.
Search, brothers. What do you sense?
An uneasy presence.
Quint and I agreed on that.
Notice the peaks on the mountains in front of us? A familiar shape, don’t you think?
Could it be?
The peaks to mirror our spines.
That they did.
I believe we have our first area to search.
Caro and Quint agreed with that assessment.
My scales itch.
That’s odd, Quint. I wonder what it means.
Something was afoot for certain.
“Ionus, would you join us, please?”
At Carver’s request I made my way over to the group.
“Ionus is the leader of Clan Denarius. Ionus, this is Ophelia and Marx of the coven Demure.”
“It’s a pleasure to meet you both. Thank you for allowing us to come here today.” Curiously, they both eyed me.
“How do we know if you are friend or foe?”
“I’d ask you to take my word, Marx, but even I know actions speak louder. My brothers and I are the chosen protectors and have lived for many centuries protecting dragons and humans alike. We do not come to disrupt your lives but instead come to help protect them and the inhabitants of these fine lands.” Would that be enough to satisfy their fears?
“We’ve done just fine on our own without more dragons nosing around.” Marx, on the other hand, wouldn’t be so easily won given his statement.
“You’ve had dragons nosing around?” That roused mine, Caro, and Quint’s dragons.
“We have and they weren’t kind.”
Knox joined us. “Hello, I’m Knox and this is my property. Did they give you their names or say what they were looking for?”
“Gorynych and they wanted access to your property to dig for something.”
This was one of those moments where if a dragon could pale, the three of us would have and at this point Caro and Quint joined us.
“These are my brothers, Caro and Quintus.” They both nodded. “How long ago was that clan here?”
“Day before yesterday,” Ophilia finally spoke. “When Carver and Raven reached out to us we nearly told them to get lost, but at Raven’s words we retracted that.”
I wonder what our dear mage told them.
“I can promise you the Denarius brothers are not the enemy, and they will do everything in their power to protect you.” Raven was indeed our number one cheerleader.
“Our fear is if we lift the spell it will call to the others.”
Ophelia was right, it would likely do just that.
What could’ve called them here?
No clue, Caro. But this isn’t good.
“Let me ask you this. Do either of you know anything of those who slumber?” The challenge here was how much to say without giving away too much?
Ophelia and Marx looked at each other and then Marx nodded. “We do.”
“My father is one of those and we need to wake them,” Knox declared.
“Ophelia, Marx, can this be done without lifting the ward?” Raven asked.
“Only a dragon can wake another. We can alter the spell to allow them in but that will allow all dragons in.”
“Marx, what if you let two of us in plus Knox and as soon as we’re in you put the wards back in place?”
“That can be done.”
“Would we be able to get back out?”
We need either Mattias or Odem here so it’s two in and two out.
On my way, brother.
Thank you, Mattias.
“Our brother Mattias is on his way. We don’t want to leave one protector to guard all of you while two go in. Your safety is of the utmost importance to us. Do you think a mage should enter with us?”
Dragons revered their mages and those of us with an ounce of brains wouldn’t cross one.
“I think that wise.”
I was glad Ophelia agreed.
“Raven can go in with you and I’ll stay here with Marx and Carver. The three of us can hold the ward open as you enter. It’s a strong, ancient spell that takes more than a single mage to maneuver.”
She gathered the four mages and began teaching Raven and Carver the incantation.
Mattias, ETA?
Ten minutes away.
He flew as I’d expected.
My love, how are you?
Mattias left, is everything okay?
They’re allowing us to enter and wake the others, but the Gorynych beat us here. I fear they may be near and with two of us going in I wanted at least two protectors poised as guards.
Please be careful.
We will, I promise. I love you, mate.
I love you, too, Dragon.